Africa is being actively encouraged to seek partnerships with international agencies, western capital and donor governments as a way of promoting economic growth and improved governance, and enhancing living standards. The New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is just one of a range of initiatives designed to help African states to 'engage constructively' with the global capitalist market place; for Africa to embrace and take an 'ownership stake' in various arrangements that tie the continent more closely to the economic and political liberalisation of capital. Such a stratagem is referred to as 'making globalisation work for the poor'. The organisers invite paper and/or panel proposals.

This event, which now takes place once every two years, is an open space for bringing together gender and civil society members of organisations, institutions and all development actors at various levels. It provides a major opportunity for gender and civil society activists to convene, share, take stock of achievements and constraints and foster joint action plans to further the civil society development agenda. At the conference, individuals and groups share outputs of their work, sharpen their skills and capacities, network and establish further linkages with other different actors.