1. TRANSFORMATION ISSUES OF IMPORTANCE TO AFRICA
The African CSO Working Group (AWG)1 met in Nairobi from 5-6 June 2014 and extensively discussed the current proposals on the table notably the Sustainable Development Goals (under discussion), the post 2015 MDG process, the HLP process, Common Africa Position (CAP), among other initiatives and highlighted the inadequate attention placed on transformational issues with a potential to transform Africa and its citizens. Participants’ discussion of the transformation issues was also guided by the below vision of success:
“ A global framework that guarantees quality life and dignity for citizens”
Transformative issue was defined as an issue that has the ability to sustainably change and transform the lives of ordinary citizens of Africa. The participants broke into groups and generated the following transformational issues which they regarded as important in achieving the above vision. The transformation issues are;
Bridging inequality
o Reducing inequalities has potential to transform economies and societies as well as redirect and rebalance the current pattern of African growth and development;
o Employment alone – while being obviously pivotal – would not solve the equity and equality question. The agenda for tackling inequalities needs to address all domains in which inequalities manifest themselves (social, political, economic, spatial) and move beyond inclusion to address the fundamental power structure. However in current SDGs and CAP its viewed as a monetary phenomenon that can be solved by jobs.
o Promoting equality does not have same urgency as reducing inequality e.g in OWG Focus area 1.
1 Out of the several members, the following managed to attend the Strategy session; Organization of African Youth (OAY), African Monitor, FEMNET, ACORD, Seed Institute, Africa CSO Platform for Principled Partnership, West Africa CSO Institute, Beyond 2015-Afica, Nigeria NGO Network, SEATINI, GCAP Africa, Yocads/Liberia CSOs, Culture and Development East Africa (CDEA), Africa Development Interchange Network (ADIN), Society for International Development (SID), Uganda National NGO Forum, Organization of African Youths, Africa CSO Platform, CSAC for West and Central Africa, SADC Council of NGOs, , WACSI, Inter-Faith for Action on Peace in Africa (IFAPA), United Nations Millenium Campaign(UNMC), Arterial Network, Oxfam Pan Africa, World Wide Fund- Kenya (WWF), Justice Development and Peace Commission-Nigeria, Yocads/Liberian CSOs, o Targets strengthening the link between inequality and poverty, peace and security, among others are important
o Also includes at different levels and different spaces.
o Need to focus on the causes and not symptoms of inequality
Technology transformation and access
o Technology transfer essential in delivering on goals
o A lot of goals are premised on technology transfer and the role of technology in development (e.g CAP’s Science and technology pillar and SDGs (OWG 11) Technology transfer and technological capabilities under MOI) but there is very little to ensure technology gets transferred
o Flexibility of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) will determine whether technology will deliver on the goals o protection of indigenous knowledge and biodiversity important o Reduce costs of technology adaptation is important.
Governance and citizenship
o Focus of goals and targets regarding governance should be on citizens and not just institutions.
o need to move beyond electoral democracy and strengthen the mechanisms for civic engagements in decisions, implementation and monitoring (accountability)
o Targets should encompassing Participatory democracy—citizens playing active role in democratic governance
o Local governance also as equally important as international governance. Current goals put overemphasis on international governance.
o Accountability important
o Importance of co-creating governance with citizens
o Combat corruption is a key aspect of governance that requires global commitment through post 2015 and SDG process
o Commitments on Responsive and inclusive policies
o Facilitate free movement of people including refugees
Social and Economic (structural) transformation for equity, inclusion and sustainability. o Focus on SCP under the current SDG, is viewed as for developed countries but it’s an opportunity for us to define economic system we want;
o There needs to be specific targets on;
. Re-orienting incentives of production and consumptions towards the national good.
. Also in terms of increasing productive capacities, adding value to resources, etc.
. Placing citizens as means and end of production and consumption
. Also addressing policies that impede structural transformation.
. Transformation of production systems
. Transformation in way resources are used
. Transformation in development management to ensure resources
. Social capital investment
. Effective use of natural resources
. Ensuring culture plays role in transforming economies
. regressive versus progressive tax systems and implications on socio- economic transformation
Sustainable financing for development
o Focus on the broad spectrum of resources for development, including the domestic resource mobilization based on
o Tax justice and progressive tax systems,
o Realignment of current expenditures in line with the expectations and demands of our communities, the fight of corruption, illicit financial flows and so forth.
o Specific targets and commitments on illicit financial flows
o Major financial institutions such as IMF/WB are just onlookers to the SDG post 2015 MDG process yet they determine financing of a number of developing countries.
o Need to secure commitment that financing from these key institutions will factor in and be guided by the emerging goals and targets. Women’s empowerment and gender equality
o Not just a women’s issues but looking at overall empowerment of women and girls wherever they are and in all they do
o Economic and political empowerment of women (bodily integrity and the eradication of violence against women, ownership and inheritance rights, equal pay and economic recognition of care work (social protection), political representation.
o Advance a gender conversation that has never started.
Peaceful and secure societies
o Should address growing violence, tension and insecurity of our societies.
o Focus on creating secure and peaceful communities and societies
o Promote security in public spaces including for girls and marginalized groups
o Not just absence of physical violence but also other forms of violence such as emotional, etc o Ensuring safety and security for all social groups especially women and vulnerable o Elimination of barriers and drivers to conflict by enhancing; governance, inclusivity, corporate accountability, natural resource management, justice and security, job creation, tackling organised crime and flow of illicit drugs, arms and war commodities o Tackling impunity and ensuring access to justice for all social groups o Commitment to detect and eliminate potential conflicts through use of current provisions at regional, national, continental and international levels o Secure borders
Climate Change
This is largely covered under international frameworks, such as UNFCCC, suffice here to say that focus should be on; o providing adequate finance to support the just transition in the South through investment in community controlled renewable energy for all. o climate proofing for Africa and vulnerable groups o mitigation and adaptation o integrating Climate change in all priority areas of the development agenda o Shift from wanton exploitation of resources, unsustainable production and consumption pattern to sustainable lifestyles by all. o Access to appropriate and affordable clean technologies which promote the use of renewable and clean energy, as well as home-grown and indigenous technology.
In addition, the following cross-cutting issues were noted as important; Rights based approach to development as means of enhancing accountability
o This is cross cutting and should be reflected in all goals and targets
o Targets in all goals should emphasize rights based approach. At the moment its diluted in favour of “policy space”, “national circumstances”, “cultural acceptability”,
o Rights based goals and targets are important for CSOs monitoring and enforcing accountability
Ownership
o This is cross-cutting and should be reflected in all goals
o All the goals and targets need to be grounded in citizen realities and aspirations to succeed
o Guarantee cultural rights and access to cultural goods and services
The CSOs agreed to further flesh the above issues and make them the cornerstone of engagement on SDGs, post 2015, in the next 18 to 20 months.