The United Nations – Civil Society Assembly (UN-CSA) convened this year from May 11-13, 2011 to undergo review as well as to plan for the next two years. The UN-CSA, currently composed of 70 civil society organizations (CSOs) is a consultative mechanism set up by the UN Country Team. The 3-day gathering opened with a workshop on Poverty Reduction/ MDGs and Participatory Governance. UNDP Country Director Renaud Meyer opened the assembly, noting how the relationship between civil society and the United Nations has been revitalized in the past years. The role UN-CSA has played was also evaluated, confirming that its comparative advantage is being able to bring a broad group of CSOs together. The UN-CSA also elected its new set of 15-member Civil Society Advisory Committee (CSAC), which then elected the PRRM as the new CSAC Co-convenor.

The United Nations (UN) – Civil Society Assembly (UN-CSA) convened this year from May 11-13 to review its past two (2) years as well as to plan for the next two years. The UN-CSA, currently composed of 70 civil society organizations (CSOs), is a consultative mechanism set up by the UN Country Team.

The 3-day gathering began with a Workshop on Poverty Reduction/ MDGs and Participatory Governance participated in by more than 80 civil society representatives at the Astoria Plaza, Ortigas Center, Pasig City. Two panels composed of CSO representatives presented their assessments of the Aquino administration. Jing Karaos, PHILSSA Board member and former CODE-NGO Chairperson, commended government efforts to converge the various anti-poverty programs; however, she pointed out the need to strengthen the asset reform component in the anti-poverty plan. Jing Lopez, National Coordinator of PhilDHRRA and Patricia Sarenas, MinCODE Chairperson and also CODE-NGO Chairperson, shared their assessment of and perspectives on civil society participation in governance. Ms. Lopez discussed the many windows for engagement at the local and national levels under the Aquino Administration. However, because these came too many too soon, she emphasized the need for CSOs to build their capacities to be able to maximize these opportunities. Ms. Sarenas lamented the lack of opportunities for citizens’ participation in Mindanao, especially in the crafting of the PAMANA and MINDA plans. Mr. Ric Reyes, President of the Freedom from Debt Coalition (FDC), and Prof. Liling Briones, Convenor of Social Watch – Philippines, also presented their views on the anti-poverty program and CSO participation in governance under the new Administration.  Following the panel presentations were break-out group sessions to further discuss the Aquino administration’s agenda and strategize how UN-CSA and other CSOs can engage the government to ensure people empowerment, democratization and development.

Days 2 and 3 of the General Assembly proper, held in Holiday Inn, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga saw active participation from CSO members and UN representatives. Renaud Meyer, UNDP Country Director opened the assembly, noting how the relationship between civil society and the United Nations has been revitalized in the past years. Sixto Donato C. Macasaet, CODE-NGO Executive Director and outgoing Co-convenor of the Civil Society Advisory Committee (CSAC), presented an initial assessment of the UN-CSA and CSAC. This was followed by a knowledge café by the group, who affirmed that the UN-CSA’s comparative advantage is being able to bring a broad group of CSOs together.

Moving forward, the UN-CSA decided to organize themselves in the context of the Cabinet clusters and the new UN Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) outcomes. The five theme groups of the UN-CSA are (1) Poverty reduction and MDGs, (2) Equitable economic growth, (3) Peace, security and human rights, (4) Democratic governance, and (5) Disaster Risk Reduction, Biodiversity and Climate Change Adaptation. Each theme group presented its proposed priority activities to the UN Heads of Agencies present during the last day.  

The General Assembly also elected its new set of CSAC organizations, the 15-member committee elected from the UN-CSA for the next term, 2011-2013. The Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement was elected CSAC Co-convenor. Other members are Fair Trade Alliance, PhilDHRRA, Coalition for Bicol Development (CBD), Pilipina, PLCPD, TAN, FSSI, PATAMABA, Sulong CARHRIHL, CSC-CSD. Also elected were the repeating UN-CSAC members PAHRA, PAKISAMA, MinCODE and WevNET.   – by Kimberly Ko, UNDP HD2010 Project Coordinator.