Our Voices, Influence and Access (VIA) Project works with civil society organisations, small-scale producers and parliamentarians in the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) to ensure the Cotonou Partnership Agreement (between the European Union and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries) promotes sustainable and equitable development and democracy. The VIA Project started in 2002.
VIA Publications
Forum Mulher is a network of over 80 national and international organisations that work on behalf of and mainly advocate for women’s basic rights in Mozambique. Its involvement with One World Action’s, Voices, Influence and Access Project started in June, 2003 with the first partners’ meeting and the launch of the VIA Toolkit in Windhoek, Namibia. Since then Forum Mulher has been a formidable player in the capacity building, networking, policy advocacy and information sharing efforts of the VIA Project.
Before its involvement with the VIA Project, FM had very little to do with the Cotonou Agreement, international trade or Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs). However, since becoming a part of the VIA Project partnerships, there have been more opportunities to learn and share for Forum Mulher.
2009
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The Magoye Cooperative was the subject of a pilot project carried out by the Civil Society Trade Network of Zambia (CSTNZ) with financial and technical support from One World Action’s VIA Project. At the heart of the pilot project was the opening of spaces for citizens’ participation and enhance their ability to talk to their governments.
This pilot project contributed significantly to that discussion within Zambia, helping government, civil society and ordinary citizens to come to grips with challenging developmental issues.
2009
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The Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) is a coalition of about 100 civil society organisations. They carry out activities in the fields of economics, trade, agriculture and the national budget.
The organisation was started in 2000 and has had a number of successes, especially with regard to its influence on the direction adopted by the Malawian government in the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) negotiations. MEJN is now at the apex of civil society activities aimed at the promotion of economic good governance and capacity building.
2009
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The Labour Resource and Research Institute (LaRRI) was founded in January 1998 is Namibia’s premier labour think-tank. They provide evidence-based policy advice to the labour unions across a variety of topics such as labour law, affirmative action, gender equality, Namibia’s political economy, labour hire practices, land reform, wage negotiations, globalisation, collective bargaining as well as economic and social aspects of labour.
Leading up to and during the negotiations for the establishment of the Malaysian Clothing and Textile Company, Ramatex in Namibia’s Export Processing Zone (EPZ), LaRRI was among the first organisations which raised an alarm about its dangers, as well as the degree to which the Namibian government was bending to accommodate Ramatex. In this case study we examine some of the recent EPZ developments in Namibia with respect to Ramatex and a civil society response spearheaded by the LaRRI.
2009
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Since independence Mozambique has signed three fisheries agreements with the European Community, which have provided some significant economic benefits to the country as well as raised questions about impacts on national fisheries, environmental costs and secondary benefits such as employment.
This report presents a brief overview and history of the three agreements and the protocols that have defined the technical and financial details during execution. Focussing on the last two agreements (2004-6 and 2007-11) an analysis is made of the economic and social impacts of the agreements, and areas are identified where improvements could be made, including increased partnership options, enhanced participation of civil society and strategic / policy issues.
2008
The NANGOF Trust is the successor body to NANGOF, the Namibia Non-governmental Organisations' Forum
The 2000 Cotonou Partnership Agreement between the European Union (EU) and the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) nations included a provision for non-state actors to become fully engaged in the planning, implementation and assessment of development programmes. The Cotonou Partnership Agreement envisages support for capacity building for non-state actors.
This Case Study describes the lengthy, and sometimes difficult, negotiations leading to the NANGOF Trust obtaining European Commission funding for building the capacity of civil society in Namibia. It is a useful guide for NGO associations in other countries.
The Case of the Magoye Smallholder Dairy Farmers Co-operative Society
How a small dairy farming community in Zambia became aware of and engaged in trade policy debates and negotiations.
The Magoye Pilot Project, part of One World Action's Voices, Influence and Access Project, enabled a small dairy farming community in the Southern Province of Zambia to understand and engage with the Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations with the European Union. The Magoye Small-scale Dairy Farming Co-operative were enabled to have face-to-face meetings with their government's trade negotiator and the Deputy Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry.
2007
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Making Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) developmental
The 2000 Cotonou Agreement provided for the conclusion of WTO compatible trading arrangements and progressively removing trade barriers. In this regard, negotiations of EPAs were undertaken with ACP countries. From the outset of the negotiations ACP countries advocated that the negotiations should address the multi-dimensional nature of the development process of their economies, namely, poverty reduction, sustainable development, gradual and smooth integration of the ACP countries into the global economy. They expressed fears that EPAs may result in massive revenue losses due to tariff reduction and the
introduction of non-reciprocity. Developing countries continue to argue that such
revenue losses would affect their national budgets, resulting in increased deficits, reduced spending on poverty reducing interventions in infrastructure, health care, education, safety nets amongst others, thereby exacerbating poverty.
This Report outlines how EPAs could be designed to promote sustainable and equitable development.
By: Tendai Makwavarara, April 2005
MAKING ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS (EPAS) DEVELOPMENTAL
How can the Cotonou Agreement strengthen democracy and good governance at national, regional and continental levels?
The 2000 Cotonou Partnership Agreement covers aid, trade and political relations between the European Union and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific group of countries. This Briefing examines how the Agreement could foster democratic governance through strengthening the role of civil society.
HOW CAN THE COTONOU AGREEMENT STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE AT NATIONAL, REGIONAL AND CONTINENTAL LEVELS?
The Cotonou Agreement: Opportunities and Challenges for Southern Africa?
Opportunities arising from the Cotonou agreement for Southern Africa can be presented in two categories: economic gains and the empowerment of the non-state actors. Economic benefits may arise through increased EU market access as well as financial aid to assist the private sector and for initiating programs that are aimed at poverty reduction. This Briefing examines the opportunities and challenges posed for Southern Africa.
The Cotonou Agreement: Opportunities and Challenges for Southern Africa?
| A gender analysis of the Cotonou Agreement and its implementation Specific provisions on gender are highlighted in Article 31 of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement emphasise that gender issues should be a cross cutting theme and concern in all programmes, projects and activities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres of co-operation. This Briefing explores what this might mean in practice. A gender Analysis of the Cotonou Agreement and its implementation |
The Cotonou Partnership Agreement - Opening-up new opportunities for Non State Actor Engagement
One World Action's Voices Influence and Access (VIA) Project commissioned this study to establish to what extent civil society organisations were able to participate in the aid, trade and political relations processes outlined in the Cotonou Partnership Agreement in Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It explores the position with regard to funding of non-state actors and analyses the EU Delegation's capacity to work with civil society.
The Cotonou Partnership Agreement - Openinig up new opportunities for Non State Actor Engagement
The Cotonou Partnership Agreement and Angola
This examines what the Cotonou Partnership Agreement offers Angola.
The 'COTONOU AGREEMENT' and ANGOLA
O ACORDO DE COTONOU E ANGOLA (Portuguese)
