Concerning the low level of participation from the ADF members in ADF activities, particularly the information-sharing through the list-serv and online discussion, the participants questioned an issue of members’ commitment.  They also emphasized that it is important to define clear expectations from and/or obligations of ADF members.  These issues of membership need to be addressed in the ADF Constitution.

Participants made the following suggestions for the ADF activities:

• Online Discussions:  The ADF should engage in various international initiatives and discussions concerning Africa.  For example, the recent discussion on debt relief at G8 Summit in Scotland and the Global Action against Poverty are very relevant to the development of democracy in Africa.  Discussions on these issues should take place through the ADF list-serv and Website.
• Public Statement:  If the ADF intends to build solidarity among African democrats, the ADF might need to make public statements on particular issues and situations that are against democratic principles.  Therefore, it was suggested that the ADF set a certain principle, on basis of which the ADF Management Committee make a decision on whether the ADF should make a statement or not.  However, the participants recognized that not all ADF members would necessarily agree on what a statement should say in some cases.  In these cases, the ADF Secretariat would draft a statement and circulate it among those of the ADF members who would want to sign.
• Election Monitoring:  The participants expressed strong interest in participating in election monitoring missions and suggested that the ADF send a delegation/mission to election monitoring.  However, it was recognized that many African organizations, such as IDASA and the Electoral Institute for Southern Africa, had already conducted election monitoring and that it would be more important for the ADF to encourage ADF members to participate in those activities.  Also, the participants acknowledged that some countries like Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, had a number of domestic election monitoring groups, and many of them are members of the ADF.  Therefore, the participants suggested that the ADF facilitate exchanges of experiences among the ADF members for domestic monitoring and that using the expertise among the ADF members, the ADF facilitate training on domestic monitoring for other ADF members from countries that have weak domestic monitoring groups.
• Gender Issue: The participants strongly pointed out that the ADF needed to bring gender balance/equality throughout ADF activities. 
  

PLENARY SESSION: THE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT (NEPAD) AND THE AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM (APRM)

• Technical research institutions are appointed to develop questionnaires and conduct survey.  For example, 10 research institutions are involved in Nigeria’s process, and 4 institutions in Ghana’s.  The survey is to determine the status of governance, and identify strengths and gaps.
• As a result of the survey, a national report is developed and reviewed.
• Based on the report, a national plan of action is recommended.

Mr. Franklin Oduro (Ghana) of the Center for Democracy and Development presented Ghana’s experience in APRM.  Ghana recently finalized the draft report and plan of action.  Ghana’s process included a wide range of communities, such as chieftaincy, youth, media, and civil society.  The assessment of the survey was independent of the Government, and conducted by civil society.  Civil society monitored and checked fact-findings.

Mr. Oduro pointed out that a major challenge in the involvement of NGOs in APRM is a lack of NGOs’ knowledge about NEPAD and APPM.  When the report came out in Ghana, many people and groups asked who reviewed Ghana and why other countries were reviewing Ghana.  This was a result of lack of educating NGOs and the public about APRM’s objectives and process.

In addition to monitoring, evaluating, and participating in APRM process, Mr. Oduro suggested that NGOs put pressure on the Government to ratify the plan of action, recommended at the end of the APRM process.  He also proposed that NGOs conduct parallel review and assessment because not all governments want to open space for civil society and the public.

PLENARY SESSION: DISCUSSION ON CURRENT ISSUES IN AFRICA (DARFUR, POST-CONFLICT DEMOCRACY-BUILDING, AND THE AFRICAN UNION) AND ADF FUTURE ACTIVITES

On the session of discussion on major concerns in Africa, participants discussed the situation in Durfur.  Ms. Durria Monsor (Sudan) briefed the participants on the Durfur situation and pointed out that the civil society has been excluded from the peace process.  Participants agreed that the ADF should be more active in building solidarity for people and groups promoting peaceful solution.

The participants also discussed the importance of sharing post-conflict experiences of NGOs in building democracy and conduct case studies.  It was suggested that groups from Mano River countries (Liberia, Sierra Leone, Guinea), DRC, Angola, and Mozambique should exchange ideas and experiences, and that this could be facilitated by the ADF.  This exchange can include issues of justice and the use of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring justice.

During this session, it was also recommended that the AU and African Parliament be monitored so that they can be held accountable.  To begin this, the ADF will develop contacts with the AU and other inter-governmental/region organizations and seek observer statuses for those organizations.

The participants also recognized the importance of linking with African Diaspora.  Groups like the U.S.-based Africa Action could be helpful for the ADF to raise voices of African democrats in the Western governments’ foreign policies toward Africa.  They could also provide technical support to the ADF members.

Finally, the Management Committee solicited, from the participants, ideas for regional and topical workshops that the ADF will organize during the World Movement for Democracy’s Fourth Assembly in Istanbul, Turkey on April 2-5 2006.  Participants agreed that the regional workshop will be organized around challenges facing democracy movements in Africa.  Suggested topics for the regional workshop are:

• Comparison of transitions to democracy in Africa;
  
• Impacts of democracy on economic and social development in Africa;
  
• Abuses/violations of the Constitution in Africa; and
  
• HIV/AIDS
  

They also suggested the following issues for topical workshops:

-  Post-conflict democracy-building
-  Corruption
-  HIV/AIDS
-  Democracy and religions
-  Democracy and terrorism

WORKSHOPS

• Workshop I: “Preventing Violations of the Constitution”
  Facilitator: Mr. Kokou Sylverstre Zounou (Togo)
  Rapporteur: Mr. Ernest Mpararo (DRC)
  
• Workshop II: “Ensuring Democratic, Free, and Fair Elections”
  Facilitator: Ms. Zainab Bangura (Sierra Leone)
  Rapporteur: Franklin Oduro (Ghana)
  
• Workshop III: “National Human Rights Commissions: Providing a Road Map for the African Human Rights Movement”
  Facilitator: Mr. Chima Ubani (Nigeria)
  Rapporteur: Mr. Harry Obe (Nigeria), Mr. Oluajo Babatunde (Nigeria)
  
• Workshop IV: “Instilling Justice by Educating Citizens”
  Facilitator: Mr. Yona Wanjala (Uganda) 
  Rapporteur: Mr. Kayode Ogundubmi (Nigeria)
  
• Workshop V: “Deepening Linkages between Democracy and Human Development”
  Facilitator: Dr. Akouete Akakpo-Vidad (Togo) 
  Rapporteur: Mr. Oluajo Babatunde (Nigeria)
  
• Workshop VI: “Tackling Human Rights Deficits: Strategies for NGOs in Armed Conflict Situations”
  Facilitator: Ms. Lucie Coulibaly (Cote d’Ivoire) 
  Rapporteur: Mr. Lepoldo Amado (Guinea-Bissau)

Each workshop began with brief presentations and case studies.  Participants in workshops shared their different views and experiences while identifying similar challenges and common regional strategies.  A main objective of the workshops was to develop a short list of action-oriented recommendations for the ADF, its members, the African Union, and other inter-governmental/regional organizations.

Workshop reports are attached at the end of this report. (Unfortunately, a report on Workshop I is missing.)  However, to gain deeper understanding of issues and develop more concrete recommendations, workshop participants decided to continue their discussions online at www.africandemocracyforum.org/forum.  The online discussions are open to not only the workshop participants, but also any ADF members.  The discussion will end on 30 November, 2005, and the final reports will be published online and distributed to ADF members and relevant organizations shortly after 30 November.

CLOSING

The ADF Annual Meeting closed with messages from two members of the Management Committee: Mr. Dieudonne Zognong of Cameroon and Ms. Zainab Bangura of Sierra Leone.  Mr. Zognong discussed the importance of protecting the Constitutions in Africa and encouraged the ADF members to take this issue seriously.  Ms. Bangura reviewed the two-day discussion and emphasized the importance of continuing exchanging ideas and collaborating among ADF members.  The participants acknowledge that their active participation is a key to the successful development of the ADF and agreed to participate in various ADF activities, particularly the email List-Serv and online discussions.

A full report is available here: