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C. Coordination mechanism for integration of private sector, local communities, NGOs and academia

a. Opening public policy for private participation

 

For several decades , the views and perspectives of developing countries and their communities were often disregarded in the development of policies, programmes and projects in which the local people were intended to benefit. More recently, a lot of time and effort has been spent on participatory approaches which encourage the

IFAD Photo by Susan Beccio

participation of groups and individuals who have been traditionally disenfranchised from decisions and actions which affect their lives due to their economic position, gender, age or social status. This development has partly arisen due to a tacit admission that previous 'top-down' approaches have failed to deliver their promises. In response, many local governments, are opening up their policy development to public participation and 'stakeholders involvement' and use of 'bottom-up' approaches. With the support of many of these participatory approaches, the views and perspectives of marginalised groups and individuals are more widely recognised and acted upon. (Source: British Council Website on Participation and Democracy)

b. Institutionalizing participation

Involving the public may require fundamental changes in the legal framework and institutions so that public participation in government policy making can be secured.

In order to do so, there needs to be an establishment of adequate policies, legal and institutional frameworks for participation stakeholders. Political, institutional, financial and regulatory barriers that once obstructed the stakeholders (i.e. private sector, local communities, NGOs and academia) needs to be lifted and replaced with institutional set-ups and legislation which encourage the development of private - public partnership.

An increasingly important legislative tool for ensuring public participation is the EIA, which requires that the environmental impacts of major public and private projects are studied and published prior to decision making and often includes public hearings as a formal part of the process. A limitation is that EIAs are often required only for major projects. (Source: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Global Environment Outlook 2000)

c. Local capacity building for participation

IFAD Photo by Horst Wagner

Local capacity building can be done through awareness raising and training programmes. Awareness raising programmes try to provide adequate information on the environmental aspects, such as the transfer of scientific and technological information related to environment so that decisions made at the local level are made based on informed choices.

As stated in Agenda 21- Chapter 34 on Transfer Of Environmentally Sound Technology, Cooperation And Capacity-building

Local capacity building is not only limited to private sector, local communities and NGOs, but also includes the capacity building of local governments. (See "Capacity building of local governments" and "Capacity of local governments to undertake tasks assigned")

Read more:

Module VI: Stakeholder participation

This module provides good examples of governments involving a wide range of participants in their policy making processes and explains further about why there is a need for participation, who are the stakeholders, what are the frameworks to facilitate participation and so on.

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