africa social forum
DECEMBER
1-5 2005
conakry, Guinea
fourth edition
Africa, the cradle of humanity
and the world’s future
INFORMATION GUIDEBOOK
another
africa is possible
another
world is possible
I.
Context and Justification
In the spirit of the World Social
Movement, Conakry will be hosting the Fourth Edition of the Africa Social Forum (ASF) December 1-5 2005, following on the previous editions in Bamako, Mali
(2002), Adis Abeba, Ethiopia (2003) and Lusaka, Zambia, (2004). The Africa Social Movement has grown considerably through the
organisation of national and regional social fora
throughout the Continent as well as an increasing
participation on the part of Africans in the various
World Social Fora. This dynamic has helped civil
society heighten its awareness of the need to strengthen
the independence of African countries as well as
establish synergy and complementary actions on the
part of the various movements towards the implementation
of credible development policies.
The
African continent is currently facing a number of
difficulties be it on the economic, political or
social level, which maintains it in a chronic state
of underdevelopment. More than half of the African
countries are ranked as being in the least advanced
category. Economically, the implementation of severe
macro-economic measures is causing more injustice
and harm to the African populations. Parallel to
this, the systematic pillage of natural resources
and the flight of intellects are worsening the crisis
and the progression of underdevelopment. Agricultural,
trade or debt related issues remain unsolved at
a time when free trade policies are being promoted
by international financial institutions (WTO, IMF,
World Bank etc.) as well as future APC-EU trade.
On
a social level, with more than 52% of its population
under the age of 35, the Continent is facing is
coming up against serious problems related to justice,
the degradation of traditional values of solidarity,
identity crisis, causing increasing gaps within
the social structure which are at the source of
most conflicts. Furthermore, these conflicts added
to a high rate of emigration, the escalade of HIV-AIDS
and the overall degradation of the environment is
all elements confronting the evolution of African
civilisations today.
On
the political front, even with the many efforts
here and there towards democratization, African
countries continue to pay a very high price for
their bad governance. Attempts to democratize electoral
systems are at a standstill in most African States,
which has a negative influence on the different
mechanisms used to access and exercise political
power. Opposite to the recorded inefficiency of
imposed values and regulations (i.e. poverty reduction
strategies, structural adjustments etc.) we see
the emergence of a need to identify endogenous solutions
that require the africanization of certain
concepts and certain principles such as democracy,
good governance and conflict management.
This
being said, Africa is also bursting with potential. On one hand, the Continent represents
the world’s reserve in mining resources, a huge
agricultural and environmental potential, a unique
diversity of human expertise and a cultural heritage
which finds its origin at the root of the history
of man and of which many aspects have yet to be
discovered. On the other hand, there are millions
of people belonging to traditional and modern organizations,
working together not only to fight poverty but also
to preserve certain human values that lean towards
sustainable development.
Indeed,
at a time when the incredible technical and scientific
progress we are witnessing has gone a deviated from
its original mission which was to serve all mankind
rather than a small minority, society has been caught
up into a rat race based on the materialisation
of human values which has ended up enslaving human
beings.
The
Forth Edition of the Africa Social Forum aims to
make African development stakeholders more aware
of the need to rectify the current situation and
find ways to go about it in a collective manner.
It will release new ideas and new strategies that
promote a more just globalization while reviving
and updating African values; a vision that will
continue to grow at the World Social Forum in
Kenya
in 2007.
Objectives
General Objective
o
Define the basis for a political,
economic, social and cultural rebirth of the Continent
through the Africa Social Movement.
Expected Results
The Africa Social Forum will have:
o
Contributed to a clearer vision
of the present and the future through an overview
of the history and values of the African continent.
o
Highlighted the abundance
of human creative potential on which can be built
a new identity for the Continent
o
Analysed current mechanisms
of subservience and exploitation
o
Encouraged synergies and complementary
initiatives towards change
o
Promoted and encouraged mobilisation
around the Polycentric Social Forum of Bamako in
2006 and the World Social Forum in
Nairobi in 2007
Methodology
The
Forum will consist of:
o
Conferences, workshops, seminars,
roundtables
o
Sub-regional and regional
platforms
o
A Youth Forum
o
Women’s Tribunal
o
Local Elected Forum
o
Trade Union Forum
o
Farmers’ Forum
o
Popular platforms
o
Artistic and cultural events
o
Commercial and artistic exhibition;
poems and news competition
o
Forum on Communication
o
Writers and culture forum
Themes and subjects of discussion:
-
Governance and démocracy : international policy ; rights and democracy ;
governance
-
Culture and religion : history of the Continent ; cultural
identity ; religion ; art
-
Economy and globalization : economic globalization;
trade issues and free trade areas ; agricultural
issues ; debt and development
-
Social services and environment : Millennium Objectives
of development; education ; environment ;
health
-
Integration : regionalism ; integration ; religion ;
Diaspora ; communication ; security ;
conflicts and peace
Participation
The
Forum is open to everyone who wishes to participate
Will be invited:
- Participants from African countries
representing the main sectors
- African Diaspora
- Regional and international institutions
- NGOs, Unions, Farmer’s organisations,
women’s groups, youth organisations, human rights
organisations, community organisations, artistic
and cultural organisations, education organisations
- Local elected representatives
- Thematic sub regional and regional
networks
- Media
- Academics
- Leaders of opinion etc.
Organizers
The
Forth Edition of the Africa Social Forum is organized
by the Africa Social Forum Council, the CECIDE (International
Trade Centre for Development) in charge of the external
contacts and National Council of the Guinean Civil
Society organizations, in charge of the internal
contacts. E-mail contact cecidegn@yahoo.fr
The host country
Guinea
is situated in
West Africa. Its population is approximately 8 million people, 51% of which are women
and 45% under the age of
30. A French colony, it was the
first to access independence in 1958. After a first
centralized Republic, authoritarian and with a Unique
Party, the country has endowed with a policy system
of multipartism. Since 1989, the development of
the country is marked by a regional neighbourhood
dominated by conflicts and instability. It is in
this context that the Guinean Social Movement (thousands
of cooperatives, trade unions, NGOs, women and youth
associations, etc.) grows and works; it keeps a
good relationship with bordering countries. Moreover,
beyond its own cultures,
Guinea
is the only country of
West Africa which integrates various cultures from its neighbourhood: French-speaking
(Senegal,
Mali, Côte
d’Ivoire), English (Sierra
Leone),
American (Liberia) and lusophone (Guinea Bissau).
Council of African Social Forum
CECIDE (International Trade Centre
for Development)
Established in 2000 the CECIDE is a Guinean NGO that
works towards sustainable development in a world
plagued by unfair trade and globalization. It aims
to increase citizens’ understanding of issues related
to international trade and development, an improved
knowledge of international trade institutions and
mechanisms and major stakeholders. The CECIDE promotes multilateral cooperation
and the involvement of actors engaged in trade issues
and questions relating to sustainable development.
It encourages a participatory approach within the
decision making process concerning sectoral policies;
the promotion and defence of citizen’s economic
rights. CECIDE is in charged of ensuring the secretariat
of the African Social Forum, whose first edition
was held in November 2004
in
Conakry (Guinea).
National Council of Guinean Civil
Society Organisations, CNOSCG
Established
in February 2002, the CNOSCG is an umbrella structure
whose membership includes
Guinea’s major civil society alliances, federations, trade unions etc. It is
also composed of regional, prefectoral and sub-prefectoral
councils all working towards the empowerment of
civil society and the protection of citizens’ interests.
The Council aims to promote sustainable development,
participatory democracy and cooperation between
civil society and other stakeholders.
IV. Programme
We
will send you the detailed programme as soon as
it is available
|
1st December 2005 |
|
Morning
|
-
Opening ceremony
-
Cultural events
-
Conferences
|
|
Afternoon |
o
Thematic workshops
o
Conferences ; panels
o
Cultural
events
o
|
|
2nd
, 3rd, 4th December
2005 |
|
Mornings |
o
Conferences ; panels and workshops
|
|
|
o
Cultural
events |
|
Afternoon |
o
Workshops
o
Plenary |
|
Evenings |
o
Cultural events |
| 5th December 2005 |
Plenary and closing
|
General
Information
¨
ASF space
ASF
activities will be organized in
Conakry in Palais du Peuple, inside
buildings and on sites located around Palais
du Peuple (Cendid,
Hôtel
Riviera, Jardin du 2 octobre, etc.). The Forum will take place in 5 days, that means from 1 to
5 December 2005.
Halls: Big
halls for plenary sessions: 2000 places
Halls for
workshops and forums: 50 to 200 places
Exhibits:
It is possible for organisations to reserve a space
or a stand to inform participants on their programme,
activities etc. To make a reservation, please inform
the steering committee before 31st October.
¨
Translation
A
simultaneous system of interpretation will be ensured
in five halls (English, French)
VI. Content
Debates address the following issues:
1.
Social
movements and the development of
Africa
-
Issues related to globalization
and responses.
-
Policies
for
Africa
-
Economic, social, political
and cultural aspects;
-
Advantages
-
Consequences
-
What mechanisms to ensure rebirth? :
o
Political
o
Economic
o
Social
o
Cultural
2.
