The Sozidanie Foundation’s

02.05.2005

Meeting with Oxfam

Meeting with Oxfam, 12 April 2005

Anjo van Toorn, Oxfam

Vitaliy Kartamyshev, Oxfam

Galina Bodrenkova, Centre for the Development of Volunteering in Russia

Lena Zakharova, CDVR

Kit Lawry, CDVR /volunteer/

1. Oxfam briefly explained their work in Russia:

Aim to reduce poverty through improving people’s livelihoods /ability to earn and support themselves/. Oxfam offers:

· Microfinance, training, business consultation

· Works with the government to create a more favourable business climate.

The Duma’s Committee on NGOs, on which Galina sits, is currently discussing how to create a more favourable business climate for small businesses; support to entrepreneurs is recognised as important for sustainable development.

2. The Global Coalition against Poverty /GCAP/:

This is a worldwide campaign, to promote 3 main messages:

· More, and better, aid for developing countries

· Debt relief

· Fair trade

Hundreds of civil society organisations from many countries are participating in this campaign, which is targeted at the governments of rich countries. One of the main aims of the campaign is to reduce poverty in poorer countries by giving more money, better focused.

3. Two important dates in the GCAP:

1 July 2005 – the G8 meeting in Scotland. Events are being organised to promote debt relief and fair trade.

Early September – the UN will review progress so far on achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

For us in Russia, 2006 is also an important date because Russia will chair the G8 meeting. We have a chance to do something both on a global level and on a national level, to target poverty reduction. These opportunities are very important for civil society organisations in Russia. What can we do? With whom? And how?

4. We need to know what Russia’s agenda for the 2006 meeting will be.

UNDP will meet with the Russian government soon, after which Oxfam hopes to know more about the plans, issues, ideas that will be on the agenda for the 2006 G8 meeting. We know what the GCAP agenda is, so we need time to plan our campaign and do research.

5. It’s important that Russian civil society should develop a strategy and meet with government, not just international organisations. Also, that initial meetings between government ministries and civil society lead to more frequent meetings in the future. Oxfam can provide support in this, but will not lead; Russian NGOs should lead.

6. CDVR briefly explained their work:

Linked to a network of groups across Russia who have their own local networks. We lobby for a systematic system of support for volunteering as a way of fighting poverty. In particular, we work towards 3 major factors determining the role of volunteers in civil society:

· participation in the development of a national strategy for volunteering

· participation in social service

· monitoring the results of volunteer work /and progress of the MDGs/ with the government

We lobby constructively for our goals and to raise awareness of the value of volunteering. We don’t place ourselves in opposition to the government but seek to work with them.

7. To promote the GCAP in Russia, a national platform, or coalition, is needed.

This is a group of NGOs who can speak with one voice, representing civil society in Russia. So far, two organisations have shown interest in joining a national coalition:

· East-West, an NGO working with HIV/AIDS

· Russian Association of Support to the UN /they prepare reports on the progress of the MDGs/

CDVR could suggest other organisations, from their networks, who would be interested to join the coalition. Should we have an organisation to represent work in each MDG area?

8. Are all the MDGs are relevant for Russia?

Even if goals like “universal primary education” are not relevant for Russia, they can be adapted to Russian realities. For example, improving the quality of education and the educational system in Russia. /If you ask young people and the government which MDGs are relevant to Russia, you will receive very different answers!/

Action points:

Oxfam to keep CDVR informed of progress of meetings with government to find out agenda for G8 meeting in 2006.

Centre for the Development of Volunteering in Russia to suggest organisations who might be interested to join the GCAP national coalition.