THE 'PREHISTORY' OF Social Watch

9 - Organisation of Caucuses

With the resolution of the tensions surrounding the IFC in the first PrepCom the organisation of NGOs around substantive issues could begin. During the first PrepCom the Women's Caucus was the strongest in terms of participation and output and set an example that could be followed by groupings interested in other issues. Alongside the Women's Caucus, ICSW began to organise a Social Welfare Caucus - later called the 'Issues Caucus'. Regional Caucuses were also emerging. A Development Caucus replaced the earlier meetings of the '(Novib) reference group' - the purpose of which had become difficult to define. The Development Caucus broadened the interaction of development organisations and Southern NGOs to any organisation interested in North-South issues participating at the PrepComs. In the second PrepCom the Development Caucus was organised every day at lunchtime and often attracted more than 50 people.

The Development Caucus worked on the same principle as the Women's Caucus. Based on the individual contacts of NGOs with their governments information was exchanged in the Caucus and lobby strategies were discussed. The lobby interventions were specifically geared to national and regional levels and discussions of NGOs with government delegates were encouraged. Meanwhile overall approaches with regards to advocacy interventions were debated and planned in the Caucus, in response to the official process as a whole. The Caucus also provided a space for newcomers to be included in the ongoing processes, and provided a space where information could be gathered. It also provided meetings of NGOs with government delegates on development related themes.

The Caucuses became the crucial linking point of NGOs with the official process. Representatives of the Caucuses were requested to speak in the plenary on behalf of the NGOs in the remaining PrepComs. The Caucuses also submitted material to the official process on behalf of NGO groupings. The co-operation between the Women's Caucus and the Development Caucus remained very strong throughout the Social Summit process and this laid an important foundation for the follow-up in the creation of Social Watch.