CONTRIBUTIONS OF NGOs IN THE POLITICAL DECISION MAKING PROCESS

1. Agenda Setting

The political agenda is agreed by the parliament and government but can be shaped by NGOs, or groups of NGOs, through campaigns and lobbying for issues, needs and concerns. New policy initiatives are often the result of influence of the campaigns of NGOs. During this step NGOs aim to influence decision-makers on behalf of a collective interest and act in a way that is complementary to political debate.

Contribution of NGOs

• Advocating: raise issues, concerns and needs for a specific user group, point of view or a general public interest that is not yet covered by legislation or other policy documents, instruments or measures.
• Information and Awareness Building: share NGO findings with the public authorities, involve and represent members, users and key citizen groups and act as channels to reach citizens; to listen, react and inform.
• Expertise and Advice: experts with knowledge on a specific topic play a key role in setting the political agenda. Their analysis and research identify current and future needs in society and provide crucial perspectives.
• Innovation: development of new solutions and approaches; demonstrating how these may be brought onto the political agenda.
• Service Provision: key actor in forming policy and creating alternative or non-existing services for a specific user group

2. Drafting

Public authorities usually have well-established processes for policy drafting. Here NGOs are often involved in areas such as identifying problems, proposing solutions and providing evidence for their preferred proposal with, for example, interviews or research. Facilitating opportunities for consultation should be a key element in this step as well as various forms of dialogue to collect input from key stakeholders.

Contributions of NGOs

• Advocating: guaranteeing that consideration is given to the needs and interests of stakeholders affected by the draft policy.
• Information and Awareness Building: NGOs inform members, users and key citizens’ groups about the drafting process.
• Expertise and Advice: provide analyses and research on issues under consideration or raise additional priorities to be included in the policy draft.
• Innovation: provide solutions through the introduction of new approaches, practical solutions and concrete models which bring benefits to specific user groups.
• Service Provision: input to policy drafting to ensure consideration is given to their specific users’ needs and that necessary conditions are met;
• Watchdog Function: Follow the drafting process to make sure stakeholder concerns are considered and that the process is inclusive and transparent.

3. Decision

The forms of political decision-taking vary based on national context and legislation. Common characteristics are the establishment of a government policy directive by a ministry; or legislation, such as passing a law by parliamentary vote; or public referendum, which then requires enabling legislation. Draft laws and motions should be open to input and participation of NGOs. The public authorities should evaluate different views and opinions before the decision is taken. At this step consultation is central to informed decision. However the final power of choice lies with the public authorities, unless the decision is taken by a public vote, referendum or a co-decision mechanism.

Contributions of NGOs

• Advocating: influencing the decision makers before a vote.
• Information and Awareness Building: informing membership, users and key citizens’ groups about the political decisions and their potential effect.
• Expertise and Advice: provision of detailed analysis to inform and influence decision makers.
• Watchdog Function: following the decision-making process, making sure it is democratic, transparent and optimally effective.

4. Implementation

This is the step at which many NGOs are most active, for example in service delivery and project execution. Much of the work done by NGOs in the previous steps includes attempts to influence the implementation of policy. This phase is especially important to ensure that the intended outcome will be fulfilled. Access to clear and transparent information on expectations and opportunities is important at this step, as well as active partnerships.

Contributions of NGOs

• Information and Awareness Building: primarily focused on public awareness raising, explanation of benefits or disadvantages and impact of policy.
• Service Provision: one key actor in implementing policy initiatives, often carrying the main responsibility for delivery.
• Watchdog Function: to assess and ensure that the policy is implemented as intended without harmful side-effects

5. Monitoring

At this point the role of NGOs is to monitor and assess the outcomes of the implemented policy. It is important to have in place an effective and transparent monitoring system that ensures the policy/programme achieves the intended purpose.  

Contributions of NGOs

•  Advocating: monitor and voice whether the policy initiative reached the intended beneficiaries and had the intended outcome for society.
• Expertise and Advice: gather evidence or research on the policy’s impact; includes think-tanks and research institutes.
• Service Provision: responsibility to monitor the effects of the programme in terms of quality, sustainability, effectiveness and real case examples
• Watchdog Function: a priority role in monitoring effects of the policy, to ensure that the intended objectives are achieved

6. Reformulation

The knowledge gained from assessing the policy implementation, coupled with evolving needs in society, often require a reformulation of policy. This must be based on access to information and opportunities for dialogue to identify needs and initiatives. This reformulation allows for the initiation of a new cycle of decision-making.

Contributions of NGOs

• Advocating: lobby for renewal of policy by expressing limitations in or side-effects of the current policy, to meet the needs of users or citizens.
• Expertise and Advice: conduct research and analysis to identify gaps in the current policy initiative and provide rationale for reformulation.
• Innovation: develop new approaches to tackle the relevant policy issue; this can be a key element in policy renewal.
• Service Provision: identify obstacles and gather evidence to illustrate evolving needs that require a reformulation of policy.