in west africa in west africa

183 Pages·2016·1.09 MB·English

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Practitioners’ Perspective
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CIVIL SOCIETY AND DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA
LA SOCIETE CIVIL ET LE DEVELOPPEMENT EN AFRIQUE
DE L’OUEST
Practitioners’ Perspective
La Perspective des Praticiens
A Regional Research Commissioned by
WEST AFRICA CIVIL SOCIETY INSTITUTE (WACSI)
With support from
Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA)
Copyright © WACSI 2015
Civil Society and Development in West Africa:
Practitioners’ Perspective
External Reviewer
Benjamin Olagboye
Technical Support
Charles Kojo Vandyck Head, Capacity Development
Isaac Hubert Athur Head, Knowledge Management
Titilope Mamattah Former Research & Documentation Officer
Franck Arthur Sombo Head, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Jimm Chick Fomunjong Head, Communication and Information
Harrison Owusu Boakye Project Officer
Bela Kouakou Emile Former Intern
Olalekan Michael Aina Former Intern
Anna-Riikka Kauppinen Former Intern
Civil Society and Development in West Africa:
Practitioners’ Perspective
Copyright © WACSI 2015
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner
whatsoever without written permission of the institute except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, write to:
West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI)
No. 9, Bingo Street, East Legon
P. O. Box AT 1956, Achimota
Accra, Ghana
Email: [email protected]
Tel: [phone]
Cite as: WACSI (2015) Civil Society and Development in West Africa: Practitioners’
Perspective. Accra, Ghana.
Disclaimers:
WACSI accepts no responsibility for suitability of any materials submitted by the
contributors of this publication. WACSI assumes no responsibility or liability for errors
or inaccuracies. Contributors accept all responsibility for opinions expressed. Use of this
research report constitutes acceptance and understanding of these disclaimers.
ISBN 978-9988-1-7777-5
Designed and printed by Pigment Company Limited
ABSTRACT
In West Africa, CSOs have evolved and gained important recognition in public policy
debates and contribution to democratic development. Civil society has contributed in
varied ways to good governance and socio-economic development. Specifically, CSOs have
intervened in elections and governance processes, conflict prevention and management,
humanitarian crisis, health and sanitation challenges (Ebola outbreak in the region).
Even though CSOs are contributing significantly to development, very little has been
highlighted and documented to demonstrate their achievements and contributions to
the regions development.
This research report seeks to present a potpourri of existing and emerging issues on civil
society’s contribution to development in West Africa. Its sixteen chapters are each written
by civil society practitioners actively working in the field and represent perspectives of all
the fifteen countries. The book has two main objectives: to identify, gather, document, and
share civil society’s contribution to development as well as effectively use the evidence
to shape public policy making in the region. The main priority is to present evidence
that strongly reflects issues on the ground that would challenge preconceptions, while
still maintaining a relevance to public policy and practice. What the authors have done
is to individually capture the historical evolution of civil society, its contributions to
development and propose concepts that will frame the development discourse in West
Africa.
The overall aim of this research report is to move forward the documentation of the
contributions of civil society to development across the region. It also seeks to open up
the space for continuous discussions by showing the intrinsic value of civil society, using
evidence drawn from each of the fifteen countries focusing on contributions to good
governance, democracy, and sustainable development.
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PARTNERS
WACSI
The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) was created by the Open Society Initiative
for West Africa (OSIWA) to reinforce the institutional and operational capacities of civil
society in the region. WACSI also serves as a resource centre for training, research and
documentation, experience sharing and political dialogue for CSOs in West Africa.
www.wacsi.org
Vision
WACSI envisions a West Africa of efficient, effective, and influential civil society
functioning as strategic partners for democracy, good governance and sustainable
national development.
Mission
WACSI is a not-for-profit organisation that seeks to strengthen the institutional and
operational capacities of civil society organisations through capacity strengthening
programmes for increased and effective policy engagement, and the promotion of
development, good governance and democratic values in West Africa.
OSIWA
OSIWA plays a dual role in the region as both an advocate and grant-maker by enabling
itself to be agenda-setters both within and alongside other organizations working on the
ground. The Foundation works through a unique combination of grant making, advocacy,
partnership building and technical assistance.
For example, we help support the production of publications and research studies; run
advocacy campaigns using creative means; and provide institutional support to partners
on the ground. While most funders either tend to focus exclusively on civil society or
governmental institutions, OSIWA has carved its niche through a two-pronged strategic
focus: strengthening both democratic institutions and structures and civic participation
in decision-making. There are several areas where, over the years, OSIWA has produced
strong results.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
This publication on Civil Society and Development in West Africa has travelled a lengthy
course and WACSI is indebted to many for their patience, dedication and tireless efforts
towards this endeavor.
The first bouquet of appreciation goes to the sixteen authors: Ebenezer Obadare
(background, Nigeria); Gustave Assah (Benin); Coulibaly Siaka (Burkina Faso); Evora Iolanda
& Suzano Costa (Cape Verde); Traore Wodjofini (Cote d’Ivoire); Madi Jobarteh (Gambia);
Raymond Atuguba (Ghana); Oumar Baldet (Guinea); Miguel De Barros (Guinea-Bissau);
Jasper Cummeh & Eddie Jarwolo (Liberia); Abdou Togola (Madi); Alou Mahaman Tidjani
(Niger); Oka Obono (Nigeria); Ibrahima Aidara (Senegal); Aisha Fofana Ibrahim & Nemata
Majek-Walker (Sierra Leone); and Lucky Antoinette Mbrou (Togo), from all the 15 ECOWAS
member states for staying with WACSI through this journey and inspite of some bumps
along the way, patiently working with the team to birth this publication. Appreciation
also goes to Anna-Riika Kauppinen, former WACSI intern, for her insightful contributions
in the early days of conceptualisation; to Benjamin Olagboye (External Reviewer), for his
contribution in reviewing the first drafts from the authors; to Titilope Adjaye-Mamattah
(former WACSI Research and Documentation Officer) for her editing contributions, and to
the WACSI team: Charles Vandyck (Head, Capacty Development, WACSI); Franck Sombo
(Head, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, WACSI); and Isaac Hubert Arthur (Head,
Knowledge Management, WACSI); for their tenacity and hard work in ensuring that this
publication, that speaks out of the practice of civil society actors on the role of the sector
in development in all the 15 ECOWAS member states, becomes a reality.
Finally, to the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), that provided the financial
support for this publication, WACSI acknowledges and is grateful for their continuous
support and partnership that has inured to the benefit of civil society in the sub region.
To you all, Ayekoo (well done), and accept WACSI’s heartfelt gratitude.
Nana Asantewaa Afadzinu,
Executive Director
WACSI
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ABOUT THE CONTRIBUTORS
Ebenezer Obadare (Introduction) is Comparada, mestre em Ciência Política
an associate professor of sociology at the e tem uma especialização em Eleições e
University of Kansas, edited The Handbook Sistemas Eleitorais. Foi editor dos livros
of Civil Society in Africa (Springer, 2014). “Entre África e a Europa: Nação, Estado e
His next book, Humor, Silence and Civil Democracia em Cabo verde” e “As Relações
Society in Nigeria, will be published in Externas de Cabo Verde: (Re) Leituras
2016 by the University of Rochester Press. Contemporâneas”
Gustave Assah (Benin) est le Traore Wodjofini (Cote d’Ivoire) est
président du Conseille d’Administration de un expert consultant en droits humains et
Social Watch-Benin. Il est le président de démocratie. Il est le Président du Club Union
la Commission civique d’Afrique (TICAD Africaine-Cote d’Ivoire et coordonnateur
Pan-Africain reseau de la société civil General de la Coalition de Société
pour le pledoyer en faveur de l’aide au Civile pour la Paix et le Développement
developpement). Démocratique en Côte d’Ivoire (COSOPCI).
Coulibaly Siaka (Burkina Faso) Madi Jorbateh (Gambia) is a civil
est un juriste et analyste politique, society activist and the program manager
activiste de la société civile engagé pour la of TANGO. He is a development worker
gouvernance politique, les droits humains with 20 years of experience in media and
et l’environnement. Membre de plusieurs development work including promotion
organisations de la société civile au and defense of human rights and civic
Burkina Faso, en Afrique et dans le monde. awareness. Having worked with the media
for about a decade, Madi spent the rest
Iolanda Evora (Cape Verde) of his professional career in development
Iolanda Évora é psicóloga social e organizations in the Gambia at senior and
investigadora associada do CEsA/CSG policy making levels with extensive work
do ISEG, Universidade de Lisboa. Tem in strategic planning, capacity building,
conduzido pesquisa sobre migração, gender and social work in general.
diáspora, género e processos sociais de
trabalho. Co-editou os livros “Género e Raymond Atuguba (Ghana) teaches
Migrações Cabo-Verdianas”, “Trabalho, at the Law School of the University
sociabilidade e geração de rendimento no of Ghana and is Team Leader of LADA
espaço lusófono” e “ As Ciências Sociais Institute, a civil society organisation. He is
em Cabo Verde. Temáticas, abordagens e co-founder and former Executive Director
perspectivas teóricas”. of the non-profit, Legal Resources Centre-
Ghana, and has served on the Boards of
Suzano Costa (Cape Verde) é many civil society organisations, including
investigador do Observatório Político Ghana Integrity Initiative, the Ghana
e Doutorando em Ciência Política Chapter of Transparency International.
pela Universidade Nova de Lisboa. É He is a former Executive Secretary to the
licenciado em Ciência Política e Relações President of Ghana.
Internacionais, pós-graduado em Política
viii
Oumar Baldet (Guinea) est un civile et la participation citoyenne au
consultant international et fondateur du Niger en Afrique. Appuie à divers titres
cabinet Peace Support basé à Genève. plusieurs organisations de la société
Il a été Directeur pays de International civile en alimentant leurs actions par nos
Alert en Guinée entre 2007 et 2012, et travaux et recherches et en dispensant
y a conduit plusieurs projets de paix, des séances de formation.
de droits de l’homme et de sécurité
Oka Obono, (Nigeria) is a Professor
humaine. Il a également été Country
of Sociology, University of Ibadan and
Representative de Terre des hommes au
Director, Centre for Peace and Conflict
Sud Soudan (2013-2014).
Studies (CEPACS).
Miguel De Barros (Guiné-Bissau)
Ibrahima Aidara (Sénégal) has
é Sociólogo, Investigador Sénior do
long standing experience in working
Instituto Nacional de Estudos e Pesquisas
with CSO around the world, particularly
da Guiné-Bissau – INEP (Guiné-Bissau)
in Africa. Strong advocate for the
e ainda membro do Conselho para
promotion of social accountability and
o Desenvolvimento de Pesquisa em
meaningful participation of citizens and
Ciências Sociais em África – CODESRIA
organized groups in policy making that
(Senegal).
affect their lives and livelihoods. Aidara
Eddie Jarwolo (Liberia) has over 15 has contributed in strengthening CSO
years of professional experience serving capacities in various issues related to
in the society sector of Liberia. He is the economic governance and institutional
executive director of NAYMOTE-Partner sustainability.
for Democratic Development, a national
Aisha Fofana Ibrahim (Sierra
civil society organization and think-
Leone) is a feminist scholar and
thank promoting citizens participation
researcher and gender equality activist.
in democracy, elections and governance
She lectures at the institute for gender
in Liberia.
research and documentation at Fourah
Jasper Cummeh (Liberia) was a Bay College and is the current president
Senior Policy Director Actions for Genuine of the 50/50 group.
Democratic Alternatives – AGENDA.
Nemata Majek-Walker (Sierra
Abdou Togola (Mali) travaille Leone) is the founder and first president
actuellement à la Banque africaine de of the 50/50 Group, a non-partisan
développement au Mali. Il a plus de 30 ans advocacy group for parity and equal
d’expérience avec diverses organisations representation
dont des ONG et la Banque mondiale.
Mbrou Lucky Antoinette (Togo) is
Son travail avec les ONG, pendant plus de
a Master’s Degree Holder in Law and an
10 ans, était essentiellement concentré
active activist in Human Rights. During
sur le renforcement des capacités de la
the past ten years, she has worked
société civile et l’élaboration de projets
with many national, regional and
générateurs de revenu.
international civil society organizations
Alou Mahaman Tidjani (Niger) est as a capacity builder on various thematic.
un professeur de science politique, est l She is a Board Member of the WANEP
auteur de plusieurs articles sur la société Regional.
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Background on Civil Society and Development in West Africa:
1
Issues, Problems and Doubts that Just Won’t Go Away
Ebenezer Obadare
La société civile au Bénin: enjeux, défis et perspectives
11
Gustave Assah
De la disponibilité à l’accessibilité des ressources: rôle de la
société civile à la promotion du développement durable au
19
Burkina Faso
Siaka Coulibaly
Sociedade Civil e Desenvolvimento em Cabo Verde
29
Iolanda Évora & Suzano Costa
Réflexions sur la société civile en Côte d’Ivoire: enjeux, défis
41
institutionnels et sensibilités post-crise
Traore Wodjo Fini
Strengthening the citizens’ voices: strategic engagement
towards national development in The Gambia 57
Madi Jobarteh
Civil Society: The Key to Ghana’s democratic transformation
and consolidation 69
Raymond A. Atuguba