HOM Conference on HRIA in Practice, Zandvoort 23

1
HOM Conference on HRIA in Practice, Zandvoort 23
24 November 2006

• Indicators relating to influence of development
  cooperation on democracy and human rights
  example Vietnamese-Swedish co-operation
• Marcel Zwamborn
• mZet research and advice
• Utrecht, The Netherlands
• 31 30 251 03 83 solon_at_euronet.nl

2
Outline

• What were the expected results of the exercise?
• How did this work out in practice?
• What type of indicators have been developed?
• What will be done with these results?

3
Expected results background

• Framework country strategy Swedish Vietnamese
  development co-operation 2004 2008
• Purpose assess effects of Swedish Vietnamese
  development co-operation on democracy and human
  rights
• Indicators based on international human rights
  standards
• Sectors health, decentralisation/local
  authority, legal

4
Expected results key questions

• Identify a set of relevant rights in each area as
  given in the international standards on human
  rights
• Suggest measurable quantitative/ qualitative
  indicators in relation to these sets of rights,
• Assess progress in each sector and identify
  contribution to progress of Swedish development
  co-operation.

5
Practice process

• Inputs from experts on key questions (rights
  sets, indicators)
• Joint Swedish Vietnamese working groups for
  each sector to develop indicators
• Three sectoral assessments on the basis of
  indicators
• One synthesis report

6
Practice challenges

• Identification of sets of rights rights and
  development conceptual incongruence?
• Operationalisation of measurable RBA related
  indicators what are key issues to measure?
• Measuring data and baselines available?

7
Conceptual incongruence?
Table 1. Obligations to respect, protect, fulfil Table 1. Obligations to respect, protect, fulfil Table 1. Obligations to respect, protect, fulfil
Minimum core obligation, minimum outcome prescribed Progressive realization, process prescribed, outcome prescribed over time
a) Material scope, enshrined in legislation as well as policies Minimum material coverage of the right Developmental perspective
b) Primary beneficiaries (vulnerable groups) and non-discrimination (poverty reduction orientation) Focus on vulnerable at risk of exclusion Society at large still special care for groups at risk of exclusion
c) Ensuring participation in making of policies and laws as well as the implementation thereof (transparency and accountability) Government accountability for making policies and laws Transparency and participation in making of policies and laws that directly affect ones rights
d) Legal remedy and redress (enforcement) Obligation of outcome Obligation of process

8
Operationalisation of indicators

• Content and political will standards and policy
• Target groups vulnerable groups and
  non-discrimination
• Participation and transparency process
• Enforcement remedies and redress

9
Preliminary results

• Exercise more complicated than expected
  translation of development goals into sets of
  rights, covering all elements of obligations,
  etc.
• Indicators worked for assessment of achievements
  in sectors, but evidence shows large gaps no
  baseline, no data
• Attribution difficult, also in view of
  conflicting trends in donor policies wish for
  attribution, at the same time donor consortia,
  focus on large programs
• Joint ownership of process in crucial to address
  above points.