The Bamako meeting was organized by CIDO, the AUC department that deals with relations with civil society, and is the 3rd CSO consultation on the joint Africa-EU Strategy following Accra’s meetings of March and October 2007. Some African CSOs were invited to come up with ‘actionable suggestions’ for an ‘engagement strategy’ towards the Africa-EU Joint Partnership on top of autonomous CSO action.
The key recommendations on the mapping of the CSO networks were the following:
1. to be coordinated by CIDO
2. to be inclusive (not only CSOs but also Diaspora, research institutes and think thanks- non governmental)
3. to build on existing mapping processes or databases
4. to cover the 8 thematic partnerships
5. to follow ECOSOC selection criteria
The key recommendations on the role of CSOs in the institutional architecture were the following:
1. Pre-Ministerial Troika AU-CSO consultation to submit consolidated reports
2. need for research –founded policy engagement
3. strengthen interaction with PAP & ECPSOC
4. regionally balanced representation of CSOs in the iJEGs to reflect wide range of expertise available
5. CSO networks in sectoral areas
6. revitalise Steering Committee with proper workplan and improved communication to cope with rapid pace of action
African civil society organizations should also be invited to these meetings said by Jimni Adisa in his speech (CIDO director, African Union) held in Bamako on 3rd of March 2008. Further meetings will be organized on the implementation of the Joint Africa-EU Strategy in Burkina Faso (19-20 March 2008 ) and in Lesotho on the 14-15 April 2008 with African Member States representatives.
Speech by Dr. Jinmi Adisa (AUC) – pdf
Final Conference Report – word
