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TAP Storytelling: Guest Blog by Centre for Law and Democracy

Post author By client
Post date May 26, 2021

May 27, 2021

Assessing Canada’s Right to Information Practice:
A Guest Blog by The Centre for Law and Democracy

By the Centre for Law and Democracy, Halifax, Canada

The Centre for Law and Democracy (CLD), founded in 2010, is a non-profit corporation based in Halifax, Canada working to promote, protect and develop international human rights that strengthen participatory democracy. These rights include, among others, freedom of expression, access to information, freedom of assembly and association and the right to vote and participate in governance. To uphold these rights, the CLD undertakes research, educational outreach, technical assistance and collaborative work with other organizations and governments across the globe. CLD has been a proud Partner of TAP Network since 2019 and collaborates closely with TAP’s work on a regular basis, for example being an active member of the TAP Advocacy Working Group.

Background

One of CLD’s key areas of work is engagement with the Sustainable Development Goals or 2030 Agenda. Specifically, CLD works to promote progress on target 16.10 to ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, including through supporting countries to adopt and implement strong legal guarantees of the right to access public information (the right to information or RTI).

CLD has contributed to several useful tools that civil society organizations and other actors around the world can use to measure progress on Indicator 16.10.2 in their countries, in terms of both adoption and implementation of RTI laws. For example, CLD developed and manages the RTI Rating, which measures the strength of the legal framework for RTI in each country. In terms of implementation, CLD helped to develop and applies, annually, the Freedom of Information Advocates Network (FOIAnet) Methodology, which is a methodology that any organization or individual can apply to measure how well their government has implemented the RTI law. The full methodology is available here in a Word document that contains instructions and a useful scoring rubric that should make it easy for anyone to apply the methodology. This blogpost provides an example of how the methodology can be applied using CLD’s application of the methodology to Canada in early 2021 as an example.

The methodology evaluates the effectiveness of implementation of a country’s RTI law by analyzing 5-10 national public agencies across three assessment areas. CLD applied this methodology to 14 federal authorities in Canada which are subject to the federal Access to Information Act (ATI Act); Canada’s provinces, territories and some municipalities have their own RTI laws. The authorities receive a grade from 0-100% in each assessment area, and all the assessed authorities’ grades are averaged to produce a national score in the assessment area.

Institutional Measures

The first area is Institutional Measures, which requires assessors to consider authorities’ institutional framework for implementing the RTI law. The Institutional Measures assessment is two-pronged and involves 1) an evaluation of the central (national) framework for RTI implementation and 2) an assessment of measures taken by each authority.

The central analysis assesses whether the country has 1) an established RTI agency and 2) an independent RTI oversight body. Scores of full (100%), partial (50%) or none (0%) are allocated for each issue. In Canada, the Department of Justice and the Treasury Board Secretariat coordinate access to information responsibilities while the Office of the Information Commissioner independently investigates complaints related to information requests. As a result, Canada received a full grade for both parts of the analysis and 100% overall on the central analysis.

The analysis of the measures taken by each authority to implement RTI is broken down into five categories:

Appointment of an access to information coordinator or officer responsible for implementation of the RTI law;
Adopting an overall implementation plan or strategy;
Adopting guidelines for receiving and responding to requests;
Publishing information and guidance to assist those making requests;
Providing training to its information officer(s).

Similar to the central analysis, each authority is given a grade of full, partial or none in each category. The authority’s overall grade is the average of these five values; for example, the Canadian Space Agency had fully satisfied each category, resulting in an overall score of 100%. The scores for all authorities are averaged for each category, which are then averaged with the central scores, to obtain an overall national score in this area.

Proactive Disclosure

In this area, evaluators determine the extent of information each authority has made publicly available across 12 categories, such as the authority’s organizational structure, operational details and public procurement. Authorities are given a grade of full (100%), full to partial (75%), partial (50%), partial to none (25%) and none (0%) for each of the 12 categories, depending on the amount of available information. The authority’s overall score is the average of these category values; for example, Canada’s foreign ministry, Global Affairs Canada, scored 75% for the organizational structure category and 100% in all others, resulting in an overall score of 97.92%. The scores of all authorities are then averaged again to get the national score.

Reactive Disclosure

Finally, for the Reactive Disclosure assessment, two to three access to information requests should be submitted to each authority, and the assessors measure authorities’ performance in terms of processing and responding to these requests. CLD submitted two information requests to each of the 14 assessed authorities.

The methodology evaluates the procedural processing of the request using four metrics (whether a receipt was issued, the timeliness of the response, the form in which the information was received (email or mail) and the reasonableness of any fees) and the substantive completeness of the response. The procedural and completeness analyses are graded using a three-point scale: yes (100%), partially (50%) and none (0%). The procedural final score is the average of the scores for the four metrics. A result score is then allocated depending on how the authority actually responds to the request (for example by providing the information, not responding at all and so on). The overall authority score is the average of the procedural and result scores. For example, the Department of National Defence received 75% and 0% in the procedural category for the first and second requests respectively. The overall procedural grade for the Department was 37.5%. The Department received 100% for the substantive response to the first request and 0% for the second, resulting in an overall result score of 50%. The final score for the Department was 43.75% (the average of 37.5% and 50%).

Conclusion

Overall, Canada received a 94.35% for the Institutional Measures assessment, 94.94% for Proactive Disclosure, and 73.08% for Reactive Disclosure. Canada’s overall final grade was 87.53%, the average of the above three assessment scores. All scores are colour coded using red (0-33%), yellow (34-66%), and green (67-100%). All Canada’s scores were in the green zone, which is a positive result.

Although Canada did well at implementing the ATI Act, CLD offered several recommendations to improve the country’s performance. First, efforts should be made to increase the consistency in response time to information requests and increase transparency in proactive disclosure, specifically in the areas of contracts and public procurement. Second, more precise guidelines should be published in relation to the processing and handling of requests. Finally, those authorities which are covered by the ATI Act but rely on a parent organization to handle RTI requests should explicitly redirect people to the parent organization.

Find CLD’s application of the FOIANet methodology featured as a case study in TAP’s 2021 update to the SDG16+ Civil Society Toolkit that will be published in early July 2021.

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

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TAP Storytelling: TAP Conversation with the International Legal Foundation

Post author By client
Post date May 10, 2021

On Air sign in a studio broadcasting via radio, podcast or wireless transmission.

May 11, 2021

TAP Network Conversations: Working on the Ground and at the Global Level in Afghanistan with the International Legal Foundation

In this edition of TAP Network Conversations, as a part of TAP’s Storytelling Initiative, we welcome the Executive Director and Afghanistan Country Director of the International Legal Foundation, Jennifer Smith and Mohammad Nabi Waqar. Watch the interview here to learn more on how the ILF is working on both the national and global level to progress the implementation of SDG16 and the 2030 Agenda at large though their work in Afghanistan.

Full-length Version:

Audio only version (no video streaming necessary):

Background Resources:

Official Website of the International Legal Foundation
ILF articles on expanding access to legal aid in collaboration with government and civil society
- https://www.theilf.org/post/government-and-civil-society-working-together-toward-justice-for-all-in-afghanistan
- https://www.theilf.org/post/afghanistan-launches-major-effort-to-strengthen-justice-system
ILF articles on supporting gender equity in the criminal justice system
- https://www.theilf.org/post/safe-reentry-for-formerly-incarcerated-women-and-girls-in-afghanistan
- https://www.theilf.org/post/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-women-and-girls-in-prisons-and-detention-settings

Speakers:

Mohammad Nabi Waqar: The ILF’s Country Director in Afghanistan, Mohammad Nabi Waqar is an Afghan justice reform expert and a key drafter of the country’s Legal Aid Policy. He joined the ILF in 2013 and has led its expansion as the largest legal aid provider in the country, defending thousands of poor and marginalized accused each year. Mr. Waqar has over a decade of professional experience, working with organizations including Mercy Corps International and Pajhwok News Agency. He has a Master’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy from Kateb University, Kabul, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Himachal Pradesh University, in Shimla, India. He speaks fluent English, Pashto, Dari, and Urdu.

Jennifer Smith: Jennifer Smith is the executive director of the International Legal Foundation. An international expert in the field of legal aid and an experienced criminal defense lawyer, Ms. Smith has worked on legal aid reform across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. She is regularly called upon as an expert by the United Nations, governments, and organizations around the world. At the ILF, Ms. Smith has spearheaded efforts to strengthen international support for the right to quality legal representation for poor and vulnerable persons accused of crimes. She was one of the key drafters of the United Nations Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, the first international instrument on legal aid (adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2012), and has contributed to a number of UN guidance tools that assist governments and other stakeholders in the implementation of the right to legal aid for the criminally accused. She was also the driving force behind the first-ever international legal aid conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa in June 2014, now a biennial event. She holds a law degree from Boston College and received the institution’s Hon. David S. Nelson Public Interest Law Award in 2019.

About TAP Storytelling: In 2021, TAP Network is launching the TAP Storytelling Initiative, which will aim to closely and frequently highlight the work of our Network through working directly with them to produce quality online content about their endeavors. Together in this initiative, we will aim to intimately spotlight the work of our Members and Partners and the challenges, successes, failures, processes and problem solving that comes with it, while also offering the chance for wide promotion through TAP’s outreach channels. We hope that these opportunities will not only offer heightened visibility of the work of our Network, but will also inspire and educate more commitments to SDG16 and transparency and accountability for the 2030 Agenda as a whole. If you are interested in spearheading this work with us, head to our TAP Membership Engagement Portal where you can find the Storytelling Form to submit your interest.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on the TAP Network Blog Platform are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the TAP Network. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors are of their opinion.

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TAP Storytelling: Interview with Candid Concepts Development Agencies

Post author By client
Post date April 29, 2021

May 10, 2021

Defining Social Capital in the Bahamas:
An Interview with Candid Concepts Development Agencies

By Ellery Wong, TAP Network Secretariat, and Rochelle Dean, Candid Concepts Development Agencies

Introduction

Candid Concepts Development Agencies (CCDA), a TAP Network Partner since 2018, is an organization based in the Caribbean committed to working on the ground to progress new ways of thinking about human fulfillment and social progress, with aim for leading the way for the progressive empowerment of the region’s citizens. Since its founding in 2012, Candid Concepts has worked with partners from diverse sectors to operate as a source of insight in communities both on a local and global level, translating their knowledge and progressive thinking into practical change and inspiring others to also lead in civic innovation. This work has pushed the realization and implementation of sustainable development in the region by highlighting the advantages of adopting sustainable practices and the SDGs so that they can serve as metrics and standards for further independent development of the Civil Society sector.

Candid Concepts has navigated the growing Civil Society sector in the Caribbean while the region has been largely left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. The Civil Society sector of the region has only recently begun to take shape, with for example the Non-Profit Organization Act in the Bahamas being recently passed in 2019 to establish basic policy regulations for the accountability and transparency of organizations. While not only advocating for policies such as this one, Candid Concepts has been devoted to providing support to the growing sector by underlining the value of investing in the concept of “social capital” to the public and the benefits that civic space can provide to Caribbean society and local communities.

Typically, in Caribbean society, social capital is an ideal that is unconsidered and undervalued, as people more commonly consider themselves to be disenfranchised and neglected by their national leadership and the regional policies. The concept of engagement and investment in civic space is largely unheard of. Candid Concept’s Director and Founder, Rochelle Dean, now aims to approach the challenge of how to bring about the prioritization of social capital and citizen’s identification in and ownership of protecting their own civic space in a culture that has yet to even consider the benefits of such. Additionally, with slow and steady growth of the Civil Society sector, Dean is also now reexamining how Candid Concepts can support such growth as it comes about and ensure that the field can work collaboratively under the umbrella of a common goal or purpose.

Read the following interview between TAP Network and Candid Concept’s Director and Founder, Rochelle Dean, about their work supporting growth and development of the SDGs and the conceptualization of social capital in the Caribbean.

Interview with Rochelle Dean, Founder and Director of Candid Concepts Development Agencies

Q: Can you describe the current landscape of the Civil Society Sector in the Caribbean?

A: Civil Society of course has always been very relevant to the poor and developing countries especially the Caribbean. So, it would be unfair to say there hasn’t been strong attempts to develop a robust civil society in the Caribbean, specifically the Bahamas. However, the sector is in need of resuscitation namely due to its reliance on the government. This has created an authoritative approach and with no push back has further caused disenfranchisement and socially atomizing and unsettling effects of market forces. These realities have caused an increase in the shrinking of the sector and of course civil society encompasses so much in terms of politics and economics to sociological views as well as international cooperation for development. Due to these realities the Caribbean has been left behind in the global agenda and of finally the hemisphere is experiencing high levels of poverty in all facets multidimensionally.

Q: Given the landscape, what has been Candid Concept’s role and function in the sector?

A: First of all, I think it’s very difficult to work in the present condition and while Candid Concepts has worked within the global sphere for many years in terms of international cooperation and development it becomes difficult to see progress for other regions and not want to participate in knowledge sharing and pass on that insight. Candid Concepts believes in team work and building synergies with the right partners to come up with strategies that are beneficial and we have worked with many organizations within the sector in the Bahamas for best outcomes.

Q: How has recognition by the Bahamian government, through the Non-Profit Organization Act in 2019, influenced the sector in the Bahamas?

A: This was major for the sector as the sector has been governed progressively by the Companies Act prior to the government’s new regulatory approach to the sector. The NPO Act 2019 was an acknowledgement that the sector can be viable and should be considered a means of market share. Speaking from an economic point of view the sector has the capacity to create jobs and of course is a means of taxation for the government as well so it is a win-win in that sense. I think it was easy to ignore compliance and there has been a lot of backlash in terms of the rationale behind the legislation from many industry leaders due to the idea that it was simply a means of compliance with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) but I think it was beautifully executed even the monitoring aspect of the process. I was definitely impressed with the CESRA which was an addendum to the Companies Act which made this process not so overwhelming for the veterans in the business sector who were operating from a business point of view and in many cases not fully familiar with the civil society sector. I think the NPO Act 2019 will further reverse some of the damaging effects within the sector and with the upcoming World Bank assessment we can expect expansion and growth if knowledgeable partners and professionals are sought.

Q: How would you define the term “social capital” and why is it an important topic to Candid Concepts for addressing the implementation of the 2030 Agenda in the Caribbean?

A: Social capital is defined by its function. It’s not a single entity but a variety of different ones that consist of some aspect of social structure and facilitate certain actions of individuals who are within the structure. Social capital exerts its influence on development as a result of interactions between two broad distinct types of social capital-structural and cognitive. Structural capital facilitates information sharing, decision-making, and collective action through social networks, rules, procedures, and precedents. While cognitive social capital refers to shared norms, values, trust, attitudes, and beliefs. This is important because associations are very important when we look at the role that each citizen plays within society. In order for the SDG’s to be implemented we don’t need to look at what other countries are doing or even agree to one theoretical approach to our society. We simply need to look at ourselves and understand where we all fit into making our society structurally functional for everyone. It’s hard to ignore the idea that the Caribbean has been left behind but it’s even harder to ignore the social constructs and associations that have caused so many individuals to feel disengaged. Candid Concepts Development really wants to dispel that philosophy even if it does exist in reality. Civil Society is all inclusive and it’s the beginning of participatory engagement for a thriving and fully functioning sector. I think that Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals are an all-inclusive passport for access and it is important for the full implementation within the Caribbean.

Q: How else does Civil Society need to be mainstreamed into National programming in the Caribbean? How is Candid Concepts working to support this change?

A: Civil Society needs to first be all inclusive and find its own source of strength independent of the government. The government has mentioned a National Development Strategy at some point and I believe this would be where civil society can be integrated into programming at the national level. As a project consultant I would like to see that happen especially if the government would use the global goals as indicators for success in that sense. I think it will be very easy to roll out some amazing programmes and collect data but I also believe that this is where partnership is important and this approach would definitely be best suited for successful outcomes.

Q: How does Candid Concepts aim to have a hand in the formation of the Civil Society sector in the Caribbean?

A: I think we have already done some amazing things at the governmental level. Candid Concepts Development has made amendments to the NPO Act 2019 and participated in the monitoring process with the Attorney General’s Office. We have also challenged the Bahamas to advocate for SDG16 and its review at the United Nations. With all of that going on Candid Concepts Development is expected to roll out a social accountability programme with international partners in the Bahamas in the near future. We are always looking to partner with international organizations where we can continue to grow and learn to bring new insights and concepts that we may not be privy to in the Caribbean. This is always our goal! To learn and further develop and right now the Caribbean is ready and Candid Concepts Development is a part of that change.

Q: What is the status of implementation of SDG16 in the Caribbean?

A: As it stands after the recent common country analysis, the Bahamas has declined in terms of government and the rule of law. While it was stated that institutions were strong there was no data to support this notion. The Bahamas government has agreed to support the advocacy as a member state of the United Nations to maintain the language and review of SDG16 and continued monitoring for peace, justice and strong institutions.

Q: How has the COVID-19 pandemic influenced the Civil Society landscape in the Caribbean and Candid Concepts work strategy?

A: COVID-19 has impacted everyone and the uncertainty is still very present in terms of the way forward. Candid Concepts Development is lucky in the sense that remote work has not been a challenge. The pandemic has revealed major gaps in the sector and many organizations and also helped Candid Concepts Development to determine exactly what is needed in the sector in terms of the citizenry. I have seen many people have great ideas and have capacity to do great things but so much within structural capital. This is really facilitating the shrinking of civic spaces. The country is developing and cannot afford not to work within structural capital within the sphere of civil society. The pandemic of course was an eye opener in that sense and so while COVID-19 was in a sense a setback in terms of financing and lost opportunities new ones always arise when you are a problem solver.

Q: What are the ambitions for Candid Concepts in the next three years?

A: That is a tough one! I think I would like to be able to hire full staff and not run my own business if that makes sense-I don’t believe in silo’s and I did most of the ground work and I have further educational goals so I would like to bring on more staff and expand in terms of more development projects.

Q: What can members of the TAP Network, especially ones located in regions that have also been left behind in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, take away from the experiences and lessons learned of Candid Concepts?

A: I think it’s important to be open to brutal honesty. People who are honest help you to succeed. I will also say partnerships are key, you may discover you aren’t all you thought you were and that’s the beginning of a shift that can take your organization to the next level. I decided to build others and took a back seat and sometimes criticism can be indirect and hurt your feelings but it’s also the best medicine to becoming a successful industry leader.

Photo by Candid Concepts Development Agencies

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Mainstreaming SDG 16 Resource Launch

Post author By client
Post date December 10, 2020

December 10, 2020

Mainstreaming SDG16: Using the VNRs to Advance More Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies

By John Romano and Claudia Villalona, TAP Network Secretariat

“As we mark the UN’s 75th anniversary and in a world such as ours, collectively doubling down on SDG 16, through VNR processes and as a goal and as an enabler, is as pressing as ever.”

On behalf of the Transparency, Accountability, and Participation (TAP) Network and the Global Alliance for Reporting on Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies, we are thrilled to launch the Mainstreaming SDG16: Using the VNRs to Advance More Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies Resource Guide.

As we continue to face the unprecedented challenges wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic amidst strained systems of governance, shrinking civic space, and growing social unrest fueled by entrenched inequalities, the vision put forth in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development Goal 16 (SDG16) proves to be more relevant than ever as a blueprint forward for the future we want. With these obstacles before us, this resource aims to provide guidance to advance more peaceful, just, and inclusive societies through SDG16+, the foundational goal underpinning the 2030 Agenda, and the Voluntary National Review (VNR) process.

The VNRs are a part of the review mechanisms for the 2030 Agenda, where member states voluntarily “conduct regular and inclusive reviews of progress at the national and sub-national levels, which are country-led and country-driven.” The VNRs are presented annually at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development as a platform to share experiences, including successes, challenges, and lessons learned. The VNR process also aims to strengthen policies and relevant institutions to mobilize multi-stakeholder efforts to implement and review the SDGs. The exponential increase in both the quality and number of VNRs since 2016 reveals their growing relevance and utility for both states and other actors.

Even before the emergence of COVID-19, the world was falling behind on the commitments made five years earlier in the 2030 Agenda, including an alarming regression of SDG 16. This resource seeks to counter this troubling trend with policy guidance, successful case studies, and the sharing of best practices and lessons learned at the national and sub-national levels by effectively leveraging VNR and post-VNR processes. The main question this resource tackles is, “how can we ensure that the VNR is maximized for SDG 16 impact, including improved subsequent reporting?”

The Mainstreaming SDG16 resource first introduces the 2030 Agenda, SDG16, and the VNR process. Detailed approaches to mainstreaming and accelerating SDG16 implementation by leveraging the VNR process follow. The resource’s content is structured through the role of key stakeholders at the subnational, national, and global levels. Finally, the resource is underpinned by the guiding principles that service the entire 2030 Agenda: Leave No One Behind.

Key Findings

Approaches to strengthen the VNR design and streamlining the process with SDG 16 implementation:

For example, in the planning stage of the VNR process, immediate next steps should be identified, embedding accountability mechanisms for follow up. Post-VNR presentation follow-up at the national level could include reporting back to parliament and/or the media about the VNR presentation as well as longer-term implementation.

Consolidating the VNR process with other reporting mechanisms and broader review frameworks leads to more coherent policy, consequential coordination, and greater impact. Additionally, streamlining these processes expands and deepens stakeholder engagement and allows for more effective use of collected data.

The importance of accountability while practicing the “whole of government” and “whole of society” approach:

The “whole of government” approach calls on coordinated and systematic coordination across sectors of the government and public agencies at national and subnational, local levels. This approach ensures better coordination and mobilization of public resources in the implementation and VNR review process.

On the other hand, the “whole of society” approach refers to forms of collaborative governance that engage non-state actors, including civil society, the private sector, and the media, among others, at every step of development. By engaging civil society actors and grassroots organizations, in particular, not only strengthens the impact of implementation, but it also facilitates greater ownership, and by extension, accountability in the review process. Ultimately, civil society plays a fundamental role in advocating for inclusivity and supporting marginalized communities, filling gaps in data, and providing relevant ideas that would otherwise be overlooked. Thus, meaningful civil society engagement based on a whole of society approach is crucial for accountability in the VNR design delivery and follow-up as it reflects inclusive decision-making, effective governance, ensuring that SDG 16 is included and no one is left behind.

The urgent need for localization to facilitate ownership and accountability, as seen in case studies of meaningful community engagement:

Localization refers to the process of meaningfully taking into account sub-national contexts and local actors in the processes of decision-making, implementation, and review to “localize” the 2030 Agenda. More specifically, through a “ground-up” process, local actors can support the VNR and post-VNR processes. Critical to realizing the vision 2030 Agenda where no one is left behind is the meaningful inclusion and engagement of local governments and civil society at every level of the SDG process. It ensures greater accountability and inclusivity cultivated from the ground up.

The nature of data and data reporting mechanisms, as well as financing and partnerships as they relate to the VNR process:

Adequate data collection is a persistent challenge to tracking the progress of SDG16. It affects both the coverage and quality of data available for SDG 16 targets. In the face of this challenge lies an opportunity for bringing in diverse, new stakeholders into the process of data collection, disaggregation, monitoring, and reporting. Especially within the context of the pandemic, greater innovation, and inclusivity in collecting and managing data is critical for better quality and coverage. This endeavor requires greater coordination and communication among National Statistics Offices, UN agencies, human rights institutions, civil society, and other data collectors.

Judith Kaulem, Director of the Poverty Reduction Forum Trust in Zimbabwe and TAP Steering Committee Co-Chair explains the timely importance of this guidance resource:

“The integral role played by the Voluntary National Reviews in the 2030 Agenda and SDGs follow-up cannot be over-emphasized…the process towards their production provides an opportune moment to localize the 2030 Agenda by rallying together all key stakeholders, thus ensuring local ownership of the Agenda. This guidance is a go-to-resource, that provides a ‘whole of society’ approach to both governments and CSOs. It includes necessary tools to take the VNR one crucial step further—to use the recommendations identified in the VNR and link it firmly into national development plans and priorities.”

Thank you to all who joined us for the virtual global event to officially launch the resource on Monday, 14 December 2020 from 8:30 – 10:00 ET / 13:30 – 15:00 GMT. The webinar features a panelist of key experts that will provide insight and reflections as they introduce participants to the content of the resource. The virtual event also facilitated an interactive discussion between participants and practitioners. Please find the recording below, and the executive summary on the SDG16 Hub.

Please note that the content will be updated in the weeks and months ahead, including a virtual, interactive version of the resource. Download the resource now and sign up for updates on the SDG16 Hub.

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The United Nations at 75: An Urgent Need for Action

Post author By client
Post date September 24, 2020

September 24, 2020

The United Nations at 75: An Urgent Need for Action

By John Romano and Claudia Villalona, TAP Network Secretariat

The United Nations observes its 75th anniversary this month with the virtual opening of the General Assembly amidst the coronavirus pandemic and mounting existential crises. Civil society from around the world lead the call for urgent action to realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda while leaving no one behind.

Photo by UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe: The General Debate of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly gets underway at UN Headquarters in New York.

For the first time in the history of the United Nations, leaders from 193 member-states are to deliver their annual speeches virtually at the opening of the UN General Assembly (1). This year, the annual high-level meeting that formally opens the General Assembly Session, marked the United Nation’s 75th anniversary amidst the catastrophic coronavirus pandemic, which has killed nearly one million people and sickened 31 million worldwide (1).

The planned celebrations ahead of the historic 75th session, which opened on September 15 and held the first high-level debate on the 22nd of September, were scrapped and moved to a primarily digital format in which only one mask-wearing representative from each member-state was allowed to attend at U.N. Headquarters in New York (2)(3). Under the theme “The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism,” the session’s most pressing priority has shifted to recovering and rebuilding from the pandemic (2).

In his speech to a socially-distant audience in the General Assembly chamber, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres painted a bleak picture of the challenges facing the world, including an “epochal” health crisis, the biggest economic calamity and job losses since the Great Depression, threats to human rights, the threat of climate change and escalating geopolitical tensions (3). Guterres remarked that while the emergence of COVID-19 has “has brought the world to its knees, it is just a “dress rehearsal for the challenges to come” (3).

The UN prepares for the road ahead

The United Nations has made an effort to utilize these unprecedented times as an opportunity to reflect and regroup in order to effectively face these monumental challenges. Garnering over one million inputs in this “global consultation,” the UN has released a report with these findings called the UN75 report. The report calls for global solidarity stating the urgency for multilateralism and unity “has rarely been greater” to confront the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, and conflict, while also tackling poverty and reducing corruption (4).

Civil society comes together with the UN2020 Declaration

Civil society around the world has also come together in putting forth the UN75 People’s Declaration and Plan for Global Action, “Humanity at a Crossroads: Global Solutions for Global Challenges— a call to action to forge a new foundation for a better path for humanity through a transformation of global governance to reflect a new reality. The declaration recognizes the importance of this year as a turning point for humanity in which global and inclusive cooperation and multilateralism is needed to rise to the challenge (5). To endorse the declaration, click here.

The SDG16+ Community releases the Statement: Act Now for SDG16+

In this necessary moment of reflection, it is essential that we heed the Secretary-General’s call for cooperation across borders, sectors, and generations to recover and realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda (4). In other words, collective action and commitment to peace, justice, inclusion and the vision of the 2030 Agenda is more urgent now than ever.

In the months leading up to UNGA75, the TAP Network and its partners in the SDG16+ Community have co-released the statement “Act Now for SDG16+: Peace, Justice, Inclusion and Strong Institutions in a Pandemic” recognizing the immense challenge in overcoming the pandemic crisis and calling on governments, the international community and leaders in every sector to urgently make SDG16+ the foundation for reset and recovery efforts, and for building more resilient societies and institutions going forward.

The statement, which has garnered support from nearly 90 organizations and partners, affirms that in the face of the global health crisis and other long-standing challenges, the implementation of SDG16+ is “critical to unlocking the 2030 Agenda as a whole” and leaving no one behind (6). To read and commit to the “Act Now for SDG16+” statement, please follow the link here.

The Campaign for a Decade of Accountability for the SDGs

With just a decade to realize the 2030 Agenda, action must be accompanied by accountability. To that end, the TAP Network and its partners have launched the Campaign for a Decade of Accountability for the SDGs complementary to the Campaign for a Decade of Action and Delivery. The multi-stakeholder campaign aims to bolster concerted action and amplify efforts to hold duty-bearers accountable to commitments made to the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda. The Campaign for a Decade of Accountability is driven by the principle that meaningful accountability is critical to rebuild, recover, and realize more inclusive and resilient societies as enshrined in the 2030 Agenda.

The Campaign has launched a platform for SDG Accountability Champions, with commitments from diverse stakeholders around the world. It also launched and closed the SDG Accountability Survey, which is now currently being analyzed for the forthcoming Global SDG Accountability Report set to launch later this year. To learn more about the campaign and to become and SDG Accountability Champion, please follow the link here.

As we take this moment to pause and reflect on the challenges before us, we must acknowledge that the world finds itself at a tipping point, requiring concerted and collective action in response. In the words of Secretary-General Antonio Guterres: “the COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the world’s frailties. We can only address them together” (3).

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Tags 2020, blogseries

News Blog

In the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Our Commitment to SDG16+ Matters Now More Than Ever

Post author By client
Post date June 17, 2020

June 18, 2020

In the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Our Commitment to SDG16+ Matters Now More Than Ever

By John Romano and Claudia Villalona, TAP Network Secretariat

SDG16+ takes center stage in the response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and will be critical to rebuilding and building resilience in the future

In 2015, leaders and change-makers from around the world came together to commit to a shared ambition and vision for the future with the adaptation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development framework, including the groundbreaking commitments to SDG16 for peaceful, just and inclusive societies.

As highlighted in the Rome Civil Society Declaration on SDG16+, the snapshot of progress over the first five years of progress towards the SDGs has not been encouraging, and the international community has found itself well behind in its goals to achieve the 2030 Agenda – with SDG16 progress stagnating or even backsliding on many fronts, and in many countries around the world. In the face of this downward trend around the implementation of the SDGs, the world also now faces unprecedented challenges related to the current COVID-19 pandemic, with governments and key civil society partners shifting focus to responding to this growing crisis (1).

In the midst of these troubling times, it is more important than ever that the global community remains steadfast to realizing the commitments made in the 2030 Agenda and SDG16. The COVID-19 pandemic has only exposed the deepening cracks that have emerged in society, only serving to magnify the deep inequalities that exist on many fronts, and exposing weaknesses in institutions that have been chronically under-funded and under-supported over past years or even decades.

It has also highlighted the critical accountability relationship between a state and its citizens, with government responsiveness to its citizens more important than ever before. The current reality accentuated by the global public health crisis underscores the need to accelerate progress on SDG16+ around peaceful, just and inclusive societies, and indeed, highlights that progress towards SDG16+ is a prerequisite to advancing gains to push back this global pandemic in communities around the world.

What is clear is that in order to overcome this crisis, we must frame our response to COVID-19 through the framework of SDG16+, particularly as we look towards recovery and building resilience in the future. Additionally, as populations turn to their leaders for an effective response to this crisis, there is a critical need for transparency and comprehensive accountability for those in power. Ultimately, leveraging SDG16+ is the key to ensure an effective, inclusive, and just public health response – a necessity even more evident in conflict-affected and fragile states (1).

Why SDG16+?

Strong, transparent, and accountable governments, a key element to SDG16+, paves the way for a more effective public health response “rooted in trust and social cohesion” (1). Trust in public institutions also allows for a fair allocation of key resources and crisis relief to the most vulnerable– paramount to an effective response to the pandemic. Fragile states plagued by pervasive conflict, violence, poverty, inequality, and poor public services are extremely vulnerable to the widespread and compounding repercussions of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

All government emergency responses, regardless of institutional capacity, must take on a “peace-building” approach to avoid potential sources of conflict, while ensuring an inclusive and just crisis response that takes into account the societal cleavages and needs of vulnerable communities. An SDG 16+ – centered approach, that addresses the disproportionate health and socioeconomic effects of the crisis on the most marginalized in our societies, presents the most effective strategy to delivering an effective public health response as it mitigates the pandemic’s potential to deepen exclusion and inequality and inflame sources of conflict (1). A testament to this fact is the recent mobilizations against police brutality and white supremacy around the world. As a result of a poor public health response, the black community in the United States has disproportionately endured the acute consequences of the pandemic, effectively deepening the existing fault lines of marginalization and inequality.

The degree to which governments and public institutions are accountable to their populations, providing an inclusive response under girded by the commitment of “justice for all,” will determine the outcomes of this crisis (2). Historical precedence has demonstrated the potential for crises to be exploited for political gain and the suppression of opposition. The propensity for exploitative anti-democratic forces to take advantage of crisis further underscores the need for accountable, inclusive and transparent institutions. Consequently, we must be vigilant to “defend and strengthen our institutions” through the lens of SDG16+.

To effectively manage the crisis there must be a focus on good governance, inclusivity, and “justice for all.” In other words, an SDG16+ approach would “reduce the spill-over effects of this pandemic,” ensuring that the public health crisis does not generate secondary effects of conflict and socioeconomic instability (2).

An Opportunity to “Build Back Better” through an SDG16+ approach

As we continue to face this crisis that permeates nearly every aspect of our lives, we are also confronted with an opportunity to build back better than before and create the future we want. As the Secretary-General António Guterres stated, “We must act in solidarity and turn this crisis into an impetus to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals” (3).

By facing the crisis through the lens of SDG16+, not only can we manage the acute consequences of the pandemic in the short-term, but we can also demand more accountable public institutions and forge more peaceful, inclusive and just societies to break cycles of conflict in the long term.

Using SDG16+ as a road map, we can build more resilient societies that are better prepared to confront the existential global challenges. As we move through this public health emergency, we must double down on our commitment to SDG16+ and the 2030 Agenda, not only to salvage the global goals and ensure no one is left behind but also to create a more resilient and sustainable future (2).

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Tags SDG16+, covid-19, 2020, blogseries

May 27, 2021

Assessing Canada’s Right to Information Practice: A Guest Blog by The Centre for Law and Democracy

Background

Institutional Measures

Proactive Disclosure

Reactive Disclosure

Conclusion

May 11, 2021

TAP Network Conversations: Working on the Ground and at the Global Level in Afghanistan with the International Legal Foundation

May 10, 2021

Defining Social Capital in the Bahamas:An Interview with Candid Concepts Development Agencies

Introduction

Interview with Rochelle Dean, Founder and Director of Candid Concepts Development Agencies

December 10, 2020

Mainstreaming SDG16: Using the VNRs to Advance More Peaceful, Just and Inclusive Societies

September 24, 2020

The United Nations at 75: An Urgent Need for Action

June 18, 2020

In the face of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Our Commitment to SDG16+ Matters Now More Than Ever

Assessing Canada’s Right to Information Practice:
A Guest Blog by The Centre for Law and Democracy

Defining Social Capital in the Bahamas:
An Interview with Candid Concepts Development Agencies