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HIGHLIGHTS |
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HIGHLIGHTS |
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G8/NEPAD
POLICY ACTION GROUP "MAPPING" PROJECT Introduction The G8/NEPAD Policy Action Group of the Commission on Globalisation was funded by the C. S. Mott Foundation and the IDRC to undertake a project in Africa. The objectives of the project are to promote the implementation of NEPAD, to engage civil society in so doing and to test the effectiveness of the technique of "mapping". This Project will "map" the decisions, the decision makers, and the steps necessary for implementation of a number of NEPAD related initiatives. The project was designed by State of the World Forum, the Centre for Global Studies at the University of Victoria, and the Center for Africa’s International Relations at the University of Witwatersrand, and convened its first gathering at a meeting hosted at the Rockefeller Foundation Conference facility in Bellagio in April, 2002. The Bellagio participants confirmed the imperative of co-sponsorship and leadership by Africans and African organizations. The necessity of African ownership of implementation has been underlined by the continuing strong criticism from civil society concerning the "top down" nature of NEPAD. Officials of the NEPAD Secretariat, the UN Economic Commission for Africa, the Canadian G8 team, and several donors have been made aware of the Project and indicated an interest in our approach and in the forthcoming results. We have developed an audience with representatives on the NEPAD implementation committee of two countries (Mauritius and Senegal) and at high levels in the French Government (the next G8 host). By ensuring awareness of officials from international organizations and governments from the beginning, we believe the project recommendations will be seriously entertained in a timely fashion. Selecting the Initiatives A group of 30 representatives (from 21 countries) from African universities, think tanks, civil society, and the business community, including the NEPAD Secretariat and UNECA, gathered in late September in Johannesburg. The group of 30 selected six initiatives to be mapped from amongst the long list of NEPAD initiatives endorsed in the G8 Action Plan for Africa, along with African individuals to do the "mapping". The initiatives and "mappers" are: 1. Identifying key arms brokers so as to assist in eliminating the flow of illicit weapons in Africa - Stanlake Samkange, Zimbabwe; 2. Energy "platforms" and the needs of women in rural villages - Fatima Denton, ENDA, Senegal; 3. Strengthening voters' rights education and reform in Eastern and Southern Africa - Babu Ayindo, Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation, Zambia; 4. Strengthening regional centers for conflict prevention and peace support -Martin Rupiya, University of Witwatersrand, and Gavin Cawthra, University of Mozambique; 5. Expansion of microfinance in West Africa - Didier Djoi, PlanetFinance Africa, Benin, with the support of Beshir El Hassan, President of the Bank of Mauritania; and 6. Gender sensitive AIDS prevention programming in three African countries - John Anarfi, University of Ghana, and Jacqui Ala, University of Witwatersrand. OECD Peer Review/ Mapping Techniques The next step was a workshop in October sponsored by the OECD Development Center. The "mappers" were briefed on peer review techniques by staff from a number of OECD directorates. Specialists from the International Development Research Centre and the private sector presented state of the art techniques on planning and "mapping" to effect and implement decisions. The "mappers" have had further coaching in November at sessions held in Mauritius and Johannesburg. They will spend the next two and a half months in composing their "maps" - their detailed strategic "business plans". Validation At a February 27-28 meeting in Addis, hosted by UNECA, the six draft "maps" will be reviewed by officials representing the G8, donors, the NEPAD Secretariat, the AU, and African government officials. The intent is to verify the research and the plan in each "map" and to authorize wider consultation with the large range of parties whose support is essential for implementation. Subsequent to the review in Addis, the intent is for the "maps" to be quickly revised and for the project team to get a first reaction to draft recommendations from the various authorities and organizations with mandates for implementation. (Our existing funding takes us to this point.) Incorporating these first reactions, the next step will be an outreach exercise designed and led by Africans. Outreach After our Addis meeting in late February, we envision 6 consultative exercises - each to review and revise one of the "maps". As well, IDRC has expressed interest in funding a series of grass roots focus groups - we will explore that aspect with them. The idea is to motivate those responsible for implementation to "own" and support the proposals "authorized and validated" (steps in the decision mapping process) in the Addis review in February. The consultation exercises would be held in March or early April. We have arranged for the efforts to be designed, directed and hosted as follows: 1. Femnet (Lynne
Muthoni -Wanyeki. Kenya) responsible for: 2. Africa University
(Vice Chancellor Rukudzo Murapa) in Zimbabwe responsible for: 3. Canada-Africa Businesswomen's Association (Aline Wong - Past President of the Association Femmes Chefs d'Entreprises Mauriciennes), responsible for: Micro-enterprise. 4. Center for
Africa's International Relations, University of Witwatersrand (John
Stremlau) responsible for: 5. ENDA - TM (Youba
Sokona, Senegal) responsible for: Conclusion The final revision of the maps will be presented to G8 officials for endorsement in time for the next Leaders' meeting in France. They will also be circulated to major donors. In addition, the maps will be promoted at the relevant African organizations and with officials of the relevant governments. We expect significant
support from the various civil society organizations that have been
involved in the project |
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