Debates, workshops, speeches
On this pageThroughout the day at the Bond Annual Conference 2011, speeches, debates and panel sessions raised the crucial issues in international development.
A short video message by Bill Gates was followed by a keynote speech by Mark Lowcock, Permanent Secretary at DFID and a choice of thought-provoking debates around the venue. There were more debates after lunch and the day finished with an engaging panel discussion.
Keynote speech
Mark Lowcock, Permanent Secretary, DFID (10.00-10.45)
Mark Lowcock was appointed Permanent Secretary on 9 June 2011.
Debates and workshops: Morning (11.05-12.05)
Delegates chose one of these sessions to attend.
1. Rio+20: UK NGO leadership in sustainable development and green economics
Chair: Dominic White, Head of Government Partnerships, WWF-UK
Speakers: Sarah Best, Policy Advisor, Low Carbon Development, Oxfam; Tom Bigg, Head of Partnerships, IIED; Kirsty Schneeberger, Senior Project Officer, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future
As Rio+20 approaches, ensuring that NGOs are crafting consistent messages around the green economy is crucial.
The session looked at developing coherence around issues such as food security, sustainable agriculture and global trade, and raise awareness of different advocacy approaches.
For those not engaged in the Rio process it was an opportunity to understand how the summit relates to their policy and advocacy work and how they can get involved in shaping the objectives and outcomes of the summit.
2. United we stand: the power of coalition working
Chair: Karen Newman, Network Coordinator, Population and Sustainability Network
Speakers: Simon Wright, Head of Health and HIV and AIDS, Save the Children; Ruth Duebbert, Policy and Advocacy Manager, Women and Children First (UK)
The Manifesto for Motherhood saw around 20 civil society organisations work in coalition to galvanise cross-party support for MDGs 4 and 5, both before and after the 2010 General Election.
Taking the issue of women’s reproductive, maternal and newborn health as an example, the session looked at effective approaches to influencing UK politicians and policy makers, and the wider community including UK press and media.
Bond members had the opportunity to question the speakers in depth and to share learning from their own experiences of influencing DFID and Parliamentarians.
3. The new model NGO: working in international alliances
Chair: Anna Feuchtwang, Chief Executive, Everychild
Panel: Sarah Wilson, Assistant Chief Executive, VSO; Richard Blewitt, CEO, HelpAge International; Amanda Griffiths, Director of Programmes, Everychild
Many UK NGOs are beginning to ask searching questions about their role and legitimacy, and what they actually bring to international development.
Some have concluded that their existence can only be justified by reforming themselves as international alliances of national NGOs largely from the global South, predominantly from the global South, and all working to the same end.
The session explored some of the issues and the background to the development of international alliances.
4. The future of aid and the road to and beyond 0.7%
Led by: Bond
After decades of NGO campaigning, Britain is just two years away from reaching an aid spend of 0.7% of national income.
However, despite government commitment, the pledge is still not enshrined in legislation. Given current domestic fiscal constraints and growing voices of concern around the UK’s aid budget, what should NGOs be doing to ensure critical levels of political support? And, what role can UK NGOs play with our European partners to ensure that EU governments are also held to account?
This session explored the political challenges and opportunities ahead for NGOs including advocacy options and parliamentary engagement, how to influence the UK to play a progressive role in Europe’s development budget negotiations and the lessons UK NGOs can share so that EU member states uphold their aid commitments.
5. Beyond 2015: UK leadership on a post-MDGs global development framework
Led by: Bond members (TBC)
The debate around a new set of goals to follow the MDGs that take into account current realities and global challenges is intensifying.
Bond and some UK NGOs have been at the forefront of early thinking on shaping the post-MDGs agenda. The result is Beyond 2015, an international campaign for a global development framework after 2015. This session will explore the very latest on the creation of a post-2015 framework and the UK ‘hub’ now being built for all NGOs to participate in this global conversation. Be part of shaping the content of a framework for which civil society will advocate at the national and international levels in the coming years.
Debates and workshops: Afternoon (14.30-15.40)
Delegates chose one of these sessions to attend.
1. A force for change: can organisations of different sizes really collaborate effectively?
Chair: Christine Allen, Executive Director, Progressio and a board member of Bond
Speakers: Loretta Minghella, Director, Christian Aid; Deborah Doane, Director, World Development Movement
Smaller NGOs often contribute most when expertise in specialist policy issues or when tight technical focus and agility is needed. However, larger NGOs often have a louder voice, greater reach and scalability, and more resources.
The current political and funding climate means there is a growing need for us to work together more effectively and in new ways. When Big and Small come together what are the pitfalls and opportunities? How can organisations of different sizes benefit from greater synergy and collaboration? And what are the challenges of this wider context for our sector as a whole?
2. Working with the private sector: a guide to developing partnerships
Chair: Nick Roseveare, CEO of Bond
Speakers: Christine Svarer, Head of Private Sector Engagement, CARE International; Jesse Griffiths, Coordinator, Bretton Woods Project; Steve Waywood, Head of Sustainability Research and Engagement, AVIVA Investors
In its 2011 report, The engine of development: The private sector and prosperity for poor people, DFID underlined its commitment to increasing the role of the private sector in international development.
At the same time an increasing number of NGOs are forming partnerships with private sector companies. But for many NGOs the prospect of working with businesses is a new field with little in the way of guidance on best practice.
The session took a practical look at working with the private sector. Should NGOs look to work with businesses on a project-by-project basis when interests are aligned or should they be looking to foster longer-term strategic partnerships? How should NGOs reconcile the immediate, practical advantages of working with the private sector with broader, longer-term policy challenges?
3. Building public support for aid and development
Led by: Bond
Recent credible surveys show that UK public support for development and for an increase in UK aid spending is falling. There is growing scepticism about aid; media coverage is more hostile and oppositional voices are mounting, exacerbated by an economic crisis and deep spending cuts elsewhere.
Given this context, how can NGOs best respond to strengthen and build public support in the short and longer term in the interests of our organisations and the overall development endeavour?
This session brought together leaders and senior professionals to look at how we communicate to the media, supporters and wider public and what public engagement and making the case for aid and development against significant opposition should look in the months and years ahead.
4. Barriers to Transparency: What are we afraid of?
Chair: Nicola Macbean, Chief Executive, The Rights Practice and Bond Board Member
Speakers: Tony German, Director, Development Initiatives; Dan Corry, Chief Executive, New Philanthropy Capital; Adrian Henriques, Commentator on social and sustainability issues and author of ‘Corporate Truth: the limits to transparency’
This facilitated discussion brought together evaluation, fundraising and communications specialists from UK NGOs to discuss the internal barriers to transparency, specifically around effectiveness, that can exist within organisations and explore solutions to ensure a common approach to disclosure across all departments.
With the political and funding environments placing greater emphasis on transparency about results and compliance with the IATI (International Aid Transparency Initiative) Standard, it is timely for NGOs to consider how to improve transparency and how to overcome some of the barriers to telling the whole story of development programmes to funders, supporters and the public.
5. Towards a new Statement of Principles
Led by: Bond
The Board is proposing a simplified and clarified statement of the common principles to which all members of the Bond network commit themselves. Acceptance of the current Statement of Principles is a mandatory step in the membership application process, and so this discussion is as important for individual Bond members as it is for the collective reputation of the NGO sector.
The round-table discussion was be led by Bond's Vice-Chair, Paul Valentin (Programme Director, Christian Aid), who leads the Board working group on the revision of the Statement of Principles. The round-table explored the provisions of, and suggest improvements to, the Charter prior to a wider consultation amongst Bond members in early 2012.
All registered participants to the session received a copy of the new draft Bond Charter in advance of the Annual Conference in order to digest and consider it.
Panel discussion (16.00-17.15)
NGOs, government, business – a shared agenda, mixed motives
Moderator
Mike Wooldridge, BBC World Affairs Correspondent
Panellists
- Dr Daleep Mukarji, Chair of ODI, Chair of Y Care International, Trustee of Excellent, and former Director of Christian Aid
- Harriet Lamb, Executive Director, Fairtrade Foundation
- Lord Michael Jay, Chair of Merlin, served as Tony Blair’s Personal Representative (sherpa) to prepare the 2005 G8 Summit in Gleneagles
While many accept that if development goals are to be met, NGOs, government and business must work more closely together, there are others in each sector who remain determinedly sceptical or in principled opposition. Although some goals are increasingly at risk, there are multiple opportunities to come together to maximise our impact in the fight against poverty and injustice – but are we willing, and able, to do so?
Panellists and delegates explored these questions:
- Does it matter if different players have different objectives and motivations as long as our combined actions benefit those living in poverty?
- Is there evidence that improved dynamics and collaborations between government, NGOs, and business accelerate development outcomes?
- How can NGOs show greater leadership, and how might we need to adapt?
Drinks reception (17.30 onwards)
MPs from the International Development Select Committee and All-party Parliamentary Groups joined NGO leaders. Opening remarks from Jeremy Lefroy MP (member of International Development Committee).
Sponsors
The 2011 Annual Conference was sponsored by Oxford HR and supported by selected exhibitors:
