Executive Summary
Southern Africa hosted the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) from 26 August -4th September 2002. Over 27000 civil society delegates attended the WSSD but with very little impact on the outcomes. Despite existence of the SADC core group, the SADC civil society was remarkably invisible, their participation was passive, and the activities were uncoordinated. The poor performance is attributed to the absence of shared vision, lack of capacity, resources, and clear strategy for communication and coordination of activities amongst themselves and with other stakeholders including governments. This is compounded with lack of lobbying, advocacy and negotiation skills and more importantly disparities in understanding sustainable development concept.
The WSSD was one of the learning processes; therefore, lessons and experiences need to be captured because they are valuable for future engagements in local and international processes of importance to sustainable development in Southern Africa. It is against this background that Environmental Monitoring Group (EMG) co-organised with Danish 92 Group Rio + 10 Project partners, and hosted a Southern Africa Sub regional Post WSSD civil society workshop under Danish 92 Group Rio + 10 project sponsorship from 2nd -4th April 2003 at Devonshire Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa. About 30 participants attended the workshop. These came from the Danish 92 group project partners and some Key networks in Southern Africa. Donor organizations participating in the workshop included the Danish 92 Group, HBS, and UNDP. Efforts to get the NEPAD secretariat proved futile despite getting confirmation for their participation. The SADC Secretariat, SADC Core Group, and the Southern Africa Research Poverty Network (SARPN), were invited but not able to attend because of other commitments.
The theme of the workshop was "Promoting Sustainable Development in Southern Africa". The objectives were to evaluate the impact of the Rio + 10 project partners in facilitating participation of the civil society in the WSSD and develop a strategic plan for pursuing the WSSD outcomes. This was based on the SWOT analysis, lessons and experienced acquired during the WSSD process and the experiences and challenges facing civil society networking in Southern Africa.
One of the tangible results from WSSD is a piece of paper (Plan of Action) that has to be translated into action. However, there were some intangibles results such as networking, information sharing, potential partnerships, and awareness that need to be transformed into tangibles. The WSSD provided an opportunity for civil society to self- reflect on how civil society is constructed, how the issues are articulated and the internal and external politics and also the battle lines within the sustainable development debate. The challenge for civil society is to develop alternative development plans that would reflect equity, justice, democracy, and sufficiency.
SWOT analysis results from the national and Regional networks were discussed with emphasis on the structural organizations, governance, decision-making systems, information sharing, networking, political and economical dynamics within the countries and the region. The results showed that the Danish 92 Group Rio + 10 Project catalyzed civil society coordination and brought integration of sustainable development issues in the participating countries. It also created space for civil society interaction and provided an insight on negotiations and lobbying at an international level. The weaknesses confirmed the disparities in understanding and the lack of shared vision and common ground in working together towards promoting sustainable development.
Experiences and lessons acquired in participating the WSSD process were shared. It was observed that issue and member based networks are more coordinated and perform better in many respects however; they find it difficult to mobilize support from the non-members when it is needed. An integrated cross- sectoral network is therefore inevitable. It was learnt that civil society tends to agree on content issues rather than on structural or political issues and that networks that emerge out of need are more sustainable than those that emerge out of availability of money or donor influence. Apparently, the civil society has problems with forward planning as a result they are easily influenced by donor interests.
A strategic plan for a way forward in engaging with the WSSD outcomes was developed and possible means of creating linkages to the various activities and processes were identified. The participants resolved to establish a
"Civil society forum for promoting sustainable development in Southern Africa". The objective is to facilitate quality cross-sectoral and cross-thematic dialogue and strategic influence on policies and decisions related to sustainable development in the SADC region and beyond. Participation is open to all legitimate networks and organizations that will share a set of principles and values governing the forum such as equity and human rights, promoting sustainable livelihoods, environmental, social and economic justice. The initiative is likely to improve coordination of activities and promote active participation and influence of civil society engagements in national, regional and international activities towards promoting sustainable development and also increase visibility and recognition of civil society in Southern Africa and subsequently promote strong partnerships amongst civil society organizations and with governments, international community, and other stakeholders including donors. An interim facilitating team was identified with EMG as a coordinating organization. A concept paper is to be developed to motivate interested parties to join the forum. Process of concretizing the forum will be finalized at a civil society parallel meeting to African Union Heads of state Summit from 27th June - 2nd July 2003 in Mozambique. The
AU summit has been identified as one of the window of opportunities to lobby for support for the proposed forum from other stakeholders.
The Danish 92 Group, HBS and UNDP have shown some interest to continue supporting civil society activities in Southern Africa however, they are calling for more coordination of the activities. There will be continued discussions with potential donor and other stakeholders.
The workshop included a training exercise in lobbying and advocacy that provided useful basics for lobbying and advocacy. The training focused on approaches and procedures in order to have effective campaigning, lobbying and advocacy strategies.
The workshop concluded with expressions of gratitude and satisfaction on how the workshop was organized and facilitated.
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