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EU-Africa e-alert -- No. 11 / October 2007
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This e-alert aims to provide quick and regular information and analysis on the EU-African relations, especially the decisions and processes that impact on the implementation of the new EU Strategy for Africa. This newsletter has started as part of a project funded by the European Commission and implemented by ECORYS and is now funded by ECDPM.
The EU-Africa e-alert is expected to be a living document and is meant to offer African and European stakeholders the opportunity to share information and exchange points of view and is done in partnership with the African Union Commission. Please do not hesitate to send interesting links and articles which can contribute to enriching this e-alert, in particular by African partners. We would like to thank everyone who has contributed so far.
Contact: europafrica.e-alert@ecdpm.org. Please also send an e-mail to this address if you want to unsubscribe from this e-alert.
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Contents
I – Focus: Human rights defenders and development agencies: towards enhanced synergies
II - EU-AU relations
III – The African Union: Africa in a broader context and the RECs
IV – EU external aid: EDF 10, new instruments of EC external aid and EU development policy
V – Peace and Security
VI – Governance
VII – EPA negotiations
VIII – Migration and development
IX – An actor in EU-AU relations: Third way and CARE Sudan
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I – Focus: Human rights defenders and development agencies: towards enhanced synergies
Editorial : Human rights defenders and development agencies: towards enhanced synergies by Frederic Ceuppens, ECDPM
In this editorial Frederic Ceuppens analyses the insufficient dialogue as well as the potential synergies between human rights and development fields.
Human Rights and Development
The OECD published several reports on the importance for development cooperation to integrate human rights and vice and versa:
- Action-oriented policy paper on human rights and development
- Human Rights and Aid Effectiveness
Human Rights Based Approach to Development Cooperation
For further background information on the HRBA to DC, please visit the website of the Office of the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights which provides with several documents, including on frequently asked questions.
Human Rights Dialogues between the EU and Third Countries
The European Parliament isued a draft report on the functioning of the human rights dialogues and consultations on human rights with third countries.
Conference on synergies between human rights defenders and development agencies
The conference gathered human rights defenders and development agencies (both governmental and NGO) from all parts of the world. Beyond sharing experiences, several ideas on practical ways for enhancing the necessary synergies between both types of actors were explored.
EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders
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II - EU-AU Relations
1. Towards an EU-Africa joint Strategy
The African Union and the European Union continue with the official dialogue on the drafting of the new joint EU-Africa Strategy. The Strategy as well as an accompanying Action Plan are more or less finalised, and the drafts should be approved at the Joint Ministerial Troika Meeting that will take place in Accra 31 October. The process will then continue until the foreseen Lisbon Summit in December. For more information about the negotiations and civil society involvement please see: www.europafrica.org
European Parliament on EU-Africa Strategy
The European Parliament is preparing to adopt a report on the state of play of EU-Africa relations in Plenary on the 22-25 October. The report is available.
News on the Lisbon summit
The controversial issue as to whether the President of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, should attend the Summit is still under discussion. Recently his attendance has been backed by the presidents of both Zambia and Mozambique, who assert that they will not attend if Mugabe is not permitted. The Pan-African Parliament supports his attendance, as does President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, who said that condemning and insulting President Robert Mugabe is counterproductive and world leaders would do better to swing behind regional efforts to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe. South Africa also supports this view, as expressed here by the ANC. On the other hand, United Kingdom Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, has made known that he will not attend the Summit if Mugabe is invited, and the Czech Republic are considering to do likewise. The Nordic countries have also taken a stance against Mugabe’s attendance, even though they have not said that they will support a UK boycott of the summit. This view is not shared by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel or the president of the EC, Jose Manuel Barrosso: “The situation in Zimbabwe is extremely concerning,” he said, “but it cannot be an obstacle to dialogue with an entire continent.” The Portuguese presidency, who will be hosting the Summit, have still not sent out any official invitations, but are of the opinion that the process should not be blocked by one country.
Europafrica bulletin
The Europafrica bulletin is issued electronically and gives you an up-date on the public consultation for a joint EU-Africa Strategy. To subscribe, send an e-mail to: europafrica@ecdpm.org
For previous versions, see: http://europafrica.org/bulletin
2. EU-AU relations in a broader context
‘African Voices on Africa-Europe Relations’
This BOND publication aims at making the voices of our African partners heard in the debate on current and future relations between Africa and Europe.
African analysis of new French policy in Africa
(french version only)
‘France looking for way out of “walled meadow” in Africa’
This article in the Business Day (South Africa) analyses France’s changing policy towards Africa. He says Sarkozy’s policy towards Africa is based on French interests in Africa, and that further changes in France’s Africa policy are expected to be announced during Sarkozy’s Africa trip planned for February.
German Chancellor visit to Africa
German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited Ethiopia, Liberia and South Africa in early October. The EU-Africa relations were among the issues discussed, and the German Chancellor expressed the need for all African and European leaders to take part at the up-coming EU-Africa Summit planned for December.
AU press release
Article about Merkel’s visit in Liberia
Article about Mekel’s visit in South Africa
South Africa-EU Strategic Partnership meeting. Joint Communique
The meeting took place in Tshwane on 10 October. Discussions inlcuded on the implementation of the Joint Action Plan of the SA-EU Strategic Partnership.
Launch of the EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure
The first Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Infrastructure Partnership took place in Addis, Ababa, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to launch of the EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure.
3. Upcoming events
Joint Ministerial Troika Meeting
The meeting will be held on 31/10 in Accra, Ghana, and should approve the draft joint strategy and prepare for the Heads of States Summit.
Launch of the EU-Africa Partnership on Infrastructure
The first Meeting of the Steering Committee of the Partnership will take place in Addis Ababa, Ehtiopia on 24-25 October 2007.
See AU press release
ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly
Will take place on 17-22 November.
Please see the europafrica calendar for more planned events.
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III- The African Union: Africa in a Broader Context and the RECs
1. African Union
Invitation to participate in the performance review of the African Union
An independent audit review invites to participation in a review intending to seek analysis, opinions and constructive criticism from the AU and its Specialised agencies, regional inter-governmental agencies, AU member-states and civil society organisations on how well the African Union has performed and what areas of significant improvement are required in order to accelerate the African integration process. The independent audit review is carried out by a panel of high expert and its results will be discussed at the next AU Summit.
NEPAD
APRM Annual Report 2006
This is the first annual APRM (African Peer Review Mechanism) report which describes the progress until now. Of the 25 member countries 13 have established the national APRM structures: Ghana, Rwanda, Kenya, South Africa, Algeria, Nigeria, Uganda, Mauritius, Benin, Burkina Faso, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania.
The Pan African Parliament
The Eighth Ordinary Session of the Pan African Parliament (PAP)
The session took place between 15-26 October.
2. Africa in a broader context
‘The Rise of China and India - What's in it for Africa?’
African countries are not simply spectators to the economic rise of China and India, they are party to it. This book published by OECD demonstrates how the growing economic power of Asian giants is already influencing growth patterns in Africa, particularly in oil- and commodities-exporting countries.
Summary
Book
3. African Regional Economic Communities
Common market for Eastern and Southern Africa - COMESA
COMESA Newsletter
The October issue of COMESA’s newsletter highlights increased cooperation with Brazil.
East African Community - EAC
EAC Council
The 14th Ordinary Council of the East African Community was held on 27th September. Topics on the agenda included discussion on bills that will be put forward to the East African Legislative Assembly and institutional changes of EAC.
Economic Community of Central African States - ECCAS
Meeting between CEEAC and CSOs on peace and security
A three day seminar was held between CEEAC and civil society organisations regarding their possible collaboration in peace and security issues.
Meeting report
Economic Community of West African States - ECOWAS
ECOWAS-EU Ministerial Troika
The 12th ECOWAS-EU Ministerial Troika Meeting was held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, 11 October 2007.
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IV - EU External Aid: EDF 10, Development Cooperation Instrument and EU Development Policy
1. EU Development cooperation policy and intruments
The Informal Council of Development Ministers
The European Development Ministers met on 21 and 22 September, having as the most important points on the agenda the issues related to the intervention of the EU in situations of fragility, Security and Development and Humanitarian aid. These areas will be discussed further at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 19-20 November.
Council agrees EU strategy on aid for trade
The Council of the European Union agreed on 15 October a strategy on "aid for trade" that includes clear figures on the amount of aid potentially available, as well as clear dates for when the funds will be available. The strategy is aimed at enabling all developing countries, particularly the least developed ones, to better integrate into the world trade system and to use trade more effectively and in a sustainable way in the eradication of poverty. The strategy enables the EU to make a substantial input to the upcoming WTO global review on aid for trade in Geneva on 20 and 21 November 2007.
‘The Code of Conduct for a better division of labour in the development policy – is it a real milestone?’
In this paper the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung outlines the background and the principles of the Code of Conduct and looks at further steps for implementation.
European Development Fund
Schedule for agreeing CSPs for ACP countries
Eurostep has published a timetable for the adoption of the European Commission's CSPs for ACP countries. According to the document which has been published on Eurostep's ACP programming website, the first batch of CSPs will be discussed in the EDF Committee during its meeting on 20 September. The timetable also indicates that a number of CSPs for countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific regions will be delayed until 2008. Thirteen Pacific countries signed their CSPs with the Commission in the margins of the 38th Pacific Island Forum in Tonga.
Download timetable
EDF 10 programming implementation. Report of EP discussion
The Development Committee of the European Parliament has discussed the implementation of the EDF on 2-3 October.
‘Symptom to system: How aid skews health services’
This article in Financial Times is a critical analysis of effectiveness of vertical development support funds.
Benchmarks for EU ACP aid programming
The European NGO network Eurostep has published a set of benchmarks for the EU's aid programming for countries in Africa and the Caribbean and Pacific regions (ACP). The paper titled Benchmarks for scrutiny of the joint EU programme to Africa, Caribbean and Pacific countries sets out the expectations that various civil society organisations have of the EU's co-operation with the ACP Group of States in the period from 2008 to 2013.
‘Striking the right balance. The future of NAOs in ACP-EU cooperation’
A National Authorising Officer is a member of a national government of an ACP country who has been designated as being responsible for the management of EU aid. This ECDPM discusses the future of the NAOs role.
2. EU External Aid in Perspective
World Development Report 2008. Agriculture For Development
The World Bank World Development Report 2008 calls for greater investment in agriculture in developing countries. The report warns that the sector must be placed at the centre of the development agenda if the goals of halving extreme poverty and hunger by 2015 are to be realized.
‘Commission stands up for the Millennium Development Goals on International Poverty Eradication Day’
The European Commission marked International Poverty Eradication Day with co-sponsored parliamentary debates on the Millennium Development Goals and a new survey on citizens' attitudes to development aid in the new Member States.
Financing for development
High level Dialogue on Financing for Development
The High-level Dialogue held on 23 October in New York provides a ministerial-level forum, to assess the state of implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, including the theme of coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems in support of development. This year’s Dialogue is expected to make a major contribution to the preparation of the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus, to be held in Doha, Qatar in the second half of 2008.
The Monterrey Consensus and Development in Africa: Progress, Challenges and Way Forward
This paper by UNECA provides an assessment of where we are in terms of meeting the commitments to Africa in the six core areas of the Monterrey Consensus. It concludes that substantial progress has been made in the area of external debt relief, but that very limited progress has been made in the other core areas of the Monterrey Consensus. A survey has also been conducted by UNECA in the region. The overall findings include that very limited progress has been made in realizing the objectives of the Monterrey Consensus.
Main report
Survey results
Information on UN General Assembly Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development in Doha, Quatar, in 2008: http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/
Aid effectiveness
OECD Global Forum on Development Ownership in Practice
On 27-28 September OECD invited experts from South and North to share their views on a core principle of aid effectiveness: developing-country ownership. The Forum was held ahead of next year's Third High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra (Ghana), planned for September 2008.
Aid effectiveness articles
The latest issue of IPC’s journal Poverty in Focus presents 12 articles summarising some of the most important recent research results and commentaries on the effectiveness of international development cooperation against the background of high-level promises of rapidly increasing aid, including policy conclusions and recommendations for enhancing the impact of aid on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The 2006 Survey on Monitoring the Paris Declaration
This OECD survey was undertaken in 34 countries that receive aid. The results of the survey are presented in two volumes. Volume 1 provides an overview of key findings across 34 countries. Volume 2 presents the baseline and key findings in each of the 34 countries that have taken part in the survey. A second round of monitoring will be organised in the first quarter of 2008 and will be an important contribution to the Accra High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in September 2008.
The Commitment to Development Index
The Center for Global Development have published the Commitment to Development Index (CDI) which rates 21 rich countries on how much they help poor countries build prosperity, good government, and security. Each rich country gets scores in seven policy areas, which are averaged for an overall score.
EU Policy Coherence for Development
The European Commission has adopted the European Union's first Report on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD). The Report highlights the interactions and complementarities between development policy and twelve other internal and external EU policies that have an impact on developing countries. P The overall conclusion is that the coherence between EU policies and the Development objectives has improved but more can be achieved. In 2005, the EU agreed to PCD commitments in 12 policy areas and the importance of PCD is reflected in the European Consensus on Development.
See also....
Evaluation on EU mechanisms promoting Policy Coherence for Development
This Information Brief introduces the most important findings and key recommendations of a joint evaluation on EU mechanisms promoting Policy Coherence for Development. The evaluation analyses and assesses mechanisms for promoting intra-governmental coherence that have been introduced in the administrations of the Members States and the European institutions since the late 1990s.
European Commission proposes a global alliance to help developing countries most affected by climate change
The European Commission has issued a communication making some proposals to address climate change in countries most affected by it.
EU Treaty
New Treaty agreed by EU leaders
The new EU Treaty was agreed upon at the Lisbon Informal Summit on 18-19 October. The treaty includes the creation of a new longer-term president of the European Council and an EU foreign policy chief. If what will become known as the Treaty of Lisbon is ratified by all member states, it will come into force in 2009.
Documents on new EU treaty
For more news on EU-ACP relations, please see Melissa Julian’s weekly e-alert on www.ecdpm.org. To subscribe send an email to mj@ecdpm.org
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V - Peace and Security
EU operation in Eastern Chad and North Eastern Central African Republic
The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council decided that the EU will conduct a bridging military operation in Eastern Chad and North Eastern Central African Republic (EUFOR TCHAD/RCA) in the framework of the European Security and Defence Policy. This follows notably the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007), which approves the deployment in Chad and the Central African Republic of a multidimensional presence and authorizes the EU to provide the military element of it. The Council believes that addressing the regional dimension of the Darfur crisis, the deployment of EUFOR TCHAD/RCA and a UN police mission, in parallel to UNAMID in Sudan, is a crucial step to facilitate a long lasting solution to the conflict in Darfur.
Attack on AU base in Darfur
An African Union camp in Darfur was attacked on 29 September by heavily armed men, killing at least 10 soldiers in the deadliest assault since the peacekeeping mission began three years ago. The attack on an African peacekeeping base in Darfur has raised questions about the planned transformation of the AU Mission in Sudan (AMIS) into a hybrid AU-UN force that includes personnel from non-African countries.
AMIS news bulletin covering the incident
Report of Engaging in Fragile Situations, Sudan
Specifically for the EU, achieving ‘good international engagement’ in fragile situations like Sudan is hugely complex. EU reaction is caught up in historical, political and engagement methodology questions. Although Sudan has now accepted a hybrid AU-UN mission, which the EU has been asked to support, caveats from the Sudanese government, as well as resistance from actors with an interest in the status quo, are creating a risk of ongoing fragility. This article in European Security Review 35
(page 8-12) summarises a recent European Security Contact Group meeting on the issue.
EC issues a communication proposing an EU response to situations of fragility
EC has issied a communication towards an EU response to situations of fragility - engaging in difficult environments for sustainable development, stability and peace.
‘Development Aid and Fragile States. Should development agencies play a role in conflict prevention?’
Jean-Michel Severino is the CEO of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). He here argues that development agencies should be more involved in conflict prevention.
Africa’s missing billions : International arms flows and the cost of conflict
By IANSA et al
A new report on armed conflict in Africa has shown that the cost to the continent's development over a 15-year period was nearly $300bn. For the first time, IANSA, Oxfam, and Safeworld have estimated the economic cost of armed conflict to Africa’s development. Around $300bn since 1990 has been lost by various African States. This sum is equivalent to international aid from major donors in the same period. If this money was not lost due to armed conflict, it could solve the problems of HIV and AIDS in Africa, or it could address Africa’s needs in education, clean water and sanitation, and prevent tuberculosis and malaria.
For more information see the African Union website on Peace and Security
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VI – Governance, Democracy and Human Rights
1. Governance in Africa
First Annual Report of the APRM
The 2006 report presents the mechanism of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as well as expectations for 2007. Since 2003, 25 countries have acceded to it. To date, missions have been fielded in 5 countries.
Fact Finding Mission to Zimbabwe aborted for lack of support to PAP by the AU
Moves by the Pan African Parliament (PAP) to dispatch a fact-finding team to probe alleged human rights abuses in Zimbabwe appear to have hit a brick wall after the African Union (AU) opted not to fund the controversial mission while the head of the assembly says the exercise is no longer necessary. Sources said that the AU had declined funds to the mission on the basis that SADC was already working to assist Zimbabwe overcome political and economic challenges.
Joaquim Chissano wins the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership
The former President of Mozambique has been announced as the winner of the inaugural Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership, the largest individual award in the world. The annual Prize has been established by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, launched in October 2006 as an African initiative to strengthen governance in Africa.
ECDPM Publications on 'Decentralisation, local development and local governance'
Benin – Country Survey on Governance and Corruption
The government of Benin has recently completed a diagnostic survey on governance and corruption, led by a local Steering Committee and with the technical support from the World Bank Institute. A comprehensive communication and dissemination strategy for the results of the survey has been approved by the government. Domestic institutions will lead and coordinate the review of the National Anticorruption Strategy and prepare an Action Plan based on the results of the survey and recommendations emanating from participatory workshops.
For further information on country diagnostics, see: http://go.worldbank.org/1ZIGEKJYP1
Transparency and accountability in Africa’s extractive industries: the role of legislature – Report published by the National Democratic Institute, 2007
The report finds that international organisations, local advocacy groups, and multinational corporations have played a key role in increasing public access to information and awareness in government oversight. Also, a growing number of African legislatures are more active in the management and oversight of the extractive sector. However, political and institutional constraints are the principal stumbling blocks to improved management and oversight of the extractive industries.
2. Governance in EU-Africa relations and further reading
Experts meeting in Paris to discuss developing-countries ownership – OECD September 27-28, 2007
Ahead of next year's Third High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra (Ghana), the OECD invited experts from South and North to share their views on developing-country ownership. The result was a discussion on: the multiple ways in which ownership can be interpreted; the importance of knowledge in determining where ownership really lies; the crucial - and sometimes controversial - role of various non-state organisations in demanding broad-based, democratic ownership; the evolution of the donor-recipient relationship, as witnessed in trends in types of conditionality. A series of papers was presented and are available on the website.
Transparency International released the 2007 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI)
The divide in perceived levels of corruption in rich and poor countries remains as sharp as ever, according to the 2007 CPI, released by Transparency International. Developed and developing countries must share responsibility for reducing corruption, in tackling both the supply and demand sides, the report says.
Ibrahim Index of African Governance
The Ibrahim Index of African Governance is the latest addition to the flourishing field of governance assessment. The World Governance Assessment (based at ODI), the Kaufman and Kraay indicators, and the Bertelsmann Transformation Index all seek to tell us about governance scores and progress in developing countries. In an article on the ODI blog, Marta Foresti analyses the “newcomer”.
Public-Private Dialogue in Developing Countries: Opportunities and Risks, OECD Report
The author identifies the institutional conditions that could lead to successful PPD and avoid the dangers of non transparency and rent seeking. This requires each sides’ striking a balance between self interest and integrity.
Chr. Michelsen Institute (CMI) Donor Support to Political Parties: Status and Principles
This paper outlines the modalities, principles and practices of donor support to political parties. It looks at both why political parties are important from a good governance perspective, and thus eligible for donor support, and what difficulties are associated with this funding, owing to deep-rooted political, structural and institutional problems.
Conference on Democracy, Politics and Development – Wilton Park (UK) 22 to 25 October 2007
The conference addressed the following questions: in what precise ways does democracy contribute to poverty reduction and economic growth? To what extent does the process of democratic politics address the concerns of poor people for voice and influence? How is democratic politics evolving in the South? What are the challenges and opportunities that these pose for development? What are the lessons for international policy on democracy support?
Papers on this issue are available here
ACP Local Government Platform Newsletter
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VII - EPA Negotiations
In this e-alert we do not intend to give an overview of the EPA negotiations and other trade related issues, since we consider that there are others with greater expertise in those issues. For information on EPAs and the state of the negotiations, we therefore refer you to: http://www.acp-eu-trade.org/
You can also receive monthly updates on key ACP-EU trade-related public information by subscribing to the acp-eu-trade newsletter
For a better informed community on EPAs: “EPA negotiations: Where do we stand?”
Pursuing its efforts to increase the transparency of the highly sensitive EPA negotiations, ECDPM has decided to set up dedicated pages for each ACP region negotiating an EPA with the EU at www.acp-eu-trade.org/epa.
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VIII - Migration and development
EC takes measures to foster legal and qualified immigration
On October 23, the EC adopted a proposal for a Directive on a single application procedure for a single permit for third-country nationals to reside and work lawfully in the territory of a Member State and on a common set of rights for third-country workers legally residing in a Member State. It also adopted a proposal for a Directive on the conditions for entry and residence of third-country nationals for highly qualified employment.
- Simplified admission procedures and common set of rights for third-country workers
- Attractive conditions for the admission and residence of highly qualified immigrants
Remittances dwarf official development assistance
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) presented the first global map of remittances flows to developing nations. “Seemingly small sums sent home by migrant workers when added together dwarf official development assistance” said Kevin Cleaver, IFAD’s Assistant President. Different donors currently work on strategies for accompanying remittances on the path towards development in Africa.
OECD report on Policy Coherence for Development - Migration and Developing Countries – To be launched in November 2007
This book seeks to answer the questions: What are the costs and benefits of migration for developing countries? How can migration flows be better organised to yield greater benefits for all parties concerned—migrant-sending countries, migrant-receiving countries, and the migrants themselves?
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IX – An actor in EU-Africa relations: Third way and Care Sudan
Interview with Ms Ahlam Abd Elmjeed, Advocacy Coordinator for CARE International in Sudan
CARE is an international NGO fighting global poverty. Women are at the heart of CARE's community-based efforts to improve basic health, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and helps people rebuild their livelihoods.
The INGO started to work in Sudan back in the seventies with water programs, and during early eighties it moved to the Kordofan State in order to implement relief activities (a.o. water programmes). Eventually it became engaged in rehabilitation and supported civil society organisations to build their capacities in the field of agriculture (training farmers on more productive technologies…). CARE further looked after internally displaced people installed in the neighbourhood of Khartoum in order for them to also benefit from governmental policies and facilities. In 2004 CARE began major relief operations in Darfur.
However, CARE realised that the sustainability of its actions needed to be improved: for example, in some areas where it managed to provide people with water facilities, the authorities imposed fees on access to the resource as soon as the INGO left the zone. Hence it decided to adopt a human rights based approach to its development activities and started to advocate for a national policy on water (which was lacking), empowering people at the same time. CARE reached some good results such as in Gubish in West Kordofan state where the local authorities have committed themselves to allocating all revenues collected from access to water to the communities which paid it (whether for maintaining water facilities or for investments in health, education…). CARE is hoping to build on this positive experience in other areas.
As Ms Ahlam Abd Elmjeed says “if governance and advocacy is really a priority for donors and if the latter are really interested in achieving sustainable impact, then they should realise that adopting a human rights based approach actually promotes better governance”.
Illustrating the evolution currently experienced by many development organisations (whether NGO or governmental organisations), Ms Ahlam Abd Elmjeed complains about the fact that CARE is still seen by the government as a relief and rehabilitation organisation, whereas it has, in fact, become a real development NGO too; which promotes State responsibility and seeks to enter into partnership with the authorities.
Another constraint identified is the lack of flexibility of funds available. “It is very difficult to ensure sustainable development and long term impact when funding for development activities is only available from donors for short periods of time” says Ms Ahlam Abd Elmjeed.
Interview with Christoph Damalie, Founder and executive director of Third way (www.third-way.org)
Third way was set up after having realised that in the current development and human rights paradigms, there is no synergy between human rights and development. Human rights are dealt with separately from development whereas according to Third way, development is embedded in human rights and the two issues cannot be separated. The five components of human rights, political, civil, economic, social and cultural rights are all essential to a country's development and while historically human rights organisations have paid more attention to the first two components and development organisations have a more economic and social approach, Third way is convinced that all components are indispensable for a comprehensive human rights approach and development.
In practical terms, Third way attempts to promote an integrated approach to development by integrating human rights into their development thinking. Their interventions are based on the following aspects corresponding to the five human rights components mentioned below: promoting the right to education, promoting economic rights by setting up micro-credit and business education and entrepreneurship, ensuring human rights education as a cross-cutting issue as well as access to information through ICT. Third way is now present in Ghana in five areas and, apart from insufficient financial means, often faces difficulties with its integrated approach to development. Indeed donors often have their own priorities and agenda which do not always include an integrated approach to human rights and development as a priority. There is currently a trend towards to integrate human rights into development for non governmental organisations and governmental agencies.
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This e-newsletter is published by European Centre for Development Policy Management . ECDPM seeks:
-- to enhance the capacity of stakeholders in the public and private sectors in the ACP and other low-income countries.
-- to improve cooperation between development partners in Europe and in ACP.
Editors: Marie-Laure de Bergh (mdb@ecdpm.org), Frederic Ceuppens (fc@ecdpm.org) and Sara Erlandsson (se@ecdpm.org).
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent any official view of the African Union Commission.