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Minutes of the conference on Non-Governmental Diplomacy organized in Washington DC

InterAction
Coordination SUD

Provisional summary of the debates: (this page will be actualized as soon as the minutes will be published)

Non-governmental organizations are increasingly playing critical roles in addressing global issues - a function that has traditionally been the prerogative and responsibility of nation-states. NGOs have combined conventional diplomatic approaches with new methods specific to their own operations to pressure governments and international bodies to acknowledge and address national and transnational issues.

From the furthering of human rights, to broadening access to HIV/AIDS treatment and generic medicines, to the elimination of landmines and mitigation of major conflicts, the efforts of NGOs have generated lessons as well as raised questions. Are NGOs blurring the lines between advocacy and diplomacy? What is the value added of these efforts? Are there replicable lessons to be learned from past experiences to enlighten current efforts on major issues such as global warming and the food price crisis?

This executive level gathering of NGO leaders, diplomats, academics, policymakers, and experts from foundations, think tanks and research institutions explored the critical role of NGOs in traditional diplomatic spheres, took stock of past experiences, drew lessons to inform on-going efforts, and identified opportunities for NGOs and their institutional counterparts to better capitalize on their respective strengths. About 100 senior managers and executives were in attendance.

The conference included four breakout sessions, each focusing on a specific topic illustrating NGOs’ involvement in diplomacy (and/or advocacy): the elimination of landmines, access to HIV/AIDS treatment, climate change, and the food price crisis. The first two sessions were examples of past experiences that fed into the second two, which addressed current, on-going issues. Each breakout session was attended by 30 to 40 participants. A panel consisting of a Case Presenter, a Commenter, and a Facilitator provided initial comments to structure the discussion.

with Martin Viélajus (Institute for Research & Debate on Governance), Lisa Jordan (Ford Foundation), Henri Rouillé d’Orfeuil (Coordination SUD) and Sam Worthington (InterAction)

© 2008 InterAction

• Role of NGOs in public debate and international relations

  Document written by Jorge Eduardo Durão, former director-general of ABONG, and Henri Rouillé d’Orfeuil, on the elements for a definition of a non governmental diplomacy.

© 2010 ONG-NGO - Netlinking - Réalisation : MWM