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Reflections on African Union, NEPAD and African CSO engagement with an eye on Continental Citizenship, Public Accountability and Governance
Rйflexions sur l’Union africaine, le NEPAD et l’engagement des OSC africaines avec une perspective sur la citoyennetй continentale, responsabilitй publique et la bonne gouvernance
Irungu Houghton1
12 December 2005
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Paper Abstract
The establishment of the key facilitating structures for CSO and parliamentary participation within the African Union and NEPAD over 2005 come mid-way in the African Union Strategic Plan (2004-2007). Experience so far, suggests that the vision of a people driven Pan Africanism is yet to be translated into sustainable relationships in practise. The experience so far suggests that partnership between African CSOs and continental institutions would be more mutually respectful if they were re-designed around principles of solidarity, inclusion and autonomy. Until then, partnership will remain stuck at a very minimal level of the
more comprehensive project of building a pan African consciousness and citizenship in Africa.
With the completion of the AU Strategic Plan, 2007 marks the first major review moment for understanding the progress towards the union. The year is also very powerfully symbolic in that it also marks the year in which the World Social Forum will take place in Nairobi, Kenya. It will also mark the advent of celebrations towards the 50th anniversary of Ghanaian and Guinean independence and 100 years since the abolition of slavery.
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[Document entier - 208Kb ~ 1 min (9 pages)]
RР№sumР№
L'йtablissement des structures clйs facilitation pour les OSC et la participation parlementaire au sein de l'Union Africaine et le NEPAD en 2005 est а mi-chemin en ce qui concerne le Plan stratйgique de l'Union Africaine (2004-2007). Jusque-lа les expйriences suggиrent que la vision d'un panafricanisme guidй par les peuples est encore а traduire concrиtement dans des rapports durables. Jusque-lа, l’expйrience montre que le partenariat entre les OSC africaines et les institutions rйgionales serait mutuellement respectable si elles йtaient de nouveau conзues autour des principes de solidaritй, d’inclusion et d’autonomie. Sinon, le partenariat restera bloquй а un niveau minimal du projet plus complet de la construction d’une conscience panafricaine et de la citoyennetй africaine.
Avec l'achиvement du Plan stratйgique de l’UA, 2007 marquera le temps de la premiиre grande revue pour comprendre l’йvolution vers l'union. Cette annйe sera aussi un symbole fort du fait qu’elle marque йgalement l'annйe au cours de laquelle le Forum Social Mondial se tiendra а Nairobi, au Kenya. Elle marquera йgalement l’avиnement de la cйlйbration du 50e anniversaire de l’indйpendance du Ghana et de la Guinйe, et 100 ans depuis l'abolition d'esclavage.
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Footnotes:
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The author is Pan Africa Policy Advisor for OxfamGB and can be reached on and Tel: +254-20-
2820155. The author wishes to acknowledges paper by Wordofa D., Odete E. and Andipatin P. Report on the Consultative
Process for African CSO initiative to establish an independent facility, 20 July 2005 in the preparation of this paper. This
paper was presented by invitation to the Launch of the NEPAD CSO think tank and induction workshop, Nairobi, December
14-16th. It should be noted upfront that emphasis in this paper is on African CSOs and citizens as it is in their relationship
with African states and inter-governmental institutions that primary accountability must be successfully forged.
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