How can UN agencies collaborate better with civil society and local partners?

Civil society is an essential partner to inform, enable and sustain progress. The UN's constituents are Member States/governments, but governments are to serve the people. Civil society carries community voice and elevates priorities so governments, donors, UN agencies and others can be responsive. Civil society must be at the table to inform, shape, advocate, ensure accountability and build trust, but also can ensure that funding and programs are delivering what they were intended to deliver, and if not, learn and course correct. To better collaborate? Invite civil society to major decision-making tables from the outset, see them as your accountability partners, and provide opportunities and time for substantive, meaningful contributions.

Why countries and not geographical territories, which usually cut across political borders? If we deal with environment, climate or food systems we need to use the maps of environmentalists.

Certainly, herIn addressing climate change, UN agencies must tailor their collaboration to fit within the unique environmental, economic, and social contexts of each country. They should integrate their efforts with national climate action plans, respecting countries' commitments to international agreements like the Paris Agreement. This involves supporting the development and implementation of each country's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which outline individual strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change.

Reconociendo la relevancia de la inadecuada identificación de los problemas públicos y las políticas públicas nacionales, las intervenciones tendrán un mejor impacto y serán aliados en la reducción de la brecha en los servicios públicos en donde colaboran con el Estado.

Creo que habrían dos elementos esenciales en donde no solo pueden colaborar sino también persuadir a que forme parte del relacionamiento con los gobiernos: 1. accountability, que tanta falta hace para la mejora de los proyectos y medir el impacto que los mismos tienen en la reducción de brechas; 2. alineación a las políticas públicas nacionales, a efectos de tener mayor incidencia en la implementación de sus intervenciones.

It is important to recognize the full diversity of civil society organizations and ensure more than just one representative is able to participate fully throughout key processes. For example, students, teachers’ unions, disabled peoples organizations, CSOs representing indigenous and historically marginalized groups, as well as ensuring full inclusion in mother tongue languages rather than just English or a few UN languages. Civil society organizations often face barriers due to lack of information on internal UN processes, lack of access to policymakers, and challenges literally getting in the building. More participatory development should allow all civil society groups to participate meaningfully as well as individuals around the world.

When I worked at the German Red Cross I attended some meetings of the Peruvian National Humanitarian Network, which was led by INDECI and OCHA. In these meetings I could see the importance of working in a coordinated manner between organizations to have an organized response and reduce costs. In addition, I think it is important to organize a cluster where one organization leads, according to its expertise, and the other organizations support it.

I have been thinking quite a lot about our individual responsibilities in the development of our nations, regions, continents and consequently the world! Its our individual efforts that collectively result into economic growth and development; working with that perspective in mind shifts a lot in mindset, and in how we show up and contribute at our different places work and service. This then implies that we will always be in the best position to share ideas, concerns and contribute to the development initiatives in our societies in the best ways that will translate into practical results at all levels. We shall be understand these projects well enough and own into them as partners of development not just passive recipients! Thank you

Work as a team is important, so each and every one feels to contribute towards the same goal, for a better situation. Sometimes, people wants to impose their ideas and working as a team will allow exchanges of experience and values.