7. Consultative mechanisms 7.1 The importance of the process It is often said that the process of developing the plan is as important as the document itself. This is because the process will determine: • The extent of political support for the plan; • The extent to which relevant government agencies and NGOs are effectively involved; • Whether there is sufficient interaction between the various actors to ensure that the plan derives full benefit from their varying insights and perspectives; • How widely the plan is recognized and supported by the general public; • How effectively the plan is monitored. To ensure that the plan achieves its optimum potential, the process itself, as well as the plan’s content and mechanisms, should be structured in such a way as to produce results. The principal actors, State and non-State alike, should engage in consultations about the process from the outset. The end result will be much more effective if it is produced as a result of partnership between government and civil society rather than as a government-driven exercise. It is true that, at the end of the day, obligations to fulfil the plan fall primarily on government, and from that point of view it is impractical to have a plan that provides for measures that the government cannot or does not wish to carry out. However, a genuine process of dialogue should produce an understanding between government and civil society that lays the basis for a realistic plan enjoying broad community support. Mechanisms such as periodic meetings of government and civil society representatives will be a primary vehicle for consultations, but the principal actors in the process should constantly seek new and effective means to broaden consultations on the plan. The guiding principle should always be that the national action plan is a national undertaking and that the broader the consultations, the more effective and long-lasting will be the plan’s outcomes. Such broader consultations should include regular informal personal and telecommunication contacts among the main players to promote better cooperation and a harmonious atmosphere for collaboration. They can also include an interactive web site, public meetings, public hearings, provision for written submissions and use of talkback radio. There are also benefits to be gained from principal actors travelling to provincial areas to try to ensure that the process is brought closer to its beneficiaries. 56