Vacancies at the State of the Union and Oxfam: Join us

The State of the Union coalition and Oxfam seeks to expand their capacity to hold global multi-lateral institutions and African States accountable to the claims of people living in poverty, suffering and injustice in the African countries we work in. We are looking to fill seven exciting vacancies based in Nairobi. Are you ready to act with poor people and their allies to make claims on the global and African policy processes? Are you committed to holding African States accountable to their own decisions within the African Union? We are looking for people like you to fill a total of seven positions. The first three positions will form the Nairobi based secretariat of newly established State of the Union coalition. The remaining four positions will be Oxfam staff working within the Pan Africa programme office in Nairobi, Kenya.

 Coalition Coordinator – State of the Union coalition - INT5148

We are looking for someone to direct a five year 15 country campaign by the State of the Union coalition. The campaign seeks to accelerate active citizenship, governance, the realization of the fundamental freedoms and human rights contained in various key AU policy standards and legal instruments. You will lead on this work within the coalition by coordinating continental strategy, head the secretariat, support the Coalition Governing Team and represent the coalition to external constituencies. In addition to a Masters degree, you will have over five years of demonstrated experience of advocacy and lobbying African Governments and African multi-lateral institutions, excellent leadership, management and communication skills including speaking and writing fluently in both English and French.

 Capacity-building Coordinator – State of the Union coalition - INT5149

We are looking for someone to design and implement strategies for capacity building of members to engage their Governments, establish national advocacy platforms and engage the public using digital and mass media. In addition to a first degree, you should have at least five years appropriate experience, informed knowledge of the capacity-building and training approaches, understanding of organisational development and campaigning and an ability to prioritize, plan, and organize work in a complex institutional setting and be fluent in English. Fluency in French is desirable.

Learning and Communications Officer – State of the Union coalition - INT5150

We are looking for someone to develop and coordinate a coherent monitoring, evaluation and learning system for country campaigns by the State of the Union coalition.  In addition to a first degree, you should have at least three years demonstrated experience in creating a learning environment, designing and coordinating adoption of MEL instruments,  training and coaching  organisations to adopting and managing effective planning, monitoring and evaluation processes and be fluent in English. Fluency in French is desirable.

 Programme Officer - INT5152

We are looking for someone to manage and ensure delivery of State of the Union programme objectives, meet donor requirements, ensure effective programme learning, engage with external institutions for learning and influence, and to provide appropriate management advice to programme and coalition staff. In addition to a masers degree, you should have a minimum of 5 years experience of implementing advocacy programmes and demonstrated knowledge of the African Union and in implementing regional or continental wide programmes.

 Finance Officer - INT5153

We are looking for someone to oversee the financial aspects of the State of the Union programme, undertake capacity assessments of members receiving grants, ensure proper accountability and compliance to Oxfam grant management and funder requirements and draw up the consolidated budget for the State of the Union programme. The successful candidate will have a first degree in Finance Management, at least 5 years relevant work experience, knowledge of relevant IT, financial and administrative systems, fluency in English with French being desirable

 Pan Africa Policy Lead – Gender Justice - INT5151

A strategic leader and manager for our multi-country programme on gender justice, you will represent Oxfam within partner alliances formulate, organise and deliver high-level lobbying and advocacy. You will develop policy briefs and advocacy strategies at level of the African Union and manage relationships and financial resources contained in the Raising Her Voice Project in seven countries across Africa. The successful candidate will have at least a Masters degree; 5 years demonstrated experience of public policy advocacy, proven record of media, advocacy and communication experience in Africa and sound understanding of gender equality and women’s rights within Africa.

 Personal Assistant to the Director - INT 5154

We are looking for someone to manage high-level correspondence, work calendar and communications in the Office of the Director. The post-holder also supports the broader pan African programme team as a whole by coordinating internal planning and communications. The successful candidate will have at least one degree, at least two years in a similar position or at an assistant programme level, proven excellent organisational skills, an ability to remain calm, focused and organised and to deliver results on time within rapidly changing circumstances. In addition, the candidate will have excellent English with French being desirable.

Are you ready for a challenge? Submit your application letter and CV including your Skype and telephone contacts to:

 Regional Management Centre, Human Resources Officer

Oxfam P.O. Box 40680 - 00100, Nairobi

 Alternatively apply by email to sotujobs@oxfam.org.uk   Indicate which position you are interested in applying for in the subject line.  For a full job description and to apply online visit:  www.oxfam.org.uk/jobs.  Candidates are  encouraged  to apply online.

 The closing date for applications is the 8^th February 2012 Only short listed candidates will be contacted.

Interviews will be done in the week of 13^th February 2012

Oxfam is an equal opportunity employer.

 You are not required to pay any fees to apply for jobs at Oxfam. 

Please apply directly to the email address given.

OXFAM DOES NOT CONDUCT RECRUITMENTS THROUGH AGENTS.

Integrating AU standards in Kenyan policy-making after the constitution was passed: Interview with Yves Niyiragira, Fahamu

In 2012, the State of the Union coalition will powerfully hold Member States of the African Union accountable for the implementation of fourteen democracy, human rights and development African Union standards. The campaign will support Governments and citizens to understand and act to realize the freedoms and rights contained in the standards and legal instruments. At the beginning of the year, Pamela Inoti interviewed coalition leaders on their plans for doing so. For further information: www.stateoftheunionafrica.net

Yves Niyiragira is the Programme Officer, AU Monitor at Fahamu, a network for social justice organisation based in Nairobi, Kenya

Why did your organisation join the State of the Union coalition? 

We joined the State of the Union coalition to push for implementation of AU standards. We see it as an extension of our work on the AU, which started in 2004 with the campaign on the AU’s Protocol on the Rights of Women in Africa.

How far has your organisation reached in terms of establishing the conditions for your Government to ratify and implement key AU standards and decisions? 

Fahamu, together with a number of our partners, has contributed significantly towards the ratification of women’s Protocol. Kenya ratified the women’s Protocol as it was in line with the new constitution and it poses no political threat. We are working with other partners to push for the ratifications of the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. There is a lot more to be done towards Kenya ratifying the Democracy Charter.

What important trends and opportunities exist for the realisation of these standards and human rights instruments? 

The drafting of the new Kenyan Constitution provides the primary avenue to push for ratification of all AU human rights instruments. The debate of the type of democracy and human rights that is appropriate for Kenya means that no longer can this be seen as an idea imposed by the West.

What are you planning to do to make Governments more open towards domestication of the pending relevant treaties? 

We plan to raise awareness within the Government on what obligations that are contained in the AU Treaties and the importance of the Government to ratify and implement them. We also try to alleviate the fear that the Government associates with ratification by explaining that these instruments serve as guidelines or a citizen empowerment tool.

What are the two-three key challenges you are facing both internally and externally within the wider context that hinders your work? 

Externally, there is the unwillingness of the policy makers to listen to us. The Government also has changing priorities in response to the unfolding events on the political scene. Internally, Fahamu lacks capacity to push for the ratification and implementation of all the ten instruments.

By the end of 2012, what do you want to have achieved in this area? 

Firstly, we want to ensure a commitment from the Kenya Government towards the ratification of the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. Secondly, we want to ensure citizen awareness in what the Government has agreed to do and hold the Government accountable. We hope to encourage the Africa Division in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to upload on their website a list of AU instruments so that the citizens have easy access to that information. Thirdly, we seek to have more CSOs supporting us in the campaign.

To find out more about Fahamu’s work email: yves@fahamu.org or visit their website: www.fahamu.org, www.aumonitor.org, www.pambazuka.org

Why ratification of AU instruments in the wider region is more paramount than focusing on South Africa alone: Interview with Dr. Themba Mhlongo, Southern Africa Trust.

In 2012, the State of the Union coalition will powerfully hold Member States of the African Union accountable for the implementation of fourteen democracy, human rights and development African Union standards. The campaign will support Governments and citizens to understand and act to realize the freedoms and rights contained in the standards and legal instruments. At the beginning of the year, Pamela Inoti interviewed coalition leaders on their plans for doing so. For further information: www.stateoftheunionafrica.net

Dr. Themba Mhlongo, is the Head of Programmes at Southern Africa Trust, an organization that influences policies to end poverty. It is based in Midrand, South Africa.

Why did your organisation join the State of the Union coalition?

We joined SOTU for two reasons: Firstly, SOTU takes issues of Government accountability seriously. As a Civil Society Organization (CSO), we can pressure the Government and demand accountability on behalf of the citizens. Secondly, it is about regional integration, a project that is dear to our organization.

How far has your organisation reached in terms of establishing the conditions for your Government to ratify and implement key AU standards and decisions?

We have developed and implemented a partner project. The approach of our organization is to emphasize on the establishment of a national platform to push the agenda forward. Bringing all stakeholders is crucial to achieve that goal.

What important trends and opportunities exist for the realisation of these standards and human rights instruments?

As a Trust, we have realized that focusing on South Africa alone is futile. However, through the avenue of regional integration, we can use South Africa to reach out to the rest of the region and emphasize on the important of the AU Charters and how they affect the daily lives of the citizens.

What are you planning to do to make Governments more open towards domestication of the pending relevant treaties?

As a CSO we need to get the facts right. We need to do research on why ratification of some treaties is still pending and come up with innovative proposals to drive domestication. CSOs need to know the “pressure points” on relevant treaties and have someone in an organization to own the process and drive it forward.

What are the 2-3 key challenges you are facing both internally and externally within the wider context that hinders your work?

We face the challenge of long-term sustainable resources. Externally, we are faced with the challenge to bring on board a variety of players with different skills doing different things to focus on the same goal of pushing for implementation.

By the end of 2012, what do you want to have achieved in this area?

We hope to have mobilised a popular movement of all stakeholders and the citizenry focused around issues that affect their lives. In this way we will capture the attention of the Government and relate these issues to the Protocols.

To find out more about Southern Africa Trust’s work email: tmhlongo@southernafricatrust.org or visit their website: www.southernafricatrust.org

State of the Union Coalition Funding Design Workshop

   Workshop Report, Nairobi, Kenya, November 16-18, 2011

WORKSHOP PURPOSE AND PARTICIPATION

 The purpose of this workshop was to:

1. Build capacity for the SOTU coalition in the area of research methodology and campaigning around implementation of AU decisions.
2. Input and agree on the annual planning, reporting and budgeting templates that the coalition will utilize.
3. Plan for the multi-country launch of the coalition towards January 2012 and the coalition intervention in the January 20102 AU Summit.

The workshop was a follow up from the one that took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in April 2011. In the Addis workshop, the coalition agreed on elements of strategic plan (2011-2015) and proposal to SIDA and DFID, consulted with the AU Commission and Addis based funding partners in Addis on partnerships and additional financial resources and agreed on a MoU and Funding Policy for the coalition. Since April, coalition partners and implementing organizations have received bridging funding to work on their campaigns. By the end of November, it is expected that contracts will be signed with the funding agencies and implementing coalition members respectively with a view to launching the campaigns in January.

The SOTU coalition Governing Team coordinated the preparation leading up to and during the workshop.  The workshop was self resourced and facilitated. As the contracts with SIDA and DFID have not been finalized, Oxfam met the cost of the workshop. Twenty participants attended the workshop and various meetings. There were representatives from each member of the coalition, three resource persons who are experts on campaigns and mobilization, research and publication, and SIDA (see appendix 4).

MAPPING THE CONTEXT FOR THE CAMPAIGN IN 2012

Welcome and workshop briefing

Paula Monjane welcomed the participants and briefed them on the purpose of the workshop. She noted that the next three days would involve discussions centred on country reviews, strategic planning and strengthening research methodology, capacity-building and platform consultations and the funding design mechanisms.

Country review and strategic planning

Rwanda has witnessed positive strides towards domestication of four selected charters by the government following the Kampala summit after which the government offered support for CLADHO by bringing on board Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, CLADHO and other civil society organizations (CSOs), in a forum referred to as the consortium. The selected charters are African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; African Charter on Agriculture; African Charter on Women; African Charter on the Youth. The charters were simplified into the local language for clarity and easy readability.

CLADHO conducted capacity building for other CSOs, and trained thirty lawyers as trainers of trainers (ToTs) to simplify the legal charters and educate other stakeholders on the importance of the AU instruments to the welfare of the citizens. To reach out to the masses, a radio program was utilized. Seemingly, bringing the government on board was a sure way of opening hitherto vital closed spaces at the national level towards implementation of the AU protocols.

South Africa chose not to focus on specific protocols, but look at the region as a whole. They also mapped reasons as to why some protocols are prioritized in domestication by lobbying the parliamentarians and relevant ministries. The country’s focus is on regional integration and found it important to give equal attention to other countries in the region by engaging pan African parliament, regional house speakers and Ministries of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The media is being utilized to get private business informed and involved. A multi-sector approach is planned to build a popular movement involving CSOs, private businesses, the church council and the citizens to engage and pressure the government in ratifying and domesticating the protocols.

Mozambique focused on three areas that bore fruit. The Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance was ratified. CESC held meetings with parliament and MFA to seek more collaboration with SOTU and build mechanisms to coordinate and follow up on implementation of AU instruments. They are engaging the public through the media to popularize the AU protocols. Plans are underway to hold a workshop early next year to with like-minded groups to discuss AU charters. This will also help to build discussions on harmonizing the organizations and form a platform.

The Nigeria update was shared by skype call. Having gone through a recent election, they focused on using the election momentum to popularize AU charters and ensure issue-based politics by holding round-table sessions. The discussions drew on the importance of protocol ratification in addressing the challenges of governance and positively impacting the lives of citizens. Institutions of higher learning, especially the international relations departments were engaged through holding sessions that seek to draw attention to the gaps on the government’s failure at ratifying key charters and get graduate students in researching on such issues. The forums have generated interest amongst various stakeholders and the government, especially the charter on democracy, elections and governance. The media was involved as a way of generating public attention. It is hoped that the change of government will bring about positive reaction towards AU issues.

The Senegal update was also shared by skype call. They focused on two protocols, the Charter on Elections, Democracy and Governance, and the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, as a mechanism to access justice. The country and the rest of the region is gearing up for elections next year, hence the importance of the elections, democracy and governance charter. They organized round-table discussions involving the citizens, government, academia, and the media. Also engaged history teachers to discuss the two protocols and encourage them to establish university clubs to sensitize the youth on AU charters. Plans are underway to run a media campaign in partnership with Oxfam Novib and RADDHO to mobilize support on the two charters because of the forthcoming election.

Kenya focused on two protocols that are in line with FAHAMU’s work. These are the Charter on Elections, Democracy and Governance, and the Protocol on Women’s Rights. Attention was directed towards empowering citizens, other organizations and policy makers. Engaging with the policy makers has not been very successful citing lack of coordination among ministries involved. There is an upcoming meeting with other CS partners to engage on the work of SOTU and see how the members can support and learn from each other.

Overall, with regard to citizen awareness of the AU charters, there is need to focus more on this area as public forums have shown that most people are not informed about the charters and how they influence their daily lives. An informed an engaged citizenry is the only way citizens can be able to hold their governments responsible. Participants agreed on the need to focus on elections as an opportunity for a country to talk about issues of governance. It also emerged that some countries are reluctant to ratify some protocols because their own protocols have a higher standard.

It was decided that where national laws demand a higher standards than those of the regional bodies, signing them becomes a sign of commitment and good will from the state. It also emerged that there is need to get the attention of policy makers by finding a bridge on the momentum that is in line with the AU charters. Flexibility at the country level is crucial in pursuit of the protocol ratification and/or implementation, but members should not loose substance of the SOTU focus. There was consensus that implementation of AU instruments requires resources through allocation of the national budget by the government, and the essence of the campaign is to demand that accountability.

Country planning and budgeting tools

Discussion on the business case

The DFID program titled ‘Africa Regional Program for Improved Empowerment and Accountability in Africa’ will fund SOTU to the tune of 4million Euros. Following deliberations from participants, the feedback on the proposal in areas that needed clarity and restructuring was as follows: Impact indicator too ambitious; risk assessment column needed; outcome: output 2 is not clear on which values, norms and rules; milestones: who/which country is contributing how much to which milestone; impact level indictors are too high and ought to be scaled down; which are the countries that the impact level analysis will focus on; outcome indicator 3 not fully clear, suggestion to break it up in 2 (a, b), or taking away “additional”.

Donor funding opportunities

UNIDEF application deadline: 31.12.2011.  Max $500,000 per proposal up to 2 years. Proposals are to be submitted online. It funds an array of activities to empower citizens through democratic dialogue and foster relations between state and non-state actors. Previous successful applicants have been African network CSOs, not much Oxfam or other international organizations. All countries are eligible. Interested countries advised to apply independently.

Oxfam will assist in offering country specific targets to ensure proposals reflect a regional perspective. Oxfam will also review proposals to avoid replications and ensure consistency with funding requirements by December 15, 2011.

EC funding is a global call. Concept note submission deadline is 1^st February, 2012. Max 4 million Euros per proposal. Targets to fund networks of CSOs. There was consensus on the need to submit an application whereby Oxfam GB will apply on behalf of SOTU because if the grant is won, it can finance the 2011-2015 budget deficits. The only setback expressed by participants is the struggle to manage three grants. 

Capacity-building and platform consultations

2011 continental overview

The presentation highlighted the emerging issues, trends and opportunities ahead in readiness for 2012 AU Summit(s), with both summits’ theme on Intra-Africa Trade. It included a reflection of the popular revolution in North Africa, and the void in terms of a visionary as a result of the fall and demise of Gaddafi. There is increasing momentum around AU involvement in PCRD which may have implications for the countries involved towards embracing AU charters. With 2012 being the year of shared values, it elicited a discussion on the concrete actions that will facilitate the establishment of a common understanding and identity amongst Africans in order to consolidate and implement shared values of the AU. The possibility of SOTU instituting a new AU audit was raised. It was reported that the post-Bamako follow up meeting held in October in Freetown was on operationalizing Bamako recommendation towards a compliance framework to be drafted by January 2012. Members evaluated the role that AU liaison officers can play in increasing the presence of AU at the country level in non-SOTU member states and their role in championing the compliance question at both sub-regional and regional level.

There was a discussion on where the SOTU secretariat that is soon to be recruited will be based. The debate was between Nairobi and Addis Ababa or a hybrid of the two cities. The pros and the cons of each location were floated, but the decision was not finalized, pending further consultations.

Strengthening evidence based research

Irungu Houghton presented on pre-summit ideas in readiness for January by looking at the summit as an opportunity to boldly frame the shared values. A question was raised on the degree of SOTU involvement with the AUC in relation to the shared values discussion in readiness for the 2012 summit. With regards to that concern, he suggested four broad themes in relation to the fifteen AU instruments to be decided on as shared values, namely: rights of citizens to participate in government; economic rights, social rights; freedom from discrimination and violence. The question was on how to translate and define the values into common terms that the citizens can embrace and identify with. Values such as justice, freedom, participation, accountability, integrity, solidarity, identity (inclusion), power, choice, and committed engagement were floated around, though no concrete number was decided on. SOTU would liaise with AU office in Addis to find out the AU focal values and decide on the ‘shared values’ in relation to that.

Firoze Manji, by skype videoconference, offered very good suggestions regarding the content of country reports. He shared his views that country reports lack touch with ordinary citizens and are not anchored on public mobilization. The reports lack the perception of the public, which is an important and a critical component. The problem lies not in writing the report, but framing of the content. The quality of the reports is weak in terms of analysis and lacks different perspectives on the citizen’s view on various aspects of the AU charters and their influence in their lives. He added that it is vital for the country reports to have the correct target audience. This is the only way they will provoke public debates on issues by asking the question why and invoke change and compliance by the government.

The two presentations initiated a number of discussions. Participants wanted to know how to capture peoples’ interest so as to drive debate. They also sought to know how to include various voices/perspectives on the issues affecting the people in the country reports. As such, it was agreed that the target audience needs to be clarified in order to know what feeds into a report, if it is either figures or various perspectives. Some participants inquired if it would be viable to have separate reports, one targeting governments and donors and the other one targeting the citizenry. Another suggestion was to commission small documentaries in relation to AU charters and run them through the media. Since shortness and clarity of the information contained in a report is important, Firoze was suggested that journalists would produce a better report than researchers for effective communication with the public. Firoze also proposed to run a course on effective writing skills to the members.

Strengthening citizen mobilization and popular campaigns

Valarie Traore proposed a mobilization strategy using a soccer game to popularize AU charters and SOTU in the continent by recruiting coaches, players and referees from various countries in Africa, (but will include a player each from the nine countries with SOTU coalition presence). The team selected will link the issues with the campaign context of mobilizing citizen support on AU matters. Since soccer is the most popular game on the continent that is understood across social, age and geographic divide, then it becomes a good channel to craft a common identity and successfully push the message athwart. On that note, it was suggested that Valarie source the report on the use of soccer during 2010 world cup to spread the message of peace and unity in Africa and its subsequent success and failures to get the message across. However, Valarie acknowledged that the process of promoting action is incremental, and there is the risk that the conversation may stagnate at the level of the game if players are not sufficiently informed and inspired on what role they are playing in the campaign. Nevertheless, it was noted as a good idea worth embracing.

Following on, John Kipchumba presented on the experience of INFONET with the web-based platform HUDUMA that serves as a link to connect the citizens with service providers and parliamentarians. He stressed his view that technology can be used as a tool that channels concerns, complaints, and suggestions to the relevant bodies and provides a direct feedback, thus ensuring accountability. When citizens are involved in holding their governments accountable, it gives the incentive to expect more from providers. For this to happen, he emphasized on partnerships with various stakeholders as a requisite for the cycle to effectively work. In addition, documenting results through evidence of change can positively impact ratification and implementation of AU protocols because people are informed of the value they add to their lives. John will develop an AU dashboard for citizens to respond to specific issues in regards to the AU charters, capture their views and facilitate dialogue.

Platform consultations with pan African partners on areas of continental collaboration

(See appendix 1)

Establishing national platforms

The creation of platforms at national level was discussed. Irungu Houghton, Themba Mhlongo and Douglas Qwerty were tasked to discuss the process of creating platforms at the national level. The discussion emerged that most of the CSOs are largely unaware of the AU instruments, and are too disparate and weak with few opportunities to learn from each other. SOTU, with its institutional convening capacity, envisions that the creation of national platforms will empower the CSO to carry out their vision. The platforms will be broad based (sectoral and group interest), and are expected to demand/act/support organizational culture in reference to AU. In the ten envisaged organizations, it will include at least one female organization.

The threat of SOTU taking up the space of CSOs was raised as a potential risk. To counter the challenge of choosing one organization over another, it was suggested that country contest be held where CSO apply for membership, and also keep the numbers small at the beginning. It was agreed that the implementing agency (that gets the grant) to serve as the secretariat of the alliance for the purpose and period of the duration. It was cautioned that the implementing organization see the role as an additional task that calls for an extra person tasked to do the job. Thus, it was suggested to set aside a budget for that person.

Funding design mechanisms

Reflections on SIDA and DFID requirements

The members discussed on the two reporting options offered by both donors in the 2011-2015 cycles. They agreed on option two that is the harmonized reporting. This option entails that the reporting cycles and requirements by both funders are harmonized so as to streamline the work of the coalition and partners in submitting donor reports. Contracts will be ready in late November. Oxfam negotiated for the option to have funds disbursed, spent and then accounted for periodically instead of the other way around.

Agreement on draft 2012 timeline

The actions required at both the country and continental level from November 2011 to April 2013 was agreed upon by the members (See appendix 4).

Communiqué adoption

Having come to the end of the workshop, participants considered and adopted a communiqué and the workshop was formally closed (See appendix 3).

Appendix 1: Platform Consultations with Pan African Partners on Areas of                            Continental Collaboration

At this point were consultations with several pan African partners. Present were representatives from Africa Tax Justice Network, Africa Network Campaign on Education for All, UN Millennium Campaign, Centre for Citizens Participation in the African Union, Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition, African Women’s Development and Communications Network, and Pan African Climate Justice Network.

Participants deliberated on the growing concern caused by the non-implementation (domestication) of instruments at country levels. The commonality amongst the coalition members and partners is in pursuit of implementation of AU charters and calling for accountability from the governments. They also seek to empower the citizenry through information on their role to hold the government accountable. On that note, the 2011-2015 campaign aims to work towards the ratification and implementation of the fifteen AU protocols.

Two propositions were floated around: The first proposition is the creation a platform of multi-organizations. This will entail compliance reports covering commitments of intent; outcome (what process); enjoyment (what points people’s lives are positively changing). The coalition and partners will be able to critique the compliance report on areas that concern each of them. The second proposition is the leadership project that will steer the process of getting involved in the choice of candidates at the 2012 Summit. Doing this does not mean that the coalition and partners are taking sides. It will gauge the candidate’s stand on issues to ensure that aspirants up for election at the summit meet the criteria that will goad the SOTU work. Aspirants are also expected to be mindful of ensuring that governments heed the necessity of ratifying and implementing the AU instruments. It was agreed that the compliance reports would be co-published with SOTU and the partners. It was clarified that co-publishing the report will only co-brand the report and not the coalition.

The two propositions initiated in-depth discussion. On proposition one; there was the question of the challenge to establish national and pan-African platform due to putting into perspective different government approach and the uniqueness of CSOs at country level. On that note, it was emphasized on the need to have conversations on what every member seeks to achieve at the country level. Establishing the platform will also be made easier because of the commonality of the vision and focus of partners and coalitions. As a platform, they enjoy the strength of numbers calling for the same thing to capture the government’s attention. The members welcomed the idea, but called for lucidity on how structures of expansion and the ensuing relationship between the partners. Participants that proposed to support proposition one are: Africa Tax Justice Network, SOAWR, ANCEFA, and UN Millennium Campaign.

The second proposition raised concern on the need to strike a balance between member states and AU in equal measure. It was suggested to depersonalize the process by employing a country analysis in lieu of personal analysis to avoid hurting the work of SOTU in post-election engagement with the candidates. There is also the need to identify and target key influential partners in the AU and lobby them to influence decisions. On the question of what posts to lobby for, it was agreed that all positions are critical depending on the focus of the organization one works with. It was agreed to get the most leverage positions and ensure good representation in that area by engaging candidates on a platform then follow up once elected. Whichever way it is applied, it was emphasized on the need to embed a public conversation around the process. To avoid allegations of bias on one country, an international media house such as BBC or Aljazeera would be used to conduct the candidate interview. Participants that proposed to support proposition one are: Africa Tax Justice Network, SOAWR (will be represented by Yves Niyiragira- FAHAMU), ANCEFA, CCP-AU and FEMNET.  A committee to steer the leadership project forward and establish the requirement guidelines will consist of Irungu Houghton (Oxfam), Naisola Likimani (FEMNET), Janah Ncube (CCP-AU), and Yves Niyiragira (FAHAMU).

Appendix 2: Workshop Evaluation

1. What went well

• High level of participation and the depth of discussion
• Clear ideas of future plans and presentation of progress reports
• Input from resource persons and partner organizations very crucial
• Firoze’s engagement was very important and provided valuable points for consideration

1. What did not go well and why

• Logistical reasons (invitation letters and visas) that caused the failure of some countries to miss workshop attendance
• Some issues lacked clarity and closure
• Country updates ought to be more structured

1. What to improve on and how

• An advance comprehensive agenda briefing and a list of key decisions to be reached to enable internal discussions
• Possible hiring of facilitators
• Clear action on what members ought to do after the meeting
• Plan for the face-to-face meeting way ahead to give members ample time to prepare for logistic purposes so that as many SOTU members can be present
• Give Suggestion that late November and December not good for meetings
• Suggestion to ensure that the two languages, English and French, are used in the meetings

Appendix 3: Workshop Communiqué

                                State of the Union Coalition Communiqué

Meeting in Nairobi, members of the State of the Union (SOTU) coalition reviewed the progress of our advocacy around the implementation of AU decisions, received coaching and counsel from NIYEL, Huduma and Pambazuka Press on designing the future continental campaign, agreed on the research, public service monitoring and popular mobilisation strategy for 2012, consulted on collaboration with seven other Pan African coalitions and membership associations and discussed management arrangements for imminent funding by SIDA and DFID.

Guided by the objectives and principles enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the AU which call for a people driven mandate;

Seeking to entrench in the continent a political culture of citizen empowerment through the institutionalization of transparency, accountability and participatory democracy;

Still inspired by the AU’s Executive Council Decisions 566, 568, and 572 which collectively call on Member States to ensure the speedy signature, ratification, and implementation of outstanding instruments; request AU organs, RECs, and civil society to assist in advocacy and sensitization efforts to expedite this process; and necessitate regular reporting by the AU Commission on implementation of these decisions;

Cognizant of the April workshop in Addis Ababa that called for member coordination, outreach and integration of community mobilization in lobbying;

Consequently, we the members of the State of the Union coalition,

Acknowledge the recent actions being taken in Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal and elsewhere by members to press for ratification, popularisation and implementation of AU instruments and urge that this momentum must accelerate;

Very warming welcome the progress of negotiations with DFID and SIDA to partner on the 2011-2015 Strategy and commit to pursue funding invitations by the European Commission and UN Democracy Fund to finance the shortfall;

Reaffirm to continue seeking new, creative and powerful ways to engage their respective Government, citizens and various stakeholders to expedite the ratification/ and or domestication of AU instruments at the national level;

Agree on the main elements of a popular continental campaign (policy research, public service monitoring and feed-back and public mobilisation) and time-line that will deliver civic empowerment and public dialogues between citizens, their Governments and the AU over 2012;

Commit to strengthen country reports to include the perspectives of ordinary citizens and debates and actions with regards to ratification and implementation of AU instruments;

Commit to undertake partner assessments and disburse funding to country implementation partners before the launch the campaign at the January AU Summit;

Further, we commit to establish the campaign secretariat by March 2012;

 

We very warmly welcome the dialogue and agreement reached to work with seven Pan African coalitions and associations namely The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights, Centre for Citizen’s Participation in the African Union, Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance, African Tax Justice Network, Africa Network Campaign on Education for All and the UN Millennium Campaign to co-publish the 2012 State of the African Union continental report at the July AU Summit and to explore collaboration among our national members and lastly;

We declare our intention with these Pan African coalitions and associations to cause a public discussion around the criteria for selecting candidates for the African Union Commission during the January 2012 AU Summit;

November 18, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya

Centro de Aprendizagem e Capacitacao da Sociedade Civil (CESC), Mozambique;
FAHAMU, Kenya;
Le Collectif des Ligues et Associations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme au (CLADHO); Rwanda;
Oxfam;
Southern Africa Trust, South Africa;
The Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Ghana;

www.stateoftheunionafrica.net

Appendix 4: SOTU Continental Level Timeline

Appendix 5: List of Participants

Kenya:             FAHAMU, Yves Niyiragira, yves@fahamu.org, Cell: +254 735 676662

Mozambique: Centro de Aprendizagem e Capacitação da Sociedade Civil, Paula                          Monjane, pmonjane@cescmoz.org, Cell: +258 82 326 1800

South Africa: Southern Africa Trust, Dr. Themba Mhlongo, Head of Programmes,                        tmhlongo@southernafricatrust.org, Cell: +27 73 342 9490

Rwanda:          Le Collectif des Ligues et Associations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme au, Jean Pierre

                        Le Collectif des Ligues et Associations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme au, Alexis Nkurunziza, nkuruflor@gmail.com,

                        Cell: +250 788 863 546

Ghana:             The Institute of Democratic Governance, Douglas Quartey (17^th – 18^th),                           dquartey@ideg.org,

Sénégal:           La Rencontre Africaine pour la Défense des Droits de lHomme                              (RADDHO),             Aboubacry Mbodji (by skype videoconference)

Nigeria:           Centre for Advanced Social Science, Dr Sofiri Peterside (by                                     skype videoconference), sofiri_004@yahoo.co.uk,

Oxfam:            Pan Africa Programme, Nairobi, Irungu Houghton                                                    irunguh@oxfam.org.uk, Cell: +254 733-635-354,

Resource-persons:                

Valerie Traore, NIYEL, vtraore@niyel.net,

John Kipchumba, Huduma, kipp@sodnet.org, +254 723 310365

Firoze Manji, Editor, Pambazuka Books (by skype videoconference), firoze@fahamu.org

Oxfam Pan Africa Programme, Hague, Brigitte Obertop, Brigitte.Obertop@oxfamnovib.nl,

Oxfam Pan Africa Programme, Nairobi, Anouk Rutten, Anouk.Rutten@oxfamnovib.or.ke,

Oxfam Pan Africa Programme, Addis, Semiha Abdul-melik, Semiha.Abdulmelik@oxfaminternational.org,

Oxfam, Cynan Houghton, Nairobi, choughton@oxfam.org.uk,

Pan African Partners Dialogue (November 17 afternoon):

Alvin Mosioma, Coordinator, Africa Tax Justice Network, africa@taxjustice.net, Cell: +254 722 571 614

Vera Mshana, Advocacy Officer, Africa Tax Justice Network, vera.mshana@taxjustice.net, Cell: +254 728 279 368

Limbani Nsapato, Policy & Advocacy Manager, Africa Network Campaign on Education for All, limbani@ancefa.org, Cell: +260 9 77 511 250

Mwaura Kaara, Representative, UN Millennium Campaign mwaura.kaara@gmail.com, +254 720 895 354

Janah Ncube, Director, Centre for Citizens Participation in the African Union, janah.ncube@ccpau.org, Cell: +254 702 622 922

Eve Odete, Secretariat Coordinator, Solidarity for African Women’s Rights Coalition, eveodete@yahoo.co.uk, +254 722 661 728

Naisola Likimani, Advocacy Officer, African Women’s Development and Communications Network, advocacy@femnet.or.ke,

Mithika Mwenda, Coordinator, Pan African Climate Justice Network, mwemithika@yahoo.com, Cell: +254 724 403 555

Nairobi Workshop, November 16-18, 2011

State of the Union Coalition Communiqué

Meeting in Nairobi, members of the State of the Union (SOTU) coalition reviewed the progress of our advocacy around the implementation of AU decisions, received coaching and counsel from NIYEL, Huduma and Pambazuka Press on designing the future continental campaign, agreed on the research, public service monitoring and popular mobilisation strategy for 2012, consulted on collaboration with seven other Pan African coalitions and membership associations and discussed management arrangements for imminent funding by SIDA and DFiD.

Guided by the objectives and principles enshrined in the Constitutive Act of the AU which call for a people driven mandate;

Seeking to entrench in the continent a political culture of citizen empowerment through the institutionalization of transparency, accountability and participatory democracy;

Still inspired by the AU’s Executive Council Decisions 566, 568, and 572 which collectively call on Member States to ensure the speedy signature, ratification, and implementation of outstanding instruments; request AU organs, RECs, and civil society to assist in advocacy and sensitization efforts to expedite this process; and necessitate regular reporting by the AU Commission on implementation of these decisions;

Cognizant of the April workshop in Addis Ababa that called for member coordination, outreach and integration of community mobilization in lobbying;

Consequently, we the members of the State of the Union coalition,

Acknowledge the recent actions being taken in Kenya, Rwanda, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria and Senegal and elsewhere by members to press for ratification, popularisation and implementation of AU instruments and urge that this momentum must accelerate;

Very warming welcome the progress of negotiations with DFiD and SIDA to partner on the 2011-2015 Strategy and commit to pursue funding invitations by the European Commission and UN Democracy Fund to finance the shortfall;

Reaffirm to continue seeking new, creative and powerful ways to engage their respective Government, citizens and various stakeholders to expedite the ratification/ and or domestication of AU instruments at the national level;

Agree on the main elements of a popular continental campaign (policy research, public service monitoring and feed-back and public mobilisation) and time-line that will deliver civic empowerment and public dialogues between citizens, their Governments and the AU over 2012;

Commit to strengthen country reports to include the perspectives of ordinary citizens and debates and actions with regards to ratification and implementation of AU instruments;

Commit to undertake partner assessments and disburse funding to country implementation partners before the launch the campaign at the January AU Summit;

Further, we commit to establish the campaign secretariat by March 2012;

 

We very warmly welcome the dialogue and agreement reached to work with seven Pan African coalitions and associations namely The Solidarity for African Women’s Rights, Centre for Citizen’s Participation in the African Union, Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance, African Tax Justice Network, Africa Network Campaign on Education for All and the UN Millennium Campaign to co-publish the 2012 State of the African Union continental report at the July AU Summit and to explore collaboration among our national members and lastly;

We declare our intention with these Pan African coalitions and associations to cause a public discussion around the criteria for selecting candidates for the African Union Commission during the January 2012 AU Summit;

November 18, 2011, Nairobi, Kenya

Centro de Aprendizagem e Capacitacao da Sociedade Civil (CESC), Mozambique;
FAHAMU, Kenya;
Le Collectif des Ligues et Associations de Défense des Droits de l’Homme au (CLADHO); Rwanda;
Oxfam;
Southern Africa Trust, South Africa;
The Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Ghana;

www.stateoftheunionafrica.net

Enabling and Supporting African Citizen’s Participation in Policy Development, Implementation and Monitoring within the African Union

This call for proposal is part of a wider initiative within the State of The Union (SOTU) campaign to track and engage Governments and the African Union on the performance of African Governments against key democratic governance, economic and social rights and civil and political rights policy standards and instruments.  The campaign aims at accelerate significant progress in national level implementation of AU decisions in fifteen countries and to empower community and citizens participation in the affairs of the African Union.

Call for Proposal Terms of Reference – English

Call for Proposal Terms of Reference – French