What works? Summit - Critique of the draft Declaration

To: The Drum Beat Network

Hi and best wishes - much strength for your very important work. My apologies if you are part of the What works? Summit group. Below may duplicate previous communications but we wanted to share this more broadly. 

The draft Summit Declaration sparked and prompted over 50 contributions with analysis and ideas (scroll down at that link). The final Summit draft is being prepared. But of course the comments submitted address important themes for the overall communication and media for development, social and behaviour change field of work. We would welcome your review and further critique and contribution. Some possible starting points for your critique, reply and comment include:

Catherine (Kenya) - "Amplifying the voice of the voiceless especially those affected and living with different conditions … Aspects of equity and sustainability were highlighted in the Summit and should be central"

Jair (Colombia)- "I also believe that it would not be appropriate to reduce the challenges of development to the SDGs. Although it is true that it is a very powerful global agreement, it is also true that many communities and regions of the planet are critical of this vision."

Fagbemi (Nigeria) "In our different countries, we have varied SBC experiences with the different stakeholders we work with: government, private sector, CSOs, academia etc. It would be great if we could establish this and possibly include a statement that recognizes these unique peculiarities and how these can be seen more from a position of strength than a disadvantage"

Tilly (USA) - "One of the issues that was reinforced for me during the Summit was that the evidence that SBCC works is not yet as strong for all disciplines and fields. I believe that it is not that the effect of SBCC won’t be there, but rather that there needs to be more evaluation research to provide similar levels of evidence as for other behaviors/disciplines."

Ivan (Fiji) - "Often, social issues become 'delicate' to manage in certain contexts. Tackle structural barriers to human development needs different roles from civil society to public services to international cooperation. Attention on new generations driving and embracing social change is needed (SDGs are around the corner)".

Birgitte (Denmark) - "found the general tone of the declaration to be about 'what we can do for you'. And while it was, indeed, a summit of enabling facilitators for communication processes in development, I should like to remind us of the understanding which I found in many sessions - not all - that real, lasting (sustainable) change happens when people identify, define and implement processes of change in their lives, themselves.”