25 May 2007

Glasgow, Scotland:

The CIVICUS World Assembly has highlighted the need for activists and civil society organisations to be more accountable. CIVICUS is an international non-governmental organisation focused on nurturing citizen action, and its 7th World Assembly drew civil society representatives from around the world.

Mr. Ad de Raad, Executive Coordinator of the United Nations Volunteer programme (UNV), told delegates on the opening day that accountability meant more than being concerned about hearing the voice of constituents. “The beneficiaries of services need to be involved directly in the events and processes that affect their lives.,” he said. “Their active involvement and the involvement of millions like them are the key to the achieving of the Millennium Development Goals.“

Mr. de Raad stressed that accountability was a mindset and that the attitude and determination to be accountable were more important than the methods and tools used to ensure accountability.  He described United Nations reform as a direct response to calls for greater accountability and he noted that the Paris Declaration was an attempt by donors to be more accountable.  

Mr. de Raad said it was also important that many of those who need to be actively involved and recognized are already part of civil society organizations (CSOs).  He referred to a John Hopkins University study of the non-profit sector in 36 countries, which found that volunteers comprised 44% of the workforce of CSOs.  Organisations could enhance their own accountability by ensuring the inclusion and diversity of volunteers in their work, he said. At the same time, organizations should also be accountable to their volunteers through proper management and recognition of their significant contributions.

CIVICUS chairperson Aruna Rao told the opening plenary that “civil society organizations around the world are very vocal in their criticisms of government and business, but …their accountability to their own constituency has emerged as the key issue in this sector.” 

The panel of speakers addressing the theme of CSO accountability comprised Mr. de Raad; Simon Zadek, Chief Executive of AccountAbility, a corporate social responsibility consultancy; Lisa Jordan, Deputy Director of Global Civil Society Ford Foundation; and Venus Ilagen, Executive Director of Disabled People International.   

To further explore this topic, CIVICUS, UN Volunteers and the International Association of Volunteer Effort (IAVE) are running a joint workshop at the World Assembly on 26 May entitled “Accountability Within - Engaging Volunteer Social Activists”.