Birdwatching and Governmentwatching

1
Bird-watching and Government-watching?

• Exploring the role of a Bulgarian NGO in social
  and public policy making

2
Civil Society Profile

• CS, NGOs and democracy representative of
  interests in societal development
• Legitimacy multiple sources
• Accountability multiple stakeholders
• Capacity organisational activities
• Influencing policy process (ODI, 2005)
• Use of evidence in the policy process
• Delivering policy goals? (Friedman, 2003)

3
CSOs Identity Crisis

• Civilising societies, right and wrong types
  of NGOs, donor-dependency in structural
  development (Mercer, 2002)
• Limits of civil society - analytic hatstand?
• A site of conflict and unequal capacity the
  role of the state
• A dual role servicing and scolding the state?
• From advocate to service provider a shift from
  political to managerial accountability (NPM)
  (Ospina et al, 2004)?

4
The Case - Context of Change

• Methodology issues
• From values to strategy to policy
• BSPB (Bulgarian Society for the Protection of
  Birds) Conservation in transitional context
• Grass-roots and Advocacy activities
• Findings
• capacity and political context
• building Civil Society to achieve goals
  chasing the vision before the goals?
• dual responsibility

5
Case Highlights on the NGO Role

• Consult NATURA ecological network and meeting
  EU requirements
• Technical, legal and political legitimacy
• Accountability to all stakeholders
• Capacity in expertise well developed
• Challenge TUI lawsuit, Via Pontica windfarms
• Moral and legal legitimacy
• Accountability to international partners and
  members
• Capacity for influence underdeveloped

6
Case Highlights Responses

• Achievements in diverse areaswill make people
  who believe in preserving nature.. support an
  organisation which is everywhere
• People are attracted to BSPB by the idea of
  having the chance to achieve something. Then they
  stay because they.. identify with the values
• BSPB needs to become a stronger organisation so
  that it can have an effect on politics, the
  government, businesses and society.. Then the
  papers wont be writing about how an
  environmental organisation is trying to hold back
  the economic development of.. the country
• As a whole, the Bulgarian society still
  doesnt care about preserving nature and
  biodiversity.. Honestly, if our interest and
  mission diverges from those of the wider
  society and its concerns, it is a positive sign.

7
Reflections and Conclusions

• NGO as a policy partner with a dual
  responsibility
• matter of choice, ambition, chance?
• which role/legitimacy to invest in?
• Ordering priorities primary/secondary role of
  NGOs as specialists and watchdogs
• Individual vs collective strategy
• building domain power for social policy
  influence power games within the sector
• A question of Time?

8
Reflections and Conclusions

• Evolution from advocacy to service delivery
  losing touch with the grass-roots?
• Redefining the roles of Civil Society, the State
  and business?
• Existential question on Civil Society A space
  for change or agent of change?