GENEVA – The active, free and meaningful participation of individuals and communities in decisions related to economic development is a precondition to achieve inclusive and sustainable development, a UN expert said today.
“Taking the right to development seriously requires States and other actors to ensure genuine participation of people in development governance. Without people’s participation, there can be no people-centred sustainable development”, said Surya Deva, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development.
A unique aspect of the right to development is that it does not focus merely on outcomes. The process of development matters equally. As States and other organisations commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Declaration on the Right to Development, they should embrace the idea of participatory development.
In his report to the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, Deva explained the meaning of “active, free and meaningful” participation, highlighted how participation adds value to both the process and the outcomes of decision-making, and elaborated on preconditions for participation.
“I have often witnessed examples of top-down decision-making, with symbolic consultations about development-related policies, programmes and projects. This participation deficit has contributed to economic development that is neither inclusive nor sustainable,” the expert said.
“Participation is not the same thing as consultation. Participation requires States and other decision-makers sharing power with people, giving individuals and communities the ‘right to choose’ their development priorities and creating an enabling environment to facilitate the co-designing of development-related policies, programmes and projects to achieve the common good,” Deva said.
The report elaborated on the added value of participation of individuals and communities for development. “Examples of added value include achieving economic development that leaves no one behind, ensuring ecological sustainability, and building mutual trust and social cohesion within societies. People’s participation in decision-making also allows States and companies to prevent potential harm to human rights or the environment and thus manage risks better,” he said.
To assist various decision makers in facilitating participatory development, Deva proposed specific guidance for key actors in development governance: States, national human rights institutions, UN entities, multilateral development banks, companies and civil society organisations.
“Participation may be seen as increasing cost, slowing down decision-making, or making the process of decision-making more complex. However, most of these concerns can be addressed by designing a suitable participation process,” the expert said.
“Any inefficiency losses would be compensated by the benefits gained through the genuine participation of people in development governance,” he said.
