East African Civil Society Organizations’ Forum – EACSOF Rwanda
EACSOF STRATEGIC PLANNING 2015 – 2018
WORKSHOP REPORT

November20th – 21st, 2014

EACSOF STRATEGIC PLANNING 2015 – 2018

WORKSHOP REPORT

INTRODUCTION

The East African Civil Society Organizations’ Forum (EACSOF) Strategic Planning meeting was held in Kigali, Grand Legacy Hotel, from Thursday 20thto Friday 21stNovember 2014.The over-arching aim of this meeting was to develop key ideas for EACSOF next Strategic Plan, given that the current strategic planning period 2011 – 2014 will soon come to an end. This strategic review process is expected to contribute significantly to EACSOF institutional strengthening.

The meetings will be was facilitated by Mr. Joseph, a consultant of EACSOF.

Meeting attended by: / EACSOF MEMBERS: EACSOF Rwanda, ARDIF, HRFR, GLIHD,RWNET, STRIVE Foundation, NGO-CREDI, FIOM, RICH, ASSIST-RWANDA, IMRO, BLAO, Poor Women Development Network, HDI, RODI, GFA, CSDI, ASOFERWA, LAF, RWANDA PRESS HOUSE, FVA, Rwanda Women Network, CTD Rwanda, ADECOR.
Date: / November 20 - 21st, 2014
Time: / 9:00am - 5:00pm
Facilitator: / JOSEPH Ssuuna (CONSULTANT)
Agenda Topic #1: Introductions:
Welcoming remarks by EACSOF Rwanda Chairperson, Mr. Aimable Mwananawe.
The participants were taken through the background of EACSOF to enable them to participate and provide relevant inputs. The Chairperson informed members that EACSOF Rwanda chapter was at an advanced stage of registration: the collaboration was obtained, constitution of EACSOF Rwanda was approved and signed by members. The request for registration was submitted to Rwanda Governance Board.
The CEO of EACSOF Mr. Martin Mwondha highlighted the achievements realized and the existing bottlenecks hindering the effective participation of CSOs at regional level. He informed members about the strategic planning process of EACSOF in other Partner States and highlighted key areas of interest of EACSOF.
Brief on the Achievements of EACSOF Rwanda by the National Coordinator.
Mr. Prudence SEBAHIZI, the National Coordinator of EACSOF Rwanda took participants through achievements of EACSOF over the last two and half years. He highlighted what was achieved in the areas of “Institutional and organization capacity strengthening of EACSOF Rwanda”, “Awareness raising of EAC Integration agenda”, and “Engaging with EAC Secretariat and government through research and advocacy”.
Action: the consultant emphasized that the meeting was a facilitated one, a meeting process of negotiations and reflection emphasizing on sharing idea and debate. The importance of this is that the participants’ motivation and ambition become the driving energy in all sessions, hence enabling the generation of consensus on EACSOF they need.
The meeting structure was agreed as follows:
-Context analysis;
-EACSOF organization diagnosis;
-Priority Setting; and
-The roadmap for implementation.
Agenda Topic #2: Strategizing EACSOF at Regional and National level
Notes:
Participants shared ideas on the role of EACSOF what added value it brings to the existing Rwanda Civil Society Platform. They stressed the need to have specialty/division of activities for effective engagement by having EACSOF focus specifically on regional matters and legally registered in Rwanda.
Agenda Topic #3: Context Analysis (group work)
Notes: the participants were divided into three;
  1. Examine social cultural trends
  2. Political trends
  3. Economic and environmental trends
And were tasked to identify the national and regional social, political and economic development issues and trends affecting the country. How are they likely to evolve in the next 3 years? What impacts will they have on EACSOF at national and regional levels and what should EACSOF do in response to those trends?
DAY 2: Group Presentations
The participants arrived on time and with a good turn up.
Actions Notes:
Prayers and Recap of the previous meeting and also explaining the used abbreviations such as; EALA, EABC, EACSOF, EALS, EAC, EATUC.
Presentations on social and cultural trends by Ignace SINGIRANKABO representing group one;
Definition of the concept, the way people live together and deal with social issues and cultural attachment and employment.
Issues and challenges:
  1. Language issues; there is no official EAC language; the trend is that it might be English or Swahili and yet we don’t share “same language”. Differences in communication possess challenges when trying to harmonize languages in partner states
  • What EACSOF can do;
Capacity building of members and advocating of inclusion of French due to Rwanda and Burundi being historically French speaking countries.
  1. Inconsistent education credentials: Countries not recognizing some certificates from certain universities in member states.
  • What EACSOF can do;
Advocate for the harmonization of EAC educational standards.
Integrate Swahili and English into the education curricula.
  1. Health Insurance: Partner States to learn from Rwanda and setup and scale up community health insurance.
  2. Prostitution, human trafficking and drug abuse.
Presentations on political trends by Mugabe Robert representing group two;
Challenges and issues:
  1. The threat posed by negative forces (FDLR) and some countries have come forward to advocate that Rwanda negotiates with them. This has affected the existing relationship with those countries.
  2. Threat/changes to the Constitution: the selection of leaders should be based on achievements not just on constitution (terms limits can be removed if we see achievements are tangible). But also in different cases EACSOF can advocate for the protection of the constitution.
Participants emphasized the need not to replicate the western democracy due to cultural, social and political differences.
  1. Implementation of the Common Market Protocol (right of establishment and residence). EACSOF to advocate for the harmonization of laws that will enable citizens to operate within the limits of the laws.
Presentations on economic and environmental trends by Crescence MUKANTABANA representing group Three;
Issues and challenges;
  1. Poverty among women and youth;
  2. Lack of access to finance;
  3. Small land and land degradation;
  4. SME’s ;
  5. Lack of information;
  6. Low skills base;
  7. Food insecurity;
  8. Poor mining technology;
  9. Environment and high population density;
  10. Climate change.
What EACSOF can do;
Research and advocacy;
Empower women and project cycle management.
Agenda Topic #4: Clarifying on how EACSOF should organize, function (National& Regional).
Notes:
How EACSOF should function at regional and national to deliver its mandate;
How EACSOF can communicate and relate.
Action Items:
  1. EACSOF should be a forum of national NGOs with interest in EAC affairs.
  2. To achieve this, the forum should be legally registered with well-functioning organs.
EACSOF at National level structure;
  • General Assembly to be the supreme organ
  • Governing Council
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Auditing Committee
  • Secretariat to run day to day activities and headed by the CEO
Priority setting for better functioning
  • Creation of thematic groups
  • Awareness raising and community empowerment
  • Institutional capacity building
  • Research and advocacy
EACSOF at Regional level Structure
Mandate to coordinate, represent and advocate on behalf of members, participate in integration activities of EAC. Should have well equipped and qualified staff.
Composition of regional leadership of EACSOF
Equal representation of Member States;
Put members in thematic working groups at regional level based with equal representation.
Action Items:
Priority setting:
EACSOF to secure observer status;
Resource mobilization;
Advocate for partnership between EAC secretariat to reinforce sensitization and awareness on EAC matters.
Function and responsibility
  1. Advocacy;
  2. Monitoring and Evaluation;
  3. Research.
Communication to Partner States
  1. EACSOF newsletter updated daily;
  2. Group emails;
  3. Interactive website at regional with national links;
  4. Communicate directly to national chapters;
  5. EAC Partner State should have a staff at EACSOF regional office.

Closing remarks by the President of EACSOF RWANDA Mr. MWANANAWE Aimable by thanking participants for their active engagement in formulating the EACSOF they want and aspire for.

EACSOF Strategic Planning 2015 – 2018: November 20 – 21st, 2014, Kigali – Rwanda