CSOs Experiences in Social Protection AUC AU Workshop Pan

CSOs’ Experiences in Social Protection AUC/AU Workshop Pan Afric Hotel, Nairobi 10 -11 March 2011 Tavengwa M Nhongo Africa Platform for Social Protection

The APSP • The Africa Platform for Social Protection (APSP) was established by a group of national and regional organisations from across the African continent as a response to the growing demand for “voice” and more active engagement of African civil society in the shaping of Social Protection policies, programmes, and practices in Africa. It is a network of individuals and organizations operating at national and regional levels, with a commitment to promoting and strengthening the social contract between states and citizens.

The Experiences of CSO’s Defining CSO’s • CSO’s as the small grassroots groups • CSO’s as the small organised groups and registered locally or nationally • CSO’s as big national/regional organisations • CSO’s as the large international NGO’s ØThe presentation looks at all

Experiences of CSO’s • The INGO’s Ø Have made huge contributions to raising awareness on Social Protection Ø Have supported efforts to generate evidence through pilots, reviews, research Ø Have supported training/capacity building of those in government and the NGO’s (e. g. EPRI courses) Ø Have funded and supported programmes on SP § But Franchophone West Africa has not had the same level of support

Experiences of CSO’s • CSO’s – national level and grassroots organisations Ø Have largely remained out of the wider action on Social Protection Ø Have not managed to push the demand for SP from the grassroots Ø Have largely not engaged with the policy dialogue at the local and national government level

A way forward • Value the contributions of the CSO’s and involve them (donors, govts, UN, AU, RECS, etc) • CSO’s to work with and along governments since their ownership of programmes will ensure sustainability • CSO’s to collaborate -not compete/duplicate efforts • CSO’s to work with smaller organisations as partners • CSO’s to work with grassroots organisations to increase demand of SP from the bottom • Include Franchophone Africa in the agenda

A way forward • Demand from the top • Government action and buy in • Demand from the grassroots SP

Thank you • Thank you