E-Newsletter March 2013

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WACSI E-Newsletter January 2013

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Civil Society and Knowledge Management in West Africa

This is a background paper prepared for the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) workshop on “Managing Knowledge for Policy Influence in West Africa”, 8 April 2013, Accra, Ghana.

Partnering for Development? Analyzing Possibilities and Challenges for Civil Society Organisations and the Private Sector in West Africa

Since the middle of the 1990s, partnership as a strategy for development in the „emerging economies‟ has emerged as an ideological mantra. Drawing its power from the exhaustion of earlier development models and the apparent failure of state intervention in the „developing‟ world, the discourse nudged development actors away from reliance on international aid towards the apparent multiple benefits of partnerships. Almost two decades on, the discourse shows no signs of flagging.

In this paper, I have examined the idea of partnerships, specifically civil society-private sector partnerships- against the template of social, economic and political developments in the West African sub-region. Pointing out that partnerships are products of time and place, thus liable to succeed or fail depending on a whole range of variables, I analyzed the particular challenges faced by both civil society and the private sector in West Africa.

Read more in this WACSERIES Vol. 3 Num 1.

Governance and Security in Ghana. The Dagbon Chieftancy title

The Dagbon Chieftaincy crisis predates modern Ghana and its current political institutions. The crisis revolves around the two family lines, or ‘gates’, to the kingship, the Abudu and Andani families, which have pitted children from the same royal ancestry against each other in an internecine conflict for the past 200 years. A significant episode in this struggle was the 27 March 2002 murder of Ya Na Yakubu Adani II, the ruler of Ghana’s the Dagbon Kingdom (Dagomba), along with more than 40 other high-profile individuals who served and advised in the palace.

Civil Society and Elections Observation in West Africa: The WACSOF Experience

LE LEADERSHIP D’INFLUENCE: Manuel pour les Femmes Africaines Maximiser le potentiel managérial des Femmes Africaines

Le leadership est un processus par lequel une personne influence lesautres pour réaliser un objectif et dirige l’organisation de manière à larendre plus cohésive et cohérente.

INFLUENTIAL LEADERSHIP: Handbook for African Women

Leadership is a process by which a person influences others to accomplish an objective and directs the organisation in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent.

Policy Advocacy and Engagement Training for OSIWA Grantees in Nigeria - Training Narrative Report (September 2010)

This report highlights activities of the “Policy Engagement and Advocacy Training Workshop for Civil Society Actors”: A tailored training for OSIWA-Grantees in Nigeria held in Lagos, Nigeria, 27 – 30 September, 2010. The workshop was organised by the project partners - The West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), the Local Government and Public Service Reform Initiative (LGI) of the Open Society Institute (OSI) and specifically the OSIWA-Nigeria office.

The workshop which was tailored for OSIWA grantees in Nigeria had the overall objective to enhance the ability and capacity of the grantees to engage in constructive policy discourses, interact with policy makers and influence policy formulation processes. The workshop also aimed at increasing the grantees practical skills and techniques in policy analysis, influencing and formulation, as well as in writing effective policy briefs and conduct policy research and studies.

Policy Advocacy and Engagement Training for OSIWA Grantees in Sierra Leone - Training Narrative Report (December, 2011)

MEETING REPORT: National Forum on “Capacity Development for Civil Society: Sustaining the gains in Ghana”

The civil society sector in Ghana is largely composed of organisations that reflect legitimate interests and command constituency support. However, inadequate funding for capacity development programmes has been a major challenge for these CSOs who have to cope with societal dynamics especially social, political and economic change. The threat to their survival and sustainability has never been more pronounced.

Social Media Conference Report

Social media provides the public a space to promote discourse on issues facing society. This space has become a veritable avenue for civil society organisations (CSOs) to expand their networks and widen participation in their causes. A number of CSOs in the region have used social media effectively to strengthen their communication and outreach strategies.

END OF INTERNSHIP REPORT by Kouakou Bela Emile

From Politicians to Journalists not to mention Scholars, the concept “Civil Society” has been defined each according to his understanding of what it implies or should imply. No matter controversies carried by the concept, basically related to its implications and its cover fields, Civil Society has become an important part of development actors involved in the process of making and implementing development policies. Don Eberly4 will consider it as “the ultimate Third Way”.In Africa and specifically in West Africa, the role of Civil Society in development processes is convincing. Vis-à-vis overwhelming armed conflicts, increasing poverty rate, food crisis, and other social scourges, Civil Society Organisations have proved effective contributions in improving populations’ leaving conditions and bringing about peaceful and sustainable development.

Yet, outstanding challenges are considerable and require well trained CSOs which will be able to shape public life and effectively and efficiently influence policies.

It is in this respect that was created the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI) in 2005 by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA). The core mandate of the Institute is to strengthen both Institutional and operational capacities of CSOs in the sub-region. WACSI, as a growing Institute, has gone through its way and after five years of effective operations the Institute seems to bear its name as a dedicated center for empowering West African CSOs.

INTERNSHIP REPORT BY OLALEKAN MICHAEL-AINA

African civil society organizations (CSOs) form a sector that has become increasingly important over the past few decades in terms of its participation in the development and governance processes. Civil society organizations (CSOs) in Africa and the world are at the forefront of calls for effective policies, good governance, sustainable development, peace and transparency in state affairs. The role of civil society is to bring people‟s concerns and make the voices of the marginalized heard in the social and political arenas.

Public agenda is shaped by the civil society which in turn influences public policies. CSOs are considered as more flexible, innovative, and cost effective than either government or aid agencies because they are poverty-oriented, grassroots focused, and are able to reach the most marginalized and affected segment of society easily, thus promoting the values of human rights, social justice, accountability that makes democracy and development meaningful. In addition, they hold governments and multi-lateral organizations to account for their policies, programmes and actions.

Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2008

Download Financial Statement for the year ended December 31 2008.

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