5^th December 2009, Nairobi

Introduction

Apart from the official business of the AGM, such as presentation of accounts from the UK and Kenyan offices of the global organisation, and re-election of Trustees, according to the constitution, there were thought-provoking presentations from various countries represented at the AGM.  There was also a welcome and message from the Trustees, and a presentation on Writing Convincing Proposals for funding, which highlighted the IGI proposal format.  The two sessions were held together by the excellent chairing of Lawrence Muiruri and Stephen Kiseve, and followed by stimulating questions.

Welcome Message from the Trustees

This presentation summarised some of the highlights of the year, such as the successful externally funded project at the University of Buea in Cameroon, and the registration of the new IGI FIT in Southern Sudan.

The presentation is at Welcome Message from Trustees

Cameroon

Cameroon has been a major success story for IGI in 2009, so it was a special pleasure to meet and hear from Stephen Asek.  Stephen spoke of the Global Perspective and the Biblical Perspective.  He outlined how FITCAM had developed its own capabilities with minimal resources, starting from being one very few CSO monitors of the recent elections.  His own work has been particularly with young people.

He highlighted the need for cleaning up the corruption in the universities, citing the example of lecturers’ insurance that had been diverted to the tune of $200,000.  FITCAM had carried out a successful project in Buea University, which had led to other parties within Cameroon calling for partnership with IGI.   In the course of this, FITCAM had been able to draw on the advice of international academic experts and had obtained substantial support from a US-based funding body (Partnership for Transparency Fund).

Kenya

There were two major papers on Kenya.

 

Impunity and Ethnicity

Our President and Secretary, Sakwa Buliba spoke on the issues of Impunity and Ethnicity in Kenya.   After outlining how past governments had undermined civil and democratic institutions, while fostering ethic identity as part of their power base, Sakwa focused on two specific examples of power governance. The shocking ethnic violence after the 2007 presidential elections had been fomented by many in positions of religious or civil leadership.  His claim was that few Kenyans were completely blameless. Similarly, the huge ecological problem of the Mau Forest was connected to the wider problem of land being allocated to the fellow tribesmen of those in power.

 

Despite the Waki Report, justice has not yet been done for those caught up in the ethnic violence.  Sakwa argued for the value and appropriateness of Restorative Justice, as opposed to Retributive Justice, in the context of the communities of Kenya.

Sakwa’s paper can be read at  Impunity and Ethnicity

Community Taxpayers’ Assemblies

Catherine Kianji presented a stimulating paper on the new major project supported by IGI in Kenya.  CTAs are an attempt to address the public apathy arising from a sense of powerlessness, while holding officials accountable for unsatisfactory services.  CTAs will operate by drawing together representatives of civil society organisations commanding widespread support, and

enabling them to meet, to undergo training, to collect information, to debate and to challenge public leaders and officials.  Auditing the spending of public funds devolved to constituency level will be part of their role.  They will also have a role in communicating to the wider public. [The picture shows members of the new Korogocho CTA.]

 

Catherine’s paper can be read at Community Taxpayers' Assemblies.

Mozambique

Cloves Boaventura presented the challenges of the trying to start an IGI FIT in Mozambique.   Trust has been shaken in international NGOs following cases of corruption.   The need for the work of IGI remains strong in the face of widespread public ignorance about people’s rights.  Often people are only told what the Government wants them to know.

Nonetheless, Cloves reported that they had achieved preliminary registration, and were working through key questions about how to develop their programme and funding.  It is likely that initial work will focus on pre-university schools.

Somalia / Somaliland

There was good attendance of representatives from Somalia / Somaliland, and several presentations, including discussion of challenges to democracy in Somaliland  (Ayanle Mohamed) the general situation in Somalia (Ms Munna Hassan) and the plight of journalists in Somalia (Abdi Rahman).

Somalia is a country with massive challenges, including the prevalence of lawlessness and the lack of normal means of earning a living, which often leaves violence the only alternative.  The life of journalists is particularly dangerous, not only because their work is to expose things that those in power might wish kept quite, but also because their very job takes them into places of danger.  Sadly, many have been driven into exile.  They need our support.

Somaliland is more stable, but faces challenges in the relationship between statute law, common law and Shari’a, and the lack of anti-corruption mechanisms in society.  There is a lack of the constitutional checks and balances we take for granted in more established democracies, together with no means of public enquiry and feedback from the people.  Even the election has been postponed.

Opportunities lie in contributing to the process of constitutional reform, spreading public awareness and capacity building.  This is supported by the growth in Human Rights NGOs and the establishment of a HR Commission.

Southern Sudan

Sudan has been wracked by two bitter civil wars over the last few decades, but since the Comprehensive Peace Agreement of 2005, has been more stable.  Southern Sudan was created by the CPA, but in many areas remains very primitive.  Major elections are coming up in the next couple of years, but are threatened by the lack of security and ignorance of many of the youth of Southern Sudan on their democratic rights or how to hold government to account.

Writing Convincing Proposals

This presentation by the Chairman of the Trustees outlined the relationship between the central IGI and the national FITs.  The FITs originate projects suited to their own national needs.  Global IGI supports with advice, coordination, organisation, networking and some funding.  The FITs then seek larger-scale funding from other funding organisations.

The presentation then focussed on the competitive nature of funding proposals, the need for clearly thought-out plans and budgets, a track-record and good administrative infrastructure.

The form developed by IGI for proposals takes the writer through the steps required for setting up a well thought-out proposal, which should then be able to attract funding.

The presentation is at Convincing Proposals and a copy of the form at Project Form

Introduction