【Advocacy】
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January.14.2007
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■□ Concept Paper For a “Civic Commission for Africa”
looking towards the 2008 TICAD & G8 Summit in Japan
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1. Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 1
2. “Who are we?” -
about TICAD Civil Society Forum (TCSF).................................................... 2
3. Great
opportunity in Japan 2008 – TICAD IV & G8 Summit................................................... 2
4. Our Activities
for 2008: “Africa 2008 Campaign”, “Civic Commission for Africa” &
“Japan-Africa Solidarity Fund” 3
5. Background of
Concept of “Civic Commission for Africa”: Learning from 2005............... 3
6. Aim of “Civic
Commission for Africa (C-CfA)”......................................................................... 4
7. Detailed
Proposals on “Civic Commission for Africa (C-CfA)”.............................................. 4
8. Tentative
Schedule for Realisation................................................................................................. 5
9. Finance................................................................................................................................................. 6
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| 1. Introduction |
This concept paper attempts to share our idea of a “Civic Commission for
Africa (C-CfA)” in collaboration with African Civil Society Organizations
and those who are interested in supporting African civil society in order
to play a central role in African Development.
TICAD Civil Society (TCSF), a Japanese non-governmental organization that was established to bring the voice of African civil society to the international conference on African development (Tokyo International Conference on African Development: TICAD) that has been held every 5 years in Tokyo.
As we shall explain in details later, 2008 will be an important year for the relationship between Japan and Africa since both the 4th TICAD (planed in April) and G8 Summit (in July) are going to be held in Japan in the same year. It is very important for NGOs who have been working in the field of advocacy to grasp this momentum and utilize this occasion for achieving an international commitment to Africa.
The “Civic Commission for Africa” is a mechanism for bringing the voice of African civil society organizations more effectively into the international arena that will be formed in Japan towards the end of 2008. We would like to hear your impressions of and suggestions regarding this concept paper. We are truly interested in partnership. Moreover, we are looking for an organization that can run the secretariat of this commission and for sponsors.
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| 2. “Who are we?” - about TICAD Civil Society Forum (TCSF) |
The TICAD Civil Society Forum (TCSF) was established in June, 2004 in order to contribute to the achievement of effective development based on equity by and for the African people by making Japan’s aid policies and systems more people centered. Its preparatory organization was formed by the Japanese, Asian and African representatives of the civil society, during the third TICAD (*Tokyo International Conference on African Development) held in 2003.
TCSF has provided an opportunity to exchange views among various people
from Japan, Africa and other countries who are interested in Japan’s policies
and achievements in the area of African development.. At the same time,
TCSF and African partner NGOs from Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Malawi and
Mali have reviewed Japan’s aid policies toward Africa while developing
a network of civil society organizations not only in Japan but also in
African and Asian countries. Through these activities, TCSF will continue
to propose recommendations in favour of more pro-poor/civic-oriented Japanese aid policies on Africa.
Since its inception in 2004, TCSF has carried out the activities listed in the footnote, and has been receiving positive recognition by civil society organizations and governments/governmental organizations in Japan and Africa and also international organizations;
・ Publication of the “Citizen’s White Paper 2005 – Overcoming Poverty
and Inequality”(1) ,
・ Partnership Seminar in Mozambique (2005), in Ethiopia (2006), and in
Malawi (2007) (2) ,
・ International Symposiums in Tokyo (3).
(1)The White Paper describes trends in donor assistance, analysis of Japanese aid performance and evaluation by African NGOs.
(2)It aimed to build sufficient network with civil societies in Africa. TCSF exchanged views and discussed with civil societies toward the progress on Japanese aid.
(3)TCSF held various international symposiums in Tokyo such as “Can Japan’s Aid Save the World Poverty?” (May 27, 2006), “Study Session on Aid to Africa with DFID Tanzania Representative (July 17, 2006), “Learning from 2005, Looking Towards 2008: Government and Civil Society Working Together on Development Policy and Poverty Reduction” (October 14, 2006) & “Rethinking Poverty – Learning from African NGOs” (December 10, 2006).
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| 3. Great opportunity in Japan 2008 – TICAD IV & G8 Summit |
It is not only the 4th TICAD (April or May of 2008) that will be held in
Japan in 2008, but also the G8 Summit (which will follow in July 2008).
TCSF is actively lobbying/advocating vis-à-vis government decision-makers
in Japan to make “African Issues” one of the central themes of the 2008
G8 Summit. For those who have been advocating African related issue in
Japan, this is a great opportunity to focus government and public attention
on Africa in Japan. Also, due to the fact that TICAD IV will be held a
few months before the G8 Summit, we have a great opportunity to focus international
attention on Africa at the beginning of 2008.
Thus, TCSF intends to lead the creation of an “International & Internal
Arena for Africa in 2008” as a Japanese NGO that has been working for the
African people.
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| 4. Our Activities for 2008: “Africa 2008 Campaign”, “Civic Commission for Africa” & “Japan-Africa Solidarity Fund” |
In order to maximize this great opportunity in an effective manner, we
are currently preparing for the following activities:
(1) Creating an “Africa 2008 Campaign” which mobilizes mass support for assistance to Africa in Japan
This includes partnership with such key actors as:
(a) African Diplomatic Corps in Tokyo;
(b) International organizations (esp. UN organizations) in Tokyo;
(c) Japanese Civil Society Organizations and Community -Based Organizations;
(d) Japanese and Foreign Media;
(e) Schools;
(f) Companies.
This is expected to be useful tool for mobilizing Japanese politicians.
(2) Supporting the establishment of a “Civic Commission for Africa (C-CfA)”, and bring their voice to the international arena created in Japan in 2008
(a) establishing a “Civic Commission for Africa” (membership will be
determined later);
(b) inviting its Steering Committee to Japan in August 2007 to consolidate
mutual efforts;
(c) supporting them to become formal members of TICAD IV;
(d) bringing their voice to the international arena in 2008
(3) Creating “Japan-Africa Solidarity Fund (JASF)” to increase and improve Japan’s ODA (*Its details are currently under discussion.)
(a) African and Japanese CSOs to join African and Japanese Gov. to manage
this fund;
(b) 40% of the fund should be allocated to African and Japanese CSOs;
(c) African and Japanese CSOs monitor the all activities funded by this
fund.
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| 5. Background to the Concept of a “Civic Commission for Africa”: Learning
from 2005 |
The UK’s initiative for making African issues a central global issue in
2005 was very positive and carried out on a scale that history has never
seen. The level of new debt cancellation was massive and there has been
a strong hope that such debt cancellation will benefit the poorest of the
poor in the African continent.
On the other hand, there is a contrary view which claims that the UK’s initiative in 2005 did not sufficiently capture the ordinary African citizen’s voices due to the nature of its focuses and emphasis. The members of the Commission for Africa, which was the British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s initiative, were rather high dignitaries who were superb for discussing higher political issues but not suitable for listening to ordinary people.
As a CSO in Japan, TCSF strongly feels that it is necessary to create a commission that represents citizens of Africa because we believe the poor need to be heard in order to make foreign aid more effective in realising poverty reduction in our lifetime. This idea was strongly endorsed at the symposium of “Learning from 2005, Looking Towards 2008: Government and Civil Society Working Together on Development Policy and Poverty Reduction” organized by the DFID/British Embassy in Japan, JICA and Japanese NGOs including TCSF on October 14 in Tokyo.
Therefore, having come to this conclusion, we have decided to carry out the above activities and to support creation of a “Civic Commission for Africa” for the African people by the African people.
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| 6. Aim of “Civic Commission for Africa (C-CfA)” |
The “Civic Commission for Africa (C-CfA)” is a tool for bringing the voices
of African Civil Society to the international arena created in Japan, toward
2008, in order to facilitate the advocacy efforts of the African Civil
Society vis-à-vis the international community.
Putting the African Civil Society in the centre of whole process during the international events related to African or Global agendas is crucial for meaningful discussion for eradicating poverty in Africa. The task of those in Japan is to facilitate an conducive environment for the realization of this goal.
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| 7. Detailed Proposals on “Civic Commission for Africa (C-CfA)” |
The international arena to be formed in 2008 in Japan will be related to
“development (TICAD is on African Development)” and “advocacy”. Thus, the
member s of CSOs and “C-CfA” should be experts in these fields, who can
represent the civil society of each country. In order to make the idea
African CSOs driven, the following procedures are proposed.
7.1. Setting up a Secretariat:
(1) Looking for an organization in Africa that has the will, funding,
human resources, experiences and related network to set up a secretariat
for “C-CfA”.
(2) TCSF staffs will visit the candidate organization in January during
the World Social Forum in 2007.
7.2. Membership & Steering Committee:
(1) Call for the civil society of each African country (54) to select
one organization that can be represented in the “C-CfA”. Technically, this
shall be carried out in the following manner.
Due to the limit s of the TCSF’s network, TCSF shall pass this information to
umbrella organizations of each countries NGOs;
organizations that organize civil society for PRSP Monitoring;
those organizations that have contact with TCSF.
(2) Call for the umbrella organizations of the following sectors in Africa
to choose the most suitable organizations:
Women/Gender
Disabled
HIV/Aids
Farmers
(3) All the member organizations must do their best to be legitimate national
or pan-African organizations that represent their civil society counterparts
by sharing information and consulting in decision making;
(4) Set up a Steering Committee consist of 10 member Organizations.
(5) Set up an e-mail based communication system.
7.3. Activities: “(intended) Voice of African Civil Society”
The Steering Committee and the secretariat will work closely with each other and with the TCSF, and will be responsible for realization of the following activities:
(1) Communication among member organizations;
(2) consulting their civil society counterparts for preparation of the proposal for “(the intended) Voice of African Civil Society”;
(3) finalising “(the intended) Voice of African Civil Society” by June
15, 2007,
(4) dispatching representatives of “C-CfA” to the 2007 G8 Summit in Germany
to introduce “(the intended) Voice of African Civil Society” ;
(5) finalizing the “Voice of African-Japan Civil Society” at a symposium in Tokyo (August 1 – 8, 2007);
(6) carrying out various advocacy activities in each country based on
the “Voice of African Civil Society”;
(7) consolidating advocacy efforts towards the 2008 TICAD IV & 2008
G8 Summit in Japan.
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| 8. Tentative Schedule for Realisation |
*There are preparatory regional meetings held in Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Africa before TICAD IV during 2007. This is a great opportunity for African NGOs belong to “Civic Commission for Africa” to gather.
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2006
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November- Dec. 10
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<TCSF>Receiving comments from various people on “Civic Commission
for Africa”
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Mid December
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<TCSF>
Sending info. to African and International NGOs
<TCSF>
Discussing the matter with German NGOs
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2007
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Jan. 21-24
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<TCSF & African NGOs> Presentation at World Social Forum in Nairobi
<TCSF & potential NGO for “Secretariat”> Discussion
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End January
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Setting up “Secretariat” in Africa
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Mid February
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<Secretariat>
Finalizing a list of member organizations for “C-CfA” & setting up a
mailing list
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Mid – EndFebruary
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<TCSF &
C-CfA> Participating in Pre TICAD
Conference of Ministers in Nairobi /
Asia-Africa Business Forum in Dar (12-14)
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March 10
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<C-CfA>
Formulating “Steering Committee (SC)” (10 member organizations )
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March – May
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<C-CfA &
Steering Committee> Making a proposal for “Voice of African Civil Society”
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June 6-8
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<Some of SC
& TCSF> Participation in the G8 Summit in Germany (*)
<Steering Committee > Sharing the “Voice” at G8 Summit in Germany
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August 1-8
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<SC &
TCSF > Pre TICAD Civic Conference in Tokyo
Finalizing the “Voice of Africa-Japan Civil Society”
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August – Feb.
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Advocacy using the above “Voice”
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2008
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Feb. - March
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<C-CfA & TCSF> Pre TICAD – G8 Meeting in Japan
(*) The realization depends on fund availability.
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April - May
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<SC & TCSF > Participating in TICAD IV
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May - July
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Advocacy utilizing
the result s of TICAD IV
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July
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G8 SUMMIT in Japan
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November
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Reviewing activities of C-CfA & TCSF in Tokyo
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| 9. Finance |
Main costs will be as follows :
(1) running a Secretariat for “C-CfA”;
(2) transportation cost s of the member of CSOs
Unfortunately, we have not been able to find fund for this. Thus, we expect the organization that is willing to run a Secretariat to find their own fund.,
We can find funding to cover the following costs:
(i) traveling cost s of 5 CSOs of the Steering Committee to Japan in
August 2007;
(ii) traveling cost s of 10 CSOs to Japan prior to TICAD IV in April
2008;
(iii) traveling cost s of some CSOs to the regional meetings of TICAD
during 2007.
We are currently looking for financial and logistical supporter for this project. If there is more financial supporter, we can create more opportunities for African CSOs to gather and consolidate their message toward 2008.
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| Contact for further information and inquiries: |
TICAD Civil Society Forum (TCSF):
Rm 613-6, 7F Soudainishiwaseda Bldg, 1-21-1 Nishiwaseda, Shinjyuku-ku, Tokyo
169-0051 Japan
Tel＆Fax：81-(0)3-5286-8261
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Contact Person:
Secretariat: Makoto IGARASHI (Mr.)
igarashi@ticad-csf.net
Vice President: Sayaka FUNADA-CLASSEN (Ms. Dr.)
sayakafc@aimsjapan.co.jp
Mobile: 81-(0)90-7765-8991
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