Progressive Development Forum 19 July 2012, Reportfinal

7/31/2019 Progressive Development Forum 19 July 2012, Reportfinal

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AIDJUSTICE

beyond

towards

A report of theProgressive

Development Forum

held on19 July 2012

London


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BEYOND AID, TOW ARDS JUSTICE

PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT FORUM

19 July 2012, London

T h e fo l low i ng do c um en t i s a r epo r t o f t he Pr og r essi ve D ev el opm en t Fo r um h e l d in Londo n ont he a ft e r noo n o f 19 Ju l y 2012 . T h e f o r um w as at t ended b y 50 s en i o r f igur es w ho had been inv i t edf ro m a r ange o f deve lopm ent o r gan isa t ions , t r ade un ions and so l idar i t y g ro ups ; severa l o th ers hadsent apo lo gies in advance and s ta ted t ha t t h ey w ished to be p ar t o f t he in i t i a t i ve as i t deve lopedafte r t he fo ru m . T h is repo r t i s be ing sent t o a ll t ho se inv it ed , bu t i t i s a pub l ic docum ent t ha t canbe c i rcu la ted to anyone e lse .

T h e r epo r t a im s t o r e fl ect t he c on t en t o f t he d i sc uss ion he ld a t t he f o r u m . Ex c ep t f o r t he nam edspeak e r s , al l o t he r c on t r i bu t i ons r em a in no n - at t r i bu t ab l e . T h e pu r po s e o f t he fo r um w as t o o pena space to exp lo r e c r i t i ca l i ssues con cern ing the d iscou r se on in t e rn a t iona l deve lopm ent , and toi den t i fy how w e in B r i t ai n can c on t r ibu t e t o t he w i de r m ov em en t fo r g loba l j ust i c e . T h e r epo r ta lso r ec o r ds t he nex t s t eps i n t he p r o c es s t ha t w e r e agr eed a t t h e f o r um .

It s hou l d be no t ed t ha t t he fo r um w as f o l low ed by t w o pub l i c m ee t i ngs he l d in Lon don on t heeven ing o f 19 Ju ly and in M anches ter t h e fo l low ing even ing , und er t he p ara lle l t i t l e Beyon dC har i t y , T ow ar ds Jus t ic e . A fu r t he r 50 p eop l e a t t ended t hes e t w o m ee t i ngs, and t he r e w as ac lear sense o f in te r es t fr o m bo th sess io ns in co n t inu ing the d iscussions fu r ther .

Contents of this document

1 . O r i g ina l i nvi t at i on t o t he day2 . A genda fo r t h e day (p lus r ead ings)3 . H an d o u t d i st r i b u t e d o n t h e d a y4 . Repo r t o f t he day , inc lud ing nex t s teps5 . Append ix : t ransc r ip t o f f l i pchar t s


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[ this is the original invitation to the forum]

Beyond 2015, Beyond Aid

Towards progressive development

T h e r e i s a fee li ng am ong m any i n t h e i n t e r na t i ona l deve l opm en t s ec t o r t ha t t he d om inan td i sc ou r s e o n d ev e lop m en t he r e i n B r i t ain h as gone bad ly aw r y . D esp i t e a w i desp r ead r ec ogn it i ontha t r ea l p r ogr ess tow ards globa l jus t i ce depends on a r ange o f st r uc tu ra l econo m ic , so c ia l andpo l it i cal fac to r s , bo th na t io na l and in t e rna t io na l , t h i s und ers tand ing is t oo o f ten d isregar ded w heni t co m es to pub l ic m essaging and cam paigns. I nstead, t he d eve lo pm ent d iscou r se in Br i t ain t o dayhas been lar gely r educed to an a id agenda, w i th a l l t he n egat i ve co nsequences th is b r in gs . C oup ledw i t h a gov e r n m en t w h i ch i s sh i ft i ng D FI D fr om a dev el opm en t depa r t m en t t o an a id agenc y, t h i s

has ser io us po t en t ia l impac ts on U K s ta te and c iv i l soc ie t y invo lvement in in te rn a t iona ldeve lopm ent debates , dec isions and de l i ver y .

T h e sam e t ensi ons w e r e r e f lec t ed i n t he Find ing Fram esr epo r t pub l i shed by Bond i n 2011 , w h i chacknow ledged th e pr ob lems tha t have been caused by m any years fram ing o f globa l jus t i cem essages in t h e language o f char i t y , a id and p h i lan th r op y , w i th peop le in d eve lop ing coun t r iess een as v ic t i m s t o be he l ped r at he r t han ac t o r s dem and i ng j ust i ce . T h e r epo r t a lso no t ed t her espo ns ib i l it y o f Br i t i sh o rgan isa t ions fo r t h i s fr am ing, and th e im po r tan t r o le t ha t o ur sec tor p laysin de ter m in ing the pu b l i c s unders tand ing o f g lo ba l i ssues . C ampaigns fo r t h e U K go vern m ent t oho nou r t he 0 .7% a id ta rge t h ave been spec tacu lar l y successfu l , bu t a t t h e exp ense o f cal ls fo rt r ansfor m at ive change.

W h i le t he abov e c onc e r ns ar e w i de ly he ld , t he r e i s a t p r esen t no space w i t h i n t he sec t o r t odev e lop a r espon se t o t hem . T he c u r r en t U K gov e r nm en t has em b r ac ed a par t i c u lar l y nar r owagenda o f serv ice de l i ver y and a id m et r i cs, and m any a id agenc ies have been dr awn to w ards th is .W e a r e ev en see ing t he r e t u r n o f ex t r em e l y nega t iv e i m age r y i n pub l i c com m un i c at i ons w h i c hm any o f us tho ught had been b an ished year s ago.

Th e ind iv idua ls li sted be lo w are am on g those w ho b e l ieve ther e i s a need t o c rea te a space w i th int he s ect o r t o d i sc uss t hese c hal lenges a fo r um t h r ou gh w h i ch t o r espo nd t o t he t h r eat s and t ow o r k t o ge t he r o n st r a t egi es t o a l t e r t he dom inan t d i sc ou r se fo r t he be t t e r . W e hav e t he r e fo r ebo ok ed t he space fo r a fi r s t suc h f o r u m t o t ak e p l ac e t h is sum m er , fr om 2pm t o 5pm on

T h u r s day 19 Ju l y 2012 , in t he R i c hm o nd R o om at 25 M ar y lebone R oad , Lond on N W 1 5JR .

T h e p r i m ar y f unc t i on o f t he fo r u m w i ll be t o p r o v ide a space f o r d i sc ussi on be t w een us , and t hes t r uc t u r e o f t he a ft e r noo n w i ll be d ir ec t ed t o w ar ds t he m ax i m um po ss ib l e par t i c ipa t ion o f al la t t endees. T h e r e w i ll al so be t w o speak e r s t o he l p f oc us t he deba t e : L i dy N acp i l , c oo r d i nat o r o fJub i l ee Sou t h A si a / Pac if ic M o v em en t on D eb t and D ev e lop m en t , and D r A n t ho ny Yaw Baah ,D epu t y G ene r a l Sec r e t a r y o f t he G hana T r ades U n i on C on gr es s. [ An t hon y w as even t ua ll y unab l et o at t end .]

Th is is a per son a l inv i t a t ion t o you in l igh t o f your in te r es t in t h is i ssue; i f you w ou ld l i ke t o send asubs t i t u t e , p lease in fo r m us in advance. T he fo r um w i ll be fo r sen io r f igures fr o m a range o f


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deve lopm ent o rgan isa t ions , t r ade un ion s and so l idar i t y g ro ups , and i s des igned bo th t o s tar t t h i sdebate w i th in t he sec tor and to p lan po ss ib le st r a tegies fo r bu i ld ing a p ro gre ss ive deve lop m entm ov em en t f o r t he f u t u r e . W e do hop e t ha t you w i ll be ab l e t o a t t end t he f o r u m ; p l ease R SVP by29 June 201 2 so th a t w e can ge t a sense o f num ber s to

p r og r es si v edev e lopm en t f o r u m @ ho t m a il .c o .uk

C l iv e N e t t le t o n , D i r e ct o r , B o o k A id I n t e r n at i o n a lJi ll H eal ey , Ex ec u t i v e D i r ec t o r , C h i ldH op eD an T ay lo r , D i r e ct o r , Fin d Y o u r F ee tM a r t in D r e w r y , D i r e ct o r , H e alt h Po v er t y A c t i o nLar r y Eng l ish , C h ie f Execut i ve , H o m eless In te rn a t iona lN i ck D ear d en , D i r ec t o r , Jub i l ee D eb t C am pa ignK i r st y Sm i th , D ir e c t o r , M R D FPatr ick Mulvany, personal capac i ty

G r ah am B e n n et t , Fo r m e r D ir e c t o r , O n e W o r l d A c t io nEm m a C r ew e , R esear c h F e ll ow , SO A SO w en T udo r , H ead o f Eu r opean U n ion and In t e r nat i ona l R e la t ion s, T U CN ick Sigle r , H ead o f I n te rn a t io na l Re lat ion s , U N ISO NJo h n H i lar y , Ex e c u t iv e D i r e ct o r , W a r o n W an tD e b o r ah D o an e , D ir e c t o r , W o r ld D e ve lo p m en t M o v e m e n t


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19 July 2012Richmond Room

25 Marylebone RoadLondon NW 1 5JR

AGENDA

2 .0 0 W e lc o m e fr o m h o s t ( K i r st y Sm i t h )

2 .05 Jo i n t C ha ir s (Po l ly Jones and N i c k D ear den ) w e lc om e al l, i n t r o duc e pu r pos e o f fo r um andf o r m at o f af t e r no on , in t r odu c e speak e r s

2 .10 L idy N acp i l ( Jub i lee Sou th) and Steve Fau lkner (SA M W U ) speak

2 .40 A ny im m ed i at e quest i ons / com m en t s / r eac t i ons t o t h e speak e r s ; m o r e c om p l ex i ssues t obe par ked fo r d iscussion la te r

2 .50 Sm all g rou p d iscuss io ns , fac il i t ated by Rob H anco ck ; sp li t in t o g ro ups o f about 10 each tod iscuss tw o q ues t ions :

( a) w ha t a r e t he c hal lenges and w ha t c an be i m p r ov ed i n t he c u r r en t f r am i ng o fint er nat io nal develop m ent , inc lud ing issues, language, im ager y , vo ices etc

(b) ho w to bu i ld a m o vem ent f o r g lob a l just i ce in Br i t a in , l ink ing up st r uggles her e andar o u n d t h e w o r ld

3 .3 0 C o m fo r t b r e ak

3 .45 R epo r t s bac k fr om sm al l gr o ups

4 .15 F ina l p l enar y : w he r e do w e go f r o m he r e? H ow t o bu i l d a p r og r essi v e m o v em en t l ink i ngup N o r t h and Sou t h , soc i al and env i r o nm en t al , in c o m m o n c aus e.

4 .50 Ref lec t ion s on the d iscussions f ro m speakers

4 .55 W r app i ng up and t hank y ous f r o m Jo i n t C h ai r s ( H annah G r i ffi t hs and M ar t i n D r ew r y ) ; anyo t he r hou sek eep i ng.

5.00 End

PT O fo r r ead i ngs r e l ev an t t o t he day


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RELEVAN T READINGS

F ind ing Fram es: N ew w ays to engage the UK pu b l ic in g loba l pover ty ( 2 01 1 ) b y A n d r e w D ar n t o n a n dM a r t i n K i r k ; h t tp : / /www.bond.org .uk /da ta / f i l es / f ind ing_f rames .pd f (espec ia l ly pp36-40, and 90-94)

Th e M iss ionar y Pos it ion : N GO s and d eve lopm ent in A f r ica ( 2002 ) by F ir o z e M an ji and C ar l O C o i ll ;h t t p : / / f ahamu.org /downloads /m iss ionarypos i t ion .pd f

H a m le t w i t h o u t t h e P r in ce o f De n m a rk : H o w d e ve lo p m e n t h a s d i sa p p e a re d f ro m to d a y s d e ve lop m e n t d iscourse( 2010 ) b y H a -Jo on C hanght t p : //w w w .econ.cam .ac.uk / facu l t y / chang/pubs /H amle tw i tho ut t hePr inceo fD enm ark - r ev ised .pd f

H isto ry o f A f r ican D eve lopm ent In i t ia t i ves ( 2003 ) by A n t ho ny Baahh t t p : / / w w w . s a r pn . o r g / doc um en t s / d0000407 / P373_Baah . pd f

Unders tand ing Pub l i c A t t i tudes to A id and Deve lopment ( 2012 ) by A lex G l enn i e , W i ll St r aw and Len iW ild ; h t t p : / / w w w . od i . o r g . uk / r es ou r c es / doc s / 7708 . pd f

t h is last i s summ ar ised in a Gu ard ian p iece here : h t tp : / /www.guard ian .co .uk /g loba l -deve lopment /pover t y -mat te rs /2012/ jun /25 /a id -campaigns -a l iena te-pub l i c -d e v e l o p m e n t ? C M P = t w t _ f d

Demyst i fy ing A id ( 2011 ) by Yash T ando n ; r equ i r es pay m en t o f 2 .50 t o do w n l oad

h t t p :/ / faham ubo ok s .o r g /bo ok / ?G C O I= 90638100172510


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RANDOM TH OUGHTS ON AID v JUSTICE

Handout for Progressive Development ForumLondon, 19 July 2012

1. D em yst i fy ing Aid (2012) Yash Tandon, SEAT IN I; former head of the South Centre

D ev e lop m en t ai d i s no t w hat i t pu r po r t s t o be . It i s i n r ea li t y a t oo l t hat t he W est us es t oc on t r o l A fr i c a no t o n l y it s r es ou r c es bu t a lso i t s m acr o - ec onom i c po l ic ies and i t s i nst i t u t i ons o fgovern ance. I t i s a neoco lon ia l t o o l . It i s a se lf -serv ing m echan ism fo r Eur op e to ge t ou t o f it s ow nec ono m ic p r ob l em s , and no t f o r A f r i c a s dev e lopm en t . A f r i c a has been f oo l ed m any t i m es be f o r eby promises of a id. The aid ef fec t iveness charade is only one of the latest scams.

2 . T he M issionary Posi t ion: N G O s and deve lopm ent in Afr ica (2002) Firoze Manji andCarl OCoill

D eve lo pm ent N G O s have becom e an in tegra l , and necessary , par t o f a system tha t sac r i fi cesr espec t f o r just i ce and r igh ts . Th ey have taken th e m issionary p os i t i on serv ice de l i very , runn ingpr o jec ts t ha t a re m o t i vated by char i t y , p it y and d o ing th ings fo r p eop le (imp l i ci t l y wh o can t do i tfo r t hem s el ves) , a lbe i t w i t h t h e v e r b i age o f pa r t i cipa t o r y app r oaches N G O s face a st a r k c ho i c e .If t hey st and i n favou r o f t he em anc i pat i on o f hum ank ind ( w h e t he r a t ho m e o r ab r oad ) , t hen t hefocus o f t he i r w o rk h as inev i t ab ly t o b e in t h e po l i t i cal dom ain , suppo r t ing those so c ia lm o vemen ts tha t seek to chal lenge a so c ial system th a t benef it s a few and impo ver ishes the m any .

3. Liberation and Development (1971) Gustavo Gutirrez

T h e te r m d e ve lo p m e n t has syn t hes ized th e asp i rat io ns o f po o r p eop les dur ing the las t fewdec ades. R ec en t l y , how ev e r , it h as becom e t he o b j ec t o f sev e r e c r i t i c is m du e bo t h t o t hede f ic ienc ies o f t he dev e lopm en t po l ic ies p r opo sed t o t he po o r c oun t r i es t o l ead t hem ou t o f t he irunde r dev e lop m en t and a ls o t o t he l ac k o f c onc r e t e ac h iev em en t s o f t he i n t e r es t ed gov e r nm en t s .T h is is t he r eas on w hy deve lopmenta l i sm (desarro l l i smo) , a t e r m d e r i v ed f r o m d e ve lo p m e n t (desarro l lo) , is now used in a pe jo r a t i ve sense, espec ia ll y in La t in A m er ica In th is l igh t , t o speakabou t t h e p r o c es s o f l iberat ion begins t o appear m o r e app r o p r ia t e and r i che r i n hum an c o n t en t .L ibera t io n in f ac t ex pr esses the inescapab le m o m ent o f rad ica l change w h ich i s f o r e ign t o t heo r d i nar y us e o f t he t e r m d e ve lo p m e n t . O n ly in t he con tex t o f such a p ro cess can a po l i cy o fdeve lopm ent be e f fec t i ve ly im p lem ented, have any r ea l m ean ing , and avo id m islead ingformula t ions .

4. H a m le t w i t hout t he P rince o f D e nm a r k : H ow de v e lopm e nt ha s d isa pp e a r e d f romtod ay s develop m ent discourse(2010) Ha-Joon Chang, University of Cambridge

The r e a re m any d i f fe ren t e lem en ts in t he M D G s, espec ial ly as each goa l has a num ber o f t ar ge t s t ha tspan ac ro ss d i f fe ren t sub - i ssues, bu t m o st o f t hem r e late t o r educ ing po ve r t y and im p r ov ing educat ionand hea lt h in po o r coun t r ies Laudab le t hese go a ls and t a rge t s m ay be , t he i r sum to ta l do es no tam o un t t o d eve lopm en t in t he sense w e ar e t a lk ing abou t , as t hey pay no se r ious at t en t ion t o t het r ansfo r m at ion o f p r oduc t i ve st r uc tu r e and capab i l it i e s .


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5. H isto ry of Af r ican D eve lop m ent In i t ia t ives (2003) Anthony Baah, Ghana TradesUnion Congress

T he r e have been t w o t y pes o f dev el opm en t i n i t i at i v es i n pos t - independenc e A f r i ca nam e l y;

in i t ia t ives b yA f r i ca and in i t i at i ves fo rA f r i c a. T he fo r m er r e fe r s t o c oun t r y - ow ned i n i t iat i v es t hatw e r e desi gned and i m p l em en t ed b y Af r i can count r ies a f te r independence. The la t t e r re fe rs t oin i t ia t ives that ar e des igned f o r Af r i ca and imp lemented th rough in te rna t iona l f i nanc ia l i ns t i t u t ions .The two in i t i a t i ves have d i f f e ren t charac ter i s t i cs : A f r i ca-owned in i t i a t i ves were peop le-cent redt he r e fo r e t hey suc c eeded , t o s om e ex t en t , in t e r m s o f hum an dev e lopm en t . A l l t he i n i t i at i v esim posed o n A fr i ca, par t i cu lar l y s ince t he 1980 s , have b een based o n t he b l ind and r u th less fr eem arke t ideo lo gy and t hey have a ll fa il ed m iserab ly . U nfor tunate ly , t he p er iod du r ing w h ichA fr i c ans had t h e op po r t un i t y t o in i t i at e t h e i r o w n dev e l opm en t po l ic ies w as ve r y s ho r t , last i ngless than a decade fr o m independence (b e tw een 196 0 and 1 970 ) . Since then a ll i n i t i at i ves havebeen d es igned by a l iens fo r A f r ica and t hey have al l fa i led. Th e fai lur e is ev idenced b y th e everg r ow i ng deb t and i nc r eased i nci dence o f pov e r t y o n t h e A fr i c an c o n t i nen t .

6. U ndersta nding Publ ic At t i tudes to Aid and D eve lopm ent (2012) by Alex Glennie,W ill Straw and Leni W ild

W hat ev idence th er e i s sugges ts t h e Br i t i sh pu b l ic und ers tands the causes o f and r espo nses tog loba l pov e r t y l it t l e d i ff er en t l y now t han w as t he c as e in 1985 . T h e L iv e A i d v iew o f t he w o r l d w he r eby char i t y and a id a r e gi ven t o po o r e r c oun t r i es o r peo p l e by r i che r ones , o ft en i nr espo ns e t o na t u r a l d is as t e r s , em er genc ies o r hum an s u ffe r i ng r em a ins dom i nan t W h i l e t heU K pub l i c con t i nues t o dona t e gene r ous l y t o on e - o f f appeal s, ou r f ind i ngs suppo r t r ec en t o p i n ionpo l ls sho w ing a dec l ine in suppor t f o r inc reased a id spend ing (and som e cal ls t o r educe th isspend ing) . T h is seem s to be l ink ed par t l y t o t h e im pac t o f t he f inanc ia l cr i si s and pub l ic spend ing

cuts , bu t a lso s tems f ro m concer ns abo ut w aste and ine f fi c iency in t he d e l i ver y o f a id . These mayhave been ex ac e r bat ed b y t he f und r ai si ng and c om m un i c at i on st r a t eg ies o f s om e N G O s andgovern m ent . Mo s t par t i c ipants s tated th a t t he im ages th ey saw o n t e lev is io n m ade th em fee l l ikel i t t l e p r o gress had been m ade on t he deve lopm ent agenda over t he past f ew decades, w h ich intu r n had m ade them less conf ident in t h e e f fec t i veness o f a id .

7. Finding Fram es: N ew w ays to en ga ge the U K p ubl ic in globa l po verty (Bond, 2011) Andrew Darnton and Mart in Kirk


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19 July 2012Richmond Room

25 Marylebone RoadLondon NW 1 5JR

REPORT OF TH E DAY

1. W elcomes and introduction

Ki rs t y Smi th we lcomed a l l par t i c ipants t o t he venue. The two jo in t cha i rs f o r t he f i r s t sess ion ,Po l ly Jones and N i ck D ear den , in t r o duc ed t he f o r um and r a ised t he f o l low i ng quest i ons t o st a r t

t he debate :

1 . A r e w e fr am ing deve l opm en t i n t e r m s o f a id? W hy ar e w e do i ng t h i s and w ha t ar e t heconsequences fo r what we are t ry ing to ach ieve?

2 . W h at d o o u r So u t h e r n p ar t n e r s t h in k a b o u t t h i s? H o w d o e s it f it w i t h t h e i r p r i o r i t i es an dho w they de f ine the i r s t rugg les?

3 . H ow do w e sh i ft t he d i s cou r s e and pu t t he s t r u c t u r a l caus es cen t r e s t age?4 . H o w do w e l ink up st r ugg les against neo l iber a li sm and aus ter i t y po l i cies in t h e So ut h and

N o r t h ?5 . How do we keep campaigners and ac t i v i s t s mot i va ted by long te rm goa ls?6 . H ow do w e fund c am pa igns abou t l ong t e r m s t r uc t u r al change?

7 .

Sho u ld w e be cha l leng ing o th er o r gan isa t ions to do be t te r , and w hat a re the co nsequencesfo r t h e U K d e v elo p m e n t se c t o r i f w e d o a n d i f w e d o n ' t ?

8 . W h at d o e s t h i s m e an f o r h o w w e en gage w i t h go v e r n m e n t ?

2. Opening plenary

L i dy N ac p il o f Jub i l ee Sou t h add r ess ed t h e f o r u m . L i dy t o l d t he s t o r y o f t he g l obal m o v em en t f o rdebt cance l lat io n as an examp le o f ho w ex ist ing st r ugg les in t he g loba l So ut h can be und er m inedb y e v en w e ll- m e an in g N G O s fr o m t h e N o r t h . Sh e r e c al le d h o w g r o u p s w o r k i n g fo r d e b tcance l lat ion in t he So ut h had in i t i a ll y w e lcom ed i t w hen th e Jub i lee 2000 campaign t oo k up t he

i ssue o f deb t i n B r i t ai n , bu t t ha t po w er i m ba lanc es had s oon l ed t o t he m ov em en t be i ngt h r eat ened by t he agenda o f t he N o r t he r n gr oups . Sou t he r n speak e r s w e r e i nc r easi ngl y be ingm arg ina l ised as case stud ies t o suppo r t t he po s it ion s o f o th er ac to rs ra th er t han lead ing theanalysis and the p o l it i cal agenda. I n r espo nse, g rou ps fr o m the South to o k up th e s lo gan o f N o t h i n g A b o u t U s W i t h o u t U s as a d em an d f o r le gi t im ac y fr o m t h e ir p a r t n e r s in t h e N o r t h .

L idy st r essed th a t t h i s dem and w as no t a quest ion o f r equ i r ing par t i c ipat io n fo r i t s o w n sake. T hec onc e r n s t em m ed fr o m t he f ac t t ha t t he anal ys is and t he c am pa i gn c a ll fr om t he N o r t h r anc oun t e r t o t ha t w h i ch had been f o r m u l at ed i n t he Sou t h ov e r m any y ear s o f s t r uggl e . In pa r t i c u la r ,m any N o r t he r n N G O s w e r e c al li ng fo r a one - o ff canc e l lat i on o f deb t s , and j ust f o r t he po o r estc oun t r i es a pos it i on t hat r e f lec t ed t he anal ysi s o f t he W or l d Bank r a t he r t han t h e po l i t i ca l


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fo r m u l at i on o f Sou t he r n m ov em en t s. In add i t io n , som e w e r e f r am i ng t he issue i n t e r m s o f deb t fo rg iveness , w her e act i v i st s in t he So uth w ere c lear t ha t t her e w as no th ing to f o r g ive . M o s t o fa ll , t her e w as no s t ru c tu r a l analysis o f t he r o o t causes o f ind ebtedn ess , and th is in t u rn th r eatenedt o l ead t o a depo l it i c isa t ion o f t he m o v em en t .

L i dy w e lc om ed t h e cu r r en t i n it i at i v e t o m ov e bey ond t he f r am i ng o f a id , cha r i t y and ph i l an t h r opyto w ards o ne o f globa l jus t i ce . She cha l lenged Br i t i sh ac t i v is t s a lso t o m o ve beyon d t rad i t i o na lm od e ls o f s o l idar i t y w i t h g r oups i n t he Sou t h t ow a r ds a deepe r s t r uc t u r a l unde r st and i ng o f t het r ue causes o f soc ial and eco no m ic in just i ce . L idy ended on th e op t im ist i c no t e tha t t he cur ren tc r i s is show s c lear l y t he ur gency o f t rans fo r m ing the g loba l agenda, and tha t t h er e i s no be t t e rt i m e t o se t up a t r u l y i n t e r na t i ona l m ov em en t f o r c hange .

St e v e Fau l kn e r o f t h e So u t h A fr i c a M u n i c ip al W o r k e r s U n i o n ( SA M W U ) w as un ab l e t o c o m e t othe fo ru m due t o p asspo r t d i ff icu l t i es. Po l l y Jon es r ead o u t t he fo l low ing sec t ion o f h is speech inhis absence:

Given t hose a t tend ing th is b r ie f ing , the re rea l l y can be l it t l e need to go ove r the im pact o f th e econom ic cr i sis em ana t ing in the N or th on the con t inu ing and deepen ing cr is is in t he Sou th . So he re i s a t hum b n a i l ske tch on ly just t o rem ind us o f t he dep t h o f the cr i sis in the Sou th . Fi rst , pover ty and unem p loymen t , a l ready a t in to le rab le leve ls a re ge t t ing w orse. ( In Sou th A f r i ca , 73 % o f young peop le who l i ve in townsh ips where the ma jo r i ty l i ve , be tween the ages o f 18 and 30 a re unemp loyed . 50% have never had a pa id job o f any descr ip t ion ) .

Across Afr ica , pu bl ic services are gr in d ing to a ha l t . H ospi ta ls, c l in ics and schools ar e overcrow dedand ch ron ica l ly under- resourced . V ir tua l ly no new soc ia l hous ing is be ing bu il t , apa r t f rom lowqua l i ty , an d shor t l i fe bu i ld ings tha t r equ i re h igh m a in tenan ce and h igh access depos i ts. W ate r an d

san i ta t ion in f ras t ruc tu re i s e i the r b roken down o r in a s ta te o f p reca r ious d is repa i r .

Th e adop t ion o f neo- libe ra l econom ic po l i c ies by governm ents , inc lud ing a re l iance on FD I i s m ak ing m a t te rs wo rse. Co r ru p t i o n a n d m ism a n a g e m e n t a re co m m o n p la ce, a n d to le ra n ce o f a n y o p p o sit i o n i s becom ing th readb are . T rade U n ions and c iv il soc ie ty a re increas ing ly seen by governm ent as the enem y in m any coun t r ies, an d a re fa ced wi th res t r i c t i ve leg is la t ion an d a d i lu t ion o f h a rd won r igh ts .C ivi l soc ie ty sad ly , is o f ten f ra gm ented , m arg ina l ised , and exc luded f rom rea l dec ision m ak ing .

O n e o f t h e d i st i n c t a d van ta g e s o f w o rk i n g w i th t ra d e u n io n s on d e ve lo p m e n t w o rk i s t h a t (a ) t h e y a re o f ten es tab l i shed 'pe rmanen t as opposed to campa ign ' o rgan isa t ions wi th democra t i c const itu t ions, (b ) they can be rep resen ta t ive o f la rge num bers o f peop le, sp read acro ss m any

d i f fe ren t geograph ica l a reas, and secto rs o f the economy (c) they have na t iona l and in te rna t iona l l inka ges tha t can b e b rough t in to p lay (d ) Th ey o f ten have lega l sta t us , access to governm ent an d a w id e ra n g e o f im p o r ta n t in fo rm a t i o n so u rce s b u t p e rh a p s m o st im p o r ta n t l y, ( e ) t h e y h a ve p o w e r ,even i f somet im es they do no t u se it .

Of course despi te these strengths, they a lso face horrendous chal lenges, includ ing the very r ight to ex ist (Swaz i lan d toda y) , o r a re f ree o f th e p re jud ices and f ra i lt i es tha t a r e cu rren t in the soc ie t ies in wh ich they opera te (co rrup t ion , f ragmenta t ion , gender imba lances e tc )

H ow ever , th roughou t A f r i ca fo r exa m p le , the t rade un ions a re ve ry o f ten the la rgest c iv il soc ie ty o rgan isa t ions tha t ex is t , and tha t have a mass base , an accoun tab le s t ruc tu re , and an abundance o f


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kn owledge and ins igh t fu lness abou t wh a t i s hap pen ing in soc ie ty . By the i r ve ry na tu re they a re concerned w i th the d e fence o f dem ocra t ic r igh ts , and h igh ly aw are o f t he po l i t i ca l , econom ic and socia l dyn am ics in socie ty.

Th ere is a lso one o th e r em erg ing fea tu re o f t rad e un ion ism in A f r i ca , (and i t i s hop ed e lsewh ere ) ,and tha t i s tha t the re i s now a g rea te r w i l l i ngness to admi t the dep th o f the cha l lenges tha t theyf a ce , a n d m o re im p o r ta n t l y wh a t n e ed s to b e d o n e to re b u i ld t ra d e u n io n ism , a n d w o rke rs p o we r .

T h o se g a th e re d m u s t b e m o re a wa re th a n m o st o f t h e wa y th e d e ve lop m e n t /a i d p e n d u lu m h a s swung over the las t few decades. H ow ever , i t app ears to us f rom t he Sou th t ha t a rea l ignm ent o f a id and bus iness im pera t i ves has mo re recen t ly lim i ted the p endu lum s swing s t i ll fu r the r .

In just a bou t eve ry co rne r o f t he d onor w or ld , governm ents have m ore o r less successfu l l y in teg ra ted the ir g lobal business needs in to the development agenda, and i t cou ld be argued, th is is increasing lyre f lected in t he repor t ing , m on i to r ing and eva lua t ion a rch i tec tu re u sed by a id agenc ies. M uch o f i t

unap o loge t ica l ly ada p t ed f rom a bus iness-b iased m ode l (w h ich inc iden ta l l y does no t guaran t ee its e f f icacy g iven th e cr isis o f w orld ca pi ta l ism !), the so-ca l led ' inclusive developm ent and b usiness' a p p ro a ch i s p re d o m in a n t . T h e fa c t t h a t i t h a s b e en ta k e n o n b o a rd b y d e p e n d e n t a i d a g e nc ie s app ears to have shaken ou t m uch o f t he l i ve ly and p rog ressive p o l it i cs tha t u sed to cha racte r ise many o f them, and d i lu ted an independen t p ro -poor approach , i f the i r webs i tes a re to be be l ieved .

M a n y a g e n c ie s, in c lu d i n g T ra d e U n io n In te rn a t io n a l D e p a r tm e n ts wh o a re re li a n t o n g o ve rn m e n t fund ing, have been una b le to res ist t h is r ipp le e f fec t o f th e neo- libe ra l tsunam i . Some h ave even em bra ced i t as be ing rea l ist ic, less idea l ist ic, an d decidedly m ore concr ete in app l icat ion. So m uchso , tha t those aged d inosaurs ( li ke m yse l f no doub t ! ) who have t r ied to ma in ta in an app roach wh ich i s based on loca l need , empowerment and the bu i ld ing o f independen t democra t i c o rgan isa t ions a re

shun ted o f f t o the f r inges.

T h e r e w e r e a num ber o f i m m ed ia t e r espon ses fo l low i ng t he i n it i al con t r i bu t i ons . T h e r e w asgene r a l suppo r t f o r t he c on t r i bu t i ons m ade by L i dy and St ev e , w i t h o ne pa r t i c ipan t no t i ng ho wt he Peop l e s H eal t h A s sem b l y he ld i n Sou t h A f r i c a t he p r ev ious w eek w as a goo d ex am p l e o f ag loba l m ov em en t f o r soc i al j us t ic e t ha t t r ans cended d i v is ion s be t w een Sou t h and N o r t h i n i t sc om m o n f igh t aga ins t p r i va t isa t ion o f pub l ic s er v i ces. Ano t he r par t i ci pan t po i n t ed o u t t ha t t h eco rp o ra t i sa t ion o f b ig a id agenc ies o ver r ecent year s had tu r ned t hem in to po ver t y bus inesses ,and tha t m any o f t he m o s t engaged ac t i v is t s in t h e sec to r w er e no longer ab le to sus tain a po l it i caldebate o n key s t r uc tu r a l issues such as debt , t r ade, f inance o r investm ent . I nstead, anov e r w he l m i ng foc us on a id had s ide l ined t hos e m or e i m po r t an t sy st em i c con c e r ns , al t hough i t

w as po i n t ed o u t t hat t he l ar ge r agenc ies w e r e no l onger ev en pu t t i ng so m any r esou r c es in t ow o r k o n a id p o l i c y. I n add i t i on , a f ai lu r e t o i den t i f y t he U K gov e r n m en t s r o l e in pe r pe t ua t ingg loba l in j ust i c e had m ean t t ha t B r i t ish N G O s w e r e i nc r eas ing ly bec om i ng c o l l abo r at o r s w i t h t hegov e r nm en t and t he r e fo r e par t o f t he p r ob l em r a t he r t han pa r t o f any so l u t i on . T h e quest i on w asra ised whether t he fundra is ing impera t i ve and the cons tan t d r i ve fo r o rgan isa t iona l g rowth wasunder m in ing the soc ial jus t i ce mandate o f m any gro ups .

O n e p ar t i c u la r q u e st i o n as k ed w h e t h er B r i t ish N G O s w i t h a m a n d at e t o w o r k o n i ssu e s o fpo ver t y and d eve lo pm ent in t h e g lob a l So uth can a lso legi t imate ly engage in s im i lar s t rugg les fo rs oc ia l and ec onom i c just i c e at ho m e i n B r i t ai n bo t h i n t e r m s o f r es t r i c t i on by t he ir c har i t ab l eob jec t s, fo r t hos e t ha t hav e cha r i t y st a t us, and i n t e r m s o f w h at t he i r s uppo r t e r s unde r s t and t o be


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t he focu s o f t h e or gan isa t ion in ques t ion . W hi le one r espo nse sugges ted tha t w e sho u ld con s iders tepp ing aw ay f ro m hav ing char i t ab le sta tus , anoth er gave ex amples fr om th e exper ience o f t he i row n o r gan i sat i on t ha t i t w as pos si b le fo r N G O s w i t h an i n t e r na t ion al foc us als o t o engagepo l it i cal l y w i th soc ia l j ust i ce them es a t ho m e i f t he l i nks w er e made c lear , and tha t suppo r te r s

gene r a l ly app r ec iat e t h e c onnec t i on b e t w een t he t w o .

3. Group work

Par t i c ipants t hen sp l i t i n to sm alle r g ro ups to d iscuss the po in t s al ready ra ised and to answ er th efo l l ow i ng t w o q uest i ons :

( a) w ha t a r e t he c hal lenges and w ha t c an be i m p r ov ed i n t he c u r r en t f r am i ng o fint er nat io nal develop m ent , inc lud ing issues, language, im ager y , vo ices etc

(b) ho w to bu i ld a m o vem ent f o r g lob a l just i ce in Br i t a in , l ink ing up st r uggles her e and

ar o u n d t h e w o r ld

T h e feedbac k f r o m eac h o f t he g r oups w as c ap t u r ed o n f l ip c har t s and r epo r t ed back t o t he f ina lp l enar y ; a fu r t he r t r ans cr ip t o f t he fl ip c har t s is appended t o t h i s r epo r t . Som e o f t he m a in t hem esc om i ng ou t o f t he d i sc ussi ons (i n no pa r t i c u l ar o r d e r ) w e r e r epo r t ed as fo l l ow s s ee be l ow f o rm o r e de ta iled debate on som e o f t he po in t s dur ing the f ina l p lenary sess ion :

St op b e ing po l it e w e m us t be p r epa r ed t o be o pen l y c r i t i c al o f ou r ow n s ec t o r

Talk about issues in Br i ta in Engage w i t h w he r e t he ec ono m i c just i c e m o v em en t i s in B r i t ai n

N eed deeper ana lysis and be t te r educat ion

Sto p r educ ing every th ing to w innab le camp aigns

L o o k at w h o w e ar e p a r t o f t h e p r o b l em

I den t i fy w ay s in w h i ch B r i t ish peo p l e have an im pact o n po v e r t y

Set up a rad ical coa l i t i on to chal lenge th e neo l iber a l agenda

H ave a Bey ond 2015 w ebsi t e no t f unded by D F ID

Ex p os e C am er on i den t if y t he U K gov e r n m en t as a t ar ge t

G loba l educat io n the need t o d eepen under s tand ing am on g ac t i vi st s

Put t he po l i t i cs back in to the analysis

Suppo r t ex i st i ng m ov em en t s ( i.e . w e a r e no t bu i ld i ng a new m o v em en t )

Po l i t ic ise issues and educate

C api tal ise on ex ist ing concer ns e .g . co rpo ra te po w er , inequa l it y , un fai rness N eed v ision o n bu i ld ing m o vemen t lon g te rm , 10-20 years (use ex is t ing ideas )

U t i li se Bond s A G M

W hat is ou r s t r uc t u r e and o r gan i sat i on ?

W e n e ed a r e p o r t o f t h is m e e t in g

Fin d t h e m e th o d o l o g y to w o r k t o g et h er a n ew st r u c t u r e /m e t h o d o lo g y to B O N D ?

N o t jus t a Lond on , cen t r a li sed , p r o fess iona l caucus

I nc lude U K m ov em en t s ( eg U K U nc u t , O c cupy , A v aaz , f ood s ov e r e i gn t y m ov em en t ) T ake th is d iscuss io n t o act iv ists v ia edu cat ion session s, events and m ater ials (such as the

w or k c u r r en t l y be ing done by JD C and P&P)

Plan fo r Labo ur as w e l l as the T o r ies


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N eed p r act i c al t o o l s t o t r ansfo r m o u r o w n o r gan i sat i ons

T ak e y ou r c o l l eagues on a j ou r ney

U s e ex i s t ing hubs e .g . T JM , C O R E, U K Foo d G r o up

W o r k o n a v isi o n w h at d o e s go o d l o o k l ik e ?

L i st en t o m any m or e peop l e i n t he g lob al Sou t h ( i n t he sam e w ay w e hav e l is t ened t o L i dy )i n o r d e r t o h e lp u s m o v e fo r w ar d

W o r k w i t h ex i st in g m o v e m e n t s n o t d o m in at e

A r t i cu l at e t h e t r a n sfo r m at i o n n e e d ed in / o f N G O s

A mul t ip l i c i t y o f ac t ions go ing fo rward to cha l lenge cur ren t mode l /approach, e .go Po s t -M D G w e b si t eo G 8 20 13 o r gan i se a r ound a lt e r n at i v e p r o pos al s fo r act i on

A no t he r s i m i l ar m ee t i ng in Sep t em ber

D o w e n e ed a n am e , o r ar e n am e s a p r o b l e m ?

A c am pa i gn t ha t pu t s dem ands on som e o f t he l ead i ng N G O s

M ake be t te r l i nkages to peo p le /gr ou ps who can chal lenge cur ren t c r i si s Be p r o po s it i ona l no t j us t oppo si t iona l

C r e at e n e w d i r e c t io n , no t j u st r e fo r m e x ist i n g p r o b le m N G O s

C on t i nue t a lk i ng t o eac h o t h e r and t h ings w i ll em er ge e .g. t o t r ade un i on b r anc hm em b er s r e pensions

D ev e lop a c r i t ic al po l i t i ca l pos i t i on i ng t ow a r ds t he U K gov e r nm en t

C ap t u r e w h at t h i s gr o u p d o e s n o t l ik e in r e la ti o n t o h o w N G O s en ga ge w i th g o v e r n m e n t

T ake respo ns ib i l i t y fo r t r ans la t ing th e fee l ings in t h is ro o m in t o ac t ion

D e c id e o n h o w w e ad d r e ss o u r su p p o r t e r s r e t h e B O A G 2 0 1 3 h u n ge r c am p a ign ( M PH II)

Bui ld s low ly

F ac eboo k page / o t he r soc i al m ed i a ( i.e . no t b r o k e r ed / m od e r a t ed ) Sur v ey m o nk ey t o ga t he r o t he r i deas

Em a il gr o up? H ow t o c o m m un i cat e w i t h each o t he r ? A spac e t o c r i t i que c u r r en t dev e lopm en t po l ic y d i sc ou r s e

A c oa li t ion una fr a id o f speak i ng t r u t h t o po w er n o t sho r t t e r m c am pa ign s t r a t egi es, bu tl ong t e r m v isi on

4. Tea break

A t t he s t ar t o f t he t ea b r eak , pa r t i c ipan t s w e r e g iv en po st - i t no t es on w h i c h t o w r i t e dow n w hat

had insp i r ed t hem t o w o r k i n t h e sec t o r i n t he f ir s t p l ac e . T h e answ er s c ong r ega t ed ar o und t h ethem es o f po l it i ca l con v ic t ion , g loba l jus t i ce , w om ens emp o w erm ent and a des ir e to ach ievegenu ine change in t he wor ld .

5. Final plenary

Th e fina l p lenary inc luded a r i ch m ix o f con t r ibu t io ns , m any o f t hem p ick ing up o n them es ra isedin th e gro up d iscussions . Severa l par t i c ipant s exp ressed th e i r appr ec iat io n fo r t h e fac t t ha t t hefo r um had been o r gan i sed , w i t h s om e no t i ng t ha t t h i s had been t he f ir s t op po r t un i t y g iv en t hemi n 25 y ear s t o v o i c e suc h c onc e r ns w i t h o t he r s i n t he s ect o r . I t w as al so no t ed t ha t t h eo r gan isa t ions r ep r esen t ed in t he r oo m en j oy ed bet w een t hem c o ns t it uenc i es o r m em ber sh i ps


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r unn i ng in t o t he m i ll ion s, and t hat t oge t he r w e w ie l d c ons ide r ab l e pow er i n d i r ec t ing t he agendaand d iscou r se o n in t e r na t iona l i ssues in Br i t a in .

O ne s t r o ng t hem e c ar r i ed ov e r fr om t he g r oup d i sc ussi ons w as t ha t w e sho u l d av o i d any sense

tha t w e ar e bu i ld ing a mo vement . T he g loba l just i ce sec to r in Br i t a in shou ld asp i r e to jo in t h eex ist ing mo vement , t o engage w i th i t , t o b e par t o f i t . T he m anner o f our engagem ent w as a lsocon s ider ed c r uc ial : t her e w as fa r t o o m uch ev idence in t he pas t o f Br i t i sh o rgan isa t ions k i l li ng themovements w i th wh ich they have engaged. Many par t i c ipants no ted the impor tance o f l i s ten ing tothe ana lysis and learn ing fr o m the exp er ience o f m o vem ents fr o m the g lo ba l Sou th such as in t hePh i l ipp i nes and e l sew he r e . In pa r t i c u l ar , w e shou l d adop t new m e t ho do l og ies f o r w o r k i ngt o ge t he r w i t h new al li es, inc l ud ing jo i n i ng w i t h d i r ec t ac t io n g r o ups and o t he r gr assr o o t sm o vemen ts , ra th er t han simp ly rehears ing o ld co al i t i ons because they happen t o b e fami l iar . T h isi nc ludes ex p l o r i ng c onnec t i ons w i t h act i v ist g r o ups w o r k i ng w i t h i n t h e B r i t i sh c on t ex t s uc h asO c c upy , U K U nc u t , U K F em i n i st a , t he foo d sov e r e i gn t y m ov em en t and o t he r s .

Sev e r a l c on t r i bu t i ons quest i oned w ho m i gh t be ou r m os t app r op r i a t e par t ne r s in dev e l op i ng t hem o v e m e n t w i t h in t h e B r i t ish c o n t e x t . W h i le m a n y w i sh e d t o e x p an d t h e n u m b e r o f gr o u p sinvo lved, and t o l i nk w i th env i ro nm enta l and dom es t ic - fo cused or gan isa t ions in par t i cu lar , t her ew as a lso co ncer n exp ressed a t mak ing al li ances w i th bo d ies tha t do no t f undamen ta l ly share ou ragenda. M any fe l t t ha t w e shou ld w o r k o n ly w i th t ho se grou ps tha t shar ed a des ir e to ach ieves ign ifi can t st r uc tu ra l change, and tha t w e sho u ld avo id en ter ing in to a ll iances w i th t h ose w i th lesst r ansfo r m at i v e asp i r a t i ons. Q ua li t y o f a l lianc e w as f el t t o be m or e i m po r t an t t han t he quan t i t y o fg ro ups in any par t i cu lar coa l i t i on , and severa l par t i c ipants exp r essed a desi re n o t t o be invo lved infu r t her a ll iances w i th t h e larger a id agenc ies tha t a re m o unt ing the i r o w n campaign on foo d, a idan d h u n ge r lin k e d w i t h t h e U K g o v er n m e n t in t h e r u n - u p t o n e x t y e ar s G 8 e v en t h o u gh w em ay have ind iv idua l a l li es w i th in t ho se or gan isa t ions . Ins tead, t h ere w as a st r on g fee l ing th a t w e

sho u ld cease to be so B r i t i sh and po l i t e , and ins tead be m o r e w i l li ng to en ter in to op en c r i t i c i smo f N G O s and t o c hal lenge t ho se t ha t ar e bey ond t h e pa le in t he i r d is t o r t i on o f t he agenda,par t i cu lar l y agenc ies such as Save the C h i ld ren tha t a re no w r ev iv ing unacceptab le imagery o f t heSou t h i n t he i r ex t e r na l com m u n i cat i ons .

T h e quest i on w as r a ised as t o ou r engagem en t w i t h Bond , as t he ex i s t ing um br e l la ne t w o r k f o rthe sec to r . W hi le severa l par t i c ipants fe l t t h a t t he d iscussions be ing he ld in t h is f o ru m sho u ld bet ak en in t o Bond as w e ll , fo r ex am p l e t h r ou gh i t s A G M i n O c t ob e r 2012 and t h r ough t he l eade r s deba t es due t o c om e back o n s t r eam in t h e au t um n , it w as fe l t t ha t Bond i t se l f w as no t anapp r op r i at e body t o t ak e fo r w ar d t he in i t i at i v e. N o t on l y w e r e m any par t i c ipan t s i n t he fo r um n o tm e m b e r s o f B o n d , b u t m an y o f t h o se w it h w h o m w e w o u l d h o p e t o m a k e co m m o n c au se ar e n o t

par t o f t he in te r na t ion a l develop m ent sec to r a t a ll . Severa l par t i c ipant s ra ised th e po ssib i l it y o f anew s t ruc tu r e tha t w ou ld appr o ach the i ssue o f soc ial and eco no m ic jus t i ce fro m a rad ical l yd i f fe ren t p erspec t i ve . T he need to avo id be ing Lo ndo n-cent r i c w as a lso em phasised r egu lar l y ,no t i ng t ha t m uc h o f t he m os t p r og r es si ve act i v ism and i n t e r es t i n B r i t ai n w as t o be f ound ou t si dethe cap i ta l .

Severa l par t i c ipants agreed w i th t he need t o o rgan ise ar ou nd th e pro po s it iona l , no t just t h eo ppo s i t io na l , and t o c r eate an al t e r na t i ve po le o f analys is and ac t ion w h ich w i ll d raw peo p le awayf ro m the a id - fo cused agenc ies and t o w ards a m o re t r ansfo rm at ive agenda. T h is w ou ld inc ludel ink ing up w i th m ob i l i sa t ions aro und n ex t year s G8 th a t p ro v ide a p r ogr essive po l it i ca l c r i t i quer at he r t han t he s el f- c ong r at u l at o r y m om en t p l anned by t h e go v e r nm en t as t he c u lm i nat i on o f t he


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a id agenc ies hunger campaign . I t w as no ted tha t w e need t o con t inue t o m a in t a in t h e space fo rfu r ther d iscuss ion o f po l i cy on i ssues re la ted to in te rna t iona l deve lopment , and to deve lop our

jo in t c r i t iq u e o f so c ia l an d eco n o m ic p o li c ie s se t fo r t h e fu t u r e. W h ile w e m ay no t al l sh ar e t h esam e p ic tu r e o f exac t l y wh at a po s it i ve al t e rn a t i ve m igh t lo o k l i ke , t he po in t o f bu i ld ing a

m ov em en t i s t o ac c ep t d i v e r si t y beneat h t he c o r e p r inc i p les t ha t un i t e us .

L idy N acp i l conc luded t he p lenary by w e lco m ing the in i t i at i ve launched a t t he fo r um , say ing tha tshe shared i t s v i sion fo r a t ransfor m at ive m o vem ent in Br i t a in , and w ish ing it w e l l.

6. Next steps

T h e t w o j o i n t c hai r s fo r t he f ina l s essi on , H annah G r i ff it hs and M ar t i n D r ew r y , sum m ed up t h em a in p o i n t s ar i s ing f r om t he a ft e r no on s debat e , and i den t i fi ed s om e o f t he c onc r e t e nex t s t epstha t had b een agr eed. These inc luded :

(a)

A n em a il l is t t h r ough w h i c h t o c on t i nue t he d i a lo gue be t w een a l l t hos e k een t o sus t ai n t h i si n i t ia t iv e ; i t w as po i n t ed o u t t ha t no suc h l is t c u r r en t l y ex i st s t h r ou gh w h i c h t o dev e lop apr o gress ive c r i t i que o f t h e fu tu r e o f deve lopm ent / g lo ba l just i ce w o r k in Br i t a in . [T h is l is thas no w been s et up at p r ogr ess ivedeve lopm ent@ l is t s .r i seup.ne t ]

(b )A n o n l ine space (maybe via Facebo o k) f o r m o r e pub l i c shar ing o f t ho ughts , c r i t i qu es andc om m en t ar y on i ssues r e la t ing t o t he p r og r essi ve dev e lopm en t t h em e . It w as fe l t t o bei m po r t an t t o have an i ndependen t w ebsi t e w h i ch i nc luded r e fl ect i ons on t he Bey ond 20 15agenda t ha t w as funded ne i t he r b y D F ID no r by t he G a t es F ounda t i on .

(c) A f o l lo w - up m ee t i ng i n Sep t em b er i n o r de r t o m a i n t ai n t he in i t i al m o m en t um beh i nd t he

in i t i a t ive , cap i ta l is ing on the b r oad in t e r est sho w n. Th is meet ing i s schedu led t o t ake p lacefrom 2pm to 5pm on 26 September 2012, v en u e t o b e c o n fi r m e d , w i t h t h e o p t i o n o fgo ing on late r in to the even ing fo r m o re gener a l d iscussion i f desi red .

(d ) A su r v ey m on k ey t o ask peop l e fo r o t he r suggest i ons on ho w t o fo l low up o n t h i s i n it i alm eet ing . Th e sur vey w ou ld canvass ideas on pr ac t i ca l s teps tha t w i l l he lp in t he nex t p haseo f t h e in i t i at i v e (i .e . w ha t peop l e w o u l d l ik e t o do nex t ) .


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APPENDIX TRANSCRIPT OF FLIPCHARTS FROM THE DAY

(a) what are the challenges and what can be improved in the current framing of international

development, including issues, language, imagery, voices etc

- T oo sca red o f po l i t i c s

- A re w e abou t deve lop m en t o r so c ia l change ? T h i s im pac ts on h ow m uch t im e w e spend

fund ra ising vs. t r y ing to change th ings

- N G O s d i sconnec te d f ro m g rassr oo ts st r uggle he re (eg fo r l and , hous ing , e t c ) . I t s abou t o ve r

t h e r e

- Lo ng-he ld v i ew s abo u t dese rv ing poo r / v ic t im s

- W eve never p ro per l y em b edded the i deas o f j ust i ce / r i gh t s

- Sho r t - t e r m f inanc ia l o r gs m akes l ong - te rm j ust i ce d i scour se i r re l evan t

- C an we w or k t o ge the r t o deve lop b er -cam pa ign na r ra t i ve? M echan i sm s and needs o f N G O s and

cam p aigns deve lopm ent p rec l ude t h i s- Financial cr is is gives opportuni t ies to make issues global and to chal lenge el i tes (eg against banks)

- W e n e ed t o st o p b e i n g p o l i t e ! B e c r i t i c al o f o u r se c t o r

- W e ar e n o t p u t t i n g o r w in n in g t h e st r u c t u r a l ar g u m e n t : it d o e sn t w o r k

- H as so l ida r i t y com e to be abo u t cha r i t y?

- W e w or k and l ive i n com par tm en ta li sed i ssues ne tw o rks on l y ex i st t o he lp ove r s i ngl e issues,

n o t f o r g r e at e r g o o d

- Bond should be convening th is d iscuss ion as independent vo ice

- W e d o n t h av e n e t w o r k t o c o n n e c t u p in t e r n a t i o n a l an d d o m e st i c

(b) how to build a movement for global justice in Britain, linking up struggles here andaround the world

- W e need a dec larat ion to s ign as ind iv idu als

- Shou ld t h i s be a ne two rk o f ind i v i dual s?

- T h e m o vem ent n eeds to be fo r j us t ice i n B r i t ai n t ha t resona tes w i t h Sou th

- D on or -bene fic i ary re l at i onsh ips are dam aging

- D e m o c r ac y o f t h e s ec t o r

- D ependency on funds and the d i scou rse o f m o ney

- N G O s p ar t o f p r o b le m c o o p t i o n i n t o n e o l ib e r a l a ge n d a

- Stuck i n deve lop m en t d i scou rse N G O s p lay i ng ca t chup (a t best ! )

-N o r t h / So u t h p at e r n a li sm

- Campaign ing and educat ion N G O s no t o f f e r i ng dep th o f anal ysi s

- W h o i s in t h i s r o o m ?

- O nly r unn ing w innab le cam pa igns

need fo r asks ; w hy asks no t D EM A N D S?w her e i s t he anger ?makes hard to f ight s t ruc tura l i ssuesneed the po l i t i ca l analys is not jus t communicat ions

- W e th i nk o f ou r se l ves as a m o vem ent w e ar e n o t

Progressive Development Forum 19 July 2012, Reportfinal

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Transcript of Progressive Development Forum 19 July 2012, Reportfinal