[bestbits] CSCG

[Deirdre Williams]

(Apologies for the long email)
Dear Colleagues,

Mandela said “Just because you’re small you don’t have to be cowards.”
Civil society may be small – we don’t have the obvious power of the big
multi-national corporations – but that’s no excuse for shoddiness, which is
a sort of cowardice, which means giving up before you even begin.

The Civil Society Coordination Group was, is, a great idea. It’s a means by
which we could harness the power of numbers which is civil society’s great
treasure. But it will only work if we do it properly, and recently we
haven’t been doing it properly. Understand that this is a criticism of the
institution and not of individual members who tried hard to “do things
properly”.

Participation is about doing things, about active involvement. Volunteering
is only a preliminary, it is not sufficient by itself. If one volunteers or
accepts a nomination, then one has been entrusted to do something for a
whole group of other people, and this is a serious responsibility. If it
then becomes impossible to complete the task the only responsible action is
to step down and clear the space for someone else who will have the time,
the energy, and the commitment. To stay and do nothing is irresponsible and
shameful.

CSCG is still quite new and has no official standing in the selection
process. To gain the trust of the final selectors (in this case the UN) it
is necessary that CSCG must gain the trust of the constituency it claims to
represent (civil society), and is clearly seen to be trusted by civil
society generally. If civil society can’t be bothered then CSCG has no
reason to exist.

Things to consider:

*Timing *– this year the MAG renewal is being carried out over a very short
period of time. CSCG can be a rather cumbersome process.

*Suggestion*: we don’t have to wait for the last minute. We know how many
terms civil society MAG members have served so we have an idea of how many
replacements will be needed. A call could be made at a convenient time and
Nomcoms could meet in anticipation of the renewal call and have a slate of
candidates ready. Then when the call comes it is just a case of checking
that those chosen for endorsement are still available. (Won’t help this
time, but worth thinking about)

*Scope*: How do we make CSCG truly representative of the diversity of civil
society?

*Suggestions*: CSCG began with 6 member coalitions. CIVICUS and Diplo have
both dropped out. Do the four that are left represent the range of civil
society? (I don’t think so.) Can we find a way to use the growing body of
local and regional IGFs and other national and regional initiatives (NRIs)
to help to create a more inclusive CSCG? Is there another way to do this?

*Criteria for selection*: What attributes do we require in a civil society
MAG member?

*Suggestions*: For the MAG endorsement it should be possible to decide the
type of candidate that civil society needs. At bottom the MAG is about
running the IGF. Therefore some experience of the IGF is needed (not
necessarily in situ, but certainly evidence of previous engagement and
experience; this is not the right place for “giving the newbies a chance”).
What other criteria are needed? Demonstrated willingness to work? Ability
to work as part of a team? (I would add ability to listen as well as to
talk because candidates will be representing civil society as a whole if
they are eventually selected – they need to be aware of the range of what
civil society as a group is thinking.) I’m sure there are other criteria.
This should be a continuing discussion.

*Participation:* How should the Nomcom deal with a situation of having to
function more or less without one or more of its members? Are valid
decisions possible in these circumstances?

*Suggestions*: Don’t leave things to the last moment. Do insist that
volunteers demonstrate their commitment. Arrange for alternates so that in
the case of a real emergency there is someone else ready to take the place
of the affected member.

CSCG is supposed to be the creation of global civil society. It’s important
that we think about these things because CSCG is supposed to be making
decisions on OUR behalf about who are the best people to represent US. Each
of us should ensure that the process is being carried out as we would want
it to be.

This is an issue that needs our urgent attention.

Best wishes

Deirdre

-- 
“The fundamental cure for poverty is not money but knowledge" Sir William
Arthur Lewis, Nobel Prize Economics, 1979
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