Summary: Information / Discussion

The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Africa

In this two-hour session, the identity, present state and future role of civil society in Africa was discussed. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Africa are feeling a need for structure and organization, and are considering forming a continent-wide network with a single identity to bring themselves together. 

The bulk of the discussion in this session revolved around the need for African NGOs to be better organized. Some participants proposed the creation of a unique head organization supervising and coordinating the actions of all the civil society organizations in Africa, so that they may take advantage of synergies and wield greater weight at the international level.

The question was then whether to create a new organization immediately, taking advantage of the presence of numerous delegates at the World Civil Society Forum (WCSF), or to adopt an existing organization as the official representative of civil society in Africa. The names of the Organisation de la Société Civile Africain (OSCA) and the Forum Social Africain (FSA ) were mentioned to that effect, and the programs, dates and locations of the next general assemblies of these groups were given).

No definitive decision on this matter could be reached, but participants agreed on the need for the different organizations and events (like the WCSF) to be complementary in their roles and to assist each other, rather than to be in competition for the same functions.

Some delegates expressed fear that the existence of a supreme head organization would diminish the efficiency of NGOs by reducing their diversity and independence, and Mr. Charlemagne Zannou of Réseau d'Information et de Formation sur le Développement reassured them by stating that such an organization would not try to interfere with the work of individual NGOs, but help them by establishing a network of contacts.

The question of whether and how to have representation of Africa if the WCSF becomes permanent was discussed, without a definitive conclusion being reached.

Interesting points
On the role of civil society in Africa, some interesting points and questions came up, including:

• The geopolitical situation in Africa is changing rapidly. What role should civil society play there?
• How is the position of NGOs justified, since, unlike governments, they are not elected? The answer seems to be that their role is not generic, but specific to problems affecting citizens, so it is the right of the citizens to speak up and act on them.
• Where is the possible impact of civil society?
• What is the identity of civil society?
• Civil society needs also to become more transparent and broaden its base.

Visa Problems
Some delegates from African countries apparently encountered problems obtaining visas for Switzerland. This specific issue points at an important obstacle for today's global civil society: many industrialized countries follow very strict visa procedures, fearing illegal immigration. It seems that this issue needs to be addressed in order to avoid a global civil society where certain groups and nationalities, in particular from African countries, are excluded.

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15.17_ndiaye_mohamadou.doc (53 K)

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