RSCK, AOSK ADVOCACY TRAINING AND LAUNCH OF AEFJN NAIROBI ANTENNA - REPORT

Advocacy Training held at Loreto Mary ward centre 15th and 16th

February 2018

The training was anchored by the Religious Superiors Conference of Kenyan (RSCK) and the Association of Sisterhood of Kenya (AOSK) together with the support of AEFJN (Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network) Secretariat from Brussels. It was meant to build the capacity of religious men and women in advocacy and thereafter officially launch the AEFJN Nairobi antenna.

The training attracted a wide range of religious men and women as well as diverse key partners working in the area of advocacy, human rights, and media. They included Edmund Rice Advocacy network, Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation -Franciscan Africa, AMECEA, National Justice and Peace commission of the Bishops, Radio Waumini and Radio Domus Mariae, Tangaza Justice and Peace and Hakimani Jesuits centre.

The training was officially flagged off by the RSCK Justice and Peace Commission chair Fr. Roland who officially welcomed participants and shared the importance of the training on advocacy and the establishing an Antenna of AEFJN in Nairobi. This he emphasized that the need for advocacy was in line with the Lenten campaign. He was very much appreciative of Fr. Chika the executive secretary of AEFJN from Brussels office for his passion and support to ensure that the training came to realization in the shortest time that was planned.

Prayer reflection and introductions

The prayer reflection led by Mr. Johnstone from Edmund Rice Advocacy Network was very touching and ushered participants into the mood of the training highlighting key messages of advocacy.

Welcome and opening key remarks by Fr. Roland

Welcome to the workshop on advocacy, thanks for accepting our invitation, those from far and near. African Europe Faith and Justice Network (AEFJN), tries to advocate for issues that will put Kenya to have a place of continued linking with the world. We are to be trained to be better advocates. Thanks for the steering committee for the consistent leadership.

Advocacy is not new, but coming from different places and working in different areas, the training will help to deepen our knowledge and understand become better advocates. The launching of the Lenten campaign which was done a few days in Kisumu means that advocacy is part of our Lenten journey.

In 2013 CJPC produced a handbook reinforcing that Lenten campaign is advocacy. “Catholic Church would want to have an informed public….call all Christian to advocate for change. Individual efforts are multiplied when we engage. We want

to thank Fr. Chika for his presence and expertise and funding to make this training take off. We are going to get involved in advocacy for partnership, advocacy against prosecution, advocacy for prevention, advocacy for policy evaluation, advocacy for prayer etc. In the Daily Newspapers there is an issue talking about advocacy against hate. I urge that we become better advocates for and with the old, orphans and do the good advocacy.

Why the need for the Advocacy training: preamble by Johnstone

A right based approach to advocacy sounds very good when done within love, wisdom and knowledge and thus as an African saying goes; an iron sharpens another iron. Justice needs actions that are alive and kicking; we can’t do just actions without proper knowledge and channels of advocacy guided by informed scientific research. Therefore, on the 15th and 16th February 2018, over 35 representatives from religious congregation and faith based organizations had training on seeking modern dimensions on advocacy held at Mary Ward Centre in Karen.

The training was organized by RSCK and AOSK in collaboration with Africa Europe Faith Justice Network (AEFJN) aimed at creating linkages and strives to promote equity and economic social justice in the relationship between Europe and Africa among particularly with the faith based institutions and Civil Society.

Advocacy in a broader perspective needs concrete and practical ways that blend faith and human actions into making the world a just place for all of us.

We were delighted to learn new methods through the various actors that were present. Knowledge acquired and shared makes things move swiftly. The Kenyan Antenna is a call to a collaborative commitment of all religious institutes to work for the common good as the conscience of society guided by the Gospel values. Religious congregations have massive links to the communities and need to show commitment towards harnessing that power for systemic change. The religious congregations should seek new channels of collaborating with people of God instead of getting limited by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.

Fr. Chika indicated that he is very Passionate about Africa, to see Africa re-write the African narrative, this is what inspires him in advocacy.

Session one:

Session one focused more on grounding the participants in the human rights and UN mechanisms that support advocacy. Our facilitator Mr. Richard a lecturer in department of Justice and Peace at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and with vast experience and knowledge in the area of human rights and international advocacy mechanisms led the session.

To introduce and place participants into the context of the training, the facilitator led participants to introduce themselves by names and their areas of engagement in human rights.

The following were some of areas highlighted by participants:

Radio Waumini- advocacy for prayer and partnerships. Prayers were used for encouraging Christians daily and the emphasis of ecumenism.

Hakimani – focusing on advocacy on food security and water sustainably by engaging small scale farmers and promoting national and county government policy reforms (adequate and clean water in ASAL areas) and finally advocacy in lobbying for policy briefs.

Other general areas that were cutting across included;

Child and women rights Relationships and access to religious education Child protection Awareness on human trafficking Research and prevention campaigns on human rights violations Advocacy for legal rights, health and environmental rights Awareness and trainings for community clean-ups Public participation Justice and peace and human rights through awareness and publications Prayer and dialogue for unity and peace Women empowerment International lobbying AMECEA- justice and peace and advocacy in areas of mining Rights and freedoms Capacity building advocacy for human rights and child protection Tangaza justice and peace – promotion of peace and just systems and right

to education Empowerment on environmental care Peace and justice awareness through music Care for mother earth.

The facilitator then dived into the concepts of human rights by allowing participants to have a clear understanding of various categories of rights with emphasis on social economic rights which many Faith based organizations/ participants are largely involved. Examples of social economic rights included; land, food, environment, natural resource.

The core objectives of the this session was to assist participants grasp the concepts of Advocacy, to reintroduce idea of rights-based approach to advocacy to enable participants contextualize what they are already doing unconsciously, and finally to evoke thoughtful action towards advocacy.

Advocacy in simple terms means influencing to bring change. Advocacy is any action that speaks in favour, argues for a cause, recommends, supports or defends, or pleads on behalf of others. Lobbying is a form of advocacy.

Advocacy is meant for influencing those in powers to act in more equitable away so that the root cause may be addressed. It can be undertaken individually or collectively as a group.

What do you do in advocacy?

Organizing people to build power at the base Educate policy makers and legislators Educating the public about the policy legislative processes Research and publication; produce relevant resources that reflect the real

story of your community. Organize public action such as rallies, picketing and demonstrations,

mobilize for your cause, Influence regulators efforts; take action at the relevant agencies Nonpartisan voter education; inform the electorate on the issues (350.org) Nonpartisan voter mobilization; encourage citizens to vote Training sessions that teach successful strategies and skill for direct action Litigation with court for community issues (CREW) Lobbying for or against specific legislation

The difference between charity and justice

Charity Justice

- Short term - Long term- Symptoms - Root causes- Calms things down - Stirs things up- Individual acts - Collective

The church and advocacy: (4:13-19) Manifesto of Jesus “the spirit of the Lord

Scripture LK.4: 18-19 provides the basis for the church and advocacy comparing the issue of justice and charity. Some of the references on the Catholic documents include; Justica in Mundo – using the Gospel to change things/ to address social justice.

On the overview on human rights, the following key areas were captured as constituting all the significant school of thoughts;

Natural law school which attributes Rights to human beings by virtue of being human

Deliberative school that indicates rights are agreed upon

Protest school that claims that rights need to be fought for, Discourse / Nihilist school that says rights are only what people talk about,

nothing more. (MB. Dembour, 2011)

A question posed to participants: Which of these do you identify with?

There was clarity on where charity ends and justice starts/ practiced. The facilitator further linked the issues of human rights to the hierarchy of moral code which is well grounded in the Catholic Church teachings;

Eternal law Divine law Natural law Human law.

Rights- based approach to advocacy consciously calls us to pay attention to human rights in all our programming. This approach calls for a shift from charity to justice without abandoning charity. There are principles that guide how rights-based approach is exercised. The principles demand us to;

- Know the rights, - Know the source, - Know the actors and - Know the mechanisms.

For example one source of rights is the Kenyan constitution Art 43 which talks about social and economic rights. Other sources of laws could be found http//www. Kenyalaw.org/lex/index.xg/. This helps you to access statutory laws while case laws could be found at http:// Kenya law.org/caselaws/.

The facilitators concluded by taking participants through the UN treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review process and how we could use these instruments to influence policy change and monitor the state implementation on human rights.

- Civil-political rights: deal with liberty and participate in political life.- Strongly individualistic

Social economic

1. Goods that meet the social needs2. Goods meeting economic needs (work and fair wages, an adequate living

standards, social security)3. Fair/Just wage for work

Social-economic human rights guarantee equal conditions and treatment. These are not rights directly possessed by individuals but constitution puts duties upon the government to respect and fulfil them. They are embodied in Art. 22 to 27 of

the UDHR. They are also enumerated in the international covenant on economic social and political rights.

- Collective/group/ development rights.- Collective-developmental human rights also include two subtypes;

The self-determination of people

Session two: Social analysis

The facilitator, Br. James Kanali led participants to have a clear understanding of social analysis using the Theological Pastoral cycle method of social analysis.

Pastoral cycle is spiral process in nature which allows the participants to go through a series of stages in order to conclude. The method allows for experience of the now and it’s meant to transform the other actors as well.

The social realities we find ourselves in calls us for response and the best response approach could be through the pastoral cycle method.

Action points in the social analysis;

- Be appraise with the pastoral cycle of social analysis- The role of faith that does justice- The significance social action analysis- Knowledge and experiential- The pastoral cycle-A methodology of social analysis- A pastoral theology method development- See judge and act.

The moments are known as

1. Experience-conversion/compassion and description2. Social analysis and simply analysis

Group interactions

Reflections and closing prayer – ended first day

Day two

Opening reflection by Fr. Chika

Presentation by Fr. Chika

Africa Europe Faith and Justice Network; A bridge linking Africa and Europe, Civil society and church actors (AEFJN)

We are both church actors as well as civil society actors.

Objectives on the session on AEFJN

- Appreciation and understanding of the AEFJN as an advocacy network for religious congregation with unique interest for Africa.

- Appreciation of advocacy as a concrete and practical way of incarnating the gospel values.

- Invitation to be part of this growing community of gospel values activists.

The vision of AEFJN

AEFJN envisions a new world order through the promotion economic justice between the European Union and sub-Saharan Africa so that the poor of Africa may live in dignity and look forward to a better future.

The relations between the two continents have been guided by access for raw material and market. The GDP of African countries are growing but it does not reflect in the quality of life of African people. Value is added to African raw materials outside the continent and her economy has remained resource based. This has left the continent in a cycle of poverty.

As Missionaries, God calls us to transform these realities through legal options available to us. It means that we move away from our agonizing mentality to organizing ourselves for action.

AEFJN: A paradigm shift

AEFJN was born in 1988 out two realities;

- The deteriorating economic conditions of Africa despite development efforts,

- The call of Pope John Paul to missionary to be present wherever decisions are made. To be present where decisions are made is to be present where the structures of poverty and death are laid and contribute to changing them into structures of harmony and life.

AEFJN advocacy focuses on systemic change:

- From an economic system that is driven by the logic profit of TNC and measured by GDP/GNP to an economy that focus on human needs as right/justice and ecosystem /common good for all.

It requires women and men with vision that can see alternative world order is possible -the only condition for lasting peace.

Joining forces is imperatives: when spiders unite their webs, they tie a lion-African proverb. If we bring our energies and resources together we can make a difference.

AEFJN Advocacy is a Faith Experience and Expression-Incarnating Gospel values.

The gospel is a way of life and not necessarily adherence to Christian rituals.

- We need a better understanding of our basic Christian metaphors (image of God, heaven and earth etc.) and gospel narratives.

- Poverty of life, integrity of life and solidarity become essential and prominent values

- CST is rediscovered to become a great companion and tool.- Ministry changes from pre-occupation with Holy alter of God to be involved

in the life of the Holy People of GOD so that they can live with some dignity.- We are aware of the power structures and special interests that get on the

way of common good.- We discover that advocacy is an intentional choice

Faith based advocacy requires a shift consciousness

- The earth is an interconnected living organisms and not a reservoir of raw materials waiting to be exploited; Most are not renewable.

- From thinking of special interests to common interest/common good.- Acting locally while thinking globally.- Economic policies that put common good at the centre as opposed to profit.

The common good is simultaneously a good for the community in common (communal) as well as the space for the specific good of each members of the community. It is always both and, and never either at any moment. Obuntu is an African economic “model”. Building the common good is a practical way of building the Kingdom of God.

The structure of AEFJN is decentralized. The Executive in Rome, The International Secretariat in Brussels and the national antennae both in Europe and Africa relate with each other in a dynamic process of autonomy and relationship

Web www.aefjn.org / Email aefjn@aefjn.org

The link between advocacy and social teaching of the catholic by Dr. Aloise (Tangaza University College).

Advocacy is an Italian word broken down into; Ad- meaning towards, and Vocare-meaning call

Advocacy is calling people towards or giving people a voice over a given situation. It’s a process to make people move and speak on behalf of others i.e. Miguna Miguna. Advocacy calls people to move forward to become protagonists of change. As advocates we are the most important people when an institution or a government is unwilling or unable to bring the desired change.

Conditions for an advocate

- Ensure transparency, accountability and responsible enough to start,

- Failed to negotiate with one another and make compromises-change is desired,

- Government has failed to create inclusivity, people are represented,- Embracing change when it comes-from single party to multipartisms-

change of constitutions- as advocate must be on the firing line.-you must sure you do not have skeleton, must be as cizer’s wife-Musat be just as its humanely possible. The bishops have issues in the closets which have made undisposed to comment on the important issues.

Advocacy is connected with governance-any action that recommends. It’s based on demonstrated evidence –nonviolent activates designed to influence equity, equality, liberty, egalitarian and fraternity. Question of social justice, inclusion, building capacity for people to speak for themselves, stir up the abilities that will make them change their own. Empowerment in activities that will guarantee servant leadership, seeking for more accountability, Pope Francis calls all to be like humble.

Identify and understand problems-social circle together with the people

Understand that;

Clarity of purpose (SWOT) Clear goals Develop activity plans Ensure independence from statutory institutions Develop plans Ensure Person/people centre Accessible, always with the people and without costs Monitoring and evaluation, Celebrations of success and failure

Christian advocates

Invited to apply the advocacy of the Catholic Church, for long the church was stake on natural law which was the order of God.

Issue of workers, how much they are paid Factory owners/conditions of work, church was interest of the poor. Insurance against sickness and treatment Right to employment and work Need for the welfare state-2017 Condemning war and calling for peace Warning against (slam dwellers) condemned by Pope pual populorum

progress Social welfare states Reconciliation between people Protection of the unborn, human vitae

Condemnation of the unfair state Respect of the dignity of women-issues about gender

Link between advocacy and social teaching

Compendium of the catholic teaching

1. Human dignity; that we are all created in the image of God. Human dignity must be respected and our ethnicity, physical appearance appreciated.

2. Principle for respect of human life; no one gives life and no one should take it away.

3. Principle of association; as a basic right.4. Principle of participation.5. Principle of preference option for the poor and vulnerable; we should not

reduce people to the object of poverty6. Principle of solidarity; we are children of God and belong in the same

family.7. Stewardship; we are stewardship and not landlords of the resources in the

world. We do not destroy (LAUDATO SI).8. Principle of subsidiarity; assist poor people do things that are not able to do

and empower them while pulling back and letting them do.9. Principle of human equality; it is a challenge in the modern society where

the gap between rich and poor is widening so fast.10. Principle of the common good; Africans are chained from birth and

death.

Presentation on the developing advocacy strategies, resourcing and networking by Johnstone;

The session was to empower the pparticipants with;

Know-how of planning approaches for advocacy. Participants to acquaint themselves with types of resources and how to use

them appropriately (We are called to be prophetic stewards). Participants to understand and appreciate importance of networking in

advocacy work.

What is needed to build advocacy strategies?

Setting priorities

Defining Objectives

Identifying Key Actors

Creating an Action Plan

Advocacy cycle

Goal and motivation

Actors and power analysis Strategic interventions Planning and implementation Learning and moving forward.

Mapping key actors is very important in order for the advocate to know who has influence and who to influence. Those who have the power to change or affect the issue are to be identified.

This means identifying;

• Champions (those in favour)

• Blockers (those against)

• Swingers (those undecided)

Each of these actors needs different kinds of attention.

In creating an advocacy action plan consider the level that your advocacy wants to happen e.g. local or national, overarching or in-depth etc.

There are various advocacy interventions linked to their purpose for example lobbying - Direct engagement with Actors. The advocate has to ensure he or she is aware of the purpose for each intervention chosen to maximize the outcome.

It is important to match the advocacy intervention with purpose with aim of bringing about change at the levels of awareness, will and action while influencing the audience; public, the influencer and the policy/ decision maker.

Resource mobilization

Facts about resources

• Resources are scarce and competitive

• Some people underutilize their resources

• Others overuse the resources

• The world’s resources are threatened by industrial revolution;

- Massive destruction of forests, mining, fishing

- Production of energy from petroleum products

- Use of toxic pesticides

- Disposal of industrial waste in rivers, lakes, seas and over use of water for irrigation.

- Farming habits and greenhouse effect.

There are different types of resources at our disposal which include; Human power/ personnel, Time, Money, Land and natural resources and Networks/ coalitions.

Networking

Networking - Forming partnership/ building alliances to strengthen our work relation.

Importance of networking

To learn from one another and avoid duplication Enhance our advocacy strategies To share available and scarce resources and build synergies To ascertain the credibility of the organization To satisfy donor requirements To reach out to many beneficiaries in need.

Way forward session led by Johnstone using Open Space Technology.

This session was meant to allow participants to come up with the possible topics of concerns to be taken up for advocacy on the antenna.

The session was to be led by a number of questions to help the participants have a focus and concrete to the specific topics. The questions were;

Names of key participants

The issue / topic of concern

Suggested ideas/ actions to be undertaken

Who to involve?

When to start and end?

What do we need?

How to tell if something is happening (indicators)

What do we want to see? (outcomes/ results)

The time was short to dive deep into detailed issues and come to a conclusion. The following issues were generated from various groups with a big concern on the topic of Governance.

The following issues emerged from the group discussions;

Women – 2/3 principle that has been purposely denied in the previous regime and the current regime,

Accountability and audit of public funds usage by the public servants and parliamentarians,

Tax evasion and money laundering at different levels, Shrinking space of civil society in Kenya.

Evaluations

Participants’ learning from the training (QUESTION: WHAT STRUCK YOU MOST TODAY?)

I was very much struck by:

Human rights advocacy, The Gospel verse that says the spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim

liberty…a call to advocacy, Advocacy of attitude and third name, The role of the church in advocacy and situation in D.R. Congo that is a

result of political problems, The UPR process and the UN reporting mechanism that is an opportunity

for us, Advocacy is liberation, social advocacy is a process and it needs

persistence, courage, readiness to network with others, The need to engage with the people/ participation in the process of

dialogue, The wealth of opportunities within the church structures which requires

efforts to offer solution to our present challenges, Advocacy in the light of human rights, The rights-based approach and the UPR, Advocacy is effective but don’t expect immediate results, I can bring change in my own little way and change the situation, Time does not matter as long as there is beginning and willingness, Human rights advocacy as grounding basis for human dignity, What can we do with all the information we received? Action is needed

urgently, We do not need to blame others rather need to act, That we have the power to push our prophetic voice is we do it together

men and women religious, The social analysis of Kenyan issues especially the involvement of Catholic

Bishops in solving the political issues, Transformative advocacy that needs to focus on getting the results after

our work of advocacy, The social analysis that I should always include the theological reflection, The church needs leaders of who can be prophetic and use biblical

approach, As I am dealing with people I must use justice mostly than charity which is

for a short time, The title ‘Attitude’ Solidarity Advocacy for prevention

Advocacy for prayer The Christian communities have to initiate dialogue at the grass root level, I have to do something for immediate results and long term, I am very afraid when the religious cannot objectively look at issues

affecting the country due to political and tribal affiliations, The results of advocacy is not measured in time limits its always the issue, The real meaning of advocacy, How do we bring our individual voices, group voices and expertise together

for a joint action, The use of our heart and mind in advocacy process,

Photos

The report prepared by Cyprian Omoding

Approved by Johnstone Shisanya