Study on the ACP Civil Society Forum

66 Pages·2016·1.52 MB·English

by  Welmoed Koekebakker

Stud y on the ACP Civil Society Forum

Framework Contract BENEF 2009
Lot 7- Governance and Home Affairs
EuropeAid/127054/C/SER/Multi

Specific Contract n°2012/310569

FINAL REPORT – August 2013

Project financed by Project implemented by Italtrend C&T SpA
European Union

Governance~20 Consortium, in association with:

AAM Management Information Consulting - Adam Smith International - Assemblée Nationale - Association Internationale des Maires Francophones -
Centre for European Security Studies - Centre for Public Reform - Democracy Reporting International - France Coopération Internationale - G4S Risk
Management Limited - GRM International - International Human Rights Network - International NGO Training and Research Centre - Internews Europe -
IPS Institute – Italtrend - Prisonniers Sans Frontières - Risk & Co - Servicios Integrales de Contratación e Intermediación Dominus - Utrecht University.
The content of this publication is the sole
responsibility of the SOFRECO Governance ~ 20
Consortium and can in no way be taken to reflect
the views of the European Union.
The ACP Civil Society Forum

Study

Final Report

Welmoed E. Koekebakker

August, 2013
Study on the ACP Civil Society Forum Final Report

Table of contents
Acronyms ii
Executive Summary iii
1. Introduction 1
2. Methodology 2
3. The ACP Civil Society Forum, ACP and EU 5
The ACP Civil Society Forum 5
ACP and ACP Civil Society Forum 5
Recognition of the pivotal role of Civil Society Organisations 5
The EU Policy Framework: strengthening support to CSOs 6
Civil Society Forums and EU support 7
4. Findings 8
A. The ACP Civil Society Forum 8
1. Organizational structure 8
2. Governance 9
3. Funding and relation to ACP 10
4. Genuine civil society representation 11
5. Activities 11
6. Modalities of communication and coordination with(in) the member associations 13
7. Representativeness 14
8. Overall Relevance of the Forum for its member organisations 15
B. The Member Organisations 15
1. ACP CSF Member organisations: characteristics 15
2. ACP CSF Member organisations: Governance, Management, Accountability 16
3. Member organisations: Priority areas, activities, impact dimensions 17
4. Analysis of relations among organisations 20
5. Analysis of relations with key national and external stakeholders 21
5. Conclusions 25
Annexes 1
1. Terms of Reference 1
2. Time schedule and Itinerary 5
3. List of Literature and Sources 8
4. List of persons interviewed 14
5. Inception Report, Study on the ACP CSF 16
6. Survey: Member organisations of the ACP CSF - Questionnaire 17
7. Inventory of Factsheets on ACP CSF Member organisations 18
8. Inventory of Best Practices, ACP CSF National Focal Points. Outcome from Survey 19
9. Impact Areas 24
10. Main Regional networks in which ACP CSF members collaborate 26

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Study on the ACP Civil Society Forum Final Report

Map of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) member nations (June, 2013)
Source: Wikimedia.

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ACP Civil Society Forum: 3 Core Identities
See Conclusions

ACP Civil Society Forum: main activities of the member organisations
see paragraph on ACP CSF member organisations

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ACRONYMS
AAA Accra Agenda for Action – Agreement, Third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, 2008
ACP Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States
ACP CSF Civil Society Forum of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States
Busan Agreement, Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, 2011
CARICOM Caribbean Community
CARIFORUM ACP Subgroup of the 15 Caribbean states with the Dominican Republic
CEDEAO Communauté Économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (ECOWAS)
CEMAC Communauté Économique et Monétaire de l'Afrique Centrale
CIVICUS World Alliance for Citizen Participation
COMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
CONCORD European NGO Confederation for Relief and Development
CS Civil Society
CSF Civil Society Forum
CSI Civil Society Index
CSO Civil Society Organisation
CSR Corporate Social Responsibility
DAC Development Assistance Committee (OECD)
DEVCO Development and Cooperation – Europeaid
EACSOF East African Civil Society Organizations' Forum
EC European Commission
ECHO European Community Humanitarian Office
ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States
EDF European Development Fund
EEAS European External Action Service
EEC European Economic Community
EESC European Economic and Social Committee
EPA European Partnership Agreements
EU European Union
FOSCAO Forum des Organisations de la Société Civile de l’Afrique de l’Ouest
FTA Free Trade Agreements
GCAP Global Call to Action against Poverty
GDP Gross domestic product
IATI International Aid Transparency Initiative
ICT Information communication technology
IFP International Forum of national NGO Platforms
INGO International non-governmental organisation
JPA Joint Parliamentary Assembly
MDGs Millennium Development Goals
MTR Mid-term review
NAO National Authorising Officer
NGO Non-governmental organisation
NSA Non-State Actor
OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
Paris Agreement, Paris High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, 2005
PPP Public-private partnership
RAO Regional Authorising Officer
REPAOC Réseau des Plates-Formes d’ONG d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Centre
REPONGAC Réseau des Plates-Formes d’ONG d’Afrique Centrale
PIANGO Pacific Islands Association of NGOs
PRNGO Pacific Islands Regional Non-governmental Organizations
SACU Southern African Customs Union
SADC-CNGO Southern African Development Community - Council of Non-Governmental Organisations
SDGs Sustainable development goals
SME Small and Medium Enterprises
ToR Terms of reference
UEMOA West African Economic and Monetary Union
WTO World Trade Organization
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The ACP Civil Society Forum was established in 2001 to give effect to the Cotonou Agreement.
The Cotonou Agreement stipulates that non-State actors including civil society organisations should be
informed and consulted on ACP-EU cooperation policies and be involved in the political dialogue. The
Cotonou Agreement mentions several specific areas of involvement of civil society organisations.

In 2013 the ACP Secretariat and the European Commission commissioned a study on the ACP Civil Society
Forum. The overall objective of this study is to provide the ACP Secretariat and the European Commission
with information related to the ACP Civil Society Forum and its member organisations. Its Specific Objectives
are:
1. Analysis of the internal structure of the Forum – a qualitative analysis
2. Inventory of the organisations with a fact sheet per member organisation.
3. Analysis of the relations among the organisations.
4. Analysis of the relations with key national and external stakeholders.
This report presents the outcome of the study. It contains an in-depth analysis of the ACP Civil Society
Forum – its structure, internal functioning, its strengths and weaknesses, communication, achievements,
external and internal constraints. It contains a detailed analysis of the member organisations that form the
constituencies of the Forum. Their interventions are highlighted, and successful examples of their
interventions are compiled and documented in a separate ‘inventory of case studies of best practices’.
Three research tools were the main sources of data collection: 1. a web based Survey; 2. Skype interviews
with 43 member organisations, and 3. the production of the Inventory of Fact Sheets. These sources
provided a wealth of information on the National Focal Points who, as is evidenced in the study, each in their
respective national contexts play a pivotal role in strengthening Civil Society.

METHODOLOGY
This study made use of established methods for evaluation of Civil Society Forums.
The tool and methods included:
1. Desk study
2. Interviews with ACP CSF management,
3. Field visits to member organisations in the 6 core regions,
4. Interviews / telephone discussions with 43 member organisations,
5. Interviews with 12 external stakeholders (Skype, email, field visits),
6. an in-depth web-based Survey,
7. Preparation of an Inventory of Fact Sheets for each member organisation.
Triangulation of methods of data collection has been sought throughout the study. The study used a
combination of qualitative and quantitative assessment methods.

SURVEY
The Survey covered 52 questions pertaining to the ACP CSF as well as to member organisations; they cover
facts as well as perceptions; multiple-choice and open questions; quantitative as well as qualitative
indicators.
The questionnaire was made available in French and English. The Survey was distributed through the ACP
CSF internet network.
There were several obstacles impeding response to the Survey, mostly related to access to internet. It was
particularly difficult to reach member organisations in the Pacific. Alternate ways were found to contact
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organisations that did not respond. In spite of obstacles, most organisations successfully submitted the
survey.
Out of a potential response of 57 organisations, 49 responded to the survey. The response exceeds
expectations (a minimum of 20 had been anticipated) and may be seen as an indicator for the level of
motivation of the member organisations.

FACT SHEETS
One component of the Study is an Inventory of Fact sheets on all members organisations of the Forum,
providing factual information on main characteristics of the organisations (internal structure, activities,
communication, governance, accountability, and for each organization a case study of Best Practices).
Fact sheets were prepared in English and French, depending on the preference of the member organisation.
All communication took place in two languages. The Inventory is made available in two versions: one in
English and one in French. 54 organisations have validated the factsheets.
The Inventory of Fact Sheets on the ACP CSF Member organisations is an Annex to the main Report.

KEY FINDINGS
The ACP CSF and ‘Cotonou’
- The ACP Civil Society Forum reflects and embodies the spirit of the Cotonou Agreement.
- Cotonou, The Paris Declaration, the Accra Agenda and the Busan Declaration explicitly refer to Civil
Society Organisations as independent development actors in their own right.

The ACP CSF and ACP
- The ACP established the ACP Civil Society Forum as the official platform of the African, Caribbean and
Pacific Civil Society Organisations and NGO Networks for the ACP-EU Cooperation since 2001,
confirming the formal status of the ACP CSF as an “all-ACP Civil Society Forum”.
- The ACP Secretariat presented the Plan of Action, Declaration and the Report of the first Forum to the
ACP Council of Ministers through the Committee of Ambassadors and these documents were endorsed
by the 27th ACP-EU Council of Ministers Meeting in June, 2002.
- The ACP has taken charge of the ACP Civil Society Forum from the start. ACP Secretariat authorized,
funded and (co-)organized the 3 Forum meetings that have taken place: 2001, 2006, 2009. The Forum
meetings were funded through intra-ACP EDF funds.

ACP Civil Society Forum
- The performance of the ACP CSF shows a mixed picture, with, in terms of performance indicators,
strength and progress in some areas (organizational structure, realizing genuine Civil Society
membership, representativeness, communication network) and stagnation under-utilized potential in
other areas (activities in relation to objectives, implementation of Forum meetings).

Internal structure and management
- Its internal structure is appropriate to its identity as an international network and to its objectives.
- ACP Civil Society Forum member organisations are formally designated as the National Focal Points for
the ACP CSF in their respective countries.
- Since 2001, the ACP CSF has gradually developed its governance structure. This included, apart from
an effective management structure, transparent guidelines on decision-making and democratic
procedures for election of the chairperson and regional focal points.
- The ACP CSF Bureau consists of a core team of highly qualified civil society leaders, knowledgeable in
their particular sector of expertise, as confirmed by external stakeholders.
- ACP CSF does not have a formal mechanism for exercising accountability. Online consultations are
seen as a major channel for informing and consulting members, and this functions well.

Lack of an enabling environment
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- Though the ACP CSF was established with a clear mandate, right from the start the ACP CSF lacked a
proper implementation mechanism.
- Crucial in understanding the internal governance of the ACP CSF is its relation to the ACP. The ACP
Secretariat authorizes the organization and funding of Forum meetings and decides on modalities of the
meetings, not the ACP CSF. This has created a structure of dependency, the pros and cons of which
have never been validated in an open manner between ACP, ACP CSF and EU.
- Key informants identify this situation as a major external disincentive for the ACP CSF and they regard
the ‘unbalanced ACP-ACP CSF relationship’ as not conducive to a vibrant ACP CSF. “The two should be
given the opportunity to function as two independent entities in their own right”.
- The ACP CSF management at present is not taking leadership. A major factor is that they are deprived
of the resources and the environment enabling them to act. Other factors are: lack of a clear action plan
that is endorsed by the ACP CSF constituency and on a more general level lack of a strategy on how to
deal with the present impasse.

Overall performance
- While no funding has been available right from the start, the Forum achieved to implement activities. The
ACP Civil Society Forum implemented 3 Forum meetings (2001, 2006, 2009) in collaboration with the
ACO Secretariat. Discontinuity in Forum meetings is in the first place due to external factors – lack of an
operational mechanism enabling ACP CSF to act.
- Assessing the activities of the ACP CSF vis-à-vis planned activities is problematic because a framework
for planning and reporting is lacking. This affects effectiveness and impact of the ACP CSF and points to
a substantial management and performance problem of the Forum.
- An assessment of activities in view of objectives demonstrates that the Forum has delivered on about
half of its 5 objectives. There are obvious performance gaps.
- The two main activities by 2013 are:
- Participation in (ACP – EU) policy meetings and keeping the members informed on relevant ACP-EU
activities through the online network.
- Communication on regional policies on trade, development and poverty alleviation from a civil
society perspective capitalizing on civil society expertise, with ACP CSF providing inputs and
facilitating sharing of expertise.
- The 2009 Forum endorsed the ACP CSF as a Forum of genuine civil society representatives. This is a
major step towards realization of a genuine ACP Civil Society Forum. This study did not find a single
evidence of a member organisation that does not qualify as a genuine Civil Society organisation.
- Overall, how should the number, range and effectiveness of the activities implemented by the ACP CSF
be qualified? In view of its lack of resources they are considerable. In view of ACP CSF’s mandate and
potential its performance is weak.
Modalities of communication and coordination
- The ACP CSF yahoo network is the major communication mechanism for the ACP CS; it meant a
qualitative leap forward in internal communication in the Forum.
- The Legal Advisor and other Forum representatives participate in policy meetings and keep the
members informed on relevant ACP-EU activities through the online network. Members regard this
information as useful, and a majority has practically used it in their own activities.
Representativeness
- This study confirms the representativeness of the Forum, formally and substantially, in view of major
indicators: 1. its support base, 2. qualitative indicators.
Relevance
- Overall, most members confirm that ACP Civil Society Forum is a relevant platform for its member
organisations.

The ACP CSF member organisations
- The National Focal Points are prominent organisations in their own field of expertise. Many of them are
playing a crucial role in strengthening democracy or they have played a role in the transition to
democracy. A strong feature of the national focal points is their representativeness and their diversity.
They are all (except one) officially registered in their own country. They are networks, umbrellas, and
often membership organisations; representing ten to several hundreds of civil society organisations in
their countries.
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