Public Policy for Public Benefit: The Role of National Trusts

1. Public Policy for Public Benefit: The Role of National Trusts Dr. June Taboroff Senior Cultural Resource Specialist Uganda October 2013

2. Overview • Enabling or disabling policy environments - public policies affect how national trusts operate • The role of national trusts in guiding – and contesting - public policy • National trusts’ contribution to public policy – with examples • National trusts/NGOs • The institutional implications for national trusts • The importance of monitoring and evaluation of progress in developing policy • Concluding remarks

3. Enabling or Disabling Policy Environments • Enabling or disabling policy environments – the policy Cloud • The range of public policies that affect the scope and impact of national trusts • Policies on: • charitable organizations and NGOs • land use planning • fiscal matters such as VAT • tourism development • green energy • decentralization • heritage conservation • nature conservation

4. Guiding and Contesting Public Policy • The role of national trusts in guiding – and at times contesting - public policy • Borne of dissatisfaction and urgency • National trusts as organizations independent of Government, membership based, and with expert staff • Key actions in regard to public policy formulation: • analyze public policy and its impacts • identify gaps, opportunities or perverse policies • advance new policies – public debate • demonstrate the benefits – pilot activities, evidence

5. How National Trusts Contribute to Public Policy • Examples of national trusts’ contribution to public policy – wide reaching • The UK National Trust’s efforts in coastal zone management • Penang Heritage Trust’s involvement in promoting city tourism • US National Trust for Historic Preservation’s revitalization of main street commercial areas

6. National Trusts and Coastal Zone Management • National Trust Project Neptune –managing change and acquiring properties • Creation of partnerships

7. National Trusts in Historic Cities • Penang Heritage Trust campaign to retain urban character

8. National Trust and Urban Retail Policy • US National Trust for Historic Preservation – Main Street Program

9. National Trusts/NGOs • National Trusts as membership organizations focused on conserving cultural and/or natural heritage • Usually nation-wide • Long term perspective • Through INTO, access to international advice and experience • NGOs- may be single issue focused • But can be effective in championing specific or local issues • Potential for alliances with national trusts

10. Institutional Implications for National Trusts • Aligning institutional objectives with policies – coherence and priority setting • Meeting staffing and organizational needs – a policy unit with policy analysts? • Developing relationships with Government, the private sector, and other NGOs – a coordinated voice • Outreach and advocacy to influence policy makers

11. The Monitoring and Evaluation Function • Monitoring and evaluation of progress in developing policy – how to provide evidence of impact • Link between policy and implementation • Measuring and documenting change • A means to gain necessary support

12. Some Concluding Thoughts • An informed voice • A non-political voice • Civil society’s voice • A voice promoting conservation