InterAfrica Group

focuson the European Union and peace-building efforts in the Horn of JUNE 2004

Enhancing civil society engagement in the mid-term review process

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EDITION OF FOCUS, the newsletter of the ERITREA B n l e u d e A f N o ulf il G joint project of Africa Peace Forum (APFO), e DJIBOUTI

W InterAfrica Group (IAG) and Saferworld in the hi t e ETHIOPIA INDIAN N i OCEAN . This issue has been produced le

in Ethiopia. AFRI CA Lake 7 Victoria CONTENTS The mid-term review (MTR) of the security issues are clearly an important Assessing the mid-term 2 European Commission (EC) Country ongoing process, which should not be review process Strategy Papers (CSPs) are taking place in restricted to intermittent consultation each of the ACP countries in 2004, under events. Influencing Country Strategy 3 the framework of the Cotonou Agreement. New positive initiatives are taking shape Papers to address poverty and conflict This process provides an invaluable in the region: in Ethiopia and Djibouti, the opportunity to evaluate the extent to which creation of civil society Cotonou task forces Engaging Somali non-state 3 civil society participation has been inte- will provide the necessary focal point to actors in the mid-term grated into the design and implementation strengthen their engagement with the EC review of EC programmes in the Horn of Africa. delegations and the governments on South Sudanese civil society 4 The MTRs also offer a timely opportunity Cotonou issues. The EC Somalia Unit in and SPLM/A leaders’ to assess and discuss the policy priorities Kenya has been acting in Somalia/land, dialogue previously identified in the CSPs developed where there is no recognised government, Improving dialogue on the 5 by the EC and national governments. Most as the interlocutor with civil society on Cotonou Agreement in importantly this evaluation can lead to a Cotonou issues. This has resulted in Djibouti, Eritrea and reallocation of priorities and funds. ongoing constructive consultations with Ethiopia This edition of Focus reports on the Somali non-state actors who have been Update from the EU 6 developments and activities undertaken in given a greater voice in determining the the Horn of Africa as part of the MTR focus of development programmes. European network meeting 6 process, and highlights the opportunities Another welcome development is the on civil society participation and challenges faced by civil society organ- fact that Horn countries – except for Global Partnership for the 7 isations in fully engaging as valid partners Somalia/land – have endorsed the Nairobi Prevention of Armed in dialogue and implementation of the Protocol for the Prevention, Control and Conflict Cotonou Agreement. Reports from semi- Reduction of Small Arms and Light Ministerial Review of the 7 nars and research carried out on the MTR Weapons in the Great Lakes Region and the Nairobi Declaration process, reveal that factors such as the exist- Horn of Africa. Publications and contacts 8 ence of non-state actor Cotonou platforms However, it should be noted that efforts or the appointment of civil society focal need to be increased in order to enhance the points within EC country delegations have a peace and security focus of the EC strategies, Focus was compiled and edited by Thomas Ansorg and Marie Duboc with assistance significant impact on the levels and quality to mainstream conflict prevention and to from Bizuwork Ketete, Richard Traill and of civil society engagement with the involve non-state actors in all the phases of Alice Hutchinson. Agreement. Efforts to ensure the inclusion programming. In particular, the proportion Focus has been funded by the Ministry of Foreign of civil society in any development process, of funds spent on social sectors and on Affairs, Netherlands; the Swedish International including the promotion of peace and conflict prevention should be improved. Development Agency (SIDA); and the Civil Society Challenge Fund of the Department for International Development (DFID), UK. Assessing the mid-term review process

Bizuwork Ketete, Regional Co-ordinator, APFO, IAG, Saferworld

prevail over social sectors. Not enough emphasis is being given to monitoring the extent to which these focal sectors address poverty. Some NAOs lament the lack of shared agreement between the EC and the governments on the choice of the focal sectors. However, NAOs themselves are reluctant at this stage to renegotiate the CSPs because it would delay the programme implementation. r Since most CSPs were signed in 2002, there has only been a year of implementa- tion. EC delegations, NAOs and civil society are concerned about the timing of Horn of Africa regional workshop on the mid-term reviews, Kenya, March 2004. the MTR, which is too early to review the implementation of the programmes. r THE AID AND TRADE AGREEMENT between the ACP countries and the EU, commonly Where there are no projects to review, the benefits of the MTRs will depend on the known as the Cotonou Agreement, has a number of innovative provisions: it emphasises the extent to which the EC and the NAO seize reduction of poverty, peace and security, and the promotion of stable and democratic political the opportunity to assess programming governance as key objectives. In terms of programming Cotonou provides the framework for practices such as for example the progress developing Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) and National Indicative Programmes (NIPs) which in political dialogue in Sudan, the extent of civil society/NSA participation, and determine the sectoral focus of aid allocations, for example the amount spent on water or transport. the impact of the CSPs on poverty More importantly, Cotonou also makes a legally binding commitment to involve a wide range of reduction. non-state actors (NSAs) in the whole programming cycle, including the mid-term reviews (MTRs) r Finally, the review of funding allocations of the CSPs. The majority of MTRs were produced by the EC delegations and the recipient govern- will depend on project performance but there are concerns that the bureaucracy ments’ National Authorising Officers (NAOs) in March 2004 and will be finalised later in the year. of the EU funding procedures will also affect performance and should therefore be taken into account. The collaborative project between APFO, The research project which consisted of While research on the MTR was underway, IAG and Saferworld conducted a research desk research and interviews with EC dele- the Horn project organised in co-operation project on the MTR process in the Horn of gations, NAOs, and civil society organisa- with the European network, Eurostep, a Africa to assess the role and engagement of tions across the Horn of Africa, found that a meeting on the MTRs to coincide with the civil society. number of obstacles are preventing effective Joint Parliamentary Assembly meeting held civil society participation. Some of the in Ethiopia in February 2004 (see p3). salient findings include the following: In most CSPs, focal sectors As a follow up to this meeting and upon r There is confusion in the MTR process completion of the MTR research, a regional “such as roads, budget and macro- between NSA ‘participation’ and workshop on MTRs was held in March 2004 economic support prevail over ‘consultation’, as happened during the in Mombasa, which was attended by EC the CSP/NIP design process. Moreover, delegates, NAOs, and civil society from the social sectors. Not enough emphasis the information about the MTRs is region. is being given to monitoring the poorly disseminated to NSAs and when An infokit on the MTR process is available in available the information is often in- extent to which these focal sectors English and French. The full research paper and consistent. the Mombasa workshop report will be available to address poverty. r In most CSPs, focal sectors such as roads, download shortly on www.saferworld.org.uk ” budget and macroeconomic support Contact: [email protected]

Farewell and thanks to Sue Le Mesurier, Mitigation and Resolution. Prior to this, he programme officer for information and Head of the Conflict Prevention programme was the Chief Executive of the National research. Also joining APFO as a project at Saferworld and Elizabeth Mutunga who Council of NGOs in Kenya and has headed officer, Jebiwot Sumbeiywo will be working worked for APFO as a project officer on CUSO, a Canadian development agency as on the joint project on conflict prevention both the joint project in the Horn of Africa their director for Tanzania and the in the Horn of Africa. Jebiwot worked for and the conflict-sensitive approaches project. Seychelles. Alex Nyago project officer at the National Council of Churches in Kenya Welcome to John Munuve, Head of the APFO on conflict-sensitive approaches to as a monitoring and evaluation officer and Africa programme at Saferworld. John development, humanitarian assistance and most recently as a national peace worked with the USAID Regional Office for . Before joining APFO Alex programme co-ordinator. East, Central, and Southern Africa, as a worked with The Peace and Development Contacts: [email protected] PROJECT TEAM UPDATE Senior Adviser on Conflict Prevention, Network as deputy co-ordinator and [email protected] 2 FOCUS · JUNE 2004 Influencing Country Strategy Papers to address poverty and conflict

APFO, IAG AND SAFERWORLD held in co-operation with Eurostep a meeting entitled and make recommendations to the ACP-EU ‘Influencing Country Strategy Papers to advance conflict prevention and poverty reduction’ in Addis Council of Ministers with a view to achieving the objectives of the Cotonou Ababa in February 2004, to coincide with the seventh ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA). Agreement it was suggested at the meeting The meeting brought together civil society organisations from the Horn of Africa and Joint that the JPA might undertake a report into Parliamentary Assembly members, including Members of the European Parliament, ACP the MTR process to assess both the extent of consultations and transparency and assess ambassadors, some National Authorising Officers (NAOs), and EU representatives to discuss key how far focal sectors have changed as a issues facing the ACP-EU partnership in relation to conflict and development. The aim was to result of the process. Information obtained produce a series of proposals to influence the 2004 mid-term reviews (MTRs) of the Country could be used to form a future resolution. Strategy Papers (CSPs) in terms of content and process and to discuss how the focus of CSPs might Participants felt that greater acknowledge- ment of the role of civil society needs to be be adapted to more effectively tackle underdevelopment and conflict. made by both African and European governments, for example through political dialogue. The JPA offers one route to The mid-term reviews where delegations do not have a specific achieving this, if EU and African MPs continue to support the role of civil society. The discussions revealed that there was a member of staff responsible for liasing with civil society, consultation has been signifi- lack of public awareness on the Cotonou The Country Strategy Papers (CSPs) Agreement across the Horn region and that cantly lower, and MTR consultation absent, Discussions also focused on the priorities as a consequence local input into the MTR as is the case in Eritrea. MTR consultations of the CSPs and the need to mainstream process has thus far been minimal. For have also been absent in Sudan and Djibouti conflict prevention into the strategies. example, a Somali representative noted that where the participatory structures are Participants called for an increase in the the term ‘pastoralist’ did not feature in the weaker. For example, until March 2004 the proportion of funds spent on social sectors, CSP despite the fact that a significant EC civil society focal point in Sudan did not emphasising that at present large propor- proportion of the Somali population are have the capacity to work exclusively on civil tions of aid budgets were being spent on nomads or semi nomads. It was also pointed society issues and in Djibouti the civil soci- infrastructure and macroeconomic support. out that often the CSP was not translated ety alliance was only formed in March 2004. Whilst funds for these focal sectors are into the national language. Moreover, EC delegations and civil welcome and necessary, participants felt However, in some countries, civil society society alliances across the Horn should both make greater efforts to share ‘lessons that greater attention also needed to be was clearly more engaged with the EC and placed upon developing basic social host governments than in others and this learnt’ from Cotonou and MTR consulta- tions. As yet delegations do not meet regu- services, notably education and healthcare. appeared to depend upon certain criteria, It was also noted that greater attention must notably: larly on a regional basis to discuss issues of mutual concern, for example methods or be paid to decentralising infrastructure r The existence of a civil society network findings of MTR consultations or modes of projects and basic services to rural areas. or alliance in the country engaging with NSAs. Some civil society In addition, participants called for more r The existence of a civil society focal point alliances have begun to make links between to be spent on specific conflict prevention in the EC delegation each other (eg Kenya, Uganda and activities in CSP programming (eg disarma- ment, demobilisation and reintegration and r The capacity and political will of the host Tanzania). Civil society could also begin to develop regional alliances, in order to share security sector reform) and for CSPs to government. ‘best practice’ models of engagement and to adopt a more coherent conflict-sensitive The most positive example of civil society develop regional strategies to feed into approach. This means recognising that EU participation in the MTR process was regional programming. development assistance can have a positive Kenya, a country which fulfils all of the as well as negative impact on the prospects above criteria. Consultations have taken The Joint Parliamentary Assembly (JPA) for violent conflict. place on the MTR and a report has been The JPA monitors and scrutinises ACP-EU drafted by civil society. relations and therefore acts as an important A report of the meeting Mid-term reviews In countries where civil society Cotonou overview mechanism on a range of ACP-EU 2004: Priorities from African Civil Society is available to download at www.saferworld.org.uk alliances have not yet been established and issues. Since the JPA can adopt resolutions

Since this issue went to press, the Horn of Government’s Foreign Service as First return to Ethiopia in 1991 he participated in Africa Conflict Prevention Project has Secretary and was Minister Counselor with the peace and reconciliation conference and learnt of the death of Ato Kifle Wodajo, the Ethiopian Permanent Mission to the was chairman of Ethiopia’s constitution Executive Director of InterAfrica Group UN. He was part of the OAU, Provisional drafting commission. since January 2004. Ato Kifle, aged 68, died Secretary General in its formative years, and Ato Kifle retired in 1995 from Ethiopian while undergoing medical treatment in Ethiopian Ambassador to the United States. public life and established the Horn of South Africa on 28 April 2004, he was While in exile in the United States he also Africa Peace Center, which he headed. buried on 2 May 2004 in Addis Ababa. occupied a Fellow and Research Associate The Horn of Africa Conflict Prevention During his long and illustrious career, position at the Center for International Project extends its deepest condolences to

ATO KIFLE WODAJO ATO Ato Kifle served in the Ethiopian Affairs, Harvard University. Upon his all his family, friends and colleagues.

JUNE 2004 · FOCUS 3 Engaging Somali non-state actors in the mid-term review

Mila Font, Technical Assistant for civil society, Somalia Unit, EC Delegation in Kenya

SOMALIA IS IN A UNIQUE SITUATION, due to the absence of a recognised government. A number of issues were raised by partici- Article 93.6 of the Cotonou Agreement states that special support to countries in this situation can pants, ranging from partnership to the environment. The EC is actively involved be decided by the ACP-EU Council of Ministers. It is in this context that a Somalia Unit is placed in in pursuing some of these concerns. For the office of the Kenyan EC Delegation in Nairobi and that the EC Delegation in Kenya plays the role example, a workshop on participation is of National Authorising Officer (NAO) for Somalia. As a result of this arrangement, Somali non-state planned for June 2004 that will involve the actors (NSAs) play a more significant role than in other ACP countries, and consultations with them Somali civil society task force and the Somalia Aid Coordination Body (SACB). have begun to form a major part of EC programming. In order to prepare a structured response on how participants concerns are currently being tackled by the EC and how they will be Within this framework, a brainstorming they could distribute them with their con- handled in the near future, they have been workshop was held for NSA representatives stituencies and contribute to the discussions shared with all other sections at the EC on 12 February in Nairobi, as part of the with common and agreed views. These doc- Somalia Unit in Nairobi. The Unit will mid-term review (MTR) of the EC Strategy uments were the SISAS, the Cotonou Infokit prepare a response, which together with for Implementation of Special Assistance to for Somalia and the workshop agenda. comments from Brussels on the Joint Somalia (SISAS). It was attended by eight The meeting consisted of a number of Annual Report on aid programming, will NSA representatives (four from the NSA presentations on the MTR process, the form the basis of a follow up consultation Forum and four from local NGOs, networks SISAS, the evaluation of the EC programme with Somali NSAs in the near future. This on human rights, women, and education. carried out in 2003 and a summary of consultation is meant to be the first activity Programme officers from Horn Relief and initiatives funded in the civil society/NSA of a project specifically designed to support Saferworld, and three members of the EC sector in Somalia. The rest of the day was the Somali NSA Forum. Delegation in Nairobi (Somalia Unit) also dedicated to discussing these issues and to Whereas before the consultations took part. The Executive Committee of the getting views from the group on the role between EC and NSA were rather ad hoc, Somali Business Council was invited but civil society can play vis-à-vis the emerging the project will establish a mechanism for was not able to send representatives to the authorities in Somalia. future dialogue to plan the discussions and meeting. However, fortunately, it shared It was encouraging to note that most make them more structured. their ideas via email. participants had read the documents and Another main activity of the project will In order to have a fruitful discussion a discussed them with their constituencies be to provide training to NSA Forum number of documents were shared with the and were well prepared to discuss their members, in order to make the Forum a participants prior to the meeting, so that constituents’ views and issues of interest. more functional institution.

South Sudanese civil society and SPLM/A leaders’ dialogue

Suzanne Jambo, New Sudanese Indigenous Organization Network (NESI) and Bizuwork Ketete

With peace negotiations underway between active role in the development of a peaceful At the workshop it was once again the Government of Sudan and the Sudan and democratic Sudan. Presentations were lamented that the role and engagement of People’s Liberation Movement/Army heard from Kenyan NGOs and regional Sudanese civil society in the current peace (SPLM/A), it is imperative for civil society organisations such as IGAD, while the dis- process had been very minimal. Given the in Sudan to be proactive and be prepared cussants or panellists were mainly Sudanese, complexity of responsibilities to be for the implications of this process on their including senior officials from the SPLM/A. shouldered by civil society, there is great current and future roles. The workshop centred around confidence need to support them in organising In view of this, South Sudanese NGOs building between civil society in South dialogue amongst populations and between and umbrella networks namely New Sudan, issues of partnership between the civil society in the South and the North. Sudanese Indigenous Organization SPLM/A and civil society as well as partner- Capacity support is also needed for state Network (NESI-Network), the Federation ships between Sudanese populations, the actors in Sudan to enhance and encourage of Sudanese Civil Organizations (FOSCO) SPLM/A and civil society. Some of the key dialogue between the SPLM and other and Indigenous NGOs issues discussed during the workshop parties, as well as with South Sudanese pop- Coordinating Council (SSINCC), organised included: the forthcoming law to regulate ulations on highly important agendas such a seminar, in November 2003 to discuss the civil society in South Sudan; the need to as the interim six year period, which will challenges that will face South Sudan. support and build the capacity of civil determine the final status of South Sudan. As a follow up to this seminar, a one- society in South Sudan; the issue of ‘truth week ‘Leaders Dialogue’ workshop was and reconciliation’ once a peace agreement For a detailed report and information about the workshop please contact Suzanne Jambo at organised in Nairobi between 15–19 March is concluded; and the contentious issue of [email protected] 2004, to develop a broad-based body of civil resource/wealth sharing and security society organisations that would play an arrangements.

4 FOCUS · JUNE 2004 Improving dialogue on the Cotonou Agreement in Djibouti, Eritrea and Ethiopia

Djibouti national consultation IAG and Saferworld joint project in the the framework of the Cotonou Agreement. on Cotonou Horn of Africa. At the end of the workshop, the The meeting was the first of its kind in participants formed an interim task force Ahmed Araita Ali, General Secretary of IRIS Eritrea, and aimed to enhance knowledge for six months, whose members are Association, Cotonou Task Force member and understanding of the Cotonou representatives from nine Ethiopian civil society organisations. The participants The first Djiboutian workshop on the Agreement, including the opportunities for defined the responsibilities of the task force Cotonou Agreement was held on 7 March non-state actors participation. Thirty-nine and developed an action plan with activities 2004. This event, which was organised by representatives from local and international that the task force should undertake until a APFO, IAG and Saferworld, marked the civil society organisations, government and permanent structure is formed. official inauguration of a tripartite dialogue the EC attended the seminar. The meeting between the Djibouti Government, the was followed by a one-day workshop aimed Responsibilities European Delegation and civil society. The at civil society organisations, to discuss their r Ensuring that the task force is inclusive engagement in Eritrea and to define a workshop brought together NGOs and civil r strategy to enhance dialogue with the Raising awareness among non-state society organisations, unions, local MPs, actors on the Cotonou Agreement government representatives, private sector government and the EC Delegation. The r Engaging dialogue with the EU and the representatives, EU representatives and UN participants agreed that the next step would National Authorising Officer (NAO) agencies. A two-day seminar providing be to organise a meeting with the National Djiboutian civil society with detailed infor- Authorising Officer (NAO). r Following up different civil society mation on the provisions of the Cotonou During the seminar, the participants mapping activities Agreement was attached to the workshop. learnt about Kenyan civil society’s r Networking with sub-regional and The participation of high-level govern- experience of engaging with the EC and the regional non-state actors government in the framework of the ment representatives, such as H E r Facilitating the establishment of a Cotonou Agreement. Mahmoud Ali Youssuf, Delegate Minister permanent structure of International Co-operation, reflected the During the workshop, civil society organ- will of the government to support local isations identified the following areas that Activities NGOs’ participation in development. need to be addressed in order to enable them r Two meetings have been held at the The first of its kind in Djibouti, this to play a greater role in EU programmes: the offices of IAG to discuss how to under- meeting was an opportunity for Djiboutian lack of information and knowledge about take the following tasks: act as an NGOs to exchange their views with the Cotonou Agreement, the lack of interlocutor between NSAs and EU/NAO government and EU representatives on the resources and human expertise and the lack and organise and mobilise funds for a Cotonou Agreement but also to discuss the of networking and information sharing national NSA workshop. challenges they face. During the meeting, among civil society and the EC Delegation’s r The task force met the EU Delegation to civil society organisations agreed to improve limited capacity on civil society issues. introduce itself and explain its objectives linkages among themselves in order to Participants attending the meeting were for the next six months. selected with the aim of representing a support their activities and enhance r The task force also met the EU Delegation variety of civil society stakeholder groups information exchange with their broader and the NAO representative to discuss but the seminar should be regarded as the constituencies. The main outcome of the the 2003 Joint Annual Review (JAR) of first step in an awareness-raising process on meeting was the creation of a civil society the Country Strategy Paper and how the Cotonou Agreement that still needs to task force to act as an interlocutor with the NSAs could provide input. The EC be broadened to include more stakeholders EU and the government as part of the Delegation in Ethiopia has asked the task from across Eritrea. Cotonou Agreement and to co-ordinate force to produce a report on the JAR, civil society activities. One of the objectives which is a welcome development. of the task force will be to build and r One member of the task force attended consolidate civil society capacity in order The Ethiopian Cotonou Task the East Africa Regional NAO workshop for them to fulfil their mandates. Moreover, Force that was organised in Addis Ababa in the discussions stressed the need to enhance Sisay Gebre-Egziabher February 2004. This meeting was an the capacity of rural communities in order opportunity for the representative to for them to express their needs at the Between 3–5 November 2003 APFO, IAG share experience with other countries national level. and Saferworld held a Cotonou consulta- tion, which brought together for the first and present the task force. Contact: [email protected] time 70 Ethiopian NSAs to enhance their r Three members of the task force attended understanding of and involvement in the the regional meeting on the mid-term Cotonou Agreement. review of the CSPs held in Mombasa in Awareness-raising meeting The consultation workshop enabled par- March 2004. on Cotonou in Eritrea ticipants to learn more about the ACP-EU Contact: [email protected] Marie Duboc, Project Officer, Saferworld partnership, to identify key elements for the development of a practical immediate and On 2–3 December 2003 an awareness- medium-term strategy, to understand the raising seminar on the Cotonou Agreement EU approach to conflict prevention in ACP was organised in collaboration with the EC countries, and to share some basic skills and Delegation in Eritrea as part of the APFO, information on how to address conflict in

JUNE 2004 · FOCUS 5 Update from the EU

In February 2004, International Alert and them. The EU has recognised this and as some of the new accession countries are Saferworld published in collaboration with begun to mainstream conflict prevention a source and transit zone for weapons. the European Peace Liaison Office (EPLO) into its development policies. However Reducing the proliferation of weapons their joint annual policy report much greater conflict sensitivity needs to be requires a range of measures including Strengthening global security through applied to other areas of policy including strengthening controls on legal arms addressing the root causes of conflict: trade policy, private sector engagement, exports, reducing the demand for small Priorities for the Irish and Dutch Presidencies managing resource exploitation and arms in conflict regions and tackling illicit in 2004. The report outlines four key areas countering HIV/AIDS. Specific recommen- trafficking and organised crime. for the EU member states, officials in the dations in these areas include: 4. Engaging civil society on the European Council and the Commission to r Assessing the impact of existing and prevention of violent conflict The EU address, in order to enhance the capacity of future trade policies, including how far the EU to prevent violent conflict. is supporting civil society participation in the implementation of Economic conflict prevention through several frame- Partnership Agreements (EPAs) might 1. Linking crisis management with works, including the Cotonou Agreement, exacerbate conflict. conflict prevention The EU is making the African Union and the New Partnership significant progress in the field of crisis r Promoting transparency of payments for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). management, as witnessed by the made by European extractive companies However, the EU needs to formalise its operations carried out in the Democratic in conflict prone countries. commitment to support civil society and Republic of Congo (operation Artemis) r Acknowledging and responding to the enhance its capacity to do so by continuing and the European Police Mission in Bosnia. security implications of HIV/AIDs, to appoint staff in the EC delegations with However crisis management alone is un- specifically the close relationship between the specific responsibility of ensuring sustainable unless linked to a longer-term aids and armed conflict. dialogue between civil society, the EU and conflict prevention approach. The EU host governments. therefore needs to ensure that it more 3. Tackling weapons transfers and The report has been well received by the effectively links its security and defence organised crime The illicit trafficking, Irish Government who have made conflict policies with its conflict prevention and proliferation and misuse of small arms and prevention one of their key EU Presidency development policies. light weapons are a major source of insecur- priorities. It will also form the basis of ity and human suffering. As many EU discussions with the forthcoming Dutch 2. Addressing the root causes of member states are large arms exporters, the Presidency. In addition, the report will violent conflict As the world’s largest EU has a responsibility to develop efficient shortly be presented to the UK Government public donor of humanitarian aid, the EU arms export controls. The control of arms in the hope that it will influence the UK’s needs to ensure that its policies tackle the transfers will be an even more pressing issue policy plans ahead of their Presidency of the causes of conflict rather than exacerbate with enlargement of the European Union, EU and G8 in 2005.

Advocating conflict sensitivity European network meeting on In February 2004 a resource pack on Conflict-sensitive approaches to develop- ment, humanitarian assistance and peace- civil society participation building was published by a consortium of six NGOs, including Africa Peace Alice Hutchinson, Media and Parliamentary Officer, Saferworld Forum, Center for Conflict Prevention (Uganda), Consortium of Humanitarian findings referred to participation in the The European NGO network – European Agencies (Sri Lanka), FEWER, mid-term review (MTR) process whereas Confederation of NGOs for Relief and International Alert and Saferworld. others focussed on the initial consultations Development (CONCORD), and the UK The resource pack focuses on the need for the CSPs. development network BOND organised a for practitioners to ensure that their Overall it was found that civil society conference in Brussels entitled A reality work is conducted in a conflict-sensitive participation was greater in ACP countries check: civil society participation in practice. way. Central to the concept of conflict than in non-ACP countries (eg Bolivia and The conference enabled various NGOs from sensitivity is the need to understand the India) and that the Cotonou Agreement the North and South to make presentations context and the impact that interven- offered the best chance for increasing on how far civil society had been involved in tions have on the conflict environment participation. designing Country Strategy Papers (CSPs). in order to ensure that they have a The meeting was well attended by repre- For example BOND’s research looked at positive effect on peace. sentatives from the European Commission, participation in Kenya, Senegal, Bolivia and The production of the resource pack and EU civil society and was followed with a India, whilst the Belgian NGO 11.11.11 involved the assessment of existing further conference in . commented on Rwanda, Burundi and conflict-sensitive practices.Consultations Congo. were undertaken in Uganda and Kenya Saferworld’s presentation on the Horn of To obtain a copy of the BOND report with representatives from government Africa, which drew upon the findings of the Implementers or Actors, Reviewing Civil and civil society to receive feedback on meeting held alongside the ACP-EU Joint Society’s role in European Community the content of the resource pack. development assistance in Kenya Senegal, Parliamentary Assembly (see p3) offered a Bolivia and India go to The resource pack is available at particularly timely contribution since the www.bond.org.uk/pubs/eu/impactor.pdf www.conflictsensitivity.org

6 FOCUS · JUNE 2004 Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict – Update from the Horn

Bizuwork Ketete, Regional Co-ordinator, APFO, IAG, Saferworld and Florence Mpaayei, Nairobi Peace Initiative – Africa

As part of his attempt to develop a new Africa. In 2003 they organised the first two r The Center for Conflict Resolution global consensus in tackling the world’s meetings for the Horn of Africa region in (CECORE) and Peace and Development security challenges, UN Secretary General Nairobi. The regional structures and initia- Network are initiators for Uganda and Kofi Annan has called upon civil society tors were reviewed in November 2003 and Kenya respectively. across the world to develop a more effective the following developments were made: The European regional conference took response to preventing violent conflict. r Bizuwork Ketete, the regional place in Dublin, Ireland from 31 March to Last year the worldwide conflict prevention co-ordinator of the APFO, IAG and 2 April to coincide with the Irish presidency community joined to form the ‘Global Saferworld project has taken of the EU and resulted in the development Partnership for the Prevention of Armed responsibility for Ethiopia. of a ‘Dublin Action Agenda on the Conflict’. This network is in the process of r Prevention of Violent Conflict’. The Dublin holding 15 regional conferences across the IAG is the sub-regional focal point for the Horn of Africa and is the initiator for meeting was also attended by all the regional world to develop an International Action initiators, including NPI-Africa. Each of the Agenda to present to the UN Secretary Somalia, Djibouti and North Sudan, which were not represented at the meeting. 15 regions also aim to develop action General in 2005. agendas, which will eventually culminate in r The New Sudan Council of Churches is Nairobi Peace Initiative Africa (NPI- a final report for the UN Secretary General. Africa) is leading and facilitating the the focal point for Southern Sudan. regional process for the Horn of Africa, the r Eritrea is represented by Citizens for Contacts: ECCP www.conflict-prevention.net Great Lakes region and part of Central Peace. NPI [email protected]

Ministerial Review of the Nairobi Declaration

Alex Nyago Project Officer, Africa Peace Forum

The second Ministerial Review Conference contribution of civil society organisations so, the capacity of law enforcement of the Nairobi Declaration on the prolifera- in supporting the implementation of the agencies will be enhanced through tion of illicit small arms and light weapons Nairobi Declaration and raising awareness training curricula and the development (SALW) was held on 20–21 April 2004 in on the dangers of the proliferation and of a manual for co-ordination between Nairobi. The meeting resulted in the trafficking of SALW. National Focal Points (NFPs) and the adoption of two documents that will both Each state reaffirmed its commitment to Nairobi Secretariat. There was also a need strengthen regulations and practices on tackle the trafficking and proliferation of to improve the capacity of civil society to small in the region: The SALW in the region by undertaking the support the NFPs by enlarging the Ministerial Declaration for Improved following actions: implementation of the training curricula Capacity for Action on SALW in the Great for civil society. r Implement the Nairobi Protocol for the Lakes Region and the Horn of Africa; and Prevention, Control, and Reduction of r Build broader support for the Nairobi the Nairobi Protocol. Small Arms and Light Weapons in the Declaration by inviting neighbouring The Ministerial Conference was attended Great Lakes Region and the Horn of states to endorse the Nairobi Declaration by ministers for foreign affairs and repre- Africa and ratify it by 31 December 2004. and the Nairobi Protocol. In particular sentatives of the members of the Nairobi The Nairobi Secretariat will develop and the Republic of Seychelles formally Declaration: Burundi, Democratic Republic implement the work plan; promoting the approved the Nairobi Declaration during of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Eritrea, rapid ratification of the protocol by the the meeting. In recognition of the impor- Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sudan, Uganda states. tant role that civil society organisations and the United Republic of Tanzania. Civil have played in support of the Nairobi r Consolidate the Nairobi Secretariat’s role society organisations from the region and Declaration, the Nairobi Secretariat was as the co-ordinating agency of the imple- international NGOs were also invited. mandated to establish a sub-regional civil mentation of the Nairobi Declaration The Ministerial Declaration acknow- society dialogue forum to co-ordinate and the Nairobi Protocol, as well as the ledged that the problem of illicit SALW pro- and exchange information between civil leading sub-regional body for SALW liferation in the region has been exacerbated society, NFPs and the Nairobi Secretariat. by internal political strife, terrorist activities action in the Great Lakes region and the and extreme poverty. The ministers further Horn of Africa. Towards this end, an The Nairobi Secretariat was mandated to emphasised the link between the eradication inter-governmental entity, the Regional assist the region in preparing for the UN of the proliferation of illicit SALW and Centre on Small Arms (RECSA), will be Interim Ministerial Meeting of 2005 leading sustainable development, and stressed the established to ensure co-ordinated to the UN Review Conference of 2006, and need to put in place structures to promote implementation of the Nairobi to hold a further Ministerial Review democracy, observance of human rights Declaration and the Nairobi Protocol. Conference to oversee the implementation and the rule of law as well was economic r Improve the sub-regional and national and development of this declaration in recovery and growth. capacity to prevent and control the 2006. The conference also welcomed the problem of SALW in the region. To do JUNE 2004 · FOCUS 7 Publications Contacts

Seminar and roundtable reports Strengthening global security through Africa Peace Forum Mid-term reviews 2004: priorities from addressing the root causes of conflicts: PO Box 76621 African civil society, influencing Country Priorities for the Irish and Dutch Nairobi Strategy Papers to advance poverty presidencies in 2004, International Alert Kenya and Saferworld publication, 2004. reduction and conflict prevention: Tel: (+254) 20 574096 report of the regional seminar, Addis Ababa, Research on the mid-term review process Fax: (+254) 20 561357 February 2004, Africa Peace Forum, in the Horn of Africa, Africa Peace Forum, Email: [email protected] Eurostep, InterAfrica Group and Saferworld InterAfrica Group and Saferworld www.amaniafrika.org publication, 2004. publication, forthcoming. InterAfrica Group Understanding the ACP-EU Partnership Pastoral conflicts and small arms: Agreement (the Cotonou Agreement), an The Kenya-Uganda border region, Kennedy PO Box 1631 awareness-raising seminar for Somali/land Mkutu, Saferworld publication, 2003. Addis Ababa civil society/non-state actors: report of the Ethiopia Enhancing the capacity of the European Hargeissa seminar, April 2002, Africa Peace Tel: (+251) 1 635806 Union to foster peace and stability in the Forum, InterAfrica Group and Saferworld Fax: (+251) 1 635804 publication, 2003. Horn of Africa, Africa Peace Forum, InterAfrica Group, and Saferworld Email: [email protected] publication, 2003. www.interafrica.org Cotonou national consultation reports Report of the Djibouti national Saferworld Other relevant publications consultation on the Cotonou Agreement, The Grayston Centre Djibouti, March 2004, Africa Peace Forum, Conflict-sensitive approaches to 28 Charles Square InterAfrica Group and Saferworld development, humanitarian assistance London N1 6HT and peacebuilding, a resource pack, publication, forthcoming. Tel: (+44) 20 7324 4646 Africa Peace Forum, Center for Conflict Fax: (+44) 20 7324 4647 Report of the Ethiopian national Resolution, Consortium of Humanitarian consultation on the Cotonou Agreement, Agencies, Forum on Early Warning and Email: [email protected] Addis Ababa, November 2003, Africa Peace Early Response, International Alert and www.saferworld.org.uk Forum, InterAfrica Group and Saferworld Saferworld publication, 2004. publication, forthcoming. All the publications are available online: EU Jargon buster www.saferworld.org.uk Policy reports ACP African Caribbean and Pacific CSP Country Strategy Paper Strengthening small arms controls: EC European Commission An audit of small arms control legislation EU European Union in the Great Lakes region and the Horn of MTR Mid-term review Africa, Catherine Flew and Angus Urquhart, NAO National Authorising Officer SaferAfrica and Saferworld publication, NIP National Indicative Programme 2004. NSA Non-state actors ✄

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