Reposted from: WOUGNET (http://www.wougnet.org [2])

Following are the resolutions from a NEPAD/CSO meeting held in Elmina-Accra
Ghana on the role of CSOs in NEPAD. CSOs are being invited to look at these
resolutions and contribute more ideas on what they think the role of CSOs
should be in NEPAD and (also the African Union which was not covered under
the resolutions below). Views can be sent directly to the NEPAD
Secretariate at email address .

In addition, Litha M-Ogana
is convening the NEPAD
Maputo Meeting (July 1-2, 2003) and is calling for contributions from the
East African sub-region. Contributions can be sent to either NEPAD at the
above address or Litha Ogana so that they can be factored into the
consultation outcome.

For further queries, please contact Litha Ogana. To receive a copy of the
summary of the main recommendations below in WORD format, send a request to
[email protected] [3]

_______________________________________________________

SUMMARY OF MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
ON
THE NEPAD CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM ON BUILDING STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS WITH CIVIL
SOCIETY, AT ELMINA, GHANA, MARCH 25TH-28TH, 2003.

In Africa, 340 million people or half the population live on less than US$1
per day. The mortality rate of children under five years of age is 140 per
1000,and life expectancy at birth is only 54 years .The objective of the
New Partnership for Africa's Development is to consolidate democracy and
sound economic management on the continent. Through the programme, African
leaders are making a commitment to the African people and the World to work
together in rebuilding the continent. It is a pledge to promote peace and
stability, democracy, sound economic management and people centred
development and to hold each other accountable in terms of the agreements
outlined in the programme (Extracts from The Introductory and Concluding
Statements of the NEPAD Framework Document, October 2001).

Introduction

The NEPAD Secretariat in South Africa in collaboration with the NEPAD
Secretariat of Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ghana Centre for
Democratic Development held a three-day Forum for civil society
organizations with the theme "Building Stronger Partnerships with Civil
Society". The forum was the beginning of a series of fora to be held to
engage Civil Society Organisations on the continent on the implementation
process of NEPAD. This draft report is a brief synthesis of the issues
addressed at the Forum and highlights the main recommendations. The full
and final report will be presented at a later date.

Objectives
The seminar was designed to achieve the following objectives
- Strengthen the capacity of civil society institutions in Africa to
enhance their appreciation of NEPAD
- Improve participation and Empowerment of civil society institutions in
the NEPAD process and
- Empower civil society organizations to contribute to and monitor the
implementation process of NEPAD.

Attendance
More than sixty participants drawn from civil society organizations,
government agencies, the diplomatic community, private sector, academia and
the media from the region, including Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Benin,
Senegal, Algeria, Botswana, Ghana and delegates from other countries
outside of Africa and international and local organizations attended. Also
present were Ghana's Minister for Economic Planning and Regional
Co-operation, Kenya's Deputy Minister of Planning and Ambassadors from the
NEPAD Steering Committee countries.

Structure of the Forum
The Forum was structured such that there were formal opening and closing
sessions and plenary and breakout sessions. Papers presented at the plenary
sessions were discussed in detail at the break out sessions. The reports
from the breakout sessions were then further discussed at the plenary
sessions.

Topics discussed
Nine topics were discussed at the Forum as listed below:
· Mobilizing Civil Society for the African Renaissance: Experiences from
South Africa
· Civil Society and Economic and Regional Integration
· Infrastructure Barriers to Continental Development: The Role of Civil
Society in Bringing about Further Development
· Articulation of the Global African Society and NEPAD
· The Role of African Society in Dealing with Communicable Diseases
· Civil Society on Poverty Reduction, Food Security and Analysis of
Agricultural Subsidies
· Peace and Conflict Resolution
· Dialogue and partnerships with African Civil Societies in the context of
the NEPAD and the African Union: Challenges and practical questions for the
establishment of an enabling environment
· Conflict Resolution: The Role of Civil Society in general and women in
particular-A Case Study from Senegal

Main Recommendations
Taking note of the Peer Review Mechanism and Civil Society participation,
the Forum was an opportunity to improve trust between governments and civil
society. The Forum was a groundbreaking one as civil society engaged
government representatives in civil and frank exchanges and this set the
tone for regular interface between civil society and government.

The Forum explored the role of civil society in the implementation of the
NEPAD process and what partnership it should have with other identified
actors, namely, African Governments and the Private Sector.

After three days of deliberations, Civil Society indicated their support
for the NEPAD and noted that it could make crucial interventions in the
health, agriculture, infrastructure, education and economic governance
spheres to actualize the objectives of NEPAD.

Below were highlights of the main recommendations

· For Civil Society to participate meaningfully in the implementation of
the NEPAD process, the Forum suggested consistent capacity building. Civil
society must also organize itself and firm up its accountability structures.

· The Forum also noted that civil society could educate and sensitize its
constituents and the public on the NEPAD .

· Civil Society could also act as a watchdog by monitoring and evaluating
the process of NEPAD implementation.

· The Forum also noted that Civil Society could act as pressure groups to
facilitate economic integration at regional, sub regional, national and
local levels.

· Civil Society was also urged to organise a database of information and
good practices from Africa to input into the implementation of NEPAD.

· The Forum noted that NEPAD is anchored on good governance and for the
objectives to be achieved, it is imperative that Civil Society enjoins
African governments to provide the kind of leadership that would create an
enabling environment in the political and economic governance spheres to
guarantee peace and stability as well as the removal of imposed barriers to
effective trade.

· The Forum also urged African governments to hold regular consultations
with Civil Society and provide information on the implementation of the
NEPAD process to enable them participate meaningfully in the process and
sustain the partnership.

· Tied to the provision of information on the objectives of the NEPAD, the
Forum further suggested that governments must embark on a vigorous and
coherent public education campaign to educate the public on the objectives
of the NEPAD and solicit their participation. The NEPAD document could be
translated into local languages, and further developed into leaflets,
brochures, and posters and integrated into our curricula for teaching in
our schools.

· The Forum noted that the successful implementation and attainment of the
objectives set out in the NEPAD document would require resources. All
African governments were encouraged to commit themselves and in particular,
resources, to actualize the objectives of the NEPAD.

· The implementation of the NEPAD requires resources which governments
alone cannot provide. Since the private sector, and ultimately, the nation
stands to benefit from contracts that would be awarded for the development
of infrastructure, the Forum encouraged the Private Sector to take active
interest as a partner in the implementation of the NEPAD process. It
further urged governments to consider the issue of affirmative procurement
in the award of contracts.

· The Forum urged the Private Sector to establish a partnership and network
with Civil Society to build civil society capacity in such areas requiring
technical expertise to better enable civil society monitor projects like
road construction, buildings etc

· For the Private Sector to participate meaningfully in the implementation
of the NEPAD process, the Forum called for capacity building for the
private sector to enable them promote the NEPAD.

Challenges
The Forum noted that although some progress was being made on civil
society's participation in the implementation of the NEPAD process,
challenges still remain, particularly on building trust and confidence
between civil society and governments. Additional challenges noted are on
the issues of Information and Communication Technology and Conflict
Resolution and Peace Building.

Way forward
The Forum suggested regular interface amongst civil society and between
civil society, government, the private sector and other partners to address
the challenges and monitor progress made. The Forum also called upon member
states to establish NEPAD desks at their various Ministries, Departments
and Agencies and the NEPAD Secretariat to establish a Civil Society desk to
coordinate their activities toward the achievement of NEPAD goals.

In this regard, the Forum commended the Government of Ghana for the
establishment of a 'Ministry of Regional Co-operation and NEPAD' and urged
other member countries to emulate Ghana's example.

Conclusion
The Forum came to a consensus that partnership between civil society and
the NEPAD process was essential and that the nature of that partnership
ought to be one that preserves the independence of civil society.