Appreciation

 

We would like to everyone who attended the WSF Event in Nairobi, those who brought their ideas and energies to build a better world. We would also like to acknowledge with appreciation, the hard work of those who volunteer with the only expectation of presenting to the world the best face of Africa and of Kenya.

 

It is necessary to mention the in-kind and financial contribution of the following friends and partners who made the WSF2007 possible:

 

 

 

Acronyms and Abbreviations

 

 

 

 

ALIS                             Alternative Interpretation Systems

ASF                              African Social Forum

BABELS                       Babels International Network is an association of interpreters around the world

IC                                 International Council of the WSF

KSF                              Kenyan Social Forum

OC                                 Eastern African Organizing Committee of the WSF 2007 Event

WSF2007 Secretariat  The Secretariat Office of the OC

 

 

CONTENT

 TOC \o "1-3" \h \z \u Appreciation.. PAGEREF _Toc164750669 \h 2

INTRODUCTION.. PAGEREF _Toc164750670 \h 5

I.      THE ROAD TO NAIROBI. PAGEREF _Toc164750671 \h 7

I-A.      The African Process. PAGEREF _Toc164750672 \h 8

I-B.      Connection with Global Social Movements. PAGEREF _Toc164750673 \h 12

III.       EVENT PREPARATION.. PAGEREF _Toc164750674 \h 12

III-A.       Vision. PAGEREF _Toc164750675 \h 12

III-A-1.        Mobilization and Consultation: Local to Global Levels. PAGEREF _Toc164750676 \h 14

III-A-2.        Media and Communication. PAGEREF _Toc164750677 \h 19

III-A-3.        Website. PAGEREF _Toc164750678 \h 20

III-B.        Content and Methodology. PAGEREF _Toc164750679 \h 21

III-B-1.         The Planning of the Co organized Activities. PAGEREF _Toc164750680 \h 21

III-B-2.         The Planning for the Fourth Day (Proposals for Actions Day) PAGEREF _Toc164750681 \h 21

III-C.       Resources Mobilization. PAGEREF _Toc164750682 \h 22

III-D.       Coordination to deliver the event PAGEREF _Toc164750683 \h 24

III-D-1.        Venue and Physical Facilities. PAGEREF _Toc164750684 \h 25

III-D-2.        Volunteers. PAGEREF _Toc164750685 \h 26

III-D-3.        Registration and Programming. PAGEREF _Toc164750686 \h 27

III-D-4.        Interpretation and equipment. PAGEREF _Toc164750687 \h 30

IV.       THE EVENT.. PAGEREF _Toc164750688 \h 31

IV-A.       Individual Registration. PAGEREF _Toc164750689 \h 31

IV-B.       Self Organized Activities. PAGEREF _Toc164750690 \h 33

IV-C.       Co organized Activities. PAGEREF _Toc164750691 \h 35

IV-D.       The Fourth Day. PAGEREF _Toc164750692 \h 36

IV-E.       Culture. PAGEREF _Toc164750693 \h 37

IV-F.       Youth Camp and Activities. PAGEREF _Toc164750694 \h 38

IV-G.       Interpretation. PAGEREF _Toc164750695 \h 40

IV-H.       Volunteers. PAGEREF _Toc164750696 \h 41

IV-I.    Media. PAGEREF _Toc164750697 \h 41

IV-J.        Memory. PAGEREF _Toc164750698 \h 42

IV-K.       Services. PAGEREF _Toc164750699 \h 44

IV-K-1.       Food. PAGEREF _Toc164750700 \h 44

IV-K-2.       Water PAGEREF _Toc164750701 \h 45

IV-K-3.       Communication. PAGEREF _Toc164750702 \h 46

IV-K-4.       Security. PAGEREF _Toc164750703 \h 47

IV-K-5.       Signage. PAGEREF _Toc164750704 \h 50

IV-K-6.       Accommodation. PAGEREF _Toc164750705 \h 51

IV-K-7.       Transport PAGEREF _Toc164750706 \h 52

V.    CHALLENGES, INNOVATIONS AND LESSONS LEARNT. PAGEREF _Toc164750707 \h 54

V-A.        Challenges. PAGEREF _Toc164750708 \h 54

V-B.    Innovation. PAGEREF _Toc164750709 \h 55

V-C.    Lessons Learnt PAGEREF _Toc164750710 \h 56

INTRODUCTION

 

The Eastern African Organizing Committee, the Africa Social Forum Council and the Secretariat of the WSF2007 would like to proffer you, from their joint perspective, an evaluative report on the World Social Forum 2007. The report is a humble and candid effort to share with the wider constituency of the WSF the experiences, the challenges, pitfalls, shortcomings and achievements of the 7^th edition of the WSF. The Nairobi event was a journey of many visions just as it was a public square of many voices and therefore many experiences; all galvanized into a collective actions and expressions from global civil society and social movements. Africa, its people and social movements from all walks of life having been part of the articulation, celebration of cultures and alternatives added their voices for the first time in the greatest event ever in the history of the continent, not as the victim or simply voicing oppression, but as the expression of hope of and desire for another world. From conversations and a wide array of consultations at all levels to social mobilization through street theatre, song, dance, intergenerational dialogue, exchange of ideas across the continents down to the local levels; the World Social Forum 2007 was a indeed a global process held in Africa; infused with Africa’s vision and in recognition of and articulation with other struggles and alternatives within the wider landscape curving new and promising political and social imaginations.

 

We proffer you a perspective in a simple narrative that may not capture the wide spectrum of viewpoints in respect to the event, particularly through its multidimensional expressions of survival and resistance across the world. It is, however, an attempt to document the energies and aspirations of collectives that went into making the World Social Forum 2007 possible. While the Journey may not have been smooth, there are many lessons to be learned, many experiences to share, many pitfalls to caution about and many misconceptions to admonish against.

 

The narrative will offer an account of our experience, a critique to the process and also an explication of the unique context within which the process acquired it’s a particularly African dynamic. It does address the issues and criticisms directed to the WSF 2007 Secretariat during the last IC meeting in Nairobi; namely, the militarization and commercialization of the event, and the coordination structure used and the decision making process during the preparation and implementation of the event.

 

There are many questions to be answered, many questions that will remain unanswered. These will include such a questions like: has the WSF2007 captured the imaginations of social movements in Africa, inspired their reflections and gone a long way towards decolonizing their minds so they can begin to dream of a different world; has it extended the process of disillusionment and marginalization so as to break the spirit of resistance; has it inspired such an insurrection of energies, ideas and determination that will transform communities to believe in their cosmovisions as the basic tenets of the different world we intend to bring into existence – a world without a blue print, a world without super-designers or know-it-all  who can teach the others about what should go into its construction. But a world which will be negotiated from a myriad of visions, a plethora of strategies that at times can conflict. In short: a new and better world.

 

The World Social Forum came to Africa at a time when civil society and social movements in the region were grappling with matters of politics of trust amongst NGOs and the wider mass movements, fragmentation of old alliances and a wide range of issues related to the need for a collective approach to addressing the cycle of recurrent problems that affected the continent. The WSF at its best brought to Africa an open space that recognized, reaffirmed and valorised its vision and the continent’s capacity to resist neo-liberalism and all forms of oppression. It sensitized the continent to the emerging transformative paradigm and resurgent power of revolutionary visions that have generated a wave of critique of the present world order, especially from Latin America. Africa, a continent that was synonymous with oppression, disease and apathy displayed and dispelled all manner of subjugation by showcasing grandeur of celebration, critique, alternatives and cultural diversity through a visionary outlook that echoed the spirit of Ubuntu and the un-dying spirit of Pan-Africanism that had inspired successive generations of resistance against imperialist subjugation. The strength in synergy and dialogue based on values of dignity, ethics, solidarity and care; imperatives that make Africa an indispensable element among the global forces that will change the world.

 

The World Social Forum will be remembered by the seamless convergences that emerged, the open space that was not a mere separation of theory from praxis but a roadmap of realities of the event and its future. The Forum was a mirror image of the mundane realities of community life and a reminder that the space is not a utopia, but an expression of the ordinary lives, livelihoods and life-worlds by not attempting to sanitize or re-order the many layers of poverty, dissent and all manner of contradictions within and outside the community of social movements, leave alone chronic insecurity that plagues the host nation. The WSF also affirmed the reality and relationships between thematic concerns and the importance of a collective approach in dealing with neo-liberalism through adopting fundamental principles of human rights and dignity as a way of life. The process and its future having connected its life’s journey with Africa and its social movements will forever be transformed. We welcome you to build on our experience, to constructively critique our vision and connect with us in an attempt to bring forth a new generation of social movements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I.      THE ROAD TO NAIROBI

 

With its wealth of experiences and struggles accumulated over the years, the African Social Movement joined the Another World is Possible Movement as early as 2001, to counter the liberal policies that prevail over Africa and share its quest for alternatives. From that date on, the continental movement has not ceased to consolidate and root its own momentum. After four editions in Brazil and India, Africa finally declared its interest in hosting the WSF2007. This further reinforced the demand for extending and enhancing the WSF momentum.

 

Rooting and expanding the movement was carried out through organizing several national, regional, continental and thematic Forums. No less than 30 national Forums have been held since 2004. At continental level, 4 editions of the African Social Forum have been held in Mali, Ethiopia, Zambia and Guinea.

 

The various Forums provided an auspicious opportunity to create spaces for exchange, propose alternatives and enhance struggles in the continent. They were also an opportunity to foster ownership of the Another World is Possible movement by a large number of organizations and movements and a dissemination of principles and values spelt out in the WSF Charter.

 

The choice of Nairobi was accounted for by the long progression of the social movement in this country, since independence, and its role in resisting colonialism and political oppression over nearly 25 years. It was also dictated by the will of African movements to support the consolidation of the Kenyan movement at a time when the country was subjected to strong pressure from the United States in their attempt to control the East African region and the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, Kenya enjoys a strategic advantage in the region as a country with a strong potential for mobilization in the region. 

 

Holding the Polycentric Social Forum in January 2006 in Bamako, gave the social movements in Africa an opportunity to mobilise on a large scale and significantly articulate with the rest of the global movements. Bamako also was an important step towards mobilizing for 2007 Nairobi. A significant part of the content and methodology for Nairobi was developed and shared with other continental actors in Bamako. Arising from the increasing need to strengthen the decision-making process within the African social movements the African Social Forum Council was set up as early as 2004.It currently consists of some 40 organizations representing the various components of the African Social Movements from the 5 sub-regions of the continent. Since it was set up, the Council has met at least twice a year. A Facilitation Committee and Thematic Commissions was set up in 2005 (in Harare) to ensure wider sharing of tasks and greater coherence in actions carried out within the movement and ahead of the World Social Forums to be held in Africa.

 

Expanding the movement in Africa and improving the decision making processes in the African movement have led to the need for more active involvement in the International Council and its commissions. As a result, the meetings of the Council and its commissions have recorded a larger participation in 2005 and 2006.

 

 

I-A.        The African Process

 

The Kenya Social Forum (KSF) was established in 2002, after the Second edition of the WSF in Porto Alegre. The main objective was to popularize the WSF ideas and spirit at the local level and to anchor the same on the on-going anti-imperialist struggles at different levels (see Chart 1 below). The Steering Committee was made of 13 social movements and NGOs. Social Development Network (SODNET) having taken the lead in localizing the Social Forum process was affirmed as the focal point and legal anchor of the Kenya Social Forum process. As is the case nearly everywhere in the world where the WSF event has found a home, it adopted the open space approach. Thus the membership was not strictly defined and the composition of the Steering Committee kept changing from time to time – both in numbers and social movements that, at one time or another, felt attracted to the process. All depended on commitment and sharing of responsibilities among the key actors and organizations that had acquired different levels of ideological and practical opposition to neo-liberalism. Between this time and 2004, concerted efforts to establish national social forums in other East African countries were undertaken with varying degrees of consistency and success..

 

Members of National Social Forums in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda attended the 3^rd African Social Forum (ASF) in Lusaka, Zambia, in December 2004. It was during this Forum that the idea of jointly seeking to host the World Social Forum in 2007 was mooted. An intensive discussion on the capability, readiness and challenges of undertaking such a venture was initiated and concluded during the 3 days of the Forum. The rationale for a joint hosting of the WSF as opposed to individual country bidding on its own included: observation that even though the three countries were moving towards economic and political integration,  this process was driven from above with little participation of the peoples of these countries. The event would enhance closer cooperation of East Africans at the social movement level; social movements in the region were at various levels of political mobilization and political significance. The hosting of WSF would catalyze the politicization of social movements in the region; as participation of these countries in the WSF had hitherto been below expectations. The reasons for this can be put down to a combination of many factors including, but not limited to, capacity for resource mobilization and lack of awareness about WSF process.

 

After interrogating all aspects of the matter, it was resolved that East Africa was capable, willing and ready to bid to host WSF 2007. Informal announcements of the intent were then made. At Lusaka, the following was agreed upon: criteria for choosing country and city to bid were to be developed based on a framework agreed upon during the Lusaka Forum; each country’s SF to prepare and circulate a capacity statement that would be used to evaluate its suitability; and a list serve be created to facilitate communication. These were to be discussed and decision made during the first Tanzania Social Forum in January 2005 .All the foregoing were done and after discussions in Bagamoyo, it was resolved that Nairobi  be the city to bid and host the WSF 2007. This was to be taken to the ASF Council meeting in Porto Alegre for subsequent endorsement by the IC

 

By the time of ASF council meetings, only the East African bid was on the table. It was, therefore decided that to give others a second chance, a decision on the hosting country be deferred until the next ASF Council meeting. ASF Council meeting was held in Las Palmas, Canary Islands, in March 2005. In between, additional information was annexed to the bid document. Locally, the Kenya Social Forum (KSF) opened dialogue with the Government of Kenya for political support. The dialogue proved positive. At Las Palmas, it was announced that Mali had also submitted its bid. There followed democratic consultations to decide on the matter in keeping with the WSF Charter of Principles. The consultations culminated in a Special ASF Council meeting in Harare, Zimbabwe, in June 2005 at which meeting it was agreed that Mali would host WSF Polycentric in 2006 and Nairobi be the venue for WSF 2007. The Steering Committee of KSF acted as the interim organizing committee for WSF 2007 until January 2006, when representatives from the other three countries met in Bamako during the Polycentric WSF 2006.

 

Proposals for the establishment of the WSF 2007 Organizing Committee with representatives from all the co-hosting countries were made in Bamako. Somali and Ethiopian Social Forum also offered to come on board and be co-host - a proposal that was unanimously endorsed by all the interested parties. Between January and March 2006, internet-based consultations were held to determine the nature, size and functioning of the Organizing Committee, culminating in agreement during an IC meeting in Nairobi in March 2006. It was then agreed that the first meeting of the Organizing Committee be held in Nairobi in April 2006.

 

The inaugural meeting of the WSF 2007 Organizing Committee was held in Nairobi during the first week of April 2006. At this meeting the earlier proposal of having a 68-member committee comprising 44 Kenyan social movement representatives and 24 representatives (6 each from Ethiopia, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda) was adopted. The meeting also created 7 commissions, namely Content and Methodology; Logistics; Social Mobilization; Resources; Culture; Youth; and Media, Communication and Publicity were created as implementation organs of the OC. To rapidly respond to urgent day-to-day matters regarding the work of the commissions, a Nairobi Local Committee was constituted comprising five persons who belonged to networks. The committee and commissions worked on an “open space” principle allowing anybody who wished to attend and make a contribution to do so. For example, even though the formal membership of the OC was 68, the inaugural meeting at Sports view Hotel, Kasarani, was attended by more than 80 people representing different movements and organizations.

 

While some commissions worked well, others did not measure up to the expectations and the secretariat had to intervene and deal with the challenges caused by the performance deficit of certain commissions. Some of the commissions that did not function effectively, until after the secretariat’s intervention, included:  Media, Communication and Publicity and Youth. However, with the timely intervention by the Secretariat staff, these operational organs of the Organizing Committee did deliver in varying degrees of success. Eventually several sub-committees, dealing with various aspects of logistical challenges were established comprising members of the secretariat and the wider community of social movements. These complemented the work of the commission in such areas as signage, communication, website management, interpretation, tendering, transport, volunteers etc.