GPPi to hold conference with African civil society on development in fragile contexts

In Johannesburg on 18 October 2013, GPPi and the Konrad-Adenauer-Foundation will hold the African Civil Society Dialogue on Development in Fragile Contexts. The conference will gather input from African civil society organizations and African aid experts on how government donors can better support peace- and state-building and development in fragile states. 

The workshop aims to provide insights from African civil society organizations on which policies are likely to improve in-country synergies and effectiveness, both among donors as well as northern and southern civil society organizations. In particular, different working groups will address:

• how the post-2015 MDGs can better incorporate conflict-affected countries and peace-building objectives;
• policy and program support for the ​“new deal” on fragile states; and
• non-security related reasons for fragility.

In addition to the working group sessions, keynote speakers – including Richard Ssewakiryanga (president of the East African Civil Society Forum) and Fatima Shabodien (county director at ActionAid South Africa) – will present their views on the role of African civil society in the post-MDG debate, as well as development in fragile states. The workshop will conclude with a discussion moderated by best-selling author William Gumede on how to raise the voice of African civil society in development discourses.

The resulting recommendations of the workshop will feed into the post-MDG debate and will be presented at the next Transatlantic Civil Society Dialogue in Washington, DC, on 14 – 15 November 2013. Such input from African civil society is critical not only to improve donor support to fragile states and to better incorporate the context of fragility into the post-MDG development agenda, but also to strengthen the voice of African civil society in development debates.