Note : The present report doesn't necessarily reflect the views of the ICRC.

Key Point 1: Civil society organizations and their contribution to the global public health and humanitarian agenda. Challenges of representation at the global level.

Challenges of engagement with civil society:

Representation – inclusion of all groups of civil society

• Accountability
  
• Effective programmes are those involving multiple partners that originate at the grassroots level and include the most vulnerable people themselves – it is necessary to understand the local environment
  
• Commitment to enter into dialogue needed – the RC/RC Movement is in a unique position to facilitate dialogue
  
• Advocacy role of the Movement – the “voice” of the community should already be included in the planning phase of programmes

• The difference between NGOs and the RC/RC Movement lies in the special relationship that National RC/RC Societies have with governments and other public authorities as their auxiliaries
  
• The Fundamental Principles are the source of the Movement’s incomparable strength. The observance of these Principles enables the Movement’s components to obtain access to the most vulnerable people and to serve as intermediaries. The Movement’s uniqueness and vast experience can be of interest to governments as well as to NGOs
  
• Fighting stigma and discrimination in the HIV/AIDS context: the Movement has shown that the best way to carry out such a fight is to empower people to do so themselves. A great strength of the Movement is its grassroots structure, based on a large volunteer network
  
• Cooperation with the corporate world: the challenge for the Movement is to reconcile the need to cooperate with private companies and other entities, on one hand, with respect for the Fundamental Principles, on the other. This challenge can be met by playing an advocacy role

• Governments and National Societies in transition; e.g. post-Communist countries need special consideration
  
• The International Federation could play the role of an intermediary in situations where the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) country coordination mechanisms are not applicable
  
• The RC/RC Movement as a model organization in post-Communist countries – helping governments to deal with NGOs
  
• The Movement is the most accepted partner, as it is widely known by the population and has a high degree of credibility
  
• In the field of emergency health and blood services, cooperation and partnerships between Mongolia’s health ministry and the Mongolian Red Cross Society, as the representative of civil society, have had positive results
  
• Mongolia’s health ministry greatly appreciates the global tendency of governments to work together with civil society

• The RC/RC Movement is unique in its ability to reach vast numbers of vulnerable people with a high degree of effectiveness. Through its large volunteer network, the Movement has an enormous impact on public health which can be measured in terms of lives saved, etc.
  
• The Movement needs to build on this success by enhancing the capacities of local communities
  
• The Movement is achieving vaccination rates of over 90% in its measles campaign by mobilizing communities and volunteers in the field. Partners: health ministries, WHO, centres for disease control, the UN Foundation
  
• Because of its worldwide volunteer network, its own diversity and synergies in programming with other organizations (combining and integrating programmes efficiently), the Movement has the potential to be the premier global partner for promoting the millennium development goals in public health
  
• Partnerships must be based on common visions and clear objectives
  
• Determine synergies – all partners need to be involved proactively
  
• In order to do this even more effectively, the Movement needs to create more innovative partnership models
  
• Partnerships cost money, but they are cost-effective and have great impact
  
• Partnerships should be led by technical visionaries and entrepreneurs. CEOs must protect the partnerships from lawyers and accountants

• It is crucial that all concerned involve themselves in developing a common strategy and defining the different roles of RC/RC Societies and partners
  
• The International Federation has a crucial role to play in advocating resources that can be used effectively down to grassroots level
  
• As a member of international boards such as those of GFATM and GAVI, the RC/RC Movement should be able to advocate an ever more effective public health response reaching ever more people
  
• The Movement should strive to combine partnerships with small local NGOs with capacity-building
  
• The Movement can be a leader in public health; more emphasis and more funds need to be directed towards the long-term sustainability of programmes
  
• Mechanisms need to be created to ensure that the Movement and NGOs are represented on and have access to international boards as equal partners