Invitation to the Nairobi People’s Congress, 25th July 2010

A time comes when people must stop complaining about bad leadership and take upon themselves the responsibility of organizing and realizing the ideal platform on which to discuss their problems, propose solutions and to engage their energies in the implementation of their resolutions.

Leadership is not an exclusive club for politicians but it is the visions, actions and sacrifices of everyday people like you and me, aimed at making our societies civil organizations with the capacity to provide the basic comforts of life for all the individuals that constitute it.

We are all blessed with unique talents and abilities and with the right formations set up amongst ourselves we can not only express ourselves in the service of the people, but while doing so, provide the necessary leadership into the areas where our gifts allow us a clearer view than that of our brother who in time and in turn will also get to lead us into the terrain where his talents will provide excellent guidance.

We are all leaders, and in a civil, equal and tolerant society, this fact will become very clear. But this will not happen by itself and it will surely not be done by our political leaders or even by a political mindset. For it is in the nature of politicians to deceive the people into giving them access to collective resources which they loot and plunder, for the truth is that politics is the struggle for the control of resources and that is what politicians do.

We, the people, need to come together and organize our society in the way that only we can.

We need to organize our neighborhoods, our estates, our wards, and our city.

The time has come for us to organize ourselves. It is now time for YOU to get up and to be a part of this awakening.

THE MISSION …

The people of Nairobi are coming together to hold the inaugural NAIROBI PEOPLE’S CONGRESS on the 25th of July.

We are coming together to agree on how we will empower ourselves to create the society that we have all been dreaming of. A society where everyone is involved in the building of our beloved land and not one where our only role is to be extorted in the name of taxes and rates by a bunch grabbers who have no capacity to fulfill their campaign promises.

Our mission is simple; to give space to those with ideas to share with everyone else on the best way to bring together our energies across the neighborhoods in a way that we can finally begin to solve the simple problems that have undermined us and that have made the world question our intelligence.

We also seek to agree on how to structure every estate committee in the most efficient and productive way and how to form ward committees that involve the representatives of these estate and neighborhood formations.

Most importantly, we seek new leaders who will be willing and able to inspire members of the public to work on these resolutions and who will be the cornerstones around which neighborhoods will build themselves into a strong foundation on which the Community of Nairobi will sit.

This community is what will comprise the Nairobi People’s Congress.

By bringing together our knowledge and experiences, we shall be able to build a living society; an intelligent and sensitive organization conscious of its present circumstances while at the same time visual of its bright future; a place where all are accommodated, given the space to be human and to achieve their potential.

This will be the gift of our generation.

TO PARTICIPATE …

The inaugural Nairobi People’s Congress is a constitutive assembly comprising of 10 representatives from every administrative ward in Nairobi.

Registration is open to all members of the public residing in Nairobi. We especially invite those who are willing to work alongside other like-minded individuals who believe they have something to offer society.

Registration will be direct to the secretariat but all those registered from each ward will convene themselves so that in observing the spirit of fair representation, they will decide on who amongst them will participate as observers or as representatives.

(Due to restrictions in time and for clarity in documentation, those making presentations will be required to prepare and forward a brief written summary to the facilitator at the start or during the session to clarify their position. Copies will be compiled and distributed to all the participants after the program.)

To participate in the preparations or to register for the Congress, please contact:

Benedict Wachira- 0721-158008 or Hillary Mulialia- 0722-258552.

To register, send a short message with the following details:

•             Name,

•             Ward

•             Contact (Phone no.)

to the above numbers or by email to nairobipeoplecongress@gmail.com

Please register before 16 July, 2010

Your country needs you! Your city needs you!

Press Conference by Civil Society Groups on Millennium Development Goals Summit

Non-governmental organizations had been crucial partners in efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015, and while their voices were many and diverse, they carried a common message: the Goals must be understood in the context of the need for new development paths.

That was the main message highlighted during a Headquarters press conference featuring three speakers who participated in the General Assembly’s informal interactive hearings with non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations and the private sector.  They also shared their thoughts on issues such groups wished to see included in the outcome of Assembly’s September Summit on the Millennium Development Goals.

Speaking first, Constance Okollet of the Uganda-based Osukuru United Women’s Network discussed the impacts of climate change on her community, saying that agriculture had been hard hit.  Agricultural products were vital for helping families afford basic services, such as medical care and school fees.  In recent years, however, climate change had reduced peoples’ ability to effectively cultivate the land, and incomes had suffered as a result. “We have no food to sell and no food to eat,” she said.

So poverty was increasing and forests were being ruined, she continued.  Basic health needs were not being met and people often died because there was no way to access hospitals.  When floods hit, people fled, and upon their return to destroyed homes, they found they had nothing.  “If we don’t include a climate change component in the Goals, we may not achieve them properly,” she said, stressing that development gains were often wiped out because of drought, flood and other climate- and weather-related events.

Speaking next, Farah Kabir, country director for ActionAid Bangladesh, underscored the need to invest in small farmers, most of whom were women, to eradicate poverty and reduce hunger.  While 60 to 70 per cent of food was produced by women small farmers, less than 1 per cent of investment flowed to them.  She hoped to communicate that message to organizations responsible for the Goals.

It was also vital to address gender discrimination, she said, as many women farmers had very small holdings.  Even if a farm was in their name, women often lacked access to Government services, especially loans.  If Governments provided special services, like seed and fertilizers, they preferred to give them to men.  Related to that, she said she hoped to see more investment in decent employment, as women agricultural labourers received 20 to 30 per cent less than their male counterparts.  Governments also should increase investment in social protection schemes.

Rounding out the discussion, Anne-Françoise Lefèvre of the World Savings Banks Institute said access to financial services was vital for accelerating the achievement of the Goals.  Providing access to affordable, secure financial services and products would especially help the most vulnerable populations.  Providing a farmer with access to formal savings account, for example, would enable access to safety nets when crops were not in season.  Insurance services would help families whose homes had been destroyed by floods.

“We need to provide people with access to affordable credit”, particularly women and small- and medium-sized enterprises, she said, underscoring that such credit was just part of a full range of financial services to be made available.  Technology must also be better exploited.  Most people had access to mobile phones, which increased the chances of accessing financial services, she added.

Taking a question on what she expected from the Assembly’s hearings, Ms. Okollet said she expected positive responses to help women suffering the effects of climate change, particularly in the area of health.  Ugandans were dying of cholera because water was contaminated.  Infants were dying of malaria.  Secondly, people could use money placed in adaptation funds to stabilize their lives, especially in reopening schools in her area, which had been closed due to flooding.

Asked about improving access to financial services in countries where there was a lack of Government accountability, Ms. Lefèvre said there were numerous examples of the private sector taking the lead in such situations.  The idea was to build confidence in formal financial services.  “We need a lot of education and financial literacy to enable people to put their scarce money in a safe place,” she said.  The Government should provide a supportive regulatory framework, a major governance issue that, in some countries, was tricky to address.

As for what panellists expected in September, Ms. Kabir said she hoped to see reference to “rescue plans” or social safety nets in the final document.  United Nations agency coordination could make a big difference in achieving the Goals.  The September document should reflect such suggestions.

Ms. Lefèvre said she wished to see a strong commitment to developing an inclusive financial sector.  That entailed building supportive regulatory environments to give low-income populations access to affordable financial services.  It was also vital to recognize the importance of consumer education.

Finally, Ms. Okollet expressed hope that the outcome document from the September summit would recognize the important role of agriculture and she wished to see suggestions included on that topic.  That way, “everybody’s happy”.  She urged people to visit Uganda to better understand the reality of climate change on people’s lives.

African Youth Leaders Introduce the youth Charter at a Social Media Forum

African Youth Leaders Introduce the youth Charter at a Social Media Forum

Friday 19^th March 2010

Venue: University of Nairobi Sports Ground Nairobi, Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya— At least 100 youth leaders from 24 African countries will introduce the African Youth Charter to the public today, 19^th March 2010, at a social media forum at 3.00pm at the University of Nairobi Sports Ground. Maina Kiai, the immediate former Chair of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), will officiate at the forum.

The youth have been attending a Pan African Youth Meeting at Lukenya Gateway since 15^th -19^th March 2010 to discuss new tools and effective strategies of youth participation in democracy and governance in Africa. The weeklong event culminates in a public social media forum today.

Dubbed the Youth AfriCamp 2010, the theme of the forum is: Youth, Media, and Governance. An initiative of Open Society Institute Youth Program, the Youth AfriCamp is the first of its kind in the region.

The Pan African Forum seeks to provide a platform for positive transformation of African youth by encouraging them to harness new strategies and tools to get their message heard. At the forum, the youth will showcase their work, share their experiences, discuss the African Youth Charter and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; and learn how they can apply these important instruments in their work. Hon Cecily Mbarire, Kenya’s Assistant Minister for Tourism and Wildlife and Member of Parliament for Runyenjes addressed the youth on Wednesday 17^th March 2010, at Lukenya Gateway.

The Open Society Institute (OSI) is a New York-based organization with a presence in over sixty countries around the world. OSI is a non-profit operating and grantmaking foundation that aims to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to support the rule of law, education, public health, and independent media. Since 2005, OSI has been represented in East Africa through its Nairobi office, the Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA).

For more information on the Youth AfriCamp 2010 contact: www.idebate.org/africamp

In East Africa: Linda Ochiel, Open Society Initiative for East Africa (OSIEA), at Lochiel@osiea.org or + 254 727-642-193 or Ronald Rwankangi, Open Society Initiative for East Africa, at rrwankangi@osiea.org or +256772302979

Call For Participants: “Understanding the Global Fund” – A training for young activists

The Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights is calling for applications from young advocates to participate in a training on the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM).

The Global Fund is the main funder for HIV prevention efforts around the world, reaching almost all the developing countries with millions of dollars every year. The GFATM offers a unique opportunity for civil society to be involved in the decision making processes on the implementation of the grants in recipient countries. However, due to a lack of understanding of how the Global Fund operates, there is a limited participation from civil society organizations led by young people or working for youth.

The main objective of this 3-day training is to provide 15 young activists (18-29 years old) with the knowledge and tools necessary to better understand and get involved in Global Fund mechanisms and structures at the national and international level. The secretariat of the GFATM is a supporting partner of the training.

Where:  Cape Town, South Africa
When:  May 22-24, 2010
Who:  The YC is keen to receive applications from young people who:

• Fall between the ages of 18 – 29
• Are preferably from a developing country (African participants are encouraged to apply)
• Have experience in the area of sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly HIV
• Basic knowledge on Global Fund process at national level or international level.
• Are affiliated with a youth organisation or an organisation working for young people.
• Have a working knowledge of English and can communicate proficiently in English with other training participants
• Are committed to contribute to the follow up of the training

Applications from young people living with HIV are strongly encouraged.

Full and partial scholarships will be awarded to selected participants depending on the need.

The cost of visas (transportation and visa fees) will be initially covered by the participant and will then be reimbursed during the training if required.

Please send the application form to events@youthcoalition.org before March 26, 2010 along with a recommendation letter from an organization or network that you are currently working with or have worked with in the past.

For more information about the Global Fund visit: www.youthcoalition.org/site08/html/index.php?id_art=195&id_cat=7

For more information on the Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights, visit www.youthcoalition.org