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| Regional Stakeholders Consultation on New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)
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| 4. What some CSOs have done and are doing on NEPAD |
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4.1 African Leadership Forum (ALF):
The African Leadership Forum has recently held a seminar on NEPAD and plans to hold others to elaborate on various aspects of NEPAD including gender aspects. This is part of its programme to enable its constituency to engage in the process.
4.2 Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU):
The organisation of African Trade Union Unity recently organised a seminar in which the issues raised below were raised. The Declaration from the Meeting was later presented to the Heads of State Implementing Committee which met in Abuja in March.
- African experience shows that we cannot trust neo-liberalism on which NEPAD seems to hinge heavily. NEPAD needs to be reoriented.
- Lack of reference to African experiences in NEPAD is a matter of concern. NEPAD should be built on past experiences to inform the future. Social dimensions of Africa’s development must be visible.
- There is no clear linkage between NEPAD and the African Union. The institutional framework should be clear.
- NEPAD is donor oriented. Africa must plan its future on the basis of mobilising and utilising local resources rather than entrenching dependency on the donors. So far partnership with donors has not been symetrical. Focus of NEPAD should therefore be on the role of African governments and the people.
- CSOs are willing to play a role and contribute to NEPAD but there should be legitimate space for CSO participation and influence.
The organisation intends to continue to participate fully in the reshaping of NEPAD.
4.3 African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD):
AFRODAD undertook a survey in Zimbabwe and Botswana on the extent to which Government officials, Parliamentarians and Civil Society was aware and engaged in NEPAD. The absence of knowledge and engagement raised concerns about the grounding of NEPAD. It was clear from the survey that more needed to be done to have NEPAD discussed at national and sub-regional level. AFRODAD will therefore organise a regional workshop in May on NEPAD and will engage with other CSOs on NEPAD.
It was also clear from the survey that the institutional framework was unclear. Since NEPAD is an African Union project it should be part of the building blocks of the African Union: the national REC focal points (e.g. SADC National Committees), Regional Economic Communities (e.g. SADC and ECOWAS) and finally through Africa Union ECOSOC to the Heads of State Summit of the African Union.
AFRODAD welcomes the NEPAD Debt and ODA Initiative. The framework has many shortfalls but AFRODAD supports the limiting of Debt service to a small percentage of Government budgetary expenditures. More could be said and done regarding Debt cancellation and establishing of Arbitration mechanisms on Debt. AFRODAD will play a role in this specific area of NEPAD activities.
4.4 African Federation of Women’s Entreprenuers (FAWE):
FAWE has undertaken a series of NEPAD awarenessnes campaigns for both its membership and broadly. Through the Radio outreach programme the organisation has been able to reach women beyond its membership. This awareness has itself had a spin off effect of increasing coverage of awareness and interest in NEPAD.
The organisation is looking for space for making contribution to the enhancement of the NEPAD process.
4.5 CONGAD:
CONGAD has played a role in providing African civil society thinking on NEPAD in the Canadian civil society and government through its involvement in Partnership Africa-Canada. Given that Canada will host the next G8 Summit and that NEPAD will be up for discussions and decisions, the Canadian civil society has been lobbying its government for support to NEPAD. Through this process the Canadian government has provided C$ 500,000 to cover African civil society awareness and engagement in NEPAD. These resources are available at the various Canadian High Commissions and Embassies in many parts of Africa. CSOs should take advantage of these resources to hold sensitization and awareness building in their various countries.
CONGAD will participate fully in the forthcoming Canadian G8 Preparatory meetings in Canada where at least 100 African civil society representatives will be present. The lobby and advocacy work for support of NEPAD by the G8 will dominate CONGAD work through its involvement in PAC over the next weeks.
4.6 Other CSO Activities:
Many activities are taking place in various parts of Africa either organized by CSOs or in which CSOs are participating on NEPAD. CODESRIA and the Third World Network are hosting a Meeting of intellectuals and researchers in May to discuss Africa’s long term development. NEPAD will feature prominently in that discussion.
Since the appearance of the NEPAD document, there have been various commentaries within the CSO community floating on the Internet and being passed around via emails. These ideas and commentaries need to find space for consolidation.
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