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| Opinion | EAC CSOs’ Forum: an idea whose time is now Jwani Tranquilino Jube Any good idea unless put into use ends up in smoke regardless of its nobility. It requires only a little effort to ensure good ideas are not lost like the clouds of summer season which don’t produce any rain- jwanijube@fastmail.fr fall. Listening and learning from the CSOs Annual Forum which took place in Arusha at the end of last November, there were a wide range of issues and ideas that were brought to the fore. I rate the forum as having been successful from presentations, subsequent discussions and the overall participation. Reflects Jwani Tranquilino Jube At the end of the two-day forum participants from diverse regions ofTanzania and representatives from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda went back home with rich collection of papers. It is my earnest hope that the participants have retained at least one or two important matters among the diverse issues that arose during presentations and discussions. Many participants spoke of the need to avail the East African Treaty to members of the civil society. Another issue that was backed by majority of participants was establishment of an organized CSO forum for the East African Community. Some participants proposed that the Tanzania CSO Forum should become the link between CSOs in the country and the other member states of the East African Community. This feature discusses the idea of East Africa Community CSOs’ Forum as an idea whose time has come. Majority of the participants said the idea can no longer be avoided or ignored. They concurred | 28 | | www.thefoundation.tz.org | Masaai people lives in both Tanzania and Kenya that the ongoing EAC integration, called for CSOs in the region to come together. Participants agreed it was of outmost importance for civil society fraternity in EAC to take up immediate actions and start forming networks across the region. Yes, CSOs certainly need a joint forum! To speak, the process of initiating EAC CSO’s Forum has started and CSOs coordinators and representatives have been advised to start defining areas in which they can cooperate on regionally.This will be used as a stepping stone in the process of forming EAC CSOs’ Forum, which will be able to cater for the concerns of the citizens in the region. The idea of forming such a forum was floated during a plenary discussions titled: “The Role of CSOs in enhancing the East Africa Integration.” This was during the 5th CSOs Annual Forum and Exhibitions in Arusha. It is envisioned that the forum would act as platform for dialogue on issues that addresses the needs of the East African so as to enhance the future of the East African Community. The proposal received wide support from participants at the forum. Mr. Donald Deya – CEO – East African Law Society, said the idea was long overdue. His organization, he said had been granted observer status by EAC secretariat. Mr. Deya urged that, the need for such a forum, to be used as a regional instrument where citizens can communicate concerns about the community, was real and paramount. Member of East Africa Legislative Assembly from Tanzania Hon. Dr. George Nangale as well as the Deputy Minister, East African Cooperation (Tanzania) Hon. Dr. Buberwa Kamala offered their support to the idea. The latter insisted that, in order to increase citizens’ participation in the East Africa Community integration processes there must be an instrument The Foundation Newsletter or structure of communication between the CSOs in the region. According to the deputy minister such an instrument or structure would enable CSOs and the EastAfrican citizens to have an opportunity for joint dialogue and dissemination of information. It would bring new cooperation capable of putting up a joint mechanisms for defending the citizens concerns. He insisted that, forming such an instrument would help to ensure CSOs’ contributions in enhancing the EA Community are given a chance in the near future. During the discussions, it emerged that EAC treaty recognizes human rights groups, grassroots organizations, labour unions, youth and gender movements, environmental movements, religious bodies, farmers’ organizations, the academic community, research institutions, professional associations; and the media as part and parcel of the civil society. The community’s support for CSOs is outlined in Article 127; Part 1, 3 & 4 of the EAC Treaty. The treaty allows Civil Society Organizations within the region to be granted observer status by the community secretariat. The Principal Labor and Employment Officer for the EAC, Ms. Mary Makoffu during the discussion said in order to strengthen and promote citizens’ participation EAC has created Gender, Community Development and Civil Society Mobilization Unit. Ms Makoffu said the secretariat organized the first major regional civil society workshop in July 2005 and the workshop report was presented to the Council of Ministers in November 2006. She said EAC secretariat works very closely with CSOs with regional interests irrespective of whether they have observer status or not. She brought to the light the qualities needed for effective participation of CSOs in the regional body. The qualities are: Capacity to understand and to be understood; Trustworthiness; Mutual respect; Holistic vision; dialogue with stakeholder; Dialogue skills; Ability to confine self within working area. Others are clear dialogue structure; Indisputable facts as basis for dialogue; Consecutive discussions and feedback. She said that CSOs can participate in the East African Integration process in the following areas: Policy Preparation; Policy Decision Making; Policy Operationalization; Policy implementation; and Policy Monitoring & Evaluation. CSOs that have been granted observer status by the community include the following: East African Business Council, EastAfricanTrade Union Council, EastAfrican Centre for Constitutional Development, EastAfrican Magistrates and JudgesAssociation, East Africa Book Development Association, and East Africa Law Society. Other CSOs whose applications are yet to be cleared include: International Council of Social Welfare; East AfricanYouth Forum; Legal and Human Rights Centre; East Africa Youth Forum (Kenya Chapter); East African Youth Development; East African Fine Coffees Association; Association of Professional Societies in East Africa; East African Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations and The Eastern African Sub-regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women
John Ulanga at FCS: His life and work, “FCS is a house of new ideas and good work” At the Foundation for Civil Society, a number of senior staff is youthful, led by the institution’s Executive Director, Mr. John Ulanga, who is in his mid thirties. For such an institution, which for the last five years has handled grants worth Tsh 20 billion, it is no mean feat. The leader and staff of such an institution must be a person of very high integrity as well as good performer, writesAbdul Njaidi who interviewed Mr. Ulanga recently. For Mr. Ulanga, what has made him tick is adherence to professionalism, integrity, seeking new knowledge to find creative solutions, as well as respecting the abilities of others. He made this confession at a special interview to commemorate The Foundation’s fifth anniversary. Mr. Ulanga who frequently was able to provide answer to my questions before I even finish, said that after a collective decision has been made, he is able to ensure its implementation to the word. When we come to leadership, Mr. Ulanga who has been at the helm of FCS since November 2006, said what count is one’s ability and vigour to make things work out, even when under pressure or hostile environment, without going outside the law and policies of a given organization. When asked if his age has ever been a hindrance in as far as undertaking his responsibilities as a leader are concerned, Mr. Ulanga said: “Of course there are challenges... but I thank those who have trusted me and given this position of responsibly, it is gratifying and I promise not to fail them.” The Executive Director said FCS to a great extent was being lead by young people. “This gives me more strength and greater self confidence,” he said adding: “Yes, here at The Foundation we are many young people... my fellow youths ... for sure they love Tanzania ... our beloved motherland, they do their work for the benefit of this nation ... it is a good team and I appreciate working with them,” Mr Ulanga said. With such a team, Mr. Ulanga reaffirmed that FCS is poised to reach greater heights even as the institution celebrates 5th anniversary this year. “FCS has been making achievements day by day ... every new date we are accomplishing something new. We have the audacity to venture and confront new emerging issues with calculated risk... but always we managed to achieve something extraordinary for the civil society sector,” Mr. Ulanga said. Some of the new ideas in the catalogues of accomplishment include: The CSO capacity self assessment tool, introduction of e-mailing list which is an open fora for anyone, an interactive website, various training modules for CSOs, TV program to show CSO work, Newsletter of the Foundation, CSO Focus Magazine and other publications like the Image of Success Booklet which goes hand in hand with Best Grantees Award (BGA). Other newly introduced items or improved are the citizens platforms in form of Public Policy Dialogue at regional level, CSO exhibitions and engagement with MPs and Members of the House of Representatives. Other new innitiative of the Foundation is an open grants making procedures and information provision, as well as more involvement and working with CSO CSO umbrella and networks. Other new events in the pipeline include the Tanzania CSO Excellence Award, CSO Week and Tanzania Directory of CSOs. The award is geared to encourage high standards and quality performance among CSOs while the directory is a marketing and networking tool for CSOs in the country. When asked about memorable moments, he said there have been many achievements and challenges. “It is difficult to say what is most memorable but what I can say is in year 2006 when we headed our first CSOs Exhibition at the parliament, I was told it was better than the previous ones. Still in the exhibition of 2007, it was said it was the best of all....This goes a long way to say every day we are improving, today is better than yesterday,” he said. Mr. Ulanga, MBA holder and certified professional accountant is a graduate of Dar es salaam University . Before joining The Foundation, he worked with the Economic Social Research Foundation - ESRF.
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