STIMULATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CIVIL SOCIETY NETWORKS TO SUPPORT UN STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION Workshop on: Building an African Civil Society Network to Support the Implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy BY Zebulon Suifon Takwa Director of Programs, WANEP Cape Town, South Africa

WANEP: Strategy WANEP: Strategy  Engaging the actors  Networking and Collaborative approach  Building strategic partnerships e.g. Partnership with ECOWAS in the “Capacity Building Programme for Conflict Prevention and Good Governance for ECOWAS and Civil Society Organisations in West Africa” since Partnership with ECOWAS in the “Capacity Building Programme for Conflict Prevention and Good Governance for ECOWAS and Civil Society Organisations in West Africa” since Focus on operationalising the ECOWAS Early Warning System as laid down in protocols (1999; 2001) and enhanced by the 2008 Conflict Prevention Framework Document Focus on operationalising the ECOWAS Early Warning System as laid down in protocols (1999; 2001) and enhanced by the 2008 Conflict Prevention Framework Document ECOWARN (Early Warning System) and reliance on open sources of data collection. ECOWARN (Early Warning System) and reliance on open sources of data collection. 10/9/2015West Africa Network for Peacebuilding

RELATIONAL STRUCTURE: WANEP NATIONAL NETWORKS 09/10/20153 Mali Niger Caper Verde Cameroon 10/9/2015 West Africa Network for Peacebuilding

STRUCTURE OF THE ECOWAS EW SYSTEM (ECOWARN): ROLE OF WANEP ZONE 1 WANEP Zonal Coordinator (ZC) ZONE 2 WANEP ZC ZONE 3 WANEP ZC ZONE 4 WANEP ZC GAMBIA SENEGAL GUINEA BISAU CAPE VERDE BURKINA FASO COTE D’IVOIRE MALI NIGER LIBERIA SIERRA LEONE GUINEA GHANA BENIN TOGO NIGERIA CAPITAL BANJUL CAPITAL OUAGA CAPITAL MONROVIA CAPITAL COTONOU EARLY WARNING DEP’T/WANEP Liaison Officer ( temporarily redeployed ) NNCs,FPs 10/9/2015West Africa Network for Peacebuilding

Counter Terrorism Counter Terrorism  Not directly addressed by WANEP though we look at the structural and proximate causes of violent conflicts  ECOWAS has dealt with issue as a security threat following 9/11 and some member states have collaborated with the United States in waging the war on terror in the Sahel-Sahara belt  The ECOWAS indicators for ECOWARN also focuses on terrorism 10/9/2015West Africa Network for Peacebuilding

Opportunities for stimultating CSO Networks  Existing Networks and platforms in West Africa ( WANSED, WANEP, WACSOF, etc); effective coordination, capacity enhancement and perhaps division of labour is the missing link.  Government-civil society working relations on security issues improving (at least in some countries)  Space for, and voice of civil society is available and needs to be enhanced. WANEP for instance has played a pivotal role in the ECOWARN process and is expected to do same in the new phase that focuses on early response  ECOWAS’ emphasis on an “ECOWAS of the People” 10/9/2015West Africa Network for Peacebuilding

Challenges  Terrorism as a concept is still a controversial issue.  Terrorism is real; yet discussions around it remain the preserve of governments and covert operations associated with it makes the space for CSOs narrow.  Other threats to human security such as dumping of toxic and chemical wastes, ‘deliberate’ environmental damage, medical vaccine trials/tests on human beings, etc… should they be equated to terrorism?  How do we deal with State terrorism or state sponsored terrorism? 10/9/2015West Africa Network for Peacebuilding

WANEP and Policy Influencing Top Level Regional, International (ECOWAS, AU, UN) Middle Level National, Governmental (Over 450 member organizations) Local Level Grassroots, regional/state PolicyPolicy InfluencingInfluencing International partners

Way Forward  Build on what exist and avoid duplications/unhealthy competition among CSOs. Enhance capacity of existing networks to include “Counter-terrorism” but avoid the doing everything syndrome among CSOs  Capitalize on current dynamism and opportunities (West Africa in particular-towards an ECOWAS of the people), other RECs and AU.  Support Civil Society-State partnerships  Explore ways towards a “preventive approach to dealing with terrorism” rather than reactive  Adopt an inclusive approach and take into consideration the linguistic diversity of Africa (Anglophones, Francophones, Lusophones, etc). 10/9/2015West Africa Network for Peacebuilding

Thank you for your kind attention Thank you for your kind attention WANEP: Address: Tel: /9/2015 West Africa Network for Peacebuilding