African Civil Society Forum 2007: democratizing governance at regional and global level to achieve the MDGs/Forum de la Societe Civile Africaine 2007: democratisation de la gouvernance aux niveaux regional et mondial pour realiser les ODM.

• Position: ADVOCACY PROGRAMME/PROGRAMME PLAIDOIRIE

Over 250 civil society representatives from 32 countries in Africa participated in the African Civil Society Forum 2007 (AfCSF 2007) convened in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 22-24 March 2007. Under the theme of "Democratising Governance at Regional and Global Level to Achieve the MDGs", the Forum was jointly organised by the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO) and the African Women's Development and Communication Network (FEMNET), in close partnership with the African Union (AU) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa.

The main objective of the Forum was to bring together representatives of national, regional and international NGOs from Africa to explore the most effective ways to build an independent platform in which African CSOs can freely work with the United Nations system as well as partner with and impact on African institutions such as the African Union, the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD). In addition the Forum sought to raise NGOs' awareness of the issues on the UN agenda, most notably the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly identify meaningful partnerships to accelerate progress towards achieving the MDGs in Africa. Debates on the challenges of peace and security in Africa also dominated the discussions with participants decrying human violations in many countries such as Zimbabwe and Sudan. Gender and Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for Development were the cross-cutting issues taken into consideration in all the discussions.

Key outcomes of the Forum were the adoption of the Final Declaration with specific country recommendations for achieving the MDGs. FEMNET was mandated to establish an ad hoc committee to follow up on the implementation of the resolutions and to spearhead in convening the next Forum in 2008.

On the last day of the Forum, FEMNET, through the Chairperson, Mama Koite Doumbia, received the prize award 'Trophee Chevalier du Merite Africain' presented by the Ensemble Allons Dans La Paix (E.A.P.-ONG). Other recipients for the same award were: Prof. Alpha Oumar Konare, Chairperson of the African Union Commission and Ms. Renate Bloem, President of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO).

Plus de 250 representantes de la societe civile en provenance de 32 pays africains ont participe au Forum de la Societe Civile...