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I. Feature Article: Can governments be trusted?
OECD countries have undertaken a significant number of reforms to make government more efficient, effective, transparent and responsive. These reforms have led to major changes in how the public sector operates, how government and citizens interact, and how the public participates in policy making.
This, however, does not appear to have been enough to enhance public trust. Why? Are governments not listening enough? Do they not communicate clearly enough? Are they misreading what citizens want? Do they take partnerships with citizens seriously?
Citizens increasingly expect to have their views taken into account in decision-making on major public policy issues, and not just through the parliamentary process and institutions. Well-designed citizen consultation can lead to better-designed, better-implemented policies and, ultimately, better compliance with them. It also provides an opportunity for government to explain its policies and foster appropriate expectations.
A decline in trust can lead to lower rates of compliance with rules and regulations, and make it more difficult to introduce and implement them. In particular, lack of public trust can make it difficult, if not impossible, to implement reforms and policies that will only produce benefits in the long term and which may have perceived negative effects for some citizens in the short term.
Last November, OECD ministers and senior officials from twenty-seven member countries and Slovenia met in Rotterdam to discuss the role of government in the 21st century and strategic dimensions of public sector modernisation.
Highlights of the discussion:
- Public trust is based not only on whether the government has kept its side of the bargain, but also on citizens’ perception that it has done so. Trust therefore needs to be constantly consolidated and reinforced.
- Accumulated trust is “capital” for governments to “invest” in reform. It is important for governments to be clear with the public, to explain risks and necessary trade-offs.
- Many people in society – often the most vulnerable – do not have an official “voice”. Ways must be found to reach these people and to ensure their needs are taken into account in policy design and implementation.
- There is a need for structural reforms in most member countries in order to respond to globalisation, adapt to demographic changes, and ensure fiscal consolidation. The challenge for governments is to be able to formulate and implement reforms as a permanent process of adapting and adjusting to an ever-changing environment.
- Governments need to send out clear messages to citizens about what reforms will achieve. This is especially the case where the results are long-term rather than immediately visible or where the reforms imply short-term sacrifices. Citizens must know what they will gain and at what cost.
- Governments in OECD member countries have been implementing reforms to increase flexibility and promote innovation, which in turn are expected to make government more cost effective and responsive to citizens’ needs. Governments are also engaging in public-private partnerships, such as outsourcing service delivery, to achieve productivity gains and increase consumer choice.
- These reforms have affected the capacity of national governments to steer and control public policy delivery from the centre, and have sometimes blurred the image of clear-cut responsibility for government actions. There is a need for better co-ordination and coherence in both vertical and horizontal relations across levels of government.
- Compared to “traditional” government, “modernised” government offers flexibility, innovation, performance management and a new accountability framework based on results. Although the traditional model was criticised as being too rigid and slow to adapt, it did offer greater control and consistency. The challenge for governments is to strike the right balance, allowing them the flexibility to respond to crises and changing needs while providing adequate predictability, stability and consistency to their citizens.
- A truly responsive government needs to be able to link resources to results and outcomes. Governments are increasingly introducing performance management in their budgeting and personnel systems. Although different approaches are used, countries share the basic goals of improving performance and ensuring accountability for results.
Conclusions of the Chair
The Chairman of the OECD ministerial meeting, Alexander Pechtold, Dutch Minister for Government Reform and Kingdom Relations, summarised the discussion as follows (excerpts):
“We need to be better at engaging with citizens. National elections are the ultimate test of citizens’ views, but they are not enough. The democratic system needs constant input and renewal. OECD countries have implemented a variety of consultation mechanisms – all aimed at putting citizens at the centre….”
“But simply putting such mechanisms in place is not enough. Governments have to demonstrate to citizens how they use their input – or why they decide not to do so. Otherwise, such consultation mechanisms may only foster cynicism among citizens – and undermine the very purpose that they were originally established for.
Governments also need to ensure that the results of citizens’ consultations reflect the wishes of the whole community – not just those of vocal vested interests who participated in the exercise. The use of e-government may be of assistance in this regard.
But government cannot do everything. Citizens cannot expect their governments to fix every problem. Sometimes in the public interest government will say “no.” Political leaders should not make promises they cannot keep: that erodes trust in government.
….We are all implementing policies to modernize how our respective governments operate. The key element of these reforms is to re-orient the allocation and management of resources in government around results. They also include transferring responsibilities to lower levels of government – and thus closer to citizens where they are in a better position to influence them. But at the same time, the organisational boundaries of government should not be “visible” to citizens!
It also means introducing greater user choice – often by involving the private sector and the voluntary sector in the provision of public services. This reform agenda is on course, but is by no means complete.
Integrity is critical to government. Governments need to be more vigilant than ever that the highest standards of ethics and prevention of conflict of interest are adhered to.
We call on the OECD to continue its work with member countries on public governance issues and help us in our efforts to strengthen citizens’ trust in government.
Finally, there is no alternative to strengthening citizens’ trust in government. If you do not do it, you drive up the cost of government for everyone and promote the disengagement of citizens.”
Next steps
In response to this ministerial mandate, the OECD Public Governance Committee has designed a programme of work for 2007/8 that includes four cross-cutting themes aimed at contributing to government efforts to enhance public trust:
- “Government at a Glance”: Indicators of government performance
- Open and inclusive policy making
- Risk management
- Improving the allocation of responsibilities across levels of government
II. OECD Session At WTO Public Forum “What WTO For The 21st Century?”
The OECD Development Centre organised a panel at the two-day WTO Public Forum 25-26 September 2006 on the topic of Migration and Development: What role for the WTO?
Background
The freer movement of people can be mutually beneficial to both migrant-sending and migrant-receiving countries, provided that labour flows are effectively managed. For instance, smart visa policies by receiving countries, coupled with the strategic targeting of ODA to build capacity in low-income sending countries, can turn migration into a positive driver for development. Effective migration management will ultimately enhance employment and income opportunities for migrants and non-migrants alike in sending countries, while easing labour-market tensions in receiving ones.
Migration and trade policies need to be considered together, since migration and trade appear to be complementary to each other. The management of migration flows cannot be done in isolation. For the full developmental benefits of trade liberalisation in goods and services to be realised, however, and in the interests of policy coherence for development, multilateral agreements need to encompass all flows, including migration.
We should consider the inclusion of provisions for the movement of unskilled workers under Mode 4 on the Doha Round agenda. Does the discussion of such provisions endanger the multilateral system, given the lack of consensus to date and the heavy implications for domestic politics? Or could their inclusion on the agenda instead provide powerful incentives for progress, by addressing the priorities of many low-income WTO members, thereby helping to re-launch the stalled multilateral negotiations on trade?
Discussion
The session explored these fairly controversial questions by inviting different views from academics, policy makers and civil society in an informal setting. The OECD panel included Prof. Louka Katseli, Director OECD Development Centre; Mr. Toufiq Ali, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, Geneva; Johannes Bernabe, Programme Coordinator -- Trade in Services, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD); Mrs. Joy Kategekwa, South Centre (project on services), former focal person for Uganda on services for LDC Group; Philippe Frémeaux, Director of Alternatives économiques, moderator of the panel.
Professor Louka Katseli argued that migration is happening and will continue to happen regardless. It would be a good idea to take up migration, or rather contract-service provision, under Mode 4 of the GATT’s, given the increasing interdependence of jobs and projected labour market shortages in many sectors; “circular” migration could be part of the answer since it would allow workers to come and go under short-term contracts; if appropriate incentives are provided to employers and employees so that contracts are respected, this could be reassuring for receiving countries who fear permanent migration and also for sending countries wishing to benefit from the skills and experience acquired abroad by returning workers.
Johannes Bernabe agreed that Mode 4 offers an opportunity and that greater labour mobility could assist development, but he first pointed out the drawbacks of taking up migration at the WTO:
- Mode 4 does not cover all types of migration;
- it is difficult to negotiate with 150 countries;
- how binding are commitments in Mode 4?
- to what extent will Mode 4 look at unskilled labour – which is what developing countries want.
M. Bernabe would prefer using what is already on the table (in the trade rounds) rather than seeking a new classification for migrant workers. He suggested that the definitions of contractual service suppliers (term preferred to migrant workers) should be more flexible to allow for unskilled workers. There may still be a need for an alternative forum to the WTO. Yes, he agreed with Louka on the need for an informal but inclusive dialogue. It takes a long time, he pointed out as a former negotiator for the Philippines, to understand each others language and perspective. In due course, countries will become more comfortable with the voluntary practices and move to making them binding. There are other mechanisms which should all move forward as building blocks.
Ambassador Toufiq Ali pointed out how sensitive migration is in terms of politics and dynamics. Studies have shown the gains resulting from labour mobility. Opening up just 3% of the labour force can provide substantial gains. Bangladesh has one and a half million people in Saudi Arabia. This is a south/south movement. Bangladesh receives 4 billion dollars in remittances. Other benefits include management expertise, exposure to outside world etc; Migrants come back and enrich the country. By 2020, China will be a net labour receiving country. I hope the OECD can start the forum dialogue in the receiving countries. They have to grapple with these things internally before coming to the negotiating table.
Joy Kategekwa, speaking for the least developed countries (LDCs), argued for recognition of “semi-skilled” workers who have experience, certificates, talent or expertise -- sportsmen, artists, fashion models. There would be social as well as commercial benefits in using the service sectors as an alternative to agriculture in these low GDP countries. In Lesotho 20% of GNP comes from remittances. There is a trickle down effect. Short -term movement of labour should be legalised. The LDC’s have revised their request regarding Mode 4 presenting their requests under Mode 4 classifications. They would like to have recognition for skills and competencies – they have had no response from members as yet. Countries can be creative in designing policies to facilitate the return of migrant workers. Using Mode 4 would send positive political signals regarding flexibility.
*The opinions expressed and arguments employed are the sole responsibility of the organizers and do not necessarily reflect those of the OECD, its Development Centre, or of the governments of their member countries.
III. Feature article: The Africa Partnership Forum
The Africa Partnership Forum meets in Moscow
Representatives from Africa, G8 and OECD countries and international organisations attended the Africa Partnership Forum (APF) in Moscow 26-27 October to discuss critical issues affecting development in Africa, notably infrastructure, HIV/AIDS, agriculture, energy poverty and infectious diseases, some of which were key issues discussed at the G8 St. Petersburg summit in July 2006.
The APF is an important political forum for discussing policy issues, priorities and commitments in support of Africa’s development. It was established in November 2003 in the wake of the Evian G8 Summit and ensures a high-level dialogue between the G8 and the 20 countries comprising the African Union/NEPAD steering committee as well as Africa’s major bilateral and multilateral development partners. In 2006, a Support Unit for the APF was created and is housed at the OECD.
In Moscow, the four co-Chairs of the APF (from the African Union, NEPAD, G8 and non-G8 countries) participated in a pre-Forum consultation with civil society organisations (CSOs). The CSOs asked that “the APF give greater attention to the problems of nation building based on democracy principles, development and poverty eradication all over Africa.”
They also provided specific recommendations including: ensuring the delivery of additional finance and debt cancellation; increasing productivity in the agricultural sector; identifying and financing sustainable energy policies; working more effectively to fight infectious diseases (including HIV/AIDs); and devising ways and means for strengthening CSO engagement with the APF and its work to ensure delivery of commitments from African, OECD and G8 countries and key multilateral institutions.
The APF’s leadership welcomed these comments and expressed their interest in working closely with civil society organisations to give effect to their recommendations and to accelerate Africa’s development progress.
IV. OECD Calendar of Recent and Upcoming Events with Civil Society
September
11-15 Ukraine and 25-29 Armenia: On-site visits during which civil society and business organisations will notably be invited to comment on the examined country's anti-corruption policies. Evaluation reports will be presented at the December meeting of the Anti-Corruption Network for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ACN), the Secretariat of which is with the OECD Anti-corruption Division.
12 - Paris: Workshop on Evaluating the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Environmental Partnerships. Representatives of environmental NGOs, BIAC and TUAC invited to participate.
20-22 Paris: Working Group on Waste Prevention and Recycling. Representatives of BIAC, TUAC and environmental NGOs (co-ordinate through the European Environmental Bureau ((EEB)) invited to participate in the meeting.
21-22 Berlin: 4th Joint Meeting of the EAP Task Force and the Project preparation committee (PPC). Civil society representatives invited to participate in the meeting.
21-22 New Delhi: OECD international conference on financial education, representatives of the civil society (i.e. TU, association of consumers and other NGOs) met with officials and representatives of financial services to discuss the awareness and education of consumers and households on risk and financial issues. Further information is available at www.oecd.org/daf/financialeducation
25 - Geneva: OECD session at the WTO Public Forum: “Migration and Development: What role for the WTO in the 21st century? With the participation of NGOs on the panel (www.oecd.org/civilsociety).
27- Santiago de Chile: Conference on “Detection, investigation and prosecution of bribery” open to a wide range of participants from Chile and other Latin and Central American countries.
October
16 - Paris: BIAC will participate in Competition Committee/WP2 Roundtable on Entry Barriers in Banking.
16-20 Varese, Italy: Working Group on Chemical Accidents and the OECD-EC Workshop on Risk Assessment Practices for Hazardous Substances Involved in Accidental Releases. Civil society and industry representatives invited to participate in the meetings.
18-19 Paris: BIAC participated in Competition Committee Roundtables on Competition and Innovation, and on Competition in Bidding Markets.
25-27 Krakow, Poland: OECD Environment Policy Committee (EPOC) Representatives of BIAC, TUAC and environmental NGOs (co-ordinate through EEB) invited to participate in a half-day Special Session on the OECD Environmental Outlook and a consultation with the EPOC Bureau.
November
5-6 Athens: 29th Session of the Working Party on SMEs and Entrepreneurship (WPSME). Contact: mariarosa.lunati@oecd.org
6-7 Istanbul: Global Forum on International Investment “International investment and the public interest: the case of infrastructure". Further information is available via www.oecd.org/daf/investment.
6-8 Athens: Removing Barriers to SME Access to International Markets.Conference organised by the Working Party on SMEs and Entrepreneurship in collaboration with APEC and the Greek Ministry of Development. Contact: mariarosa.lunati@oecd.org
9-10 United Kingdom: Skills for Sustainable Communities. Symposium organised in collaboration with the Department of Communities and Local Government. Leeds Programme. Contact: debra.mountford@oecd.org
10 -Warsaw: Regional and Local Development in Eastern Europe: Confronting Regional Diversity and Competitiveness.Conference organised in collaboration with UNIDEA-UniCredit Foundation. Contact: andrea-rosalinde.hofer@oecd.org
13 - Paris:Workshop on Coordination of Care and Efficiency. Representatives of BIAC and TUAC are invited to participate.
14-15 Bonn: Working Group on Pesticides. Civil society and industry representatives invited to participate in the meeting.
14-16 Caceres, Spain: An Insight into Tourism Statistics. Conference organised by the Tourism Committee in collaboration with the National Statistical Institute of Spain (INE), the General Secretariat of Tourism of Spain and the Statistical Office of the European Communities (Eurostat). Contact: alain.dupeyras@oecd.org
14-17 Tengelic, Hungary: Regional Development and Community Support Aspects of Radioactive Waste Management Programmes: National workshop and community visit, organised in the framework of the NEA Forum on Stakeholder Confidence.
15-18 Trento, Italy: Reviewing OECD Experiences in the Social Enterprise Sector: Policy Insights for Central East and South East Europe. Seminar organised by the OECD LEED Trento Centre for Local Development. Contact: paola.babos@oecd.org
15-17 Bonn: Joint Meeting of the Chemicals Committee and the Working Party on Chemicals, Pesticides and Biotechnology. Civil society and industry representatives invited to participate in the meeting.
20-21 Porto, Portugal: 78th Session of the Tourism Committee. Contact: alain.dupeyras@oecd.org
20-22 Stockholm: OECD Workshop on "Perfluorocarboxylic acid (PFCA) and Precursors" Representatives of BIAC, TUAC and environmental NGOs (co-ordinate through EEB) invited to participate in the meeting.
21-22 Porto, Portugal: Supporting the Development of Competitiveness of Tourist Destinations. Conference organised by the Tourism Committee in collaboration with the State Secretariat for Tourism. Contact: alain.dupeyras@oecd.org
27-29 Bangkok, Thailand: 9th Steering Group meeting of the ABD/OECD Anti-Corruption Initiative for Asia-Pacific. The meeting will discuss anti-corruption policies in the Asia-Pacific region and assess the region’s ability to seek and provide MLA and extradition in corruption cases. It will bring together, in addition to senior government representatives of 27 Asia-Pacifi countries, representatives of the Asia-Pacific Business sector and of civil society. For further information, contact frederic.wehrle@oecd.org
28-29 Bradford, United Kingdom: 49th Session of the Directing Committee of the Co-operative Action Programme on Local Economic and Employment Development. Contact: debra.binks@oecd.org
29-30 Paris: Global Forum on Sustainable Development (GFSD) Roundtable on Public-Private Partnerships in the Water Supply and Sanitation Sector of EECCA Countries. Private sector and civil society representatives will be invited to participate in the meeting.
29-30 Paris: Working Group on Transport - the European Federation for Transport will participate.
29-30 Moscow: G8 conference co-organized by the OECD on Improving Financial Education: representatives of the civil society (i.e. TU, association of consumers and various NGOs) will meet with officials and representatives of financial services to discuss the awareness and education of consumers and households on risk and financial issues. Further information is available at www.oecd.org/daf/financialeducation.
December
1 - Paris: Business/civil society conference: "The Economy of Major Risks", jointly organised by the OECD and the Club du CEPII. By invitation. Meggan.dissly@oecd.org
7 - Paris: 7th Steering Group Meeting of the Anti-Corruption Network for Central Europe and Central Asia (ACN) to discuss priorities for the ACN Work Programme of the next biennium. Civil society and business delegates will be invited to provide inputs. For further information, contact: olga.savran@oecd.org
7 - Paris: Workshop on International Investor Participation in Infrastructure. Further information is available via www.oecd.org/daf/investment.
11 - Paris: OECD Working Party on Private Pensions. The Working Party will meet with TUAC to exchange views on private pensions' issues. For further information, contact juan.yermo@oecd.org.
11-13 Paris: 8th meeting of the Istanbul Action Plan will monitor progress made by Armenia and the Ukraine in implementing anti-corruption recommendations and review latest anti-corruption developments in Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan. Civil society, which provides substantive inputs to the monitoring country reports, will take part in the December plenary discussion.
12-13 Brazzaville: NEPAD-OECD Africa Investment Initiative – Launch Event. Further information is available via www.oecd.org/daf/investment.
First Quarter 2007
Paris: Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions consultation with the private sector, trade unions and civil society to 1) present actions by Parties to enforce the Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, 2) consult on the priorities and main orientations of the future work of the Working Group and 3) discuss ways to further collaborate in the fight against bribery (exact timing to be confirmed). For further information, contact: nicola.ehlermann-cache@oecd.org
General Meeting of the Anti-Corruption Network for Central Europe and Central Asia (ACN) will bring together government and civil society representatives from transition economies and selected OECD countries to 1) discuss the state of affairs in Central Europe and Central Asia and 2) identify priorities for anti-corruption agenda of the region (the exact timing and location will be announced well ahead of the meeting). For further information, contact: olga.savran@oecd.org
February 2007
27 February-1 March 2007, Paris: Pollutant Release and Transfer Registers (PRTR) Task Force. Representatives of BIAC, TUAC and environmental NGOs (co-ordinate through EEB) will be invited to participate in the meeting.
8-9 - Seoul: Asian conference for the OECD's statistics, knowledge, policyWorld Forum Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies. This conference, which is being hosted by the Korean National Statistical Office, and run in collaboration with UNESCAP and with the support of the World Bank will bring together senior policy makers, statisticians and people from civil society from the region. For more information see www.oecd.org/oecdworldforum . The outcomes will flow forward to the main World Forum Conference, to be held 27-30 June 2007 in Istanbul.
May
14-15 Paris: OECD Forum 2007: Innovation for Growth and Equity: a new agenda for globalisation
28-29 Stockholm: joint OECD/BIAC Conference on the theme of the effects of taxation on competitiveness and growth, hosted by the Confederation of Swedish Enterprise.
V. Publications
Investment:
Further information about these meetings and publications is available via www.oecd.org/daf/investment
Anti-Corruption:
- Denying Safe Haven to the Corrupt and the Proceeds of Corruption: Proceedings of the training seminar held in Kuala Lumpur on 28-30 March 2006
- Anti-Corruption Policies in Asia and the Pacific: Progress in legal and institutional reform in 25 countries (2006)
- Knowledge - Commitment - Action against Corruption in Asia and the Pacific: Proceedings of the 5th Regional Anti-Corruption Conference (2006)
- The OECD Fights Corruption (2006)
Further information about these publications is available via http://www.oecd.org/corruption/asiapacific
Financial Markets
Policy brief:
Policy Brief:The Policy Framework for Investment, September 2006
OECD Observer Magazine:
Water capital
Secretary-General Angel Gurría argues that “advancing on the issue of water will help us move forward on almost all the Millennium Development Goals” (editorial, No. 256, July 2006). We agree, and would like to draw your attention to the Working for Water programme (WfW) in South Africa. Letter to the OECD Observer, by Dr. James Aronson, Centre L. Emberger Restoration Ecology Group, CNRS Montpellier, France, Prof. Suzanne Milton, Dept. of Conservation Ecology University of Stellenbosch South Africa, Prof. James Blignaut, Dept. of Economics University of Pretoria South Africa
http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/1955/Water_capital.html
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Since its creation, the OECD has had co-operative activities with civil society, principally through the Business and Industry Advisory Committee to the OECD (BIAC) and the Trade Union Advisory Committee (TUAC). Over the last decade, this co-operation has been complemented by increasing activities with other civil society organisations.
For further information about OECD cooperation with civil society, see the OECD civil society web page or contact:
Meggan Dissly
Civil Society Liaison Manager
Public Affairs Division
Tel + 33 1 45 24 80 94
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