Blog Mini Series on Multi-stakeholder Partnerships for Sustainable Development
We are producing a series of blogs around the issue of Multi-Stakeholder
Partnerships (MSPs) for Sustainable Development to help increase understanding
about them:
- Definitions of MSPs and Related Issue
- Principles and Guidance Enshrined in Existing UN Decisions on MSPs
- Possible Additions to Enhance Guidance and Oversight for MSPs
This blog mini series is based on a paper we prepared for a workshop held by the
Friends of Governance for Sustainable
Development
group in April this year: “Principles and Practices of Multi-stakeholder Partnerships for
Sustainable Development – Guidance and Oversight from UN Decisions”
We put Guidance and Oversight in the
title of the paper because we believe that:
·
partnerships for sustainable
development do need guidance;
·
the UN can, and should,
provide such guidance to partnerships at all levels as people in all sectors
look to the UN where Agenda 2030 and the SDGs were developed and agreed, and
they seek to contribute; and
·
with many others we also
believe that oversight of partnerships, particularly those registered with the
UN in some form – databases, knowledge hubs, etc. – is needed to protect the
UN‘s reputation as well as the reputation of multi-stakeholder partnerships
that are well governed, and that are delivering results.
As two strong advocates for multi-stakeholder partnerships since 2000 we
both believe that Member States should consider setting principles and
guidelines for multi-stakeholder partnerships, particularly those which are
listed within the UN web sites.
Principles and guidelines articulated and used at the UN will also
provide guidance and leadership to
MSPs that are operating without any hitherto involvement in the UN, and those
that are being developed at the international, national and even local levels
where stakeholders seek to contribute to realizing the 2030 Sustainable Development
Agenda.
Principles and guidelines for MSPs for Sustainable Development could be provided
through the upcoming General Assembly partnership resolution or a stand-alone
resolution within ECOSOC or the UN General Assembly. Once adopted the new rules
could be under review through the annual partnership forum with suggestions of
improvements being made either for upcoming UN GA partnership resolution of
bi-annual session within ECOSOC.
Blog 1 – Definitions of MSPs and
Related Issues
A crib sheet of definitions
Given the multiple definitions of ‘partnerships’ that exist and some
confusion that the discourse on partnerships has seen over the years, it seems
useful to provide some suggested definitions of key terms and concepts in the
context of multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development for
discussion:
Let‘s start with the WHO – who is
engaged in MSPs?
Stakeholders are those who have an interest in a
particular decision, either as individuals or representatives of a group. This
includes people who influence a decision, or can influence it, as well as those
affected by it (Hemmati 2002).
This is a broad and pragmatic definition. It includes representatives of
groups and sectors as well as individuals (which is particularly important for
processes at the local level). It also includes reference to those who can influence, so that we consider all relevant stakeholders in our
stakeholder analysis, including those that have not come forward (yet), and to
whom we may need to reach out and engage them.
In multi-stakeholder partnerships for
sustainable development - HOW do stakeholders work together, and on WHAT?
Multi-stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs) for sustainable development are:
·
specific commitments and contributions;
·
undertaken together by various partners;
·
intended to support the implementation of
transformation towards sustainable development; and
·
helping to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals
and other relevant sustainable development agreements.
Using such a multi-stakeholder approach also means that:
- MSPs are inclusive in nature, involving all relevant actors in their area of work;
- MSPs can be arranged among any combination of partners, including governments, regional group local authorities, non-governmental actors, international institutions, private sector partners and other relevant stakeholders;
- MSPs use a participatory approach where all partners are involved from an early stage, helping to shape and develop the partnership; and
- MSPs remain open for including additional partners as the partnership may evolve over time.
There are numerous MSPs fitting this definition, from local to global levels,
working on all kinds of sustainable development issues: Examples of
multi-stakeholder partnerships for sustainable development principally range
from small collaborative projects of individual organisations and institutions
that address local challenges to international partnerships tackling global
issues. Goals and activities can centre on capacity building and knowledge
exchange, market development, technological innovation, or standard setting.
Many of the international initiatives operate local or national centres that
implement a global standard, and network amongst each other to share lessons
learned and support each other’s work.
The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) is an example
of a global standard. It aims to promote the open and accountable management of
natural resources. The partnership supports EITI implementation, for example in
Germany (D-EITI), and promotes dialogue and
transparency in the German raw materials sector through a range of activities,
including producing regular reports about the German raw materials sector and
the key financial flows be-tween the state and businesses; communicating
findings to the general public; and thus achieving a unique level of data
transparency and establishing the basis for more accountability. D-EITI’s
governance includes a multi-stakeholder group (MSG), comprising 15 representatives
from the public and private sectors and civil society. The MSG is chaired by a
representative of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
Decisions are adopted on the basis of consensus.
Multi-stakeholder Partnerships for sustainable development are by
definition using a multi-stakeholder approach: They are inclusive in nature,
involving all relevant actors in their area of work. MSPs can be arranged among
any combination of partners, including governments, regional groups, local
authorities, non-governmental actors, international institutions, private
sector partners and oth-er relevant stakeholders. All partners should be
involved in the development of the MSP from an early stage, so that it is
genuinely participatory in approach. Yet as partnerships evolve, there should
also be opportunities for additional partners to join on an equal basis.
EcoAgriculture Partners is a catalyst,
pursuing a multi-pronged approach to make an impact at the landscape, national,
regional and international level. Each of these scales reinforces the others as
they work to mainstream integrated landscape management around the world –
supporting biodiversity conservation while maximizing agricultural yield and
enhancing social development. EcoAgriculture Partners is an NGO registered in
the USA, and works with partners from multiple stakeholders in three main
areas, i.e.:
Improving Landscape Management: working with
development groups, community-based organizations, and government agencies to
train leaders, develop plans and strategies, and build coalitions and
governance plat-forms to improve landscape management performance.
Leading Policy and Market Change: connecting landscape
leaders with their local and national governments to spur constructive
dialogue, and serving as a trusted adviser to decision makers, providing
cutting-edge analysis that guides sound policy choices. EcoAgriculture Partners
helps private and public investors see the long-term value of investments in
integrated landscapes.
Creating Partnerships for Action and Advocacy:
catalyzing global initiatives, leading and managing dynamic teams, and
stewarding critical new connections between governments, research institutions
and landscapes, to maximize the impact of everyone’s efforts.
EcoAgriculture Partners also serves as the secretariat for Landscapes for People Food and Nature Initiative, a
multi-stakeholder initiative with partners from governments, intergovernmental
organizations, civil society organizations and business initiatives.
The Strategic Approach to
International Chemicals Management – SAICM: Adopted by the
First International Conference on Chemicals Management (in 2006 in Dubai, the
Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) is a policy
framework to promote chemical safety around the world.
SAICM was developed by a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral
Preparatory Committee and supports the achievement of the 2020 goal agreed at
the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development. SAICM overall
objective is the achievement of the sound management of chemicals throughout
their life cycle so that by the year 2020, chemicals are produced and used in
ways that minimize significant adverse impacts on the environment and human
health.
SAICM is distinguished by its comprehensive scope; ambitious “2020 goal”
for sound chemicals management; multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral character;
endorsement at the highest political levels; emphasis on chemical safety as a
sustainable issue; provision for resource mobilization; and formal endorsement
or recognition by the governing bodies of key intergovernmental organizations. The
SAICM Secretariat is hosted by UNEP in Geneva.
Useful to distinguish
At the EGM hosted by UN DESA in December it was also discussed to maybe differentiate
between three categories of MSPs:
·
Multi-stakeholder partnerships that the UN is involved
with e.g. GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and
Immunisation); and
·
Multi-stakeholder partnerships that are independent of
the UN
We might want to look at them differently in terms of the guidance and
oversight that is needed and that can be provided.
Back to the WHO – the stakeholder
question - for a moment:
MAJOR GROUPS
Agenda 21 and consequent UN agreements recognized that achieving
sustainable development would require the active participation of all sectors
of society and all types of people. Agenda 21, adopted at the Earth Summit in
1992, drew upon this sentiment and formalized nine sec-tors of society as the
main channels through which broad participation would be facilitated in UN activities
related to sustainable development. These are officially called "Major
Groups" and include the following sectors: Women; Children and Youth;
Indigenous Peoples; Non-Governmental Organizations; Local Authorities; Workers
and Trade Unions; Business and Industry; Scientific and Technological
Community, and Farmers (UN, 1992).
OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
Two decades after the Earth Summit, the importance of effectively
engaging these nine sectors of society was reaffirmed by the United Nations
Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), in 2012. Its outcome document
"The Future We Want" highlights the role that Major Groups can play
in pursuing sustainable societies for future generations. In addition, governments
invited other stakeholders, including local communities, volunteer groups and
foundations, migrants and families, as well as older persons and persons with
disabilities, to participate in UN processes related to sustainable
development, which can be done through close collaboration with the Major
Groups (UN, 2012).
Apart from “multi-stakeholder
partnerships”, there are more terms being used to describe cross-sectoral
collaboration or stakeholder initiatives to further sustainable development,
such as:
PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIPS (PPPS)
There is a lot of confusion around MSPs and Private Public Partnerships
(PPPs). Private Public Partnerships are principally contractual arrangements
between single or several public agencies (federal, state or local) and single
or several private sector entities. Through such arrangements, the skills and
assets of each sector (public and private) are shared, in delivering a service
or facility for the use of the general public. Other stakeholders might be
sub-contractors in a PPP. PPPs have become common in public services like
transport, energy, water, and others.
One example might be women’s groups being sub-contracted to do an
evaluation of the role that gender might play in an infrastructure project.
The World Bank has identified this with their new Gender Equality,
Poverty Reduction and Inclusive Growth Strategy. They identified five areas
that need to be considered in PPPs:
1.
Identifying gender-specific needs that infrastructure
services can meet
2.
Eliminating gender biases from legal frameworks
governing PPPs
3.
Paying close attention to the stakeholder consultation
process
4.
Including a gender-specific affordability analysis.
5.
Embedding gender considerations in the output
specifications for the private sector
VOLUNTARY INITIATIVES
The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) was an
action-oriented conference, where all stakeholders, including Major Groups, the
UN System/IGOs, and Member States were invited to make individual commitments
focusing on delivering concrete results for sustainable development on a
voluntary basis. It has been estimated that there have been over 1400 voluntary
initiatives with a financial commitment of around US$636 million (Seth, 2013).
While one of the key principles of partnerships is that they be
voluntary, voluntary initiatives are not necessarily partnerships. Voluntary
initiatives are activities or contributions made by single governments or
organisations, or groups of them, towards a certain goal, and above and beyond
legally binding or UN-agreed commitments.
Most recently we see more calls for voluntary actions and initiatives in
the context of the upcoming Oceans Conference in June 2017.
Voluntary Initiatives: Two
examples from Rio+20 include:
1.
Microsoft pledging to become carbon neutral, and
2.
Eight multilateral development banks (MDBs) to commit
US$175 million toward sustainable transportation. (Stakeholder Forum, 2013)
Finally, there are two terms that are often being used in the context of
discussions on partnerships for sustainable development, which also benefit
from clarification:
As part of the Millennium Development Goals, there was the GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT (MDG8): This
is a partnership between developed and developing countries over issues such as
aid, debt and trade.
And there are UNITED NATIONS –
BUSINESS PARTERNSHIPS: These are partnerships to help deliver services or
to work collaboratively on implementing parts of the UN agenda.
NEXT…
Blog 2: Principles and Guidance
Enshrined in Existing UN Decisions on MSPs: We will look at the existing
agreements and summarize the guidance provided so far in UN decisions and
resolutions.
Blog 3: Possible Additions to
Enhance Guidance and Oversight for MSPs: We will make suggestions how the
guidance provided in previous resolutions could be updated and strengthened in
terms of practical implementation.
REFERENCES
Hemmati 2002: Multi-stakeholder Processes for Governance and
Sustainability – Beyond Deadlock and Conflict. London: Earthscan
Seth, 2013
Stakeholder Forum, 2013
United Nations 1992: Agenda 21
United Nations 2012: The Future We Want
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