THE AFRICA THIRD SECTOR ROUNDTABLE
BACKGROUND:
Following the collapse of communism and the increasing embrace of liberal democracy all over the world, Non Governmental Organisations and allied bodies are being incorporated into the structure of the modern state. They now constitute the third prop in the structural axis of the modern, liberal state. This explains why they are now appropriately labelled the Third Sector. The “First Sector” is understood to mean the public sector, which is a grand term for government. The organised private sector, made up of profit-driven organisations, forms the “Second Sector”.
Third sector organisations, which are separate from the market economy and independent of the state, play the crucial role of acting as the nexus between the public and private domains. They complement the public sector in such diverse areas as health, education, social services environment etc.
WHAT IS THE THIRD SECTOR?
The Third Sector encompasses those parts of civil society that are neither government nor business, including associations , non governmental organisations, non-profit organizations, advocacy groups, citizen groups and social movements which take an active part in societal activities that do not bring profit, but are important for the development of society. It is a sector, which is organised independently from the state and upon its own freewill, which has jointly accepted and adheres to democratic values, and develops a stable attitude towards the state and politics.
The Third Sector provides a framework for individuals to come together to address community and national needs, pursue collective interests, participate in building society, and act as agents to effect social change. It is based on the virtues of sustainable development, equal opportunities, and inclusion of disadvantaged people in the society. Because Third Sector organizations are distinct in terms of motivation and organization they are capable of doing things that neither the state nor the private sector can do reliably.
Third Sector organizations are formal, private, self-governing, non- profit and voluntary entities. They have been referred to as “The Altruistic Sector”.
WHY AFRICA NEEDS A THIRD SECTOR ROUND TABLE:
In Africa , the Third Sector is by and large amorphous. This state of affairs is traceable to unreliable research methods used in the past to collect data, and also because of complex definitional issues in describing the true state of the sector. It has been difficult to capture data conceptually and empirically in Africa . This is why the Africa Third Sector needs to be encouraged and galvanized because a strong and vibrant Third Sector is a prerequisite for a healthy economy.
Indeed, Third Sector organisations in certain places in Sub-Sahara Africa have been known to replace public services as well as act as agents of reform in government by agitating for changes. This has led to an uneasy relationship between government and the Third Sector in some parts of Africa , and open hostilities in others.
The organizers of the INGO Conference believe that in Africa the capacity of the Third Sector to adapt to changes and to grow is hindered by the low recognition of the Third Sector by African governments, and by the failure of public policy to accord it the recognition and encouragement that it provides the organised private sector. A very vibrant Third Sector already exists in Canada , England and the United States . However, exceptions must be made in situations of comparison for obvious reasons.
Africa must evolve its own brand of a vibrant Third Sector taking into consideration its peculiar and historical disadvantage in the global economy, borrowing aspects from the character of Third Sector organizations in the developed world. It should embrace good practice to enhance the uniqueness of an Africa Third Sector. The formation of Africa Third Sector Round Table is to provide a platform for debate, constructive engagement, exchange of experience and consultations to articulate issues concerning civil society and give the sector a collective voice. Africa Third Sector Roundtable will disseminate information among members especially on current fund raising trends and best practices as well as alerts of available grants, sponsorships and loans targeting African Third Sector organizations.
Africa needs a Third Sector Round Table for purposes of accountability. It also needs it to help the sector work out a commitment to transparent method of public reporting and to encourage advocacy for the development of a consistent and appropriate accounting standard. To address regulatory issues, the Round Table will work with governments to develop a consistent set of models for registration and incorporation with a recognised, centralised authority in various African countries from which references could be sought from overseas potential partners and collaborators. Where these structures already exist, the Roundtable will advocate strengthening of these structures to meet international standards. Where they are absent we will encourage its introduction. This will further serve to encourage overseas funders for whom credibility especially among local NGOs and CBOs has remained an issue.
The Africa Third Sector Round Table will play a significant role in confronting the development problems facing the continent today and in ensuring that their united voice of the grassroots is heard— be it sending a delegation to the United Nations, the World Bank and other international development institutions, or meeting with local and foreign governments.
BRIEF AGENDA:
Significantly, the Africa Third Sector Round Table until the year 2015 will embrace the millennium challenge by championing and working collectively to attain the targets of the Millennium Development Goal. We believe that the year 2005 will be an auspicious year for the round table. The G8 will hold a meeting in the United Kingdom in September 2005. The UK will also hold the Presidency of the European Union for a period of six months in 2005. The British Prime minister, Mr Tony Blair, has launched an initiative called The Africa Commission, which was set up to address and find solutions to Africa 's problems. INGO 2004 Conference held in July in the London Dockland had an input made by a representative of The Africa Commission.
Underlying Africa 's underdevelopment and poverty is the debt burden. The Round Table proposes to embark on a signature campaign of Third Sector organizations and practitioners, predominantly NGOs, CBOs, Faith Groups and Civil Society Groups, to petition for Africa 's debt forgiveness. This is essential if the continent is to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Significantly, the round table will initiate a strategy to forge links between localised third sector groups in Europe with like minded third sector groups in Africa including in key fields pertinent to the Millennium Development goals e.g. education providers, health and social care providers. The implementation of the strategy will facilitate regular exchange programmes between like minded third sector organisations, an accredited training programme and increase opportunities for funding through partnership ventures.
The Africa Third Sector Round Table will be unveiled during the INGO Ireland 2004 Conference in Dublin . |
The
Civil Society and voluntary services sector share in the need
and vision that community based organisations, NGOs, and third
sector organisations are the basic units to measure development
and poverty reduciton efforts across Africa.
and
NGOs say about INGO...