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Implementation of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development Policy in Africa
I. BACKGROUND
The AU Executive Council and the rest of the African Union structure, including the African Union commission, have always encouraged the participation by civil society organisations and other stakeholders in the implementation of the African Union policies. this participation has been at various levels of the work plans, from conceptualisation and development of policies to implementation.
In pursuit of this practice, the AU executive council and the rest of the au structures have been engaging stakeholders on a number of challenges facing the continent. The challenge of post-conflict reconstruction has been one such issue. Faced with critical demands for material and human resources to mitigate the challenges facing countries emerging from conflict, it is evident that the approach would have to be pluralistic in character. for this reason, therefore, the commission has now convened in Lusaka, Zambia, on 16 – 18 July 2007 this workshop on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) in order to exchange ideas and collectively work out the appropriate means and ways of mitigating post-conflict challenges.
II. RATIONALE
At its 7th ordinary session held in Sirte, Libya, from 28 June to 2 July 2005, the executive council adopted decision ex.cl/dec.228 (vii) on the report of the chairperson of the commission on the conflict situation in Africa. In this respect, the executive council urged the commission to develop an au policy on post-conflict reconstruction based on the relevant provisions of the peace and Security Council protocol and the experience gained so far in the continent.
In pursuit of this mandate the commission undertook several meetings, i.e. The 4th brainstorming retreat of members of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) and other member states represented in Addis Ababa was convened in Durban, South Africa, from 4 to 5 September 2005; the technical experts meeting on PCRD from 7 to 8 February 2006, in Addis Ababa; and the meeting of governmental experts was convened from 8 to 9 June 2006 in Addis Ababa.
The seriousness with which the AU has been concerned with the challenges in post-countries was further highlighted by the PSC’s 39th meeting, held on 30 September 2005, at which the 4th brainstorming retreat report was endorsed and the ministerial support for the PCRD framework document at the Banjul, the Gambia summit in June-July 2006 and the final position taken by the executive council. The PCRD framework became au policy upon its endorsement by the executive council at its 9th ordinary session with the adoption of the decision ex.cl/dec.302 (ix).
Since the adoption of the PCRD policy, some meetings at various levels have been undertaken with a view of implementing the policy and decision. Notable of these have been a one-day workshop of experts on 26 September 2006 to review a draft strategy for the implementation of the policy and decision. The meeting was attended by Representatives of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the African Development Bank (AfDB), some members of the CSOs and the commission. On 12 and 13 April 2007, the commission held a CSO consultative meeting to discuss the role of CSOs in the operationalisation and implementation of the policy and decision on 12 and 13 march 2007 and discuss the further engagement of wider civil society in the matter. Later on 17 April 2007 there was a briefing session of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) on the progress made in the implementation of the policy.
III. OBJECTIVES
The objective of the workshop is to obtain a buy-in to the implementation of the PCRD policy and decision by the various actors and stakeholders (i.e. Member states, recs, the au commission, the private sector and CSOs) in the mitigation of post-conflict challenges on the African continent.
The workshop is expected to address the following issues and arrive at a common understanding:
Locate the PCRD policy and agenda within the African vision of renaissance and the specific African peace and security context;
Examine the role, mandate, successes and challenges of CSOs in reconstruction efforts on the continent thus far;
Consider the question of coordination and coherence, particularly with regard to CSOs;
Draw lessons from experiences at national, regional, and continental levels;
Consider the issue of resource mobilisation, sources of resources and the challenges faced by countries emerging from conflict;
Address some of the obstacles to civil society participation in PCRD processes, including determining the appropriate level of decentralisation and/or engagement;
Capacity building and retention for CSOs;
Mobilisation of resources; and
Competition amongst CSOs.
IV. EXPECTED RESULTS
The workshop is expected to achieve the following results:
A program for enhancing the role of the multiplicity of actors in the implementation of the PCRD policy and decision;
The development of a framework and mechanism for cooperation which would enable the actors to contribute the PCRD policy and decision;
The identification of core issues on which joint actions can be planned and implemented; and
The establishment of a follow-up mechanism to monitor the implementation of the workshop results.
V. PARTICIPATION
There will be at least 100 participants comprising representatives of African CSOs representatives of selected international CSOs representatives of African private business representatives of recs representatives of African countries emerging from conflict and selected members of the AU commission.
VI. CONFERENCE ORGANISATION
The workshop is organised by the Peace and Security Department of the AU Commission with the support of COMESA and the Organisation for Social Science Research in Eastern and Southern Africa (OSSREA).
The deliberation of the workshop will be on the basis of thematic areas, and background papers will be prepared in advance on specific topics within the themes identified.
The deliberations will be in plenary and working groups. Resource persons chosen for their expertise will be invited to lead the discussions as presenters of issue papers, or as discussants or commentators.
The workshop will be conducted in English, French, Arabic, Portuguese and Kiswahili.
Under the AU Commission through the Department of Peace and Security overall responsibility and coordination, the workshop secretariat will comprise of a team drawn from COMESA and OSSREA.
VII. CONFERENCE VENUE AND DATE
The workshop will be held at the COMESA conference centre in Lusaka, Zambia, from 16 to 18 July 2007.
VIII. Conference Proceedings
The workshop proceedings will be published by OSSREA as soon as possible after the Lusaka meetings and upon publication will be officially handed over to the au peace and security department at an appropriate date.