EAST AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS’ FORUM

A decade of making EAC Integration work for the Citizen

Strengthening Civil Society in the Integration Processes

Our Vision “An integrated community in which Citizens fully participate in all processes that affect their lives”

Our Mission “To provide an inclusive platform for Civil society to promote good policies and democratic governance for the wellbeing of East Africans”

Our programming components:• Citizen Empowerment• Policy Engagement• Institutional Development

The EACSOF principles:• Regionalism;• Autonomy;• Centrality of citizens in the EAC integration process.

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The East African Civil Society Organizations’ Forum, (EACSOF), was founded in 2007 as an autonomous umbrella body of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and civil society organizations, (CSOs), in East Africa. Since its founding, EACSOF has been working to strengthen the institutionalization of the relationship between East African CSOs and the Community, (EAC). It also works to build a critical mass of knowledgeable and empowered civil society in the East African region, in order to foster their confidence and capacity in articulating grassroots needs and interests in the East African Integration Process. EACSOF works to ensure that East African citizens and their organizations work together to play a more effective role in the integration process through building stronger citizen organizations that respond to citizens’ needs and hold duty bearers to account.

About Us.

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The term Civil Society (CS) encompasses a wider range of formal and informal groups of people, engaged in social and economic activities for human development. Civil society hence relates to that component of societal organising that comes before politics and the emergence of business enterprises. All other forms of organising emerge from the civil society. The civil society uses the state, markets and its civil society organisations (CSOs) to generate goods and services and to support the functioning of the state and to sustain the market dynamics.

CSOs are therefore the civil society vehicles that are used to realize its objects of equity, equality, justice and humanity. These organisations come in different forms and groups and they include, among others, the Non- Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs), Faith Based Organisations (FBOs), workers’ organisations (Trade unions), Professional Associations, Academia, Media, and Issue and Interest Groups (Women, Youth, Elderly, people living with disabilities, etc.). Even in these diverse forms, the CSOs have eight main defining characteristics:• They are established voluntarily by citizens’ /interest groups seeking to promote

their specific concerns, values and or identities;• They are organized around the promotion of an issue or the interests of a particular

section of society;• They are autonomous from the state3, which is essential if they are to provide

credible contributions from their numerous and diverse constituencies;• Have shared Interests;• Demonstrate high level of inclusiveness;• They are the voice of the people, the “ultimate power”;• They do not struggle for political power, and are non-partisan; and• They are not profit-driven.

Civil Society

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The EACSOF Institutional Profile:

EACSOF was formed in 2007 and has since built the following profile:• It has five national chapters (Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda), at

different levels of getting registered nationally;• Has an established regional Secretariat;• Has in place a President and Governing council;• Has been able to mobilize CSOs in the region;• Has kept CSOs informed of the various developments within the EAC integration

process through the EACSOF Newsletter;• EACSOF was selected by the EAC Secretariat as the focal point for CSOs in the

integration processes.

At the regional level, the Governing Council is at the helm of EACSOF and its operations are executed through an independent Regional Secretariat. Currently EACSOF Regional Secretariat office is in Arusha Tanzania while the EACSOF Tanzania Chapter is hosted by TANGO in Dar-es-salaam.

To streamline communication, coordination and program implementation, a similar structure is replicated at the national level albeit at that level the national board will be at the helm. The National Secretariat may be set up independently or can be hosted by a member Organisation. In either case the National coordinator primarily reports to the National Boards while at the same time having linkages with the Regional Secretariat.

The national chapters are independently registered as autonomous EACSOF chapters linked to the regional Secretariat through the Governing Council.

Autonomy is an important principle to the national chapters in terms of fundraising and the implementing of national programs. What could be ceded from the national level is the coordination function, and it is even possible for the regional to fundraise for the national chapters.

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The values that underpin the work of EACSOF:• Honesty and openness;• Transparency and personal accountability;• Social Responsibility and caring for others;• Inclusiveness and equal participation;• Respect and tolerance;• Capacity Building – for self-determination and sustainability.• People Centeredness - citizen focused institutions and service delivery systems.

Implementation of EACSOF’s work undertaken through these five thematic areas;• Democratic Governance; • Peace and Security (Human Rights protection and vulnerable groups); • Social &Economic Justice;• Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environmental Protection and Climate Change; • Mainstreaming Science and Technology

Our Objectives• Strengthen the citizens’ civic competence and confidence by enabling citizens to know their rights

and obligations and to support them to organize in effective CSO as well as national platforms through which they would be able to assert those rights.

• Ensure Citizen Centered Policy Development and Implementation at National and Regional Levels in regards to Democratic Governance; Peace and Security; Social and Economic Justice; Agriculture, Natural Resources, Environmental Protection and Climate Change; and Mainstreaming Science and Technology.

• Support EACSOF’s Institutional Capacity building at national and regional level.

Specific objectives are five (5):• Policy Implementation – already existing policies; To provide leadership to civil society and the

citizens of East Africa through the dialogue mechanism in demanding for the execution of the EAC Treaty and existing policies, protocols, strategic plans and Programmes, focusing on EACSOF strategic themes.

• Policy Development – new policies; To facilitate citizen participation in policy development for the realization of EAC objectives through CSO position papers, policy proposals and legislative drafting following EACSOF thematic areas, in collaboration with EALA, sectoral committees and SGs forum through the dialogue mechanism.

• Policy Monitoring and Evaluation; To monitor and evaluate implementation of EAC policies, strategic plans and Programmes, in order to provide feedback to the EAC Secretariat and Partner States on successes, progress, obstacles, challenges and proposed solutions to the integration process focusing on EACSOF thematic areas.

• Capacity Building: To strengthen the capacities of East African civil society organizations.• Organizational Development: To develop EACSOF into a fully-fledged Sustainable Institution.

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EACSOF Key Stakeholders:• Citizens and CSOs. • Marginalized groups.• Partner States’ governments.• The EAC with all its Organs and Institutions.• The business sector. • Professional groups.

National Focal Points:• Burundi: Forum for Strengthening Civil

Society Organizations (FORSC).• Kenya: Collaborative Centre for Gender

and Development (CCDG)• Rwanda: Rwanda Civil Society Platform

(RCSP).• Tanzania: Tanzania Association of NGOs

(TANGO).• Uganda: Uganda National NGO Forum.

General Achievements

Since its founding in 2007, EACSOF has registered a number of significant achievements:

2017• Launch of the EC-PANAF Project in Partnership with Action Aid Denmark• First Discussion and Launch on the CSO Operating Environment Bill• Passing of the Gender Act by the Legislative Assembly in March 2017.• Solidarity statement against The Burundi government by refuse to attend the 5th Annual

Secretary General Meeting that was Scheduled to Take place in Burundi in July 2017.• Forming of new working Networks with other stake holders such as GLP, TJNA, Catholic

University Kenya, UNHCR, MS-TCDC, ACPF, Policy Forum (European Commission), UNHCR, CUTTS International.

• Forming of more working alliances with GIZ, through the EAC-IIDEA Programme, in which EACSOF has worked together with GIZ and other Apex bodies to coordinate the activities in IIDEA Project.

• Increase of Staff at the Secretariat, upon securing of funds towards end year.• Increase of working Partnerships and alliances with various Stakeholders such as, AA Uganda,

AA Tanzania, AA Kenya, AA Zambia, AA Zimbabwe, AA Nigeria, AA Mozambique, WACSOF, SADC, MPOI, Global Platform, African Rising, Youth Networks from EAC countries, forming of a coalition to institute a case before the EACJ against the increase of Age Limit in Uganda.

• Begin the publishing of Policy Briefs on Governance practices in the EAC Partner states• Proposal writing to apply for various project funds to different Donor organizations• EACSOF Staff Managed to attend Various Trainings on matters relating to Democracy and

Governance through our new partnership with Action Aid Denmark through the EC-PANAF Project.

• Furthermore, one of the Staff from the Secretariat managed to attend a Training relating to Peace and Security as a result of our new partnership with Local Partners from Green Light Project (Tanzania) who conducted Trainings on Preventing Violence Extremism in Tanzania.

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• EACSOF Contributed to the Agenda of Upcoming 5th EAC SG Forum

• EALA General Purpose Committee Welcomes Collaboration with EACSOF to Improve the CSOs Operating Environment in East Africa

• Shared Draft CSO-EALA Engagement Framework with EALA General Purpose Committee

• Engaged Tanzanian members of parliament on EAC issues

• Shared views on the state of play of the Operating Environment for civil society in Tanzania.

• Engaged East African Court of Justice (EACJ) on Burundi Crisis

• EACSOF and EASSI agreed to advocate for inclusion of Right to a Nationality in the EAC Gender Equality Bill.

• EACSOF and Pan African Lawyers Union (PALU) Petitioned EALA on Burundi Human Rights Crisis

• EACSOF contributed to the African Human Rights Action and Implementation Plan 2017 – 2027

• Formed Alliances with the AFRICAN CHILD Policy forum (ACPf) to advocated for ending child violence in the continent. Collective Efforts to eliminate violence against children in Africa

• EACSOF collaborated with South Center Assess the EU - Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) to Support industrializationand Job Creation in EAC.

• EACSOF and SEATINI raised awareness on the State of Play of the Investment Policies and Practices at EAC level in order toMake Investments Work for the EAC Citizens

• EACSOF and SEATINI Uganda Assessed the Nature of Trade Policies and Agreements in regards to Industrialization and Structural Transformation in the EAC, Making Trade works for Development and poverty reduction in the EAC.

• IANRA and EACSOF Launched the Africa Model Mining Legislation

• ESAFF and EACSOF engaged EALA and Calls for Domestication of the Malabo Declaration 2014.

• EACSOF Joined Reproductive Health Advocacy Network for Africa (RHANA) Convention to advocate for Domestication and Implementation of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights.

• EACSOF ContributedtoAfrica CSO Position On 2nd High Level Meetingunder Africa Attains Sustainable Development Goals

• EACSOF Adopted the Strategic Plan 2016—2020, Strengthened its Governance during 8th Annual General Meeting

• EACSOF Membership Increased with 2 new Members from Burundi

• EACSOF successfully secures resources from European Union to strengthen its sustainability

• EACSOF formed Alliance with Tax Justice Network Africa

2016

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• Advocated for the Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF) for engagement between EAC, civil society

organizations, private sector organizations and other interest groups, whereby EACSOF has been

mandated as the focal point for CSO voices in the integration process.

• Prepared a Draft Gender Protocol and Draft Youth Policy for consideration by the Council of Ministers

• Played a leading role in advocating for the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Management Bill, as well as

lobbying for changes in the EAC Anti-counterfeit Bill aimed at protecting citizens’ access to quality

generic medicines.

• Coordinated CSO perspectives and key issues to the first SGs forum in Dar- es Salaam – December

2012.

• Contributed to advocacy initiatives, defending EALAs mandate to raise private members’ bills.

• Participated in ongoing advocacy for strengthening the EACJ.

• Collaborated with EABC to launch the EAC Health Forum and initial key issues, with support from GIZ.

• Initiated advocacy for free movement of Africans in Africa, under the auspices of CCP-AU.

• Trained member organizations on human rights, good governance and policy engagement, including

civil society participation in trade negotiations.

• Developed a sensitization manual for CSOs on EAC structures and processes and how CSOs can

engage with the EAC – “Strengthening Popular Participation in the East African Community- A Guide to

EAC Structures and Processes”.

• Established the EAC Annual CSO Conference, as a strong pillar for galvanization of the civic voice.

Organized 6 CSO capacity development events through increased collaboration, interaction and

experience sharing among Civil Society Organizations across the region from 2006 to 2012, during

which CSOs explored the following themes:

• “Agenda-Setting: The Role of Civil Society in the East African Community” – Arusha 2006;

• “Elaborating the Human Rights System in the East African Community” – Arusha 2007;

• “Strengthening Civil Society in the EAC: Sharing experience with other RECs” - Arusha 2009;

• “The role of Civil Society in the EAC Common Market” - Arusha 2010;

• “Promoting Good Governance for Sustainable Development in the EAC” - Bujumbura 2011;

• “Activating Thematic Advocacy Working Groups” – Nairobi August 2012

During each of these annual forums, CSOs produced a joint communiqué submitted to the

Heads of State through the EAC Secretary General to voice out priority concerns of civil society

in the integration process

• In 2009 formulated a Strategic Plan 2010 – 2015, which defines 5 thematic areas for CSO-EAC

engagement: (1) Human Rights, Democratization and Good Governance; (2) Peace and Security; (3)

Economic and Social Justice; (4) Environment, Natural Resources and Climate Change; (5) Harnessing

Science and Technology.

• Prepared a comprehensive business plan derived from the strategic plan 2010 – 2015. This is a vital

tool for guiding EACSOF operations over the next 3 years.

• Resource Persons: At EACSOF Secretariat, the CEO is supported by the Organizational Development

Advisor; Financial Management Expert; Communications/ IT, Accounts and Administrative Officers.

2009 -2015

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• Developed supportive partnerships with TMEA, GiZ, SIDA, DANIDA, OSIEA & VSO bringing

institutional and Programme support to the Forum.

• The Secretariat undertook internal development processes such as development of policies,

strategies and systems on finance, human resource, communications, membership and

constituency development, policy research and advocacy.

Challenges• The various legal frameworks particularly targeting CSOs, such as the NGO Acts and Media

laws in East African States constrain CSOs abilities to deliver their mandates. This could be in

areas of limiting their freedoms of speech and or assembly e.g. on issues such as human rights,

democracy and corruption.

• Resistance of some host organizations at the National level to release EACSOF National chapters

to operate as independent organizations.

• Fear of competition/sabotage may deter EACSOF’s ability to create linkages with other bodies.

• Hostile political environments.

• Delays in registration of some national chapters.

• Weak linkages with other bodies e.g. Trade Unions, faith based organizations.

• Inadequate staffing at both National and Regional levels in terms of the technical support and

resources.

• EACSOF is heavily dependent on external donors to fund its work. This raises questions on its

sustainability.

• Still struggling to overcome huddles to CSOs in the region meaningfully engaging political

processes.

• Lack of a resource mobilization strategy.

• Insufficient networking among members of EACSOF regionally hence members in partner states

being unknown to each other resulting into low membership;

• Lack of clarity of the benefits of paying up membership fees hence low payments;

• Inactive members.

Opportunities • Bring on board other bodies, e.g. Academic Institutions, Faith Based Organisations, Private Sector

Organisations, Trade unions, etc and strengthening of partnerships and linkages. For more

meaningful engagement in the EAC integration processes;

• Member organizations to be encouraged to put EACSOF or EAC issues as part of their own

strategic plans in order to bolster their commitment to the process;

• There are opportunities for inter-regional networking, e.g. EACSOF with WACSOF;

• Improvement based on lessons learned. For example, specific objective on Income Generating

Activities and sustainability of EACSOF;

• Establishment of the East African Civil Society Academy to boost capacity building among CSOs

in the region;• Increased membership and participation and joint resource mobilization.• Expedite the ratification of African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG)

and develop a monitoring and reporting mechanism on good governance

EACSOF Wider Relationships and Affiliations:• The EAC and Partner States.• National, Regional and International Networks.• The Centre for Citizen Participation at the African Union (CCP-AU).• The African Centre for Civil Society (ACCS).• The West Africa Civil Society Organizations’ Forum (WACSOF).• Southern African Development Cooperation Council of NGOs (SADC -CNGO). • The African CSO Platform on Principled Partnerships (ACPPP).

EACSOF MembershipEACSOF draws its membership from Civil Society Organizations including Non-Governmental Organizations, Community Based Organizations, Faith Based Organizations, and Networks and Coalitions of such organizations situated within the East Africa Community Member States namely: Regional Organizations and Networks. • National CSO Networks. • Alliances and Coalitions. • NGOs working at national and sub-national. • FBOs and CBOs.

EACSOF currently has 62 members from 5 Partner States; of which some are umbrella organizations with a membership network of over 500 CSOs.

Membership Services and Benefits Include:• EACSOF is the focal point for CSO engagement in EAC integration processes through the

Consultative Dialogue Framework – i.e. representation at the EAC through the dialogue framework.

• Exchange of ideas, information and networking with likeminded CSOs in the region through robust knowledge networks, information, education and communication strategies.

• EACSOF Conferences, Workshops, Seminars and Training Processes.• Facilitated up-take of knowledge and its management.• Participatory and inclusive agenda setting for EACSOF and influencing of EAC integration

processes through a BIG voice and collective civic action across the region. • Empowering of active citizenry through policy advocacy for sustainable growth and development

by joining existing thematic clusters and platforms at national and regional levels respectively. • A monthly e-newsletter (and e-bulletins) detailing happenings around EAC and CSOs in the

region.• Opportunities to attend and participate in EACSOF meetings that discuss critical regional

integration issues on development and human rights.• Subsidized costs on purchase of EACSOF publications upon marketing & advertising in our

media.• Association & Networking with prominent CSOs beyond East Africa and other stakeholders in

their fields of expertise through the use of ICTs. • The famous EACSOF Annual CSO Conference & General Meeting.

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CONTACTS

For further information, please contact:East African Civil Society Organizations’ Forum, P.O. Box 12583, Plot N0. Taso 155 286, NaneNane, NjiroCell: +255 786 027 746Landline: +255 27 254 9029Arusha, TanzaniaE-mail: eacsof@gmail.comwww.eacsof.netFacebook: Eacsof SecretariatTwitter: EACSOF Secretariat

EAST AFRICAN CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS’ FORUM