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Public Dialogue: Governance & transparency in extractive industries (West African)
01 June 2010
- 03 June 2010
Venue: Saly, Senegal
On the 1st to the 3rd of June 2010, over 40 representatives from civil society and government in West Africa gathered by the seaside in Saly, Senegal, for a dialogue on Transparency and Social Accountability in the Governance of Natural Resources in the region. The dialogue was hosted by the capable IED Afrique, the implementing partner in West Africa for ANSA-Africa.
The dialogue was opened by the Minister of Environment, Mr Amadou L Diagne. He highlighted the role of community participation and government accountability as the cornerstones of sustainable governance. The next couple of days were filled with insightful and inspiring case studies on civil society interventions in mining and forestry from the region followed by challenging discussions.
Legislative reform quickly surfaced as one of the most pressing issues relating to natural resource governance in West Africa. Most resource rich countries are dependent on their natural resources but are unable to extract benefits from them because of weaknesses in the legislature framework and limited capacity to apply oversight to the regulations that are actually in place. The example of land tenure in Senegal illustrates these challenges clearly. Land is owned by the Senegalese state but the most prominent problem is still land grabbing by private companies. This does not only display a lack of capacity to enforce legislation but more disturbingly a severe lack of political will to empower citizens.
West Africa displays an impressive diversity in resources, diversity of stakeholders, diversity in legal frameworks, and diversity in the use and governance of these resources. One of the major obstacles for social accountability is the lack of public knowledge about the legislation, which in many instances allows for public participation. Several of the civil society organisations participating at the dialogue, including IED Afrique, have done extensive work on popular legal education at the local level to equip mining communities with tools to demand accountability from their elected representatives.
The dialogue also presented innovative approaches to successful community involvement in forest management. Concrete results from civil society actions can be seen in Burkina Faso and Mali with legal frameworks including public participation. In Madagascar people are effectively managing their own resources. Guinea has also implemented a successful participatory management process of forest resources which has lead to increased purchasing power. In Madagascar, local communities are involved in management committees in protected areas, which have prevented displacement and conflicts are resolved through customary mechanisms. In Burkina Faso, a process of cataloguing traditional practices has been completed leading to the inclusion of these practices in legal frameworks. In Guinea, Rural Integrated Plans deal with land tenure and property rights in a community sensitive manner.
The dialogue concluded with a roadmap for further regional networking and the strong desire to consolidate and expand ANSA-Africa in Francophone Africa.
Conference papers can be found at http://www.iedafrique.org/Communications-de-l-atelier.html or accessed below
View presentations on "Public Dialogue: Governance & transparency in extractive industries (Southern Africa)"
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ICTs for Governance Public Dialogue
09 October 2009
- 10 October 2009
Venue: Holiday Inn, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
The Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in Africa (ANSA-Africa), hosted by Idasa’s Economic Governance Programme held on 9-10th October, 2009 a public dialogue on Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Governance in Africa. The objective of the dialogue was to bring together a variety of stakeholders working to advance good governance and development through utilizing ICTs as a means to an end.
The participants included media professionals, ICT experts, and governance experts from civil society. Government officials were invited but did not attend. The primary objective of the dialogue was:
- To bring together a range of stakeholders to share lessons and experiences on using ICTs for the advancement of good governance, development and improve government service delivery;
- To conduct scenario planning on ICTs not to predict the future but to encourage active engagement with the significant changes already underway in the field of ICTs and good governance.
Over the next two days, participants shared their valuable expertise of using ICTs to ensure overall good governance and improve service delivery in their respective contexts and engaged with constructing four scenarios of the possible contributions of ICTs to good governance on the African continent.
Report:
Presentations:
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Gendered Terrain: Women's Rights and Access to Land in Africa
14 September 2010
- 16 September 2010
International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
Venue: Windsor Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
Land is the most significant form of property, linking economic, cultural, political, and legal dimensions of social life. Land tenure regimes that incorporate the interests of all actors, and that promote women’s rights to own and manage land, are critical in advancing women’s social and economic citizenship. Yet discussions around women’s land rights are often absent from discourses on land tenure. Public policy tends to ignore differences in men’s and women’s property rights, and the household is often considered as a single unit comprised of common interests where resources are pooled and shared.
Over the past seven years, IDRC’s Women’s Rights and Citizenship program and the former Rural Poverty and Environment program have supported over 20 research projects on gender and land in 12 African countries. These projects analyzed issues such as women’s rights and access to land, the social, institutional and legal structures that shape land tenure regimes, and the contextual specificities compromising women’s entitlements.
IDRC is hosting a policy symposium, "Gendered Terrain: Women's Rights and Access to Land in Africa" in Nairobi, Kenya on 14-16 September 2010. The event will provide a forum for researchers from across Africa to share their findings and policy recommendations, engage with policy makers to facilitate policy influence, and promote the development of sub-regional networks. It will enable researchers to share their findings with relevant African stakeholders including key government policy makers, civil society activists, and regional and international agencies.
For more information, please contact genderland@idrc.ca
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Sixth SADC Civil Society Forum
01 August 2010
SADC-CNGO in collaboration with FOCCISA and SATUCC
Venue: Windhoek, Namibia
Contact person: Ms Ivy Mutwale
The Southern Africa Development Community Council of Non-Governmental organisations (SADC-CNGO) in collaboration with the Fellowship for Christian Councils in Southern Africa (FOCCISA) and The Southern Africa Trade Unions Coordination Council (SATUCC) will hold the 6th SADC Civil society Forum along the sidelines of the SADC Heads of State Summit in Windhoek, Namibia in August, 2010.
The purpose of the Civil Society Forum is to:
- Reflect on civil society’s positions and attitudes around selected themes
- Agree upon a way forward and emerge with priority areas for action,
- Come up with recommendations to input into SADC Summit.
Themes:
“Regional Integration: Responding to People’s Demands.”
Key areas of focus to be discussed in relation to regional integration will be:
- Regional Economic Integration: financial crisis and trade;
- Food Security and Climate Change;
- AU Peace and Security year: Implications for good governance, corruption, democracy and human rights in SADC;
- Poverty Eradication and sustainable livelihoods.
Thematic or sectoral organisations will take the lead in ensuring a consultative process of coming up with a position paper with key recommendations in each of the four broad themes. Sub topics will also be identified and presented for discussion within the broad framework.
This year’s civil society forum will be extended by a day in order to build consensus towards civil society’s input at the SADC Consultative Conference on the Global Economic Crisis and its effect on the Region. The Conference will be held in Maseru Lesotho on 28th and 29th October, 2010 under the theme: “Global and Economic Financial Crisis: Impacts and Lessons for SADC Regional and Economic Integration”.
Participation:
Participation to the SADC Civil Society Forum is open to all civil society organisations both within and outside the region. Organisations are encouraged to support participation of their representatives to this forum where civil society moves as one to making SADC a developed region. Those organisations interested in participation are requested to kindly fill in the attached participation form by 30th July 2010 for conferencing purposes. Only a limited number of delegates will be sponsored by the conveners.
Dates and Venue:
Tentative Dates for the forum is 9th – 12th August, 2010 in Windhoek, Namibia. Venue will be communicated to all at a later date.
Format:
The forum will mainly take the form of presentations, discussions and break away groups. Progress reports from the last forum on different themes will be presented by different organisations working in the respective areas. In addition to this, the program will accommodate member sponsored issues in line with the themes of the Forum or the Conference.
Exhibitions:
Participants are encouraged to carry material for exhibition which will be displayed during the forum. The exhibitions are meant to encourage cross learning and alliance building among civil society organisations, in addition to encouraging civil society organisations to know who is doing what in the region or beyond. Those organisations wishing to have exhibition tables will need to inform the Secretariat by 15th July, 2010.
For further information and confirmations, contact the Secretariat:
Ms Ivy Mutwale,
Capacity Building and Networking Manager,
Southern African Development Community – Council of Non-Governmental Organisations
Phone number: +267 3912982, Fax: +267 3912954; E-mail: ivym@sadc-cngo.org.bw Private Bag 204, Plot 18682, Khurutshe Road, Phase 2, Gaborone, Botswana
Download Participation form
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ICT and Civic Engagement in Nigeria: the 2011 Presidential Election and Beyond
19 July 2010
Venue: Yar’ Adua Centre, Abuja, Nigeria
Objectives
The objective of this ongoing series is to stimulate discussion of, engagement with, and reflection upon the role and uses of information and communications technologies (ICTs) in civic engagement. We will specifically examine and advocate around the upcoming 2011 Nigerian presidential election, exploring ICTs as environments to educate, discuss, deliberate, choose, and act. The meetings will draw on relevant experiences from Nigeria, the rest of Africa, and elsewhere around the world, bringing together thought leaders, practitioners, activists, and citizens, with a particular focus on civil society actors.
Of particular interest are the various ways in which ICTs can be enabling key functions of democracy, including how they help people to access and share relevant news and information, organize and coordinate activity, and generate and utilize data. While these endeavors are always important in the drive to create transparent and accountable government and rich civic engagement, they are perhaps never more essential as in the period around (and including) elections, where they represent a unique resource.
Background
Nigerians, and indeed the world, are collectively holding their breath in anticipation of the 2011 presidential election. Indeed this election’s importance to the citizens of Nigeria and the good functioning of the government cannot be overstated. And no longer is there doubt as to the tremendous promise – and associated risks – of using information and communication technologies to enhance the effectiveness of both electoral activities and new approaches to reform, monitoring, and civic participation in the democratic process.
This upcoming symposium and workshop emerged from a July 2009 conference in which diverse non-governmental organizations (NGOs) made plain the requirements of robust state accountability and transparency for civil society to succeed with its missions – and the concomitant potential of ICTs to support these goals of participatory, inclusive and deliberative processes of decision-making. What became eminently clear from these NGO participants was that Nigeria now sits at a critical juncture with respect to this civic engagement, with all eyes focused upon the upcoming election.
Conveners
The symposia are co-organized by the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs and the College of Computing, Georgia Institute of Technology (USA) and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University (USA), hosted by Digital Bridge Institute (Nigeria), and sponsored by the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation.
Format/Venue/Audience
The series begins with a large, daylong public symposium at the Yar’ Adua Centre in Abuja on July 19, 2010, followed by a smaller invitation-only interactive workshop on July 20 at the Digital Bridge Institute in Abuja. Facilitators are leading researchers, activists and organizations in the field and will come from Nigeria, across Africa and around the world. Participants will overlap, drawing from across sectors, including NGOs, donors, academics, activists, policymakers, technologists, and entrepreneurs.
The public symposium will introduce the big picture making the issues widely accessible and compelling to a diverse public audience. It will include a small number of plenary talks from eminent personalities designed to give framing overviews to the topics. However, most of the day will consist of panel discussions that will combine case studies and critical analysis with policy engagements including next-step provocations.
The subsequent workshop will consist of highly interactive plenary sessions separated by two hands-on breakout sessions focusing on relevant skills, strategies and tools. This invitation-only workshop will be limited to at most 100 participants.
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ALGAF seminar paper: Aid accountability; the role of local authorities in improving aid effectiveness
11 June 2010
Uganda Management Institute (UMI)
Foreign aid has been an important element in development and poverty reduction theories and practices of poor countries. Aid flow to poor countries has been increasing, Riddell (2007) puts the figure to £100bn (Riddell 2007), as much as 30% being provided by NGOs and 10% as emergency aid. Riddell noted that aid has been expanding the recent years and several donor countries have pledged to double their aid to achieve the MDGs and the target of 0.7 percent of GNI for ODA. Aid has been partly driven by the thinking that poor countries can not get out of poverty trap or even achieve the millennium development goals unless aid continues to follow in big amounts to these countries. Aid has been conceived to enable poor countries achieve sustained economic growth, good governance, and poverty reduction. Aid was originally been given on a blanket ‘altruism’ basis but now days on "selective" basis to countries considered to have good governance or willing to reform. Literature reveals that aid has been given for several reasons; helping provide welfare assistance, emergency aid, development aid and anti-terrorism aid (Fowler 2005, Riddell 2007). Indeed some scholars argue that aid is bad and other say it is one good thing.
Scholars have be critical of ills of aid (Easterly 2006, Dambisa Moyo, 2009 ) bringing out the evidence that aid has been ineffective i.e. not being able to effectively handle poverty which legitimises its existence in the first place (Matlin and Satterthwaite 2007, Doucouliagos and Paldam 2009). As such donor agencies do not work directly with the poor or groups of the poor but they work with government and other structures where aid is eventually swallowed by corrupt and inefficient practices before it reaches the poor. Easterly (2005) maintains that ‘limitless development assistance to African governments, has fostered dependency, encouraged corruption and ultimately perpetuated poor governance and poverty’. Even WB&IMF say ‘there is no correlation between aid and growth in Africa and aid has harmed development by supporting governments whose policies have actually impoverished people and yet there is ‘no evidence that aid works better in better policy or geographical environments’ (Vásquez, 2005). Hanlon 1991, 1997 and Amutabi 2006, argue that aid has been used as a tool of exploitation by the west. They claim that aid is used by donors to set parallel structures to weakness the state so as to control it and also to employ expatriates to exploit resources in poor countries. Other scholars denounce aid as being unable to bring development or even eradicate poverty in the south, it instead supports exploitative government, and does not ensure wealth creation and its results are short term (Vasquez 2005, Mwenda 2007). In fact aid is not as important as its supporters argue. Dambisa Moyo, (2009) maintained that aid has harmed Africa and its remains a white man’s burden (Easterly 2006) with elusive promises. What is important are the foreign policies, migration and trade policies rather than aid.
On the hand some scholars exposes instances where aid can work bringing out the idea that there is still hope in aid i.e. aid can also be cost effective. Easterly (2006) highlights examples of donor interventions in Kenya and India that have worked including; the provision of deworming drugs, dietary supplements, education and treating sexually transmitted diseases, indoor spraying against malaria, and provision of fertilizer subsidies, vaccination and urban water provision. Easterly attributed success of such project to the ability of the donors to understand the local settings and adjusting project meet needs of the people. Matlin and Satterthwaite (2007) using an example of the International Urban Poor Fund (IUPF) support directly to grassroots initiatives by a transnational network of slum/shack/homeless people’s federations and their support NGOs to show that the small grants given to groups/members of these federations has enabled them to secure land for housing and getting basic services in 17 nations. They argue that aid can work in instances where there is local ownership of development assistance. Aid effectiveness has been recognized by the Official Development Assistance agencies (ODA) multilateral development banks and bilateral agencies as a crucial element in ensuring that international financing obtains its objectives and reaches the poorest categories in the world.
The aid industry has been under pressure to demonstrate results and be an effective force the good its providers claim it is. Aid effectiveness is the concern of every actor in the aid chain. The need for aid effectiveness has seen development of Marshall Plans to which Easterly (2006) argues that they do not work. Matlin and Satterthwaite (2007) notes that the recognition that ‘far too many people were remaining poor and that the number of people facing poverty was growing has made donor agencies get committed to the Millennium Development Goals in 2000 and to the Paris Declaration in 2005 and also the earlier commitments such as those to “meet basic needs” made in the mid-1970s,) those to ensure universal access to water and sanitation made in 1976–77 and those to support “human development” made in the early 1990s. Matlin and Satterthwaite (2007:483) insists that these international commitments and related funding may not change poor people’s situation unless donors are ‘willing to relinquish more decision-making powers and more financial control to local organizations formed by and accountable to the urban poor’. This is because donor agencies are bureaucratic, they work through government and unable to support the local social processes needed to make aid effective. They argue that ODA needs a more direct relationship with the poor, including new lines of accountability and transparency. Arjan de Haan (2009:20) after analyzing the four perspectives of the debates in the aid industry i.e. 1) proponents who argue that aid money goes to international development; 2) the technocrats who argue that aid matters less than how it is given; 3) the relativists who say foreign policy, trade and migration policies matter more than aid; and the accountant who are mind about how much they know what aid achieves; maintains that the debates can be counterproductive too because it takes insufficient account of the diversity of aid motives, agencies, modalities, and problems. What is important is to focus on aid accountability for both the funder and the recipients but more especially that which is aimed at ‘creating space for Southern voices’.
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Africa Liberation Day
25 May 2010
Jointly convened by Fahamu, UN Millennium Campaign, Oxfam International and Kenya Human Rights Commission
Venue: Nairobi Safari Club (Lilian Towers)
Contact person: Mwaura Kaara
Africa: 50 years on, how is Pan Africanism still relevant?
Panel Discussion 4.00 - 6.00 pm
Occurring each May 25th, Africa Liberation day has been celebrated as day for Pan Africanist reflection since 1963. This day takes place in a year when Africa will host the World Cup, some African countries will celebrate 50 years of independence and the world reflects on ten years of the Millennium Development Goals and fifteen years of the Beijing Platform for Action for Women.
Resource-persons include:
Charles Abugre, Hon Rachel Shebesh and Irungu Houghton
One year on, What is the significance of Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem and his ideas?
Book Launch 6.00 - 8.00
Launch of the late Dr. Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem’s collection of writings
“Speaking Truth to Power: Selected Pan-African Postcards”
Resource-persons include: Hon Anyang’ Ny’ong’o, Firoze Manji , Ndungu Githuku and Sarah Mitaru
This year also marks the first anniversary of the passing away of Dr Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem (1961–2009) who died on Mombasa road this day last year. Dr Abdul-Raheem served a range of African organizations including Africa Research and Information Bureau, Pan-African Movement, Justice Africa before becoming the UN Millennium Development Campaign Africa Director in 2006. His weekly ‘Pan-African Postcard’ was published regularly in Pambazuka News and in several African newspapers. This book is the first comprehensive attempt to bring his opinion editorials together. A limited set of copies will be available on a first come first basis to the launch. More can be read on www.pambazuka.org
Both events are open to the public.
For more information contact: Mwaura Kaara, UN Millennium Campaign on Tel: 254 20 4453440
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SADRN Policy Makers Workshop: Reflections of policy research and capacity building networks in Southern Africa
20 May 2010
- 21 May 2010
Southern African Development Research Network (SADRN)
Venue: Pretoria, South Africa
| DAY 1: 20 May 2010 |
| 08:00 - 08:30 |
Registration |
| 08:30 - 09:00 |
Welcoming Remarks (TIPS & TRALAC)
- Ms Ximena Gonzalez-Nunez (TIPS Executive Director)
- Dr Stephen Yeo (CEPR)
- Ms Trudi Hartzenberg (TRALAC)
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| 09:00 - 09:45 |
Opening speakers:
Mr John Young (ODI) |
| Session 1: |
| 09:45 - 11:15 |
Reflections: SADRN Thematic Working Group (Three themes) CHAIR: Prof. Rob Davies (TIPS Research Fellow)
- Mr Mmatlou Kalaba (TIPS Research Fellow)
- Dr Roman Grynberg (BIDPA)
- Mr Boopen Seetanah (University of Mauritius)
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| 11:15 - 11:35 |
Tea Break |
| Session 2: |
| 11:35 - 12:55 |
Trade CHAIR: Ms Grace Okara (Central Bank of Kenya)
- Ms Trudi Hartzenberg (TRALAC)
- Mr David Kalaba (TRAPCA)
20 minutes Discussion and Synopsis |
| 12:35 - 13:35 |
Lunch |
| Session 3: |
| 13:35 - 14:50 |
Poverty and Technology (Two themes) CHAIR: Dr Lindiwe Majele Sibanda
- Mr Richard Humphries (fmr. Dir. of SARPN (2001-2004), Poverty)
- Dr Kevin Urama (African Technology Policy Studies Network, y.t.c)
- Dr Frannie Léautier (African Capacity Building Foundation, Technology, y.t.c.)
20 minutes Discussion |
| 14:50 - 15:05 |
Tea Break |
| Session 4: |
| 15:05 - 16:25 |
Policy Research Organisations CHAIR: Prof. Juwaheer (University of Mauritius)
- Prof. Nichola Viegi (Economic Research Southern Africa)
- Prof. Rob Davies (TIPS Research Fellow)
15 minutes Discussion |
| Session 5: |
| 16:25 - 17:45 |
Reflection by Policymakers CHAIR: Mr Muzi Dube (SIPA)
- Mr Tlohelang Aumane (Trade Ministry, Lesotho)
20 minutes Discussion |
| 17:45 |
Close |
| DAY 2: 21 May 2010 |
| 08:30 - 09:10 |
Findings from scoping exercise: Dr Stephen Yeo (CEPR) |
| Session 6: |
| 9:10 - 10:40 |
Reflections by Donors CHAIR: Prof. Rob Davies
- Dr Basil Jones (African Development Bank)
- Dr Matthew Stern (AusAid)
- Mr Paul Okwi (IDRC)
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| 10:40 - 11:00 |
Tea Break |
| Session 7: |
| 11:00 - 12:30 |
Reflections by Regional Bodies CHAIR: Prof. Nichola Viegi
- Mr Geoffrey Osoro (COMESA)
- Mr Anton Faul (SACU)
- Ms Boitumelo Gofhamudimo (SADC – y.t.c.)
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| 12:30 - 12:50 |
Way Forward: Dr Stephen Yeo |
| 12:50 - 13:05 |
Closure and Lunch: Ms Ximena Gonzalez-Nunez |
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Regional conference on Africa's oil, gas and mineral resources for development: the role of legislators, civil society and media
11 May 2010
- 13 May 2010
Policy Forum
Venue: White Sands Hotel, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Contact person: Alex Ruchyahinduru
Policy Forum, Revenue Watch Institute, the African Institute for Energy Governance, the National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives, and the Parliamentary Center are jointly organising a Regional Conference on Africa’s Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources for Development: “The Role of Legislators, Civil Society and Media” from 11 to 13 May 2010 at the White Sands Hotel in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The organizers have been supporting a number of capacity building pilot projects in Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda and Sierra Leone for Legislators, Civil Society and Media, with the aim to strengthen their monitoring and policy engagement capacities in the areas of oil, gas and mineral governance as well as the Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (EITI).
This conference complements ongoing country efforts and will be an opportunity for MPs, civil society and media from Ghana, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Uganda to share knowledge and experience from their engagement in the oil, gas and mining industries.
For more information on the event, please contact Mr. Alex Ruchyahinduru at: policy2@policyforum.or.tz
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Invitation to Presentation of Results of Baseline Study on Social Accountability
14 May 2010
Forum Syd - Africa
Venue: New Mwanza Hotel in Mwanza city, Tanzania
We are pleased to invite you to attend and participate in the occasion of the presentation of interim results of baseline study on social accountability in Magu District and Ukerewe District in Mwanza Region, and Karagwe District in Kagera Region.
The event will take place from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. on Friday, 14th May 2010 at the New Mwanza Hotel in Mwanza city, Tanzania.
Forum Syd appointed SIDE Development and Management Services (T) Ltd to conduct the baseline study in social accountability in the three districts mentioned above, in response to expressions of interest from local community organizations that have sought assistance from Forum Syd. The study aims at assessing the needs in these districts with a view to delivering effective support to local development initiatives. This baseline study will help us to focus resources in areas of greatest need in efforts towards addressing the root causes of poverty.
The objectives of the baseline study are:
- to provide information for planning the programme, including information about local concerns and priorities; and clearly identifying relevant sectors of focus for the implementation of social accountability program.
- to provide information which can be used to monitor the programme in the course of implementation.
- to identify benchmarks and indicators which can be used as a point of reference for monitoring and evaluation of the social accountability program.
- to develop suitable monitoring and evaluation tools and clear indicators for social accountability program.
- to clarify good practice quality standards with regard to social accountability.
Forum Syd is a Swedish development platform for 206 organizations. It was formed in 1995 and works in 80 countries. The main goal of Forum Syd is poverty reduction, sustainable development and global justice. We employ a rights-based approach to addressing causes of chronic poverty. We provide a platform for the exchange of experiences, the design of new development methods, and collaboration towards result improvement.
Forum Syd has been present in Tanzania through a country office in Dar es Salaam since 1982. This was formalized through an agreement between Forum Syd and the Government of Tanzania. The role of the country office has been to support and strengthen local development initiatives by providing technical and financial assistance to projects initiated by more than 140 locally based organisations. This support has included capacity building, organisation and methodology development, as well as knowledge exchange between local and Swedish organisations.
We request for your active participation in offering a critique of the interim report and in providing suggestions for a successful future program in social accountability in the three districts.
In addition, please be ready to share information about your organization (less than five minutes presentation); including your programming activities, geographic locations, target clientele, lessons learnt so far, and good practice quality standards.
We thank you and look forward to your participation.
Forum Syd - Africa P.O. Box 1419, Karen 00502 Nairobi, Kenya Telephone: +254 20 38 70 807 (Nairobi Office), +255-788-820002, +254-733-712726 E-mail: gunnar.kraft@forumsyd.org; omondi.okoyo@forumsyd.org; info.africa@forumsyd.org Website: www.africa.forumyd.org
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Forum Syd Africa: Social accountability baseline study in Tanzania
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Book Launch: Social Accountability in Africa - Practitioners' Experiences and Lessons
12 May 2010
The Affiliated Network on Social Accountability-Africa (ANSA-A) and The Economic Governance Programme of IDASA (IDASA-EGP)
Venue: Capital Hotel School and Training Academy, 919 Church Street (between Hill and Orient Street), Pretoria
The handbook is now available for download!
RSVP: Hakima Haithar by 5 May 2010
Tel: 012 392 0539 or 072 515 2509
E-mail: hhaithar@idasa.org.za
| Programme |
| 09h00-10h00 |
Welcome tea & Registration |
| 10h00-10h20 |
Welcome remarks and introduction to IDASA EGP
Paul Graham, Executive Director, IDASA |
| 10h20-10h40 |
Introduction to ANSA-AFRICA and the social accountability framework
Russell Wildeman, ANSA-Africa Director, Economic Governance Programme, IDASA |
| 10h40-11h40 |
Panel discussion: Emerging issues, challenges and personal experiences in social accountability work
Joyce Nyamweya,
Senior Regional Advisor, Governance and Public Administration, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and author of Chapter 7 (Improving Public Service Delivery – Kenya’s Public Service Reform, 2003-2007)
Derek Luyt,
Head of Media and Advocacy, Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM), Centre for Social Accountability and author of Chapter 1 (Seeking Social Accountability from Provincial Government in South Africa)
Alexander O’Riordan,
Consultant and author of Chapter 12 (Towards an Enabling Environment for Social Accountability in Kenya)
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| 11h40-12h00 |
Open discussion |
| 12h00-13h00 |
Finger lunch |
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Public Procurement Monitoring Forum: Advancing citizens' engagement with government through social accountability
06 May 2010
- 07 May 2010
Venue: Nairobi, Kenya
Social Accountability (SAc) is a process of constructive engagement between citizens and government aimed at improving performance in the use of public resources to deliver services, enhance peoples’ welfare, and protect individuals’ rights. Two forces drive social accountability: citizen groups, who are direct beneficiaries of public services, and government, which provides the open space for citizen participation in monitoring public programs. Further, four elements are essential to creating an enabling environment in which social accountability can take effect;
- Organized and capable citizen groups;
- Government champions who are willing to engage;
- Broad access to public information; and
- Contextual appropriateness of initiatives
Social accountability tools and actions include participatory planning, budget monitoring, expenditure tracking, procurement monitoring, and citizen report cards, among others. These tools can be used to improve procurement monitoring, which looks at bringing about greater transparency in the procurement cycle to uncover and prevent fraud and corruption, and to improve efficiency, productivity and quality in the delivery of goods and services.
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Public Dialogue: Governance & transparency in extractive industries (Southern Africa)
27 May 2010
- 28 May 2010
Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa
The extractive industries sector is well known for being the most non-transparent and unaccountable sector in the world. The extractive industries sector is often strong in developing countries where minerals and oil are being extracted in communities that do not benefit directly from the extraction. International and national oil companies often do not publicly declare how much revenue they pay to the host governments where the oil companies are operating. Transparency International estimates that two thirds of the world’s poorest people live in resource rich countries. In 2006, oil exports alone were estimated at US$ 866 billion worldwide. These revenues rarely reach the poor or are used in the overall development of the countries where they were extracted.
The oil and mining companies are not the only ones to blame. The national governments do not publish the revenues they receive from these companies. Often the executive exerts excessive powers that undermine the national legislature’s oversight role. This is further hampered by the general lack of information in these countries which hinders the legislature and civil society’s ability to monitor and lobby national governments and extractive companies to increase their transparency and governance of their operations.
Several initiatives at the national, regional and international level have been established to address the deficits of the extractive industries sector. The Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Publish-What-You-Pay, the work of Transparency International and Revenue Watch Institute are just some of the various initiatives on this issue. The Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in Africa (ANSA-Africa) and its partners recognise these initiatives and do not intend to duplicate existing efforts. ANSA-Africa and its partners intend to convene a series of multi-stakeholder dialogues that aim at taking stock of existing initiatives and strategise on enhancing the role of citizens in advocating for greater transparency and improved governance in extractive industries. ANSA-Africa hopes to contribute to existing knowledge and practices in the field of extractive industries through providing a platform for engagement of multiple stakeholders.
Presentations:
View presentations on "Public Dialogue: Governance & transparency in extractive industries (West African)"
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PEGNet Conference 2010: Policies to foster and sustain equitable development in times of crises
02 September 2010
- 03 September 2010
Poverty Reduction, Equity, and Growth Network's (PEGNet)
Venue: Development Bank of Southern Africa, Midrand, South Africa
The Poverty Reduction, Equity, and Growth Network’s (PEGNet) conference 2010 on Policies to foster and sustain equitable development in times of crises will be held at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Midrand, South Africa, 2-3 September 2010.
Conference Format
The Conference will provide a platform for high-level dialogue between development researchers, practitioners and policy-makers. The two conference days will feature parallel-sessions based on invited and contributed papers and project presentations. These will be complemented by a debate, a round-table discussion, and keynote speeches by renowned speakers from academia, economic policy and development practice. A total of about 30 contributed papers and projects based on author’s original work, are expected to be presented in the conference.
In addition, the PEGNet Best-Practice Prize will be awarded for the second time to best-practices in cooperation between researchers and practitioners. This call therefore asks for submission of papers as well as projects, programs and initiatives eligible for this prize.
Conference theme
This conference sets about finding policies that reduce vulnerabilities of the poor to shocks, sustain the socioeconomic balance and promote development that is equitable in times of growth and crisis alike. We are interested in high-quality papers as well as innovative projects, including comparative works that provide new insights on the scope of Policies to foster and sustain equitable development in times of crises. Possible sub-themes are:
- Insurance mechanisms
- Adaptation to climate change
- Escaping the informal-employment trap
- Migration and remittances
- ODA and shocks
- Income diversification
Best-practice award
An award will be granted to programmes, projects, and initiatives that have achieved effective interaction between research and practice. All initiatives that have proved to put research into action and have thereby fostered cooperation between development research and practice are encouraged to apply. Such initiatives can be development projects or programmes that have incorporated research tools into their design or research projects that have been particularly successful in translating their findings into policy and practice. Initiatives targeted at improving dialogue between researchers and practitioners are also encouraged to apply. The proposed projects do not necessarily have to be closely related to this year’s conference theme.
Selection procedures
For the best-practice award, a maximum of four projects will be selected by a committee on the basis of a three-page summary of the initiative’s objectives, the type of interaction between research and practice as well as its results. The preselected projects will be asked to submit one additional paper or report. At the conference, each nominated initiative will be presented and the winner of a prize of Euro 3000 will be selected by the committee.
Contributed papers and projects will be selected on the basis of papers or abstracts of about 500 words. Priority will be given to empirical research with clear implications for policy design and implementation. Furthermore, we encourage practitioners to present case studies and/or share their experiences from the field.
Please email your submissions to pegnet@ifw-kiel.de in a pdf or Word file and indicate ‘PEGNet Conference 2010’ in the subject heading. The submission deadline is 15 April, 2010. Notification of acceptance will be sent out in May 2010. The deadline for full paper submission and additional material for the Best Practice Award is July 15, 2010.
PEGNet is collaborating with DBSA to select a number of papers presented at the conference for possible inclusion in a special volume on poverty of Development Southern Africa, to be published after suitable revision in 2011.
For more information on the conference please refer to www.pegnet.ifw-kiel.de.
Organisers
The conference is co-organised by the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Midrand, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW), and the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) on behalf of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
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Gouvernance et Petite Agriculture en Afrique de l’Ouest: Appel à soumission d’articles
08 November 2010
- 10 November 2010
Programme de Gouvernance Economique, Idasa
Venue: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact person: Leslie Nyagah (lnyagah@idasa.org.za)
Du 8 au 10 novembre 2010, le programme de Gouvernance Economique d’Idasa accueillera une conférence sur « Gouvernance et Petite Agriculture en Afrique de l’Ouest ». Le but de cette conférence est de discuter de la gouvernance et des processus d’investissement public, et de la façon dont ceux-ci modèlent la petite agriculture dans la région. La réunion se concentrera spécifiquement sur trois thèmes : priorités pour l’investissement public dans l’agriculture; tendances des dépenses publiques sur la petite agriculture ; et, processus politiques et participation des financeurs. La conférence fournira un forum aux parties prenantes pour identifier les contraintes et les opportunités dans l’agriculture et tracer les leçons interdisciplinaires et les bonnes pratiques.
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Governance and Small-scale Agriculture in West Africa: Call for papers
08 November 2010
- 10 November 2010
Idasa Economic Governance Programme
Venue: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact person: Leslie Nyagah (lnyagah@idasa.org.za)
From 8th to 10th November 2010, Idasa’s Economic Governance Programme will host a conference on 'Governance and Small-scale Agriculture in West Africa'. The aim of the conference is to discuss governance and public investment processes and how these are shaping small-scale agriculture in the region. Specifically, the meeting will focus on three themes: priorities for public investment in agriculture; trends in public expenditure on small-scale agriculture; and, policy processes and stakeholder participation. The conference will provide a forum for stakeholders to identify constraints and opportunities in agriculture and draw interdisciplinary lessons and best practices.
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Video Conference: Tenth Edition of the Africa Local Government Action Forum
05 March 2010
Africa Local Government Action Forum (ALGAF)
ALGAF video conference programme for 2010
Forthcoming event:
The application of ITCs in local economic development 6 August 2010
Previous events:
Natural resources revenue management as a means for poverty reduction 2 July 2010 Download running order Download presentation
AID accountability: The role of local authorities in improving AID effectiveness 4 June 2010 Dr Rose B Namara Download presentation
Methodologies and tools for pro-poor governance 7 May 2010 Dlamini Thembinkosi Download presentation
Natural Resources Revenue Management as a Means for Poverty Reduction 9 April 2010
Dr Gheysika Agambila & Mrs Vivian H M Attah
Download presentation
Natural resources management and climate change: policy and institutional arrangements 5 March 2010 Aleazar Ali
Download programme Download presentation Download Power Point presentation
Horticulture and urban natural resources management for poverty reduction 5 February 2010
Remi Kahane
Download presentation
General information
By video conference in: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe
The Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA) is happy to announce and welcome old and new members to the tenth edition of ALGAF which runs from February to November 2010. This edition is divided into three modules: (a) Natural Resources Management, (b) Pro-Poor Governance, and (c) Information and Communication Technology.
The overall objective of ALGAF is to provide a platform for structured dialogue on key issues and challenges influencing Decentralization and Local Governance in Africa. ALGAF is managed by MDP-ESA in collaboration with National Associations of Local Government and Global Development Learning Network (GDLN) Distance Learning Centres in: Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
Sessions are delivered through video conference every first Friday of each month. Sessions run for 3 hours from 10.00 - 13.00 hours Southern Africa Time; 11.00 - 14.00 hours East Africa Time and 08.00 - 11.00 hours West Africa Time.
Target audience include Mayors, Councillors, Technocrats, Municipal Managers, Trainers and Researchers, Civic Activists, Private Entrepreneurs, Journalists, Environmentalists, Gender and Development Experts etc
- Ethiopia
Country coordinator: Ashenafi Fiseha, eth_afiseha@gdlnmail.org;
Venue: Global Development Learning Network Center
Ethiopian Civil Service College
CMC Road
P.O. Box: 5648
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
Tel: +251-116463068
Fax: +251-116463069
- Ghana
Country coordinator: Vivian H M Attah, gha_vattah@gdlnmail.org;
Venue: Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (DLC)
(GIMPA DLC)
Greenhill
P.O. BOX AH50
Achimota
ACCRA
GHANA
Tel.: 233-21-401-338
Fax: 233-21-405-805
- Kenya
Country coordinator: Ernest Najoli, ken_enajoli@gdlnmail.org;
Venue: Kenya Development Learning Centre (KDLC)
Lower Kabete Road
P.O. Box 30627 - 00100
Nairobi,
Kenya
Tel: +254-20-4185637 / +254-20-3535873/4
Fax: +254-20-4185639
- Madagascar
Country coordinator: Patricia R Crombecque, mdg_pramanitrera.crombecque@gdlnmail.org;
Venue: Madagascar Development Learning Centre
Anosy
Antananarivo
Madagascar
Tel: +261 3317 489 68
- Rwanda
Country coordinator: Peter Karasira, karasipeter@yahoo.com;
Venue: World Bank Office
Blvd. de la Revolution
SORAS Building
Kigali,
Rwanda
Tel: (250) 591-301
Fax: (250) 576385
- South Africa
Country coordinator: Mario Claasen, mclaasen@idasa.org.za;
- Tanzania
Country coordinator: Jack Meena, tza_jmeena@gdlnmail.org;
Venue: Tanzania Global Development Learning Centre
IFM Block A, 7th Floor,
Shaaban Robert Street
P. O. Box 3918,
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Phone: 255 22 2123705
Fax: 255 22 2123702
- Uganda
Country coordinator: Gladys Bwoch, gbwoch@umi.ac.ug;
Venue: Uganda Global Development Learning Centre
Uganda Management Institute
Plot 44-52 Jinja Road
Kampala
Uganda
Tel: 256-41-4-259722
- Zimbabwe
Country coordinator: Phillip Kundishora; pkundishora@mdpafrica.org.zw Venue: Uganda Global Development Learning Centre
Uganda Management Institute
Plot 44-52 Jinja Road
Kampala
Uganda
Tel: 256-41-4-259722
The programme and further details are contained in the attached flyer.
Persons may also contact:
Phillip Kundishora (Knowledge Management Officer)
Municipal Development Partnership
Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office
7th Floor Hurudza House
14 - 16 Nelson Mandela Avenue
Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: 263 477 4385/6
Mobile: 263 1174 5254
Fax: 263 477 4387
Email: pkundishora@mdpafrica.org.zw Alternative Email: pkundis15@hotmail.com Website: www.mdpafrica.org.zw
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A workshop on social accountability in India: Moving from mechanisms to outcomes and institutionalization in large sale public
16 December 2009
- 17 December 2009
CUTS Centre for Consumer Action, Research & Training (CUTS CART)
Venue: Jaipur, India
Strengthening accountability relationships between policy makers, service providers and citizens is at the core of the public accountability effort. In the South Asia region, demand-side approaches involving social accountability processes are strengthening the voice and capacity of citizens to directly demand greater accountability and responsiveness from public officials and service providers. In this context a Workshop – Social Accountability in India: Moving from Mechanisms to Outcomes and Institutionalization in Large Scale Public Programs is scheduled on December 16-17, 2009 at Jaipur, India.
This National-level Workshop will feature the impacts of four social accountability interventions that have been introduced in large-scale public programs in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan through engagement with various levels of government. These interventions represent small but strategic investments in proportion to the budgets of these public programs, which run into the billions of rupees, but have catalyzed impacts in terms of behavior change in service users and providers, institutional and policy changes at various levels of government as well as development outcomes. The objective of this workshop is to draw out lessons and examine implications for institutionalization of these initiatives.
Primary participants will include key decision makers who can impact the enabling environment for the implementation and institutionalization of social accountability initiatives; government functionaries, who are directly involved in the ground implementation of development programs and World Bank Task Team Leaders working in relevant sectors. In addition, representatives from academia, civil society and donor organizations that can inform and guide these initiatives are also invited.
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ANSA at COP15: Social Accountability - Connecting citizens and governments towards effective climate change response
16 December 2009
Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA)
Venue: Cabinn Metro, Arne Jacobsens Allé 2. DK-2300 Copenhagen
As developing countries face increased vulnerability to climate change, concerted action by governments and citizens is needed more than ever. Governments cannot be left to deal with the problem alone. Citizens need to engage. A harmonious and constructive engagement is possible through social accountability.
The Affiliated Network on Social Accountability (ANSA), funded by the World Bank Institute and with regional projects in Africa, East Asia and the Pacific, and South Asia, in partnership with the Ateneo School of Government, will jointly conduct a forum entitled, "Social Accountability: Connecting Citizens and Governments Towards Effective Climate Change Response" on 16 December 2009, Wednesday, 13:00-15:15, at the Cabinn Metro, Arne Jacobsens Allé 2, DK-2300 Copenhagen S., Denmark.
Please come and join us as we launch and introduce social accountability as an underlying framework and approach in instituting good governance practices towards identifying, developing, and implementing effective and responsive climate change solutions. Said forum will discuss how social accountability can provide a harmonious convergence between governments and citizens working together to address climate change. The draft programme is provided for your reference.
You may send your confirmation to Ms Joanne C Dulce through email address, joanne1d1@gmail.com, or mobile number, +639178865490. We will greatly appreciate receiving your confirmation on or before 14 December 2009. Should you have concerns or inquiries, Ms Dulce would be glad to assist you.
News: Persons wishing to keep up-to-date with issues and events at COP15, from a largely African and southern perspective, can access this useful daily service: http://www.africaclimatesolution.org/digest/
Related brief: International Budget Partnership (IBP) Budget Brief - Accounting for Results: Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in Financing for Climate Change
Wednesday, 16 December 2009, 13:30 - 15:15
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Registration and Light Lunch Coffee/tea and Sandwiches to be served |
| 13:30 - 13:45 |
Opening Remarks and Introduction to Social Accountability Dr Angelita Gregorio-Medel, ANSA- East Asia and the Pacific |
| 13:45 - 14:05 |
Social Accountability in Action: Reflections on the REDD Negotiations and the Philippine Disasters of 2009 Dr Antonio GM La Viña, Ateneo School of Government / ANSA- East Asia and the Pacific |
| 14:05 - 14:25 |
Civil society alliance-building in the context of democracy and climate change Richard Calland, Idasa/ANSA-Africa |
| 14:25 - 14:45 |
Identifying the scope of applying social accountability tools and approaches in climate change adaptation and mitigation initiatives in South Asia Ms Nuzhat Jabin, ANSA South Asia |
| 14:45 - 15:00 |
Open Forum Moderator: Dr Angelita Gregorio-Medel |
| 15:00 - 15:15 |
Synthesis / Closing Message For confirmation |
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Resolving the implementation gridlock
19 November 2009
Venue: The Townhouse Hotel, Corporation Street, Cape Town
What role for civil society and the informal sector in achieving urban public transport transformation?
Chaired by Prof. Richard Calland, Director of Idasa’s Economic Governance Programme and Director of the Democratic Governance Rights Unit at UCT
Key Speaker: Mr Jeremy Cronin, Deputy Minister of Transport
Time: 15h00 to 18h00 refreshments/snacks will be served
RSVP to Ilse Slabbert by 30 October 2009 on islabbert@idasa.org.za
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5th annual SANGONeT "ICTs for Civil Society" Conference
15 October 2009
- 21 October 2009
Venue: Johannesburg and Cape Town
There is less than one month to go before the start of the 5th annual SANGONeT "ICTs for Civil Society" Conference.
The 2009 event will be held in two parts - from 15-16 October 2009 in Johannesburg, and 20-21 October 2009 in Cape Town. The focus of this year’s conference is on the relevance of social media tools to the South African NGO sector.
For detailed information about the event, click here.
The conference will create awareness amongst participants about social media, expose them to specific tools and applications and enhance their skills in using and applying these tools. It also aims to enable participants to reflect on the value and relevance of these tools to the day-to-day work of NGOs, and to shape future applications and innovation in this regard.
Phrases such as the "bottom of the pyramid" or "the next billion customers" often characterise the way in which multinational companies and other economic actors refer to developing countries in terms of their future markets. But to what extent are decisions about new markets and the needs of future consumers guided by accurate information and experiences from roleplayers such as NGOs already serving these constituencies?
The final two sessions of the 2009 SANGONeT conference are structured to match the social media and ICT needs of NGOs with ICT service providers supporting the work of the sector.
The "Social Media: The Big Picture" session, to be facilitated by leading local and international NGO and social media experts, will build understanding among participants about the value of social media tools in relation to the core operational and strategic requirements of NGOs - fundraising, networking, reputation-building, outreach, recruitment, etc.
Following this, the final session of the conference, "Social Impact Labs", will draw on the diversity and collective expertise and experience of participants to conceptualise, share and develop innovative ideas relevant to the work of NGOs, the challenges they face and the communities they serve.
These outcomes will be shared with funders, social entrepreneurs, ICT service providers and other NGOs in the post-conference period to generate wider awareness, interest and support for the social media and ICT requirements of the NGO sector.
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Seminar: Alternative Policies to Address Poverty and Inequality in Africa
23 September 2009
Idasa & ANSA-Africa
Contact person: Mr Akeel Hajat
The Affiliated Network for Social Accountability in Africa (ANSA-Africa) and Idasa will be hosting a seminar on the 23rd September, 2009 entitled “Alternative Policies to Address Poverty and Inequality in Africa”.
The key note speaker will be Dr Dambisa Moyo, author of the book “Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way for Africa”. In her book she argues that aid does not work and is actually detrimental to Africa’s economic development. In her opinion, business and trade are better than aid dependency. Dr Dambisa posits alternative strategies for Africa’s economic development that governments, multinationals and bi-laterals should adopt to ensure thriving economies instead of aid.
For more information and/or to RSVP please RSVP by 18th September to Mr Akeel Hajat by
email: ahajat@idasa.org.za or
telephone: 012 392 0552 / 072 885 1397.
Please note limited space is available.
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The Inyathelo Conference 2009
02 November 2009
- 05 November 2009
Inyathelo - the South African Institute for Advancement
Venue: Lagoon Beach Hotel, Milnerton, Cape Town
The future is uncertain. Arguably, no sector understands this uncertainty more clearly than civil society. In South Africa, as in the rest of the world, the events within the global economic and financial fora have rocked the foundations on which we had, until now, based our operations into the future.
In the past civil society was always ahead in predicting what the future would hold and has played a leading role in devising solutions on how to either optimise the best or avoid the worst of these predictions. To some extent civil society has moved over the years to a less predictive and more reactive mode of engagement. Necessary perhaps, given the particular circumstances of our social environment but we need to return to civil society the capacity and power to shape our future rather than respond in the aftermath. We need to figure out how we re-energise civil society so that we can indeed take responsibility for the future of our world.
Join us for panel discussions; plenary sessions; skillsXchanges; working groups; roundtable and networking opportunities; special events; and the opportunity to make a contribution to the future of South African civil society.
Session topics include (amongst many others):
- Africa in the Global Context - Roles, Responsibilities and Challenges
- Generation G: from Greed to Generosity
- Measuring what Matters - performance and impact for grantmakers and grantseekers
- In Formation: civil society and the fourth estate
- Who owns our universities?
- An elephant in the room - what are we not talking about?
- Grantmakers and grantseekers - mutual accountability and the formation of partnerships
- Endowment investment for foundations and organisations
(speakers will be confirmed soon)
Who should attend?
- Non-profit board members, directors, CEO's and fundraising or advancement staff
- Vice-chancellors and institutional decision-makers
- Policy-makers, decision-makers and leaders in the corporate and government sectors
- Individual philanthropists and staff of local foundations
- CSI decision-makers
- Anybody interested in being part of ensuring a future for South African civil society
Why this conference?
- Bright ideas: Take a leap with new ideas and with new people in fields related to your endeavours in the non-profit and philanthropy sector.
- Around the table: Come together with others to discuss and learn about particular issues facing South African civil society.
- Build bridges: Open up the possibility of building unexpected relationships with those you might not normally imagine as partners.
- Connections: Grantees and grantmakers - come together to link with others towards maximising outcomes.
- Expertise: Join a focused class for expert assistance on challenges in both grantmaking and grantseeking.
- Facilitation: Become part of a group that gets ideas on the table and gets things moving - new ideas, new initiatives.
- Matchmaking: Make the most of mutual-interest opportunities with grantees, donors, practitioners and policymakers
Main Contact Inhouse Conference Solutions Candice Christians, candice@incoso.co.za Tel.: +27 (0)21 913 2888
Alternative Contact Inyathelo - The SAIA Dianne Poyo, dianne@inyathelo.co.za Telephone: +27 (0)21 465 6981
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Call for papers: Governance and Small-scale Agriculture in Southern Africa
09 November 2009
- 11 November 2009
Idasa Economic Governance Programme
From 9th to 11th November 2009, Idasa's Economic Governance Programme will host a conference on ‘Governance and Small-scale Agriculture in Southern Africa'. The aim of the conference is to discuss governance and public investment processes and how these are shaping small-scale agriculture in the region. Specifically, the meeting will focus on three themes: priorities for public investment in agriculture; trends in public expenditure on small-scale agriculture; and, policy processes and stakeholder participation. The conference will provide a forum for stakeholders to identify constraints and opportunities in agriculture and draw interdisciplinary lessons and best practices.
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Invitation: Regional forum on Africa Local Council Oversight and Social Accountability (ALCOSA)
01 June 2009
- 02 June 2009
Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA)
Venue: Protea Hotel, Acacia Avenue, Kololo
You are hereby invited to attend the abovementioned Forum scheduled to take place from the 1 June to 2 June 2009 at the Protea Hotel, Acacia Avenue, Kololo.
The Forum is organized by the Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA), in association with the World Bank, Uganda Ministry of Local Government, and the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA-Africa). The forum is the culmination of a two-year research project on Local Council Oversight and Social Accountability conducted in Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya.
The Uganda Local Government Association, in its drive to contribute to the process of deepening decentralization in Uganda, seeks to strengthen local governments' commitment to uphold the principles of accountability and transparency as laid down in the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995. The objectives of the Forum contribute to the objectives of the association's Charter on Accountability and Ethical Code of Conduct for Local Governments.
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Advanced Monitoring & Evaluation Course
20 April 2009
- 24 April 2009
NGO Consultancy Africa
Venue: Crown Plaza Hotel, Harare, Zimbabwe
5 day SADC regional course presented by NGO Consultancy Africa in association with INTRAC UK (International NGO Training and Research Centre)
Venue: Crown Plaza Hotel, Harare, Zimbabwe
Date: 20th April to 24th April 2009
Time: 08:30 to 16:30
Costs: 1450 USD per person (includes course materials, lunch & refreshments) group discounts are available
Who should attend: NGO Project Officers, NGO staff, M&E Consultants
Course Objectives:
- Develop an understanding of the characteristics of an effective M&E system
- Explore how to design and manage an effective M&E system that will enable us to assess programme results, be accountable to different stakeholders, and identify learning.
- Apply an M&E Framework (plan) to consider and clearly delineate the different operational aspects of M&E
- Consider means that organisations use to assess their performance and the overall impact of their work, and how this relates to programme level M&E
- Understand the importance of, and ensure the use of effective participatory methods
For more information, visit: http://ngoconsultingafrica.org/, email: or phone: +263 4 292 7231, Mb +263 11 377 353
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Sixth African Development Forum to focus on gender issue
19 November 2008
- 21 November 2008
United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Venue: United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Addis Ababa: The sixth African Development Forum (ADF VI) will be convened on the theme "Action on gender equality, empowerment and ending violence against women in Africa" from 19 to 21 November 2008 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia.
The Forum, one of the principal events of the Economic Commission for Africa's 50th Anniversary celebrations, is being jointly held with the African Union (AU) and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
ECA and its partners have made a notable contribution to the shaping of the gender equality landscape in Africa over the past half century. Nonetheless, there is still some way to go before "the mission is accomplished".
Persistent gender inequalities and violence against women continue to be among some of the factors for Africa 's slow progress towards attaining the targets of the Millennium Development Goals and overall social development.
Indeed, it is now widely acknowledged that promoting gender equality and women's empowerment is essential to achieving human development, poverty eradication and economic growth on the African continent.
At the same time, recent regional meetings (the First Joint African Union Commission and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development held in April 2008 and the 11 th African Union Summit) have highlighted the emergence of new challenges on the continent that have the potential to deepen and widen existing gender inequalities such as climate change, and rising food and energy prices.
In that regard, it is clear that as the Commission marks its 50 th anniversary, there is need to reflect on the progress made towards achieving gender equality, women's empowerment and eliminating violence against women on the continent; identify the existing policy and implementation challenges and seek comprehensive solutions to tackle them effectively. The overarching objective of the ADF VI, therefore, is to review the state of play in this critical area in order to articulate concrete actions to hasten the translation of national and regional commitments into reality.
The Forum will give prominence to eliminating violence against women as a major impediment to social and economic development on the continent and the achievement of the MDGs. This is in line with the UN Secretary-General's Campaign to End Violence against Women launched on 25 February 2008 and which will run from 2008 through 2015 to coincide with the target date for achieving the MDGs. Other themes that the Forum will discuss with regard to gender equality include: HIV and AIDS, Health and reproductive rights, Education, training and skills development, Migration, Governance, Conflict, peace and security, Employment, markets and trade, Food security, Land and property rights, Climate change, water, sanitation and energy, Financing for gender equality, and ICT.
The forum is expected to among other things come up with a plan of action that will provide clear recommendations for member States and development partners to accelerate the achievement of gender equality and women's empowerment.
Background
The African Development Forum is an ECA initiative intended to advance an Africa-driven development agenda. It presents a unique opportunity to connect African decision-makers with the best policy advice, informed by credible analytical work and relevant experiences.
ADF aims to initiate dialogue, build consensus and mobilise partnerships around African stakeholders' goals.
All five previous forums have helped launch new initiatives and activities, as well as important blueprints that have had wide ranging impacts.
ADF I, on "The Challenge to Africa of Globalization and the Information Age", resulted in important public and private sector actions that stimulated ICT for development activities on the continent.
ADF II, on "HIV/AIDS: the Greatest Leadership Challenge," adopted a plan of action which fed directly into the 2001 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS.
ADF III, on "Defining Priorities for Regional Integration," reviewed ECA's preliminary research findings on regional integration, which have now been published in a major ECA report entitled Assessing Regional Integration in Africa.
ADF IV, on the issue of good governance for economic transformation under the theme "Governance for a Progressing Africa" discussed and examined ways of improving governance in Africa and made concrete recommendations on mechanisms for instituting and monitoring good governance.
ADF V on "Youth and Leadership in the 21st Century", produced a Consensus Statement calling for partnerships at all levels to provide the youths with leadership opportunities that would enable them to speed up development, peace and prosperity.
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Third EQUINET Regional Conference on Equity in Health in east and southern Africa
23 September 2009
- 25 September 2009
EQUINET
Venue: Speke Conference Center, Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda
The Third EQUINET Regional Conference on Equity in Health in east and southern Africa will be held at Munyonyo, Kampala, Uganda September 23rd - 25th 2009 with the theme Reclaiming the Resources for Health: Building Universal People Centred Health Systems in East and Southern Africa.
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4th EITI International Conference
16 February 2009
- 18 February 2009
Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)
Venue: Doha
The 4th EITI International Conference will be held in Doha 16-18 February 2009. The EITI Conference is the premier event in the EITI calendar. The last Conference in Oslo 2006 brought together over 400 participants and marked the transition from EITI design to EITI implementation. Following from the decisions made at the Oslo Conference the EITI has achieved much: 23 countries are underway in implementing the EITI.
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National workshop on social accountability
07 February 2008
- 09 February 2008
World Bank, PIC, PGRM, PGDI projects, and ANSA-Africa
Venue: Antananarivo, Madagascar
The objectives of the workshop were to:
- Increase technical capacity in key social accountability tools, including Citizen Report Cards, Community Score Cards, the use of PETS, and Participatory Budgeting.
- Provide exposure to specific case studies from other countries on the successful application of SA tools to similar sectors, that might be of use to planning future activities.
- Disseminate the planned and completed SA pilot activities.
- Deepen the sectoral SA strategies initiated during sectoral discussions in the Social Accountability meeting in July, 2007.
- Build synergy amongst the stakeholders in the field of governance and civic engagement.
This event was organized by the World Bank, PIC, PGRM, PGDI projects, and ANSA-Africa, in partnership with a local firm that will assist with logistical organizing of the workshop.
Click here to access presentations.
La Redevabilité Sociale au Madagascar 7, 8, et 9 février 2008
Présentateurs
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Maputo to host the 2008 Biennale on Education in Africa
05 May 2008
- 09 May 2008
Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA)
Venue: Maputo, Mozambique
The capital of Mozambique, Maputo, will host the Biennale on Education in Africa from May 5 to 9. The Biennale is the most important meeting in Africa in the field of educational cooperation, organized every two years by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA).
Some 600 participants are expected at the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Center. The Biennale will bring together all African ministers of education and training, representatives of multilateral and bilateral development cooperation agencies, African and international non-governmental organizations and civil society organizations, foundations, education specialists, academics and practitioners, as well as providers of all types of education. Ministers for sectors other than education are also expected.
On May 5, the formal opening ceremony of the first Biennale hosted by a Lusophone African country will include addresses by President Armando Emilio Guebuza of Mozambique; President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of the Republic of Algeria, guest of honor; the current Chairperson of the African Union, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete; and the First Lady of Puerto Rico, Luisa Acevedo Vilá.
At the 2006 Biennale in Libreville, the discussions focused on the factors and conditions conducive to effective schools, literacy programs and early childhood development programs. In Maputo, the participants will consider post-primary education, one of the greatest challenges facing African education systems now that significant progress has been made in improving enrollment and completion rates at the primary level.
The central theme, “Beyond Primary Education: Challenges and Approaches to Expanding Learning Opportunities in Africa“, will be addressed through three broad sub-themes: extending the duration of mandatory schooling for all to 9-10 years; the challenge of skills development, to better prepare young people for integration into social and working life; linkages between senior secondary education and higher education, with a view to building human resources for Africa’s development.
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Conferência de partes interessadas
19 May 2008
- 19 May 2008
Venue: Adis-Abeba, Etiópia
Contact person:
Conferência de Partes Interessadas da ANSA-África. Tema central: Estados Frágeis e em Pós-conflito, Arrecadação de Receitas
A Rede Afiliada de Responsabilidade Social em África (ANSA-África) apresentará a sua segunda conferência de partes interessadas (stakeholders) em Adis-Abeba, Etiópia, de 19 a 20 de maio de 2008.
As áreas de foque especiais serão:
- O status da responsabilidade social em África na actualidade
- O estabelecimento da responsabilidade social em estados frágeis e em pós-conflito
- A responsabilidade social no contexto da descentralização e arrecadação de receitas
A conferência gostaria de incentivar uma participação activa das partes interessadas, no sentido de trocar informações, promover as suas respectivas organizações e actividades, e participar no treinamento prático em metodologias da responsabilidade social. Também providenciará uma visão do que há de mais moderno em termos de pesquisa sobre as áreas de foque.
Uma Exposição de Conhecimentos oferecerá uma oportunidade aos participantes para apresentar o que estão a fazer nas áreas de responsabilidade social e iniciativas de governação a pedido.
Pedidos de nomeações e trabalhos (papers)
A ANSA-África convida a todas as partes interessadas a nomearem representantes para assistir à conferência. Além disso, a ANSA-África também convida participantes para apresentarem trabalhos ou estudos de caso sobre uma ou várias das áreas de foque da conferência.
Prazos e formatação: Os resumos devem ser recebidos antes do fim de março e, se forem seleccionados, as conferências completas devem ser recebidas até ao fim de abril.
Os resumos deverão estar em inglês e ter no máximo uma página A4, com espaço de 1.5 e usando "New Times Roman, 12 pt".
Pedimos aos Senhores participantes que peçam às suas respectivas organizações para que patrocinem os custos de participação na conferência. No entanto, a ANSA-África poderá eventualmente contribuir, se for necessário.
Para mais informações, é favor enviar um e-mail a: ou visitar o site www.ansa-africa.net.
Informações de fundo: A responsabilidade social e a ANSA-África
A responsabilidade social é uma abordagem para o desenvolvimento da prestação de contas através do compromisso cívico entre o governo municipal e os cidadãos que estão a receber serviços públicos. A responsabilidade social envolve um amplo leque de acções e actividades para desenvolver esse compromisso, como por exemplo o orçamento participatório, o rastreamento das despesas públicas, o monitoramento da prestação de contas e os cartões da cidadania, entre outros.
A ANSA-África foi fundada em dezembro de 2006, tendo sido uma iniciativa conjunta do Banco Mundial e o Conselho de Pesquisas de Ciências Humanas (HSRC), com as seguintes metas:
- Desenvolver a cooperação na área da responsabilidade social e as iniciativas de governação a pedido, em toda a África ;
- Fornecer assistência técnica para o melhoramento tangível da qualidade das iniciativas de responsabilidade social nos vários países;
- Realizar programas de treinamento sobre instrumentos (ferramentas) e técnicas específicos;
- Compartilhar as experiências em responsabilidade social e as iniciativas de governação a pedido dos vários países; divulgar e desenvolver a perícia africana nesta área; e
- Realizar e fortalecer uma rede de profissionais praticantes em responsabilidade social, partes interessadas ligadas a governos, instituições de pesquisa e sociedade civil.
Para maior divulgação desses objectivos, criamos o portal www.ansa-africa.net, para a busca e disseminação de notícias, resoluções, observações e técnicas de responsabilidade social. Também proporciona um fórum para que os profissionais praticantes compartilhem as suas opiniões e resultados. Um boletim informativo mensal - Full Circle (Círculo Completo), faz a divulgação dos últimos desenvolvimentos e eventos vindouros. O nosso trabalho é dirigido por um Comité Executivo e por um Grupo de Assessoria Técnica, que vale-se das experiências dos vários países de África.
O que a ANSA-África conseguiu fazer no seu primeiro ano de existência:
- Organizou uma oficina de trabalho para partes interessadas no princípio de 2007;
- Facilitou o compromisso entre profissionais e partes interessadas da responsabilidade social, o GTZ da Alemanha e o Governo da Etiópia;
- Lançou o desenvolvimento do Perfil da Responsabilidade Social de África (ASAP). A primeira fase desse estudo abrangente estará centrada no Egipto, Quénia, Malawi, Moçambique, Senegal, Tanzânia e Togo;
- Lançou os fundamentos para a produção de um livro de fonte sobre métodos de responsabilidade social o que, juntamente com o ASAP, permitirá que possamos desenvolver e implementar programas apropriados de capacitação e treinamento;
- Atribuiu o primeiro subsídio, a partir do financiamento inicial do Banco Mundial, para o Programa de Desenvolvimento Municipal do Zimbabwe, a fim de implementar uma oficina de trabalho sobre o rastreamento participatório de despesas, em março de 2008, em Durban, na África do Sul;
- Fez articulações em conferências realizadas no Lesoto, Madagáscar ; e
- Lançou os fundamentos para uma segunda conferência de partes interessadas a realizar-se em maio de 2008 em Adis-Abeba, Etiópia.
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Conférence des parties intéressées organisée par l’ANSA-Africa
19 May 2008
- 20 May 2008
Venue: Addis-Abeba, Éthiopie
Contact person:
Conference des Parties Interessees de l'Ansa-Africa sur les Etats Fragiles et Post-Conflits et sur la Generation de Revenus
Le réseau affilié de la responsabilisation sociale en Afrique (ANSA-Africa) tiendra sa deuxième conférence à Addis-Abeba (Éthiopie) du 19 au 20 mai 2008.
Elle portera sur :
- La position de la responsabilisation sociale en Afrique aujourd’hui.
- L’établissement de la responsabilisation sociale dans les États fragiles et post-conflits.
- La responsabilisation sociale dans le contexte de la décentralisation et la génération de revenus.
La conférence encouragera la participation active des parties intéressées concernant l’échange d’informations ainsi que la promotion de leurs organisations et activités respectives, et les amènera à prendre part à la formation en méthodologies de responsabilisation sociale. Elle leur permettra également d’avoir un aperçu de la recherche de pointe sur les sujets traités lors de la conférence.
Une Foire des connaissances permettra également aux participants de présenter leurs activités dans les domaines de la responsabilisation sociale et des initiatives de gouvernance du côté de la demande.
Appel à nominations et à communications
L’ANSA-Africa invite toutes les parties intéressées à nommer des représentants à assister à la conférence et lance un appel à communications ou études de cas portant sur un ou plusieurs des sujets de la conférence.
Dates limites : les résumés devront nous parvenir d’ici fin mars. Les communications sélectionnées devront nous parvenir avant la fin avril.
Format : les résumés devront être rédigés en anglais, ne pas dépasser une page A4 et être tapés avec une interligne de 1.5 et une fonte de 12 pt Times New Roman.
Nous encourageons les participants à se faire payer leurs frais de conférence par les organismes dont ils dépendent. L’ANSA-Africa peut néanmoins apporter un soutien financier en cas de besoin.
Pour plus de renseignements, veuillez envoyer un courriel à ou visiter www.ansa-africa.net.
Informations générales : responsabilisation sociale et l’ANSA-Africa
La responsabilisation sociale est une approche qui promeut la redevabilité à travers l’engagement civique entre l’administration municipale et les citoyens, bénéficiaires de services publics. Elle fait intervenir toute une gamme d’actions et d’activités dans la promotion de cet engagement tels que, entre autres, les prévisions budgétaires participatives, les enquêtes de suivi des dépenses publiques, le suivi des prestations de services publics et les cartes de rapport des citoyens.
L’ANSA-Africa, établi en décembre 2006, résulte d’une initiative conjointe entre la Banque Mondiale et le Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) dont les objectifs sont de :
- développer une collaboration à travers l’Afrique portant sur la responsabilisation sociale et les initiatives de gouvernance du côté de la demande ;
- fournir une assistance technique afin d’améliorer la qualité des initiatives de responsabilisation sociale dans différents pays ;
- fournir des programmes de formation sur des outils et des techniques spécifiques ;
- partager les expériences des pays et les leçons tirées de la responsabilisation sociale et des initiatives de gouvernance du côté de la demande, ainsi que promouvoir et valoriser l’expertise des Africains dans ce domaine ; et
- établir et renforcer un réseau de praticiens et de parties intéressées de la responsabilisation sociale en provenance du gouvernement, d’institutions de recherche et de la société civile.
En vue de promouvoir ces objectifs, nous avons établi un portail (www.ansa-africa.net) pour la recherche et la dissémination actives d’informations, de résolutions, d’idées et de techniques sur la responsabilisation sociale. Ce portail offre également une plate-forme qui permet aux praticiens de partager leurs opinions et leurs projets. Une lettre d’information mensuelle, Full Circle, annonce les derniers développements ainsi que les évènements à venir. Un comité exécutif et un groupe technique consultatif pourvoient au fonctionnement de l’ANSA-Africa, faisant appel à l’expertise des divers pays africains.
Durant sa première année de fonctionnement, l’ANSA-Africa a :
- accueilli un atelier de parties intéressées en Afrique du Sud en début 2007 ;
- facilité l’engagement entre les praticiens et les parties intéressées de la responsabilisation sociale, l’agence de coopération technique allemande GTZ et le gouvernement éthiopien ;
- lancé le développement d’un Profil de responsabilisation sociale de l’Afrique (ASAP). La première phase de cette étude exploratoire a porté sur l’Égypte, le Kenya, le Malawi, le Mozambique, le Sénégal, la Tanzanie et le Togo ;
- posé les fondations de l’élaboration d’un manuel de base sur les méthodes de responsabilisation sociale qui, conjointement avec l’ASAP, nous permettront de développer et de mettre en œuvre des programmes appropriés de renforcement des capacités et de formation ;
- alloué la première subvention du financement d’amorçage de la Banque Mondiale à un programme de développement municipal au Zimbabwe, pour la mise en œuvre d’un atelier sur le suivi des dépenses participatives qui s’est tenu en mars 2008 à Durban (Afrique du Sud) ;
- participé à des conférences sur la responsabilisation sociale à Madagascar, au Lesotho ; et
- posé les bases d’une deuxième conférence de parties intéressées en mai 2008 à Addis-Abeba (Éthiopie).
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ANSA-Africa stakeholder conference: Growing the social accountability network
19 May 2008
- 20 May 2008
Venue: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Contact person: Ingrid du Toit:
Addis Ababa: Delegates from more than 30 African countries representing all the regional economic communities on the continent, and from international development organisations, donor organisations and academic institutions, attended the second annual conference held by ANSA-Africa in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 19 and 20 May 2008. The focus of the conference was on social accountability in fragile and post conflict societies in Africa.
Delegates were welcomed to the host country by Eshetu Bekele, Director of the Poverty Action Network of Civil Society Organisations in Ethiopia who informed delegates that civil society organisations in the country were helping to scale up government development programmes while also dealing with human rights and democracy issues. This new spirit of empowerment needed to find a home in every African country and civil society groups needed to network and exchange information across the continent.
Delivering the opening address Dr Michael Kahn of the Human Sciences Research Council in South Africa, speaking on behalf of HSRC CEO Dr Olive Shisana, said social accountability could help fragile and post conflict societies to address the challenges they faced in improving governance and moving from underdevelopment to sustainable development. He pointed out that since the first ANSA-Africa stakeholder conference, held in December 2006, the ANSA initiative had expanded with new networks now established on the Indian subcontinent and in the Phillipines.
He pointed out that it remained important to continue to grow the African network and to emphasise training and capacity building activities in this process. The conference was an opportunity to hear about social accountability initiatives being undertaken by participants while it would help the ANSA-Africa secretariat in designing programmes to help meet their needs. An important area was how to extend work to look at social accountability in the extractive industries sector. Vast profits were made in this sector on the continent, often without any recognition of social responsibility. Participants would also have many opportunities to network and discuss their work with donors and development partners.
In her presentation Mary McNeill (World Bank Institute) traced the origins of ANSA-Africa from its beginning in Ghana in 2005 to the present de-facto membership of 1 600 organisations across Africa. The ANSA model had expanded because it reflected a global concern with good governance and fighting corruption, which have come to be recognised as prerequisites of sustainable development. These are areas where governments need the support of parliaments, the media and civil society to counter citizen’s growing disillusionment with government performance and their demands for transformation. The focus on fragile and post conflict states was important because about 40% of African states fall into these categories. Initiatives to promote social accountability have shown the importance of political analysis and an understanding of the context in different societies in developing strategies, the crucial role that awareness raising and evidence based information play in civil society participation and the need for capacity building and partnerships with government.
Participants raised a number of issues in discussion including the relationship between ANSA-Africa and the African Union and the regional economic communities (RECs) and how the network could provide practical support to practitioners. Participants also asked how they could get governments to acknowledge the role of social accountability and adopt principles of transparency. In response the speakers during the first panel discussion pointed out that ANSA-Africa had to play to its strengths as a network in information exchange and technical support to the work being done at country level by its members. Improved relations with the AU and regional economic communities needed more attention.
The conference continued with a panel discussion that looked at the status of social accountability in Africa. Definitions of social accountability include initiatives that enabled stakeholders to have a say in development; a process of partnership that provides a sense of ownership and brings sustainability to development programmes; community participation, awareness of rights and what citizens are entitled to in terms of service delivery; social accountability as a core principle of democracy, and its link to the ability of countries’ ability to decide their own policies, which is undermined by external dependency, corruption and a weak fiscal foundation. The discussion noted that social accountability in Africa is undermined by the lack of a relevant legal framework in many countries, the lack of legitimacy of many governments, weak state-civil society synergy and lack of social inclusiveness. In many countries citizens lack the ability and know-how to track government expenditure. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) can play an important role in bringing all sectors and government together to look at policy and resource allocation.
Delegates pointed out that in pursuing social accountability, civil society organisations needed to ensure that they themselves were accountable to their constituency. They needed to report on their work and be transparent about their sources of funding. A shortcoming to date has been the lack of monitoring of the implementation of recommendations by the AU. Delegates also noted the important role that social accountability could play in relation to HIV/Aids.
The afternoon breakaway sessions looked at social accountability in fragile and post conflict states, in the context of decentralisation and revenue generation and at social accountability tools. Sylvain Boko of Wake Forest University noted that conflict hindered economic growth and development. In many fragile and post conflict states the institutional environment was so weak that governments lack the capability or will to deliver core services. In the aftermath of conflict, states need to first establish a safe and stable environment which could address humanitarian needs. Then they need to address reconciliation and reconstruction to establish a platform to broaden participation.
Decentralisation could help to reduce conflict by granting political power to people with a better knowledge of local resources and needs and integrating marginalised groups into the mainstream. However, if it was not done well and if people did not trust government institutions it ccould increase separatist tendencies. The rapid rural initiative employed in Sierra Leone had helped to build trust by identifying immediate needs at local level such as schools, transport and agricultural support. In the ensueing discussion participants noted the need to lobby political leaders to recognise people’s right to social accountability and the problem of poverty, which both contributes to instability and make it difficult for people to focus on accountability issues in the face of the struggle to survive.
Looking at UN-Habitat’s experience Mohamed Halfani noted that social accountability was a key ingredient for improving governance; that decentralisation is a prerequisite for social accountability and that financial decentralisation in particular is a key element. African states have made significant progress in setting a constitutional and legislative framework for decentralisation and in devolving power from central to provincial and local governments. However, progress in involving civil society has been marginal. The lack of a revenue base and dependence on transfers from central government were impediments to local initiatives.
The breakaway group on fragile and post colonial states looked at the situation in Liberia which faced the challenge of development in the context of healing a divided nation. It's experience shows that the challenge of democratisation does not end with elections but is an ongoing process in which the participation of civil society plays a crucial role. Social accountability in post conflict states is about ongoing negotiation of the interface between citizens and government. The session on emerging social accountability tools noted the importance of addressing both quantity and quality in service delivery, which emerged from work on distributing school text books in the Philippines, and the cost savings and reduction in corruption that can be achieved through decentralisation. A farmer support project in Zimbabwe pointed to the importance of engaging in an open deliberative process with beneficiaries in planning programmes and once again underlined the importance of awareness.
The first day ended with a Knowledge Faire and cocktail dinner that gave participants an opportunity to showcase their organisations and work to promote social accountability on the continent, network and build relationships. They were entertained by music from Ethiopia’s rich musical heritage accompanied by a dance troupe performing regional dances from around the country.
Day two began with four case studies from across the continent that looked at the extractive industries; promoting social accountability through gender responsiveness budgeting; the state of social accountability in the Great Lakes region; and mechanisms for participation in social accountability in Benin. John Ikubaje of the Centre for Democracy and Development indicated that through an initial audit of the oil and gas sector, which established significant failure to account for funds in the industry, Nigeria’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) was able to engage with the government. This led to the institutionalisation of the initiative and the government funding. This promises sustainability but also raises problems of political influence over appointments. Civil society engagement will continue to be a key pillar of NEITI’s ongoing effectiveness. The organisation has a programme to develop stakeholder understanding of the extractive industries. NEITI’s experience offers possible lessons for other organisations in engaging with government.
Turning to the promotion of social accountability through gender responsive budgeting Dede Kadiri of the Development Initiatives Network said that the budget is the most important policy document for tracking social accountability and inclusiveness as it indicated what government intended to do. Given that the government of Nigeria has committed itself to gender equality it is important to see whether this commitment is expressed in the budget. The project has adopted three major strategies, collaboration, budget policy research and information dissemination. It has also engaged in training communities and government officials. A critical success factor has been a multi-focus strategy that looks at a range of partners and stakeholders. It has had to face a number of problems including the lack of a freedom of information regime and of gender disaggregated information, and limited community participation in the budget process due to high levels of poverty and low literacy levels.
Taking the Great Lakes Region Pact as a case study of social accountability Joseph Chilengi of Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice (IDP) indicated that the whole region was shaken by the Rwandan genocide and the subsequent wars. The region is now moving from the ravages of war to creating mechanisms of social accountability. The process is based on the principle of inclusiveness with all sectors of society including civil society involved. Dialogue and consultation identified the root causes of the conflict and formed the basis of the Dar Es Salaam Declaration, which looks at peace and security, democracy and governance, economic development and regional integration, and humanitarian and social issues. This formed the basis of the programme of action in the Nairobi Pact. Challenges include ownership of the process, funding and implementing regional projects.
Akplogan Huguette epouse Dossa of Social Watch Benin spoke about a mechanism to ensure that citizens are able to hold government accountable for delivering quality services. Despite an expressed commitment to democratisation and poverty reduction Benin has not seen effective popular mobilisation. Social Watch aims to mobilise civil society for poverty reduction. It has done this through producing a shadow report on the budget and establishing antennas in municipalities to assess people’s needs. It uses all forms of media to sensitise the population and present analyses of government programmes. Challenges are to extend the network, convince all levels of government to accept idea of accountability and secure funding.
Turning to the ANSA-Africa network Craig Schwabe said that the organisation was addressing important stakeholder needs for capacity building, networking and resources. It has met objectives for setting up the secretariat, providing sub grants for capacity building and training, and has taken note of calls to look at fragile and post conflict states and focus research on domestic revenue generation and decentralisation. The development of a web portal has been a major success. The portal receives 1600-4500 hits a day with 67% of users being new visitors showing that usage continues to grow. The portal is playing an active part in sharing resources with ten African countries being amongst those registering the most use. It provides access to more than 400 articles on social accountability and to ANSA’s monthly Full Circle newsletter and Building Blocks teaching series on social accountability. Plans include working on an African sourcebook on social accountability, holding video conferences on social accountability using the World Bank’s knowledge centres, identifying regional and global partners and integrating social accountability more closely with the AU and APRM, and the MDGs.
In the discussion participants requested more French and Portuguese language content on the web site. The World Bank’s role in ANSA was also questioned. In response Mary McNeil of the World Bank Institute said that the bank had provided seed money and at present had two seats on the executive committee but this did not give it a majority and it did not intend to control the organisation. When its term of office expires at the end of the year the Bank intends to stand back and hopes that ANSA-Africa will go forward based on demand on the continent.
The conference then looked at alternative initiatives and models of supporting social accountability. Daniel Ritchie described the work of the Partnership for Transparency Fund, an organisation of volunteers that makes small grants to civil society organisations in developing countries, builds capacity and promotes learning through workshops. The organisation works with CSOs that are committed to fighting corruption and supporting good governance and that are willing to promote constructive engagement with public sector organisations. It has had considerable success in monitoring public procurement, delivery of services and public expenditure, drafting legislation, supporting media campaigns, developing information systems and protecting whistle blowers.
Dr Angelito Gregorio-Medel presented the work of ANSA East Asia Pacific, which aims to improve demand side governance in the region by strengthening partnership and monitoring capacities in key sectors of education, health, public infrastructure and environment focusing on budgets, public expenditure and service delivery. The intended outcomes are to improve delivery of public services, particularly for those most in need, and to make government and civil society aware of the costs and benefits of good governance and responsible citizenship. The network will build on existing regional and in-country networks and promote emerging models.
Jeff Kwaterski presented an overview of the Impact Alliance and the specific initiative of the Local Governance Barometer. The Barometer aims to help stakeholders in governance systems by translating complex concepts into practical, locally specific and easy to understand indicators, generating governance criteria and standards, comparing the quality of governance in different situations and recommending a plan for actions to improve. Implementation starts with understanding the context and continues with identification, orientation and training of main stakeholders, modeling data collection and processing and culminates in the presentation of results to stakeholder, participatory analysis and development of an action plan. Key outcomes are enhanced awareness, knowledge and skills, more effective relationships and an improved vision for service delivery.
Participants then broke into four groups to attend workshops on strategic planning for ANSA-Africa; monitoring and evaluation to assess the impact of social accountability initiatives, communications for social accountability and participating planning and monitoring in the extractive industries.
In closing speakers called on participants to continue interacting and sharing and to take up the banner of social accountability in their own countries.
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| Conference presentations: 19 May 2008 |
- Welcome to Ethiopia!
Eshetu Bekele, Executive Director: Poverty Action Network of Civil Society Organizations in Ethiopia (PANE)
- Good Governance has many dimensions
Mary McNeil, Senior Operations Officer: Coordinator, Socially Sustainable Development, World Bank Institute
- An Overview of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) in Nigeria: the success and the challenges
John Ikubaje, Senior Program Officer: Centre for Democracy and Development
- Social accountability in post-conflict and fragile states
(Additional document) Sylvain Boko, Wake Forest University
- Accountability in the Context of Decentralization & Revenue Generation
Mohamed Halfani, Chief: Urban Governance Section, UN-Habitat
- Establishing social accountability in fragile and post-conflict states: The case of the Angolan Social Fund-FAS III
Felisberto Chamuanga, Director: Bie Province, Angola Social Action Fund
- Participatory budgeting
George Matovu, Regional Director: Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA)
- Local revenue generation: Ugandan experience
Ziria Ndifuna, Consultant: Allied Management Consultants Ltd.
- Operational principles of budget transparency and demystification
Thandiwe Thando Mlobane, Local Authorities Development Manager: FISCORP (Pvt) Ltd.
- G-Watch & Textbook Count
Don Don Parafina, Ateneo School of Government / ANSA-East Asia and Pacific
- Social Accountability for enhancing smallholder agricultural service delivery and performance in Zimbabwe: Synthesis of a Farmers’ Jury Process in Zimbabwe
Absolom Masendeke, Programme Team Leader: Practical Action Southern Africa
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| Conference presentations: 20 May 2008 |
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Craig Schwabe, South Africa (English and Afrikaans): +27 82 904 0955
Ingrid du Toit, South Africa (English and Afrikaans): +27 82 376 2086
Lourenco Rodriques (Portuguese speaking): +258 84 313 2650
Claire Quenum (French speaking): + 00228 902 45 50; 00228 024 05 13; or 00228 222 29 77 |
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Access to health care in Africa - changing the paradigm for access and quality
16 April 2008
- 18 April 2008
ARV Access for Africa (AA4A)
Venue: Cape Town, South Africa
Contact person: /
ARV Access for Africa (AA4A), a subsidiary of IDA Solutions in the Netherlands is proud to announce a symposium/ aimed at examining and solving some of the current challenges to the reliable supply, quality of care and effective use of HIV/AIDS and related medicines and diagnostics, and capacity development. The main challenges include quality assurance of medicines, the supply chain itself, including selection, procurement, pricing, licensing, medicines for children, the actual care which patients receive and the lack of human and other resource capacity.
Objectives
The symposium will explore these challenges at a high level, contribute to the debate about them, challenge conventional wisdom about how best to deal with them and explore new directions in solving them. It will function as a forum for the dissemination of information about these challenges. It will provide a unique opportunity to take forward and achieve progress in their resolution.
Four themes:
Day 1: (Theme 1) - The efficiency and integrity of the supply chain itself, including prices and procurement.
Day 2: (Theme 2) - The quality of medicines and other supplies. (Theme 3) - The quality of patient care.
Day 3: (Theme 4) - Sustainability and capacity building.
A key international speaker will introduce a theme, followed by a high level interactive panel and participant discussion. The discussion will be focused on specific questions which will be circulated in advance and others which arise in situ. For each session, the main points from the debate will be summarized and any recommendations formulated.
Target audience
In addition to the participation of major role-players as discussed above, the target audience for the symposium is at country level, including directors and managers who report to national, provincial and state government political structures, as well as other high level representatives of organisations involved in these activities.
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Africa Regional Workshop: Women's Leadership in HIV/AIDS
28 January 2008
- 15 February 2008
The Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA)
Venue: Nairobi, Kenya
Contact person:
CEDPA is pleased to invite applications to the Africa Regional Workshop: Women's Leadership in HIV/AIDS to be held January 28 – February 15 in Nairobi, Kenya. This workshop is part of a series of international, regional and country-level workshops under the new Advancing Women’s Leadership and Advocacy for AIDS Action initiative.
Funded by the Ford Foundation, partners include CEDPA, the UNAIDS/Global Coalition on Women and AIDS, International Center for Research on Women, International Community of Women Living with HIV and AIDS, and the National Minority AIDS Council.
The initiative will (1) equip and empower a cadre of confident, skilled and respected women advocates to advance effective HIV/AIDS policies and resources; and (2) enhance the technical and management capabilities of women managers working to prevent the spread and mitigate the effects of AIDS through gender sensitive, community-based HIV/AIDS programs.
The Africa Regional Workshop is designed for women working in HIV/AIDS in six priority countries (Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa and Zambia.) Please note that applications received from non-focus countries will not be reviewed. Selected participants will be fully supported to attend the workshop.
You can download the application from: http://www.cedpa.org/section/training/aids_leadership
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REPOA training workshop on budget analysis
10 March 2008
- 12 March 2008
Research on Poverty Alleviation (REPOA)
Venue: Dar es Salaam
REPOA invites members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) involved in policy processes such as planning, monitoring and evaluation, and advocacy to a training workshop on Budget Analysis. This workshop will enhance the capacity of CSOs to analyse and understand the Budget and the government processes that lead to the allocation and utilisation of resources.
Course content includes:
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The Budget framework – revenue and expenditure
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Planning and budget processes at the national and sub-national levels and their linkages
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The execution of plans and budgets and entry points for CSOs
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Methods and tools for analysing and monitoring the Budget
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Links to MKUKUTA’s goals and targets
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Using the Tanzania Governance Noticeboard TGN and the Tanzania Socio-Economic Database TSED to access and analyse budget data
Course details and how to apply:
The training will be held in Dar es Salaam from 10th – 12th March.
Participants will be sponsored for their travel and/or accommodation and there are no course fees.
Applicants should submit to REPOA:
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A typed application, including a description of the main activities of the CSO, and the applicant’s duties for that organisation
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Fax, telephone and email contact details
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A detailed curriculum vitae, including a photocopy of diploma/degree certificate
The closing date for applications is 15 February 2008. REPOA will notify the successful applicants by 1 March 2008.
It is regretted that due to time constraints we will only be able to respond to those who have been successful with their application.
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Participation & accountability: Africa regional conference and workshop on participatory budgeting
10 March 2008
- 13 March 2008
Venue: Durban, South Africa
About the Seminar
With the advance of democratization and decentralization reforms, Participatory Budgeting is rapidly gaining attention from governments, civil society, and development agencies as an effective platform for strengthening transparency, voice, and accountability in public expenditure management, and service delivery. Since the early experimental initiatives in Brazil, the use of Participatory Budgeting has grown exponentially in many countries in Latin America, Europe, and Asia, and more recently, in Africa. This has created a growing demand for knowledge about how to develop and implement participatory budgeting in the African context.
Taking this into consideration, The Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA) will organize a seminar on Participatory Budgeting on March 10-13, 2008 in Durban, South Africa. The event is supported by The Municipality of Durban, African Affiliated Network on Social Accountability (ANSA), The World Bank Group, The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), The Trust Fund for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (TFESSD), UN-Habitat, and Wagner School of Public Administration/New York University.
Target Audience and Selection
The seminar targets local, regional and national level practitioners, government officials, NGOs, academics and development agencies. The first day of the event is open to a larger audience while the following four days are limited to 40 participants. The seminar will be held in English but translation to French and Portuguese will be available.
A selection commission will review each application and priority will be given to:
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Participants from African (governmental and non-governmental) organizations;
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Participants representing African organizations that have a clear need for capacity building and knowledge sharing on Participatory Budgeting
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Participants who are planning to incorporate Participatory Budgeting mechanisms into their own organization or disseminate obtained knowledge back to their home country.
Application and Funding Assistance
Interested participants should apply no later than December the 17th, 2008. Please see the attached application form for further details or register through the web form for registration
The sponsors of the Seminar will be able to support a limited number of participants with travel, accommodation, training material or full board. Priority will be given to African organizations which have solid justification to send representatives to the event, but cannot fully cover these costs. Self-funded candidates are also welcome to apply.
If you need additional information or clarification, please contact:
George Matovu
MDPESA Executive Director
Tel: +263-4-774385/6
Fax: 263-4-774387
--OR--
Andre Herzog
Social Development Department, World Bank
Tel: +001-1-202-458-2683 (US)
Fax: +001-1-202-522-1669
To Register: http://www-esd.worldbank.org/arspb/index.cfm
Download documents:
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eLearning Africa Call for Proposals
28 May 2008
- 30 May 2008
eLearning Africa
Venue: Accra, Ghana
The 3rd International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training will take place from May 28 to 30, 2008 in Accra, Ghana. eLearning Africa is the premier gathering place for all experts and stakeholders engaged or interested in ICT-based education, training and development on the African continent. Everyone concerned with eLearning in Africa is welcome to share and learn. We encourage practitioners and academics engaged in an African context to apply by submitting a proposal.
Deadline: 7 December 2007
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Building African Women's Movement
19 November 2007
- 22 November 2007
Just Associates (JASS), in partnership with Action Aid International and Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, (OSISA)
Venue: Johannesburg
Just Associates (JASS), in partnership with Action Aid International and Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, (OSISA), is organizing a 4-day movement-building institute around "Building African Women's Movements". This institute is the first phase of a long-term process that aims to strengthen the leadership, strategies and collective power of African women living with and working on HIV/AIDS for their voices and demands to be visible and influential at all levels of decision-making.
The Institute will take place in Johannesburg from November 19-22, 2007. During the workshop, participants will critically assess and learn about the last two decades of strategies on HIV/AIDs and women's rights in the sub region and on the continent, analyse the current political landscape, take stock of women's movements, the community of women living with HIV and the groups working on HIV, and define a long-term capacity-building strategy to strengthen their leadership, organising, communications and advocacy capacity.
For application information and to find out more email or .
Deadline: 18 August 2007
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International Consultation on Islam and HIV/AIDS
26 November 2007
Islamic Relief Worldwide
Venue: Chestnut room, Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, 120 North Rand Road, Boksburg
Contact person: Abdullah Vawda:
Islamic Relief Worldwide is pleased to announce a ground-breaking event which aims to generate practical responses to the HIV and AIDS pandemic from an Islamic perspective. An international consultation entitled "Islam and HIV/AIDS" will take place in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 26 until 30 November 2007.
Today there are around 40 million people living with HIV and AIDS around the world. The disease devastates individual lives as well as communities, and is increasingly affecting Muslim populations. In
South Africa, 900 people die of HIV and AIDS every day!
This conference aims to contribute to halting the spread of the disease and to ensuring appropriate care for the people who have been affected by it. The event will draw upon the expertise of three groups of people in order to ensure a successful outcome:
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Muslim scholars who have the ability to forge change within their respective countries and communities.
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Prominent HIV and AIDS practitioners, who will provide invaluable insight into the multiple dimensions of the HIV and AIDS pandemic.
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People living with HIV and AIDS, whose personal experiences will ensure the event remains focused on the realities of those affected by the pandemic.
More details can be obtained from www.islamandhivaids.org.
A Press Conference will be held on Monday, 26 November 2007, at 5pm. The venue for the press conference is "Chestnut room, Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre, 120 North Rand Road, Boksburg". Please confirm your attendance by 22 November 2007, as places are limited!
RSVP to Abdullah Vawda, Media and Communications, on Mobile: 073 841 5046, or E-mail: .
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NFU Conference: Making Institutions Work for the Poor?
05 November 2007
- 07 November 2007
Norwegian Association for Development Research (NFU)
Venue: Bergen
Despite the emergence of a large number of civil society organisations and the creation of watchdog institutions, the dominant portrayal of the developing world remains to be of a region wracked by violent conflicts, rising economic inequalities and greater social exclusion. The international community has been left with the difficulty of addressing the problem that despite the existence of ostensibly democratic structures in a large number of new democracies in the South, many of the key political institutions that underpin them fail to work adequately for the poor. It is in the light of recognising this problem and representation as a barrier for poverty reduction that we ask in this conference: How can we build institutions that work for the poor?
Important conference dates and deadlines:
Papers
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Deadline Abstracts: 31 May 2007 (Deadline for abstract submission extended to 15 June for workshop 16 "When can decentralisation work for the poor? Focus on local planning and decentralised service delivery systems")
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Announcement of acceptance by 29 June 2007
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Deadline Papers: 1 October
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EQUINET Regional training on writing skills - call for participants
20 October 2007
- 24 October 2007
EQUINET
Venue: Lilongwe, Malawi
The EQUINET Secretariat at Training and Research Support Centre with local hosts, REACH Trust (Malawi), invite personnel working on health equity in east and southern Africa to apply for participation for a capacity building workshop on “Writing scientific papers and peer reviewed journals” to be held in Lilongwe, Malawi from 20-24 October 2007.
Call Closes On 3 September, 2007!
This workshop is designed to support capabilities for effective dissemination of research on health equity, especially from EQUINET activities, through scientific journals and publications. The objectives of the workshop are:
To build skills for writing in scientific papers and peer reviewed journals; To understand the peer review process works and facilitate peer review and feedback on a set of equity-focused papers among a group of east and southern African researchers and practitioners; To introduce tools and approaches to improving writing skills for scientific papers and meeting reports.
Preference will be given to applicants working on EQUINET research programmes, but the workshop will also include people working on equity-focused themes in east and southern Africa. For further information on areas of EQUINET work and the equity focused themes please see www.equinetafrica.org Preference will be given to applicants who have writing work in progress (e.g. those who have completed research, have prepared a draft paper or are ready to do so, or have a paper that has been drafted for publication). Participants to the workshop will be expected to participate in the pre workshop process to qualify for sponsorship for the workshop.
This will include:
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Initial application as indicated above, by 3 September 2007. Participants will be informed on the outcome of their applications by September 7 2007.
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Submission of a draft paper for a scientific journal of no more than 5 000 words, dealing with equity, health and Africa, that is work in progress, by September 17 2007. (Those who are unable to submit a draft paper that they are working on by this date will not be included in the workshop).
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Papers will be peer reviewed and for returned to authors by September 26 and candidates will be expected to prepare a further draft, taking account of the reviewers' comments, and bring this for discussion and further development within the Workshop.
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It will be preferable if participants can bring to the workshop a laptop plus the references they are drawing on most heavily in writing their paper.
The workshop will aim to leave authors with advice and comments on how to complete their papers and will agree a timetable for final submission. The workshop will be run by Rebecca Pointer, publications officer for EQUINET, assisted by EQUINET senior scientific and publications resource personnel. There are limited places in the workshop. We invite interested individuals to submit an application to participate and to provide the full information shown below. EQUINET will sponsor a limited number of accepted delegates for airfare or local costs or both based on need.
Delegates who can provide part sponsorship only are asked preferably to meet their air travel costs.
Information requested from applications:
Interested applicants should submit;
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A 1-2 page 'expression of interest' that outlines their institution, their position and their research or training work that they and their institution are reporting on in the scientific paper and any links if relevant to EQUINET
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A personal CV including publications produced, including those in peer reviewed journals
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A 500 word abstract or maximum 5000 word draft of the paper they propose to work on in the workshop
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Clear information on whether they are able to meet all costs, or need EQUINET sponsorship for airfare ONLY, local costs ONLY, or ALL costs.
Applicants should submit this information by 3 September 2007 to the EQUINET secretariat and copy it to with WRITERS WORKSHOP in the subject line of the email. Accepted delegates will be notified by 7 September 2007 on the outcome of their submission, including sponsorship.
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Workshop on Gender, Media and Democracy
29 October 2007
- 02 November 2007
Southern African Media & Gender Institute (SAMGI)
Venue: Zimbabwe
Contact person: Siraj Jamal
The Southern African Media and Gender Institute is organizing a workshop on the theme of “Gender, Media and Democracy,” scheduled for October 29 to November 2 in Zimbabwe. The workshop is free for activists and staff at NGOs and community organizations. Topics include media literacy, writing and interviewing skills, and gender awareness. Participants must provide their own travel and lodging. Twenty participants are allowed from each country. To apply, complete the form and send to Siraj Jamal at .
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Gender democracy and development: African feminist struggles in the context of globalization
11 September 2007
- 14 September 2007
Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP)
Venue: TGNP’s Gender Resource Centre - Mabibo, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Contact person:
Call for Papers
We are pleased to announce that the next Gender Festival on ‘African Feminist Struggles in the Context of Globalization’ will take place at TGNP’s Gender Resource Centre, Mabibo Dar es Salaam Tanzania from 11th to 14th September 2007.
The 2007 Gender Festival is an open space for bringing together feminist and gender-focused groups, other civil society organizations, institutions, activists and other development actors working at various levels to meet, reflect and strategize on the progress made in feminist struggles for gender equity, social transformation and participatory democracy in Tanzania. Discussions will take into account the present context of corporate-led globalization and ‘free market’ ideology, and their impact on development and democracy in Africa and the world over, and examine alternative frameworks and strategies.
The event provides a major opportunity for feminists, gender and human rights activists, civil society organizations, students, researchers and others to reflect on herstory, and take stock of achievements, constraints, challenges and potential opportunities for fostering joint action to build an alternative and better world. At the conference, participants from a wide spectrum will share their experiences, sharpen their skills and capacities, network and establish further linkages amongst and between themselves and other actors.
Paper presentations in workshops will fall under the following sub themes:
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The right to bodily integrity, sexuality, reproductive health and safe motherhood.
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Beyond access: struggles over emancipatory education, language, information and media.
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The right to safe and clean water for all: struggles over delivery and privatization.
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The right to decent employment, sustainable livelihoods and livable incomes: struggles against impoverishment, exploitation, and oppression and control over resources and incomes.
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Feminist struggles over natural resources, including land, minerals, water and fisheries.
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Taming the Demon: struggles over HIV & AIDS in all its manifestations.
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Struggles over equitable power sharing in all spheres of politics and decision making.
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Deafening NO to Gender Based Violence and patriarchal culture.
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Feminist Debates and Dialogue.
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Politics of Culture, unilateralism and the rise of fundamentalisms.
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Feminist participatory leadership and organizing styles.
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Popular Feminist History.
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Feminist struggles over unfair trade and debt, and for an alternative global economy.
Submission Instructions:
Abstracts are invited for new pieces of work, including written papers, documentaries, poetry and other formats. Work presented at previous Tanzania Gender Festivals are not eligible for submission. Authors who submit papers agree to have their papers published in the proceedings and sign the copyright form. The submission should be in A4 and should be in word or PDF.
Please visit www.tgnp.org for guidelines on papers. Submissions not meeting these guidelines risk rejection without consideration of their merits.
The submission receipt deadline for abstracts is 30th June, 2007, and for the final papers is 10th August 2007.
For more information contact:
Tanzania Gender Networking Programme (TGNP)
Gender Resource Centre – Mabibo,
P.O. Box 8921, Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA.
Tel: +255 22 2443450/205
Mob: +255 22 754 784050
Fax: +255 22 2443244
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Course: Building capacity for rights: democracy and development in Africa
10 September 2007
- 20 September 2007
The course is jointly organised by KIT and the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) at the University of the Witwatersrand
Venue: University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
Contact person:
This course, intended for people concerned with social change in Africa, aims to build capacity for advancing rights within development and activist organisations.
It is designed to engage researchers, advocates, trainers and programme officers from civil society and state institutions in exploring understandings of rights and in developing practical approaches to employing a rights perspective in advocacy and development programmes.
- Module one of the course explores key concepts and a framework for a rights approach to advocacy and development programming.
- Module two applies the framework to specific rights areas: socio-economic rights, reproductive and sexual rights, political and civil rights.
- Module three focuses on building skills for the practical application of a rights approach in advocacy work and development programmes.
Deadline: 16 July 2007
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Collective Consultation of NGOs: On education for all
03 September 2007
- 05 September 2007
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Venue: Hôtel Novotel, Avenue Abdoulaye Fadiga, Dakar
Fourth Meeting (2007) - Midway to 2015: Review of EFA progress and the contribution of civil society
Purpose: Assess and further promote the participation of civil society organizations in the formulation, implementation and evaluation of education policies in order to reach the EFA goals
Main Topics:
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Civil society participation in education policy dialogue and EFA processes at national, regional and international level
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Review of civil society contributions towards the six EFA goals
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Civil society capacity and expertise for EFA partnerships, programmes and advocacy
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UNESCO – NGO cooperation for EFA
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Accountability, Governance, and Quality of Decentralized Education in Africa
01 August 2007
- 31 March 2007
Contact person: Lesya Covert at / Hansell Bourdon at
In the Africa region as well as in most parts of the globe, countries are facing dilemmas and delays in reaching the Millennium Development Goals, Education for All and national education goals. While the widespread progress in enrolment figures is laudable, most education systems still confront persistent patterns or pockets of exclusion, inequalities, inequities, low completion rates, and low learning outcomes. Governments, civil society, and the private sector at national and local levels are recognizing that resolving these issues will not be done by more of the same, or business as usual. We need another way of thinking, acting and relating together to solve these problems. Effectiveness and capacities are needed at all levels: international, national, regional and local – hence the common call for decentralization.
Decentralization is part of most discussions around political, social and economic reforms across countries and continents. Though often seen as essential to such issues as democratization, cultural and indigenous rights, local accountability and local governance; the outcomes of decentralization do not necessarily result in greater efficiencies, empowerment, transparency, civic engagement, and the reduction of poverty. Similarly, education decentralization is nearly global and done for a myriad of reasons, but often does not result in educational quality, learning outcomes, and more and better education for more children. Some highly centralized education systems achieve results, and some do not. Some decentralized systems achieve goals, and some do not. These mixed outcomes have called into question the idea that decentralization is inherently good and have intensified the debate about which elements and relationships (conditions, legal frameworks, policies, leadership, capacities and practices) are required for decentralization to achieve real educational outcomes at the school and systems levels.
In the Distance Learning Course, we want to look at the experiences that different countries have in:
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The effective changes at the school level that improve education quality and outcomes, and,
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Effective changes at the system level (district, state, national) that support and encourage changes in all of the schools.
This round of this course will consist of six country teams from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Malawi and Liberia. This course is co-facilitated by the World Bank Institute, The British Council and EQUIP2 (Educational Quality Improvement Program) under USAID which is managed by the Academy for Educational Development. For more information see the following links:
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Lesya Covert at or Hansell Bourdon at .
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Rural and Poverty Reporting Course
06 August 2007
- 17 August 2007
Sponsored by NiZA
Venue: Swaziland
This course will cover issues related to poverty and how to best report on them.
Contents: Social dimensions of poverty; poverty, gender and HIV/AIDS; men and women’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS; trade and poverty, Millenium Development Goals, ethical reporting; interviewing skills, and assessing the World Bank’s measure of poverty.
Eligibility: Journalists both print and broadcast from the SADC Region.
Closing Date for Applications: June 30, 2007.
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Engaging with fragile states: Challenges and opportunities
24 July 2007
- 25 July 2007
Independent Evaluation Group (IEG)
Venue: United Nations Conference Center, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
In close collaboration with the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the Independent Evaluation Group (IEG) of the World Bank will host a Conference on Engaging with Fragile States: Challenges and Opportunities. The conference will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 24-25, 2007 at the United Nations Conference Center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The aim of the conference is to stimulate a discussion among in-country policymakers and bilateral and multilateral donor agency staff on how best to engage with fragile states, providing governments and donors with a basis for concrete action. About 150-200 key players on fragile states are expected to attend, including several Ministers of Finance and Planning, members of the diplomatic community, Heads and staff of donor agencies, and leading representatives of civil society and NGOs.
Featured speakers include Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Former Finance Minister and Foreign Minister, Nigeria; H.E. Antoinette M. Sayeh, Minister of Finance, Liberia; Dr. Soumana Sako, Executive Secretary, Africa Capacity Building Foundation; and H.E. Joao Kussumua, Minister for Social Assistance and Reintegration, Angola.
Following keynote addresses on the Challenges and Opportunities in Engaging with Fragile States by Mohamed Ibn Chambas (t.b.c), Executive Secretary, Economic Community of West African States, and by Mr. Ashraf Ghani, Former Minister of Finance, Afghanistan, and Chairman, Institute for State Effectiveness, the conference will feature three sessions:
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Capacity Development and Governance (including in Post-Conflict Fragile States)
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Country-Level Donor Coordination
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Sustainable Peace and Post-Conflict Transitions
Each session will identify specific problems as experienced in fragile states, discuss concrete actions that have been successful in addressing them, and draw lessons to ensure enhanced development outcomes in fragile states. The sessions will result in guidance for each of the different groups of stakeholders in fragile states--governments, donors, and civil society/NGOs.
There is no registration fee. Travel costs must be covered by participants or their respective agencies. People who wish to attend the conference must register before July 5, 2007.
Registration:
The preliminary program is available on the Conference Website: http://www.worldbank.org/ieg/licus/conference
To register visit: http://www.worldbank.org/ieg/licus/conference/registration.html
Questions should be addressed to:
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Accelerating achievement of the Millennium Goals: What should we say, or do on July 7, 2007?
07 July 2007
MWENGO
Contact person: Nakatiwa G. Mulikita. ()
Exploring what else we could be doing about the Millennium Development Goals. An opportunity reach into the depths of our collective creativity.
Mwelekeo Wa NGO (MWENGO) through Kisima - the Activist Development Centre, will be hosting the next in our annual Activist Learners workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe from 8th -10th May 2007 targeted at activists in East and Southern Africa. MWENGO is a reflection and development centre for NGOs working in Eastern and Southern Africa whose mission is to nurture a community of values by strengthening and mobilising African human resources in support of organisations fighting for social justice. The Activist Development Centre (KISIMA) has been hosting Activist Learners workshops since 2003 aimed at building capacity in knowledge based advocacy skills amongst activists in the region.
The forthcoming workshop will focus on " Accelerating Achievement of the Millennium Goals" in view of the MDG mid point 7-7-7 (the mid-point falls on
the 7th of July 2007). The holding of the workshop is strategic in that it will help to build on existing knowledge based advocacy skills amongst civil
society organisations in the East and Southern African region to reflect, strategise and begin planning to host high profile national and regional
evidence based advocacy activities to mark the mid-point and beyond.
Background to the workshop
In 2001 the United Nations launched the Millennium Development Goals in an effort to mobilize global support to end extreme poverty and hunger in the
world. The world's governments committed themselves to work towards achievement of these goals by 2015. July 7 this year, will mark the
mid-point between the millennium declaration and the target date of 2015, for attaining the goals.
Most countries in the region are faced with even deeper levels of poverty than before the launch of the goals. MDG 7-7-7 therefore marks a strategic
point in time to remind leaders of their commitments to achieve the goals and the need to urgently accelerate their efforts if the MDGs are to be
attained.
Overall Aim of the activist workshop
To strengthen knowledge based advocacy skills of civil society organizations to engage governments and international development partners to accelerate
efforts and mobilize support for the attainment of millennium goals around and beyond the mid point.
Workshop Methodology
The workshop programme is designed to facilitate the stimulation and interchange of ideas, experiences, knowledge and skills and will therefore
use principles of learning cooperatives, action learning and knowledge making. These will be complemented by inputs from subject matter specialists
through paper presentations on topics such as the MDGs campaign, poverty and development issues, Gender, poverty and the MDGs, monitoring and reporting the MDGs and knowledge-based advocacy.
Workshop 'threads'
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The MDGs as a base for providing standards to evaluate implementation as well as stimulate analysis on the different obstacles hindering the achievement of the goals.
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Raise interest and awareness about the millennium goals and the importance of attaining the goals through targeted high profile advocacy (national and regional) events to mark the mid point, amongst civil society organisation (CSOs) and opinion makers.
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Building skills in monitoring and reporting on the millennium goals.
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Plan activities to maintain the momentum amongst CSO, campaign groups, and coalitions in engaging with poverty issues and harness support of opinion makers, so as to hold accountable national governments and development collaborating partners to speed up efforts towards attaining Millennium goals and beyond.
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Promote a spirit of collaboration and peer support on MDGs nationally and across the region amongst CSOs.
Workshop objectives
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Raise interest and awareness about the millennium goals and the importance of attaining the goals through targeted high profile advocacy
(national and regional) events to mark the mid point, amongst civil society organisation (CSOs) and opinion makers.
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Plan activities to maintain the momentum amongst CSO, campaign groups, and coalitions in engaging with poverty issues and harness support of opinion makers, so as to hold accountable national governments and development collaborating partners to speed up efforts towards attaining Millennium goals and beyond.
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Promote a spirit of collaboration and peer support on MDGs nationally and across the region amongst CSOs.
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Strengthen CSO skills in engaging with governments in reporting on progress towards achieving the goals and/or drafting shadow reports.
Expected Outputs
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A range of concrete ideas and commitments from participants to engage in high profile knowledge based advocacy activities marking the
MDGs mid-point.
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Plan of activities and commitments to sustain advocacy activities beyond the mid-point in July 2007 and onto 2015.
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Formats for monitoring and reporting on millennium goals. Score cards and related popular measures.
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Agreement on how best to coordinate the advocacy efforts that will be undertaken from 07.07.07 in advocacy events and beyond.
Selection of participants
The workshop will have space for a maximum of 30 male and female activists from the East and Southern African region. We are seeking participants who
together with their organisations or groups are available and committed to engage in high profile knowledge based advocacy activities to mark the MDG
midpoint and beyond. Selection of workshop participants will therefore be guided by this, criteria among other things. For more information about this
upcoming workshop contact or or fax to +263 4 738 310 marked for the attention of Nakatiwa G. Mulikita.
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Monitoring of budgets and tracking expenditure for health and HIV/AIDS in Africa
18 June 2007
- 30 June 2007
The Centre for Economic Governance and AIDS in Africa (CEGAA) and the International Budget Project (IBP)
Venue: Still to be confirmed
Contact person: Teresa Guthrie:
The Centre for Economic Governance and AIDS in Africa (CEGAA) and the International Budget Project (IBP), kindly sponsored by the FORD Foundation, are offering a two-week training to civil society organizations (NGOs)/ research agencies in Monitoring of budgets and tracking expenditure for health and HIV/AIDS.
The training is to take place from the 18th to the 30th June 2007. The venue is still to be confirmed.
The training will include, and builds on, the important budget monitoring training done by the IBP in many African countries, and will also provide participants with advanced skills in the tracking of actual expenditures in health and HIV/AIDS. In addition, it will develop budget advocacy skills, enabling the research findings to have impact and bring about the required change. By the end of the workshop, participants will have clear project Terms of Reference and the skills required to begin their monitoring projects.
After the training, CEGAA will provide technical support to participating organizations, so as to ensure the fruitful outcome of the research and advocacy projects.
There will be three countries from each of the North, East and Southern African regions included - based upon their expressed interest and need for such work. Unfortunately there can only be two participants from each country.
If you/your organization might be interested in participating in the training and in undertaking this type of project after the training, then please answer the following questions and return to CEGAA () as soon as possible.
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Your name (and those of any colleagues who would also be interested in your organization)
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Your organization and country of operation
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Your contact email, telephone and fax number
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Your position
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Your current work activities
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Describe any previous or current budget monitoring activities (these do not need to be health or HIV/AIDS specific) that
you have been involved in
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Describe any previous or current budget monitoring/expenditure tracking for health or HIV/AIDS activities that have been done in your country
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Explain why you are interested in budget monitoring and expenditure tracking for health and HIV/AIDS
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Identify possible potential projects you could undertake in this area
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Identify the key partners you would bring on board in this process (and provide contact details)
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Provide your CV.
We look forward to hearing of your interest at your earliest convenience. We are also interested to hear of similar activities, so as to avoid duplication, but to rather strengthen efforts.
Please forward this call for interest as widely as possible.
The final selection of countries, organizations and participants remains the prerogative of CEGAA and IBP.
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E-Learning web based course in participatory budgeting
01 June 2007
Contact person: Takawira Mumvuma:
As continuation of capacity building in participatory budgeting for rural and urban local authorities, the Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA) has developed a self-learning web based course. The course has the support of the World Bank and UN-HABITAT and can be accessed via www.asaaf.org.zw/pb-course1. Upon successful completion of the course, a certificate is awarded.
The overall learning objective of the course is to enable participants to understand what participatory budgeting is and how it can be used as a tool for realizing good governance.
It is envisaged that, after successfully completing the course, participants should be in a position to introduce or improve the practice of participatory budgeting in their respective local authorities.
For further information, please contact: George Matovu: or Tendai Mkunyadze: , at MDP-ESA, 7th Floor Hurudza House, 14-16 Nelson Mandela Avenue.
Tel: 263 4 774385/6;
Fax: 263 4 774387,
Mobile: 263 (0) 11 603 247.
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Programme in Public Sector Finance
30 July 2007
University of Stellenbosch Business School
Venue: Bellville Campus
Contact person: Elsabé Pieters:
The Challenge
You have to acquire the skills to prepare and analyse the annual financial statements of your municipality, provincial trading entity, or provincial department. Where do you start?
The Solution
The aim of this 3-week programme is to equip participants with the skills to prepare and analyse the annual financial statements of a municipality, a provincial entity, or a provincial department. Participants will gain knowledge of the relevant accounting treatment and disclosure requirements as set out in the standards of GAMAP (generally accepted municipal accounting practice).
Who should attend?
This programme is recommended for Chief Financial Officers of municipalities, Senior Finance Managers of municipalities, Heads of Finance and Senior Managers in Finance Departments of Provincial Trading Entities, Provincial Public Entities and Provincial and National Departments.
The successful participant will be equipped to:
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disclose financial statements according to the standards of GAMAP, GRAP and GAAP
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analyse financial statements within the various public sector acts
Course Dates:
Bellville Campus
30/07/2007 - 03/08/2007
17/09/2007 - 21/09/2007
12/11/2007 - 16/11/2007
Assessment Criteria:
4 individual assignments (one assignment after each contact week, and 1 integrated assignment at end of course.
NQF Alignment:
NQF value of 60 credits
Fees:
R16 900
Enquiries:
Elsabé Pieters
Tel: 021-918-4489
Fax: 021-918-4468/918-4478
E-mail:
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Desafios da investigação social e económica no Moçambique de hoje
01 September 2007
Instituto de Estudos Sociais e Económicos (IESE)
Venue: Maputo
Contact person:
O IESE, uma organização independente de pesquisa em fase de formação, solicita candidatos para apresentação de comunicações científicas para a sua Conferência inaugural que terá lugar em Setembro de 2007, em Maputo.
O objectivo central do IESE é promover pesquisa numa perspectiva interdisciplinar e heterodoxa, fazendo convergir diferentes abordagens e grupos de investigação num processo de reforço mútuo. O foco da pesquisa do IESE é a análise e desenvolvimento de políticas públicas. Numa fase inicial, a investigação promovida pelo IESE será articulada à volta de duas linhas de pesquisa:
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Problemas e dinâmicas da pobreza, crescimento e desenvolvimento económico e social; e
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Cidadania, participação política e governação.
Moçambique e a África Austral estão em profunda transformação política, económica e social. Os desafios da reconstrução das economias e da democratização aos níveis local, nacional e regional, num contexto internacional de crescente interdependência, são numerosos e complexos. Por isso, a formulação de políticas e intervenções públicas têm que ser baseadas num conhecimento dinâmico dos problemas e do seu contexto que só uma pesquisa rigorosa, interdisciplinar, contínua e sistemática pode fornecer.
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Challenges of social and economic research in today’s Mozambique
01 September 2007
Institute for Social and Economic Studies (IESE)
Venue: Maputo
Contact person:
Call for Papers - Inaugural Conference of IESE
IESE, an independent research organisation which is in the process of being created, is calling for proposals for papers for its inaugural Conference which will take place in September 2007 in Maputo.
IESE’s central objective is to promote research from an interdisciplinary and heterodox perspective, bringing together different approaches and research groups in a process of mutual reinforcement. The focus of IESE’s research is the analysis and development of public policy. In an initial phase, the research promoted by IESE will be centered on two lines of research:
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Problems and dynamics of poverty, growth, and social and economic development; and
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Citizenship, political participation and governance.
Mozambique and Southern Africa have been in profound political, economic and social change. The challenges facing the reconstruction of the region’s economies and democratisation at a local, national and regional level, in an international context of increasing interdependence, are numerous and complex. Thus, the formulation of policies and public interventions need to be based on dynamic knowledge of the problems and their context that can only be provided by research that is rigorous, interdisciplinary, continuous and systematic.
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Third segment of the Africa good governance program on the Radio Waves: Municipal finance and participatory budgeting
07 April 2007
Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa, The World Bank
Contact person: Mr. Peter Schierl
The Africa Good Governance Program on the Radio Waves goes into its third round on April 5, 2007 with the launch of the Municipal Finance and Participatory Budgeting program in Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. As in the previous two offerings - Governing Municipalities without Corruption, and Civic Participation for Good Governance - the radio learning program is being jointly coordinated by the Municipal Development Partnership for Eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA) and the World Bank Institute (WBI). They are partnering with several national associations of local governments in the participating countries, including: the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG), the Association of Local Government Authorities of Kenya (ALGAK), the Association of Local Authorities of Tanzania (ALAT), and the Uganda Local Governments Association (ULGA). The program is being transmitted by First Voice International via digital radio.
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eLearning Africa, 2nd International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training
28 May 2007
- 30 May 2007
eLearning Africa
Venue: Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
Contact person: ICWE GmbH, , Tel.: +49-30-327 6140
The programme covers a wide range of topics related to ICT and education issues in Africa, such as eLearning in Medical Education and the Fight against HIV and AIDS, eLearning for informal education, mobile learning, open source, and open content, as well as eLearning in schools, universities, and in the public sector. Universities from all over the Continent are presenting ICT good practice and eLearning programmes, including the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, the African Virtual University, University of Zimbabwe, Tumaini University, Tanzania, and the University of the Western Cape, South Africa.
The 236 speakers from 50 countries include representatives from major development organisations such as UNESCO, UNEVOC, the Global Development Learning Network (GDLN), and the World Bank, as well as national and governmental institutions, mainly from Africa but also from Europe, North America, and Asia.
The hosting country, Kenya, will be represented at eLearning Africa by high-level speakers from the Ministry of Education, the Universities of Nairobi and Maseno, as well as major Kenya-based global development organisations.
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World Economic Forum on Africa 2007
13 June 2007
- 15 June 2007
World Economic Forum
Contact person: Africa@weforum.org
With growth finally on track, the search continues for a unifying vision to lead a stronger Africa into the new era.
In 2006, the community took strong steps to reinforce unprecedented growth: from the launch of the Investment Climate Facility to sharing best practices related to the NEPAD e-schools initiative; from commitments to collaborate on a “Rebranding Africa Campaign” to changing perceptions of Africa.
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World Health Day 2007: International Health Security
07 April 2007
World Health Organisation (WHO)
World Health Day on 7 April marks the founding of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is an occasion to raise awareness of key global health issues. This year's theme is international health security. The aim of the Day is to urge governments, organizations and businesses to "Invest in health, build a safer future".
A high-level global debate will take place in Singapore on 2 April 2007, in advance of the Day, to raise the profile of international health security. Join us and mark World Health Day with activities regionally and locally.
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7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government: Building Trust in Government
26 June 2007
- 29 June 2007
United Nations
Venue: UN Headquarters in Vienna
In 2007, the United Nations will host the 7th Global Forum on Reinventing Government on the theme of "Building Trust in Government" at its headquarters in Vienna. Trust will be examined in terms of its relationship with public sector capacities, and the costs in its absence. The conference, to be organized in cooperation with the government of Austria, will also explore strategies and innovations that generate improvements in governance and earn the trust of citizens. Efficient, accountable, effective and transparent governance plays a key role in the implementation of policy objectives and internationally agreed goals. Stressing the need to strengthen public sector capacities, the United Nations General Assembly has welcomed the support provided by the Secretariat to the Global Forum through resolution A/RES/57/277.
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Strategic planning meeting: ANSA-Africa Executive Committee
12 April 2007
- 13 April 2007
The ANSA-Africa Executive Committee is due to meet in Pretoria on 12 and 13 April 2007. The agenda will mainly revolve around the strategic plan for ANSA-Africa for the next 3 year period. Any outcomes from this meeting will be posted on this website following the meeting.
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Web Based Course on Participatory Budgeting and Social Accountability
01 February 2007
Venue: Web-based course
Contact person: gmatovu@mdpafrica.org.zw or pkundishora@mdpafrica.org.zw or
The Municipal Development partnership for eastern and Southern Africa (MDP-ESA) invites local government practitioners and policy makers to participate in e-Based courses that are intended to address the challenges of decentralized governance in Africa. The programmes aim to enhance the competences and skills of local government officials and non-state actors in mutual engagement using participative tools in the design and application of participatory processes as a means for promoting good governance.
There are three courses available:
- Web Based Course on Participatory Budgeting and Social Accountability
- Radio Programme on Municipal Finance and Citizen Engagement
- Videoconference on Enhancing Participatory Governance in Local Democracy through ALGAF
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Affiliated Network for Social Accountability Stakeholder Workshop
12 December 2006
HSRC - ANSA Africa
Venue: HSRC Conference Centre
Contact person: Craig Schwabe
Workshop Programme
- Opening and welcome
- Purpose of the workshop and agenda
- Introduction to ANSA-Africa
- Presentation and general discussion on social accountability
- Social accountability techniques and tools and the Tshwane citizen report card survey
- How ANSA-Africa fits into current initiatives such as APLI, APRM etc
- Afrimap as a Pan-African process designed to facilitate accountability
- Workshopping of social accountability issues in Africa and proposed approach for ANSA-Africa
- Discussion and finalisation of approach
- Closure
Workshop Documents
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