Contribution of Non-Governmental Organizations to Sustainable Development

(a)     Name:  Contribution and role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)
that represent one or more major groups in sustainable development.
(b)     Brief Definition:  The number of NGOs that represent one or more major
groups involved in the development, implementation and/or monitoring of
national strategies for sustainable development.
(c)     Unit of Measurement:  Number of groups.

(a)     Agenda 21:  Chapters 23-32: Strengthening the Role of Major Groups.
(b)     Type of Indicator:   Response.

(a)     Purpose:  This indicator shows the level of participation in
sustainable development by major groups represented by NGOs.

(b)     Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable Development: The genuine
involvement and participation of all social groups in decision making is
critical to the achievement of sustainable development.  Chapter 23 of Agenda
21 calls for broad public participation in decision making as a fundamental
prerequisite for the achievement of sustainable development. Chapter 27
advocates strengthening the role of non-governmental organizations as partners
for sustainable development in a participatory democracy. The credibility of
NGOs lies in the responsible and constructive role they play in society.
Governments are encouraged to consult NGOs and establish mechanisms to ensure
their participation in decision-making processes at the national level.

(c)     Linkages to Other Indicators:  This indicator is linked to other
institutional measures including sustainable development strategies, national
councils for sustainable development, and representation of major groups in
national councils for sustainable development.

(d)     Targets:  No targets exist for this indicator.

(e)     International Conventions and Agreements:  Not available.

(a)     Underlying Definitions and Concepts:  Major groups are distinguished
by Agenda 21 as follows: Women, Trade Unions, Children and Youth, Business and
Industry, Indigenous People, Local Authorities, NGOs, Scientific and
Technological, and  Farmers.  Participation is defined by the Human
Development Report 1993 as follows: "Participation means that people are
closely involved in the economic, social, cultural and political processes
that affect their lives...Participation...is an essential element of human
development."

(b)     Measurement Methods:  There is no institutionalized measurement method
for this indicator, but surveys such as the one that has recently been carried
out by the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) could serve this
purpose. The CSD Survey of Major Groups has been sent to over 1100 NGOs and
major group organizations around the world. One section of the survey enquired
which major group(s) are represented in the NGO and which formal relationships
it has with several international bodies, including UN agencies. The third
section focused on the respondent's activities related to the individual
chapters of Agenda 21. The fourth and, for this indicator, most relevant
section contained detailed questions about the level and type of participation
of the respondent in national sustainable development strategies, and the
reasons, if applicable, why the respondent did not take part in these.

Further measurement methods could be the investigation of participatory
mechanisms in constituencies of both governments and NGOs, and/or national
reports related to sustainable development reporting.

(c)     The Indicator in the DSR Framework:  The indicator assesses the
Response activities that are undertaken by major groups, and particularly by
their NGO representatives with respect to sustainable development.

(d)     Limitations of the Indicator:  The main limitation of this indicator
is that measurement by surveys relies entirely on the response to those
surveys, which is unlikely to yield representative samples on an individual
country basis.

(e)     Alternative Definitions:  Mechanisms established by government for the
participation of NGOs at any stage in national strategies for sustainable
development, for example, in receiving and commenting on drafts of national
reports. Adopting this alternative indicator would put the emphasis rather on
the opportunities national authorities create for NGOs to participate instead
of the use that Major Groups make of those opportunities.

(a)     Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: The data needed for this
indicator are twofold: first, which NGOs represent major groups; and second,
in what way are these NGOs participating in national strategies for
sustainable development.

(b)     Data Availability:   Currently no data are available on a regular
basis.

(c)     Data Sources:  The CSD represents a potential source of data.

(a)     Lead Agency:  The lead agency is the New Economics Foundation, with
the following contact point: Indicators Programme Coordinator, fax no.
(44 171) 377 5720.

(b)     Other Organizations: Other organizations include the CSD.

Not available.

LEAD AGENCY: NEF