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Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development
Chapter 15 : Partnership with the Non-Governmental Sector
A. Local, national and international non-governmental organizations
B. The private sector
A. Local, national and international non-governmental organizations
Basis for action
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15.1 As the contribution, real and potential, of non-governmental organizations gains
clearer recognition in many countries and at regional and international levels, it is
important to affirm its relevance in the context of the preparation and implementation of
the present Programme of Action. To address the challenges of population and development
effectively, broad and effective partnership is essential between Governments and
non-governmental organizations (comprising not-for-profit groups and organizations at the
local, national and international levels) to assist in the formulation, implementation,
monitoring and evaluation of population and development objectives and activities.
15.2. Despite widely varying situations in their relationship and interaction with
Governments, non-governmental organizations have made and are increasingly making
important contributions to both population and development activities at all levels. In
many areas of population and development activities, non-governmental groups are already
rightly recognized for their comparative advantage in relation to government agencies,
because of innovative, flexible and responsive programme design and implementation,
including grass-roots participation, and because quite often they are rooted in and
interact with constituencies that are poorly served and hard to reach through government
channels.
15.3. Non-governmental organizations are important voices of the people, and their
associations and networks provide an effective and efficient means of better focusing
local and national initiatives and addressing pressing population, environmental,
migration and economic and social development concerns.
15.4. Non-governmental organizations are actively involved in the provision of
programme and project services in virtually every area of socio-economic development,
including the population sector. Many of them have, in a number of countries, a long
history of involvement and participation in population-related activities, particularly
family planning. Their strength and credibility lies
* The Holy See expressed a general reservation on this chapter. The reservation is to
be interpreted in terms of the statement made by the representative of the Holy See at the
14th plenary meeting, on 13 September 1994.
in the responsible and constructive role they play in society and the support their
activities engender from the community as a whole. Formal and informal organizations and
networks, including grass-roots movements, merit greater recognition at the local,
national and international levels as valid and valuable partners for the implementation of
the present Programme of Action. For such partnerships to develop and thrive, it is
necessary for governmental and non-governmental organizations to institute appropriate
systems and mechanisms to facilitate constructive dialogue, in the context of national
programmes and policies, recognizing their distinct roles, responsibilities and particular
capacities.
15.5. The experience, capabilities and expertise of many non-governmental organizations
and local community groups in areas of direct relevance to the Programme of Action is
acknowledged. Non-governmental organizations, especially those working in the field of
sexual and reproductive health and family planning, women's organizations and immigrant
and refugee support advocacy groups, have increased public knowledge and provided
educational services to men and women which contribute towards successful implementation
of population and development policies. Youth organizations are increasingly becoming
effective partners in developing programmes to educate youth on reproductive health,
gender and environmental issues. Other groups, such as organizations of the aged,
migrants, organizations of persons with disabilities and informal grass-roots groups, also
contribute effectively to the enhancement of programmes for their particular
constituencies. These diverse organizations can help in ensuring the quality and relevance
of programmes and services to the people they are meant to serve. They should be invited
to participate with local, national and international decision-making bodies, including
the United Nations system, to ensure effective implementation, monitoring and evaluation
of the present Programme of Action.
15.6. In recognition of the importance of effective partnership, non-governmental
organizations are invited to foster coordination, cooperation and communication at the
local, national, regional and international levels and with local and national
governments, to reinforce their effectiveness as key participants in the implementation of
population and development programmes and policies. The involvement of non-governmental
organizations should be seen as complementary to the responsibility of Governments to
provide full, safe and accessible reproductive health services, including family-planning
and sexual health services. Like Governments, non-governmental organizations should be
accountable for their actions and should offer transparency with respect to their services
and evaluation procedures.
Objective
15.7. The objective is to promote an effective partnership between all levels of
government and the full range of non-governmental organizations and local community
groups, in the discussion and decisions on the design, implementation, coordination,
monitoring and evaluation of programmes relating to population, development and
environment in accordance with the general policy framework of Governments, taking duly
into account the responsibilities and roles of the respective partners.
Actions
15.8. Governments and intergovernmental organizations, in dialogue with
non-governmental organizations and local community groups, and in full respect for their
autonomy, should integrate them in their decision-making and facilitate the contribution
that non-governmental organizations can make at all levels towards finding solutions to
population and development concerns and, in particular, to ensure the implementation of
the present Programme of Action. Non-governmental organizations should have a key role in
national and international development processes.
15.9. Governments should ensure the essential roles and participation of women's
organizations in the design and implementation of population and development programmes.
Involving women at all levels, especially the managerial level, is critical to meeting the
objectives and implementing the present Programme of Action.
15.10. Adequate financial and technical resources and information necessary for the
effective participation of non-governmental organizations in the research, design,
implementation, monitoring and evaluation of population and development activities should,
if feasible and if requested, be made available to the non-governmental sector by
Governments, intergovernmental organizations and international financial institutions in a
manner that will not compromise their full autonomy. To ensure transparency,
accountability and effective division of labour, these same institutions should make
available the necessary information and documents to those non-governmental organizations.
International organizations may provide financial and technical assistance to
non-governmental organizations in accordance with the laws and regulations of each
country.
15.11. Governments and donor countries, including intergovernmental organizations and
international financial institutions, should ensure that non-governmental organizations
and their networks are able to maintain their autonomy and strengthen their capacity
through regular dialogue and consultations, appropriate training and outreach activities,
and thus play a greater partnership role at all levels.
15.12. Non-governmental organizations and their networks and local communities should
strengthen their interaction with their constituencies, ensure the transparency of their
activities, mobilize public opinion, participate in the implementation of population and
development programmes and actively contribute to the national, regional and international
debate on population and development issues. Governments, where appropriate, should
include representation of non-governmental organizations on country delegations to
regional and international forums where issues on population and development are
discussed.
B. The private sector
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Basis for action
15.13. The private, profit-oriented sector plays an important role in social and
economic development, including production and delivery of reproductive health-care
services and commodities, appropriate education and information relevant to population and
development programmes. In a growing number of countries, the private sector has or is
developing the financial, managerial and technological capacity to carry out an array of
population and development activities in a cost-efficient and effective manner. This
experience has laid the groundwork for useful partnerships which the private sector can
further develop and expand. Private-sector involvement may assist or supplement but must
not mitigate the responsibility of Governments to provide full, safe and accessible
reproductive health services to all people. The private sector must also ensure that all
population and development programmes, with full respect for the various religious and
ethical values and cultural backgrounds of each country's people, adhere to basic rights
recognized by the international community and recalled in the present Programme of Action.
15.14. Another aspect of the private sector's role is its importance as a partner for
economic growth and sustainable development. Through its actions and attitudes, the
private sector can make a decisive impact on the quality of life of its employees and
often on large segments of society and their attitudes. Experience gained from these
programmes is useful to Governments and non-governmental organizations alike in their
ongoing efforts to find innovative ways of effectively involving the private sector in
population and development programmes. A growing consciousness of corporate
responsibilities increasingly is leading private-sector decision makers to search for new
ways in which for-profit entities can constructively work with Governments and
non-governmental organizations on population and sustainable development issues. By
acknowledging the contribution of the private sector, and by seeking more programme areas
for mutually beneficial cooperation, Governments and non-governmental organizations alike
may strengthen the efficiency of their population and development activities.
Objectives
15.15. The objectives are:
(a) To strengthen the partnership between Governments, international organizations and
the private sector in identifying new areas of cooperation;
(b) To promote the role of the private sector in service delivery and in the production
and distribution, within each region of the world, of high- quality reproductive health
and family-planning commodities and contraceptives, which are accessible and affordable to
low-income sectors of the population.
Actions
15.16. Governments and non-governmental and international organizations should
intensify their cooperation with the private, for-profit sector in matters pertaining to
population and sustainable development in order to strengthen the contribution of that
sector in the implementation of population and development programmes, including the
production and delivery of quality contraceptive commodities and services with appropriate
information and education, in a socially responsible, culturally sensitive, acceptable and
cost-effective manner.
15.17. Non-profit and profit-oriented organizations and their networks should develop
mechanisms whereby they can exchange ideas and experiences in the population and
development fields with a view to sharing innovative approaches and research and
development initiatives. The dissemination of information and research should be a
priority.
15.18. Governments are strongly encouraged to set standards for service delivery and
review legal, regulatory and import policies to identify and eliminate those policies that
unnecessarily prevent or restrict the greater involvement of the private sector in
efficient production of commodities for reproductive health, including family planning,
and in service delivery. Governments, taking into account cultural and social differences,
should strongly encourage the private sector to meet its responsibilities regarding
consumer information dissemination.
15.19. The profit-oriented sector should consider how it might better assist non-profit
non-governmental organizations to play a wider role in society through the enhancement or
creation of suitable mechanisms to channel financial and other appropriate support to
non-governmental organizations and their associations.
15.20. Private-sector employers should continue to devise and implement special
programmes that help meet their employees' needs for information, education and
reproductive health services, and accommodate their employees' needs to combine work and
family responsibilities. Organized health-care providers and health insurers should also
continue to include family planning and reproductive health services in the package of
health benefits they provide.
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