A partner conference on gender, energy and trade policies was held in Nairobi, Kenya from April 5–7, 2009, organized by Taabco Research and Development Consultants, Nairobi (www.taabco.org) and Association of German Development NGO (VENRO). A summary of the policy paper as well as the complete document is available.
Participants from twelve African and three European countries met to discuss the prospects, challenges and shortcomings of the JAES with regard to its impacts on poverty eradication and sustainable development, and formulated policy recommendations for African and Euro-pean decision-makers. Key civil society representatives from Brussels and other European networks and platforms were also invited. Important indicators for the selection of the African participants were regional aspects, as the project focuses on Sub-Saharan Africa. At the same time it was essential that members of the crucial African networks participate in the conference, to cover a wide field of representatives of African civil society.
On the agenda during the conference key issues such as civil society representation, gender equality, access to sustainable energy, trade relations, regional integration and infrastructure politics and pro-poor climate change policies were discussed.
Declaration on the Role of Civil Society in the Joint Africa-EU Strategy:
Civil society representatives from Africa and Europe discussed their role in the JAES, and identified that the first year of implementation of the JAES revealed deficits in the area of civil society as important actors. It was pointed out that civil society in Africa and Europe must have the opportunity to participate in the implementation and monitoring of the First Action Plan and the conceptualization and drafting of the Second Action Plan.Through its participation in the JAES, civil society can give added value because of its additional windows of opportunity, with a view to reaching people in need, especially those on the margins of society.
Promoting Gender Equality within the Joint Africa-EU Strategy:
Participants of the conference stated the importance of considering gender equality as a cross-cutting issue in all of the eight partnerships and priority actions of the JAES. They noted that civil society organizations (CSOs) are important development actors and agents of change in society, indispensable for democracy and respect for human rights. They are important sensors for situations in society and states and are the intermediaries and links to the grassroots level. Women’s rights and development organizations especially provide platforms for women’s voices to be heard, and space for self-organization and self-determination. Thus their effective engagement in the JAES needs to be put into practice.
Key demands were made to European and African decision-makers to commit themselves to establish and enforce the goal of gender balance in governmental bodies and committees at national, regional and local levels. Furthermore, they should ensure that issues of gender equality are adequately included in all processes related to the JAES and that all actions taken in the framework of the JAES are coherent with economic, social, cultural, political and civil rights of women and girls.
Increased Access to Sustainable Energy:
The perspective of civil societies was that the current concept of the JAES does not emphasize the need for access to affordable, climate-friendly and sustainable modern energy services, which is lacking in most parts of Africa, especially in rural areas. Therefore, new approaches and concerted efforts are needed. The participants of the conference urged the partnership to recommend that all countries adopt appropriate renewable energy and energy efficiency policies with specific targets and commitments. They demanded the establishment of innovative and accessible financial schemes for the development (production, distribution and utilization) of renewable energy technologies in Africa. A call was also made on the EU member states to pursue actively the rapid expansion of their renewable energy capacities. Last but not least, emphasis was made on civil society participation in the Joint Expert Group on Energy towards preparing Ministerial Troika meetings, and adequate funding by the partnership.
Development-oriented Trade Relations, Regional Integration and Infrastructure Politics:
Trade between Europe and Africa could be an opportunity for development, but because of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA) negotiations, relations have been distorted. CSOs in Africa and EU have therefore engaged in campaigning for real development-oriented trade relations. Furthermore, regional integration is an important part of development and therefore is an important section of the JAES.
Among the demands made to European and African decision makers were the need for clear and sincere engagement of African and European countries to use trade as a means of regional integration, reiterating that trade relations between Africa and the EU should be development-friendly, pro-poor and gender-sensitive. Other issues discussed were the social and political aspects of regional integration and infrastructure development is crucial means to guaranteeing people’s access to basic human rights. The participants noted that currently, infrastructure development in the Joint Africa- EU Strategy is a top-down process in which communities are negatively impacted. They emphasized that infrastructure development should be a democratic participatory process which takes into account the views and interests of affected communities.
Pro-Poor Climate Change Policies to Safeguard Sustainable Development:
The Africa-EU partnership on climate change could play an important role in developing effective responses to the multiple challenges of climate change. Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change has become an absolute necessity, as climate change impacts in many cases undermine development progress. Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD), the role of CSOs in responding to climate change and the expansion and dissemination of relevant technologies were also discussed.
The complete policy paper on the common Civil Society perspectives from both continents on Gender, Energy and Climate Policies, Trade and Regional Development is available in pdf format.
