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Acord e-Newsletter

No 6 (23 January 2003)


CONTENTS

The start of 2003 finds ACORD alive with change both internally in terms of how we manage ourselves and externally in terms of our programming with others. This newsletter gives you a flavour of the exciting and innovative work that we are involved in.  

1. PROGRAMME NEWS

With news of research, advocacy, debates and lesson learning on the one hand, and plans, events, evaluations and reports on the other, the programme news reflects the changes that programme staff have been making in their work in recent months.

a) ANGOLA: Impact research being undertaken into strengthening institutional and organisational capacities in Southern Angola's Non-Governmental Sector.

b) ANGOLA, MALI, NORTHERN UGANDA AND SUDAN: Participatory action research to strengthen the capacity of marginalized people to resolve conflicts of interest and achieve their rights without recourse to violence.

c) BOTSWANA: Lessons learned from Community Based Natural Resources Management project in western Ngamiland.

d) BOTSWANA: Building the capacity of Community Based Organisations, Ngamiland.

e) BURUNDI, TANZANIA, BURKINA FASO, UGANDA: Research into the contribution of Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes (PRSPs) to gender-equitable education.

f) BURUNDI: Two new studies: peace-building and gender mainstreaming in programming.

g) BURUNDI: Evidence of economic and social rehabilitation of Bujumbura communities affected by war.

h) ETHIOPIA: Participatory research to be undertaken into the use of Nile water in reducing food insecurity in Ethiopia.

i) ERITREA: ACORD’s new directions in Eritrea.

j) ERITREA: Developing a new trust fund to provide first loans for the most marginalized.

k) KENYA, UGANDA: Regional research into pastoralism and resource-based conflict.

l) MAURITANIA: Developing lobbying and advocacy as vital tool in food safety and security

m) MOZAMBIQUE: Study being conducted on women and land: heritage rights, property rights and traditional practices in the Panadana District.

n) RWANDA: New collective programme to fight poverty and injustice

o) SUDAN: Red Sea Hills programme acting as a focal point for a state-wide campaign against all forms of Female Genital Mutilation

p) SUDAN: Recent research on HIV and AIDS already showing already showing positive results

q) SUDAN: ACORD Sudan continues its active role with regard to national issues

r) LAKE VICTORIA BASIN: New area programme in the making

s) AIDS: Twenty-two UK charities come together at London Eye to campaign against AIDS

t) AIDS: AIDS programme to develop own newsletter

u) SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMME: What does it mean to support social movements?

2. ORGANISATIONAL NEWS

a) Global programme finalised

b) Executive Director post readvertised

c) Research remains at the heart of ACORD's programmes

d) Staff changes at ACORD

e) Nairobi office expands

f) Two new policies being finalised

g) Raising fundraising capacity.  

3. USEFUL RESOURCES

4. ACORD'S MEMBERS 

5. NEWSLETTER & SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS.


1. PROGRAMME NEWS


1a) ANGOLA: Impact research being undertaken into strengthening institutional and organisational capacities in Southern Angola's Non-Governmental Sector.

ACORD is undertaking participatory research into the impact of its work over the past three years in strengthening institutional capacity in the non-governmental sector of Southern Angola. Its research will focus on outcomes/impact generated, approach and methodology used, challenges encountered, lessons learned, measures to be taken forwards, and the relevance to the fight against poverty. For further information on ACORD’s work in Angola, please contact Programme Manager Guilherme Santos in Lubango at acord.guilhermes@netangola.com


1b) ANGOLA, MALI, NORTHERN UGANDA AND SUDAN: Participatory action research to strengthen the capacity of marginalized people to resolve conflicts of interest and achieve their rights without recourse to violence.

This latest study focusing on Angola, Mali, Northern Uganda and Sudan is aimed at furthering our learning in working in and on conflict to strengthen the capacity of the targeted communities to resolve conflicts and achieve their rights. It involves community action research on conflict dynamics, management, prevention and peace-building, and identifying the information, tools, material and other supports required to assist community-led processes and strategies for making peace. The project will develop capacity and synergy through partnerships and participatory processes and utilise methods of critical enquiry, social exclusion analysis and empowering action-oriented approaches. The outcomes of this project will lead into a wider three-year thematic programme on conflict. For further information on this research please contact Ibrahim Sahl, PDA Research in Nairobi at ibrahimsahl@acordnairobi.org  


1c) BOTSWANA: Lessons learnt from Community Based Natural Resources Management project in western Ngamiland.

ACORD's experiences with the Okavango Community Trust (OCT) in Botswana, provide a number of valuable lessons for ACORD and other NGOs initiating, implementing and facilitating community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) projects.  

One of the main lessons is that participatory methodologies are central to such projects. Not only do they ensure that project recipients develop a sense of ownership of the process, but they also increase levels of commitment with beneficiaries being involved at every level of the project's development. Collaborating with stakeholders through continuous dialogue and consultation is also crucial to a common understanding of a project's development and stakeholders need to be active participants if the project is to succeed. Other lessons learnt are that such projects benefit from joint venture business partnerships with the private sector and that the needs and priorities of communities are not necessary synonymous. A detailed report is available on our website at www.acord.org.uk/b-resources.htm. For further information, contact Cynthia Mwase, Programme Manager ACORD Botswana in Gumare at pcacord@infor.bw  


1d) BOTSWANA: Building the capacity of Community Based Organisations, Ngamiland.

While there is considerable literature on the process and progress of capacity building with large institutions such as governments and NGO networks, there is very little regarding capacity-building of community based organisations (CBO). With a number of NGOs now working in this area, there are valuable lessons to be learned from ACORD's experience in the Okavango.  

One of the most important of these lessons is recognising that capacity building should be practical as well as strategic. Much capacity building work focuses on the practical needs of participants; for example, learning to manage a community shop or a revolving fund. However, supporting people's efforts to overcome poverty and marginalisation also requires capacity-building work that helps them to pursue their strategic interests; for example, protecting land rights, demanding more accountability and accessibility in the management of local services or ensuring greater ethnic equality in the control of resources.  

This latest report, produced by ACORD Botswana, explores the key issues in grassroots capacity building, explores whose capacity to build, including steps for developing an outline programme capacity-building strategy and steps for developing a group capacity building plan. It also provides valuable lessons on methodology and ways of developing a more strategic approach. The full report is available on our website at www.acord.org.uk/b-resources. For further information, contact Cynthia Mwase, Programme Manager ACORD Botswana in Gumare at pcacord@infor.bw


1e) BURUNDI, TANZANIA, BURKINA FASO, UGANDA: Undertaking research in the contribution of Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes (PRSPs) to gender-equitable education.

This latest gender research aims to measure the level of participation in the design of PRSPs, to identify the extent to which gender considerations have been taken into consideration, to explore who is involved in the implementation and to evaluate the contribution of PRSPs to gender-equitable education. For further information contact Ibrahim Sahl, PDA Research in Nairobi at ibrahimsahl@acordnairobi.org    


1f) BURUNDI: Two new studies: peace-building and gender mainstreaming in programming.

ACORD is undertaking participatory research in Burundi aimed at advising the planning and programming of organisations working on conflict resolution in the area. The research entails working in partnership at the middle and grassroots level to include members of private and public national universities, representatives from civil society organisations, international organisations and those of the United Nations system. It is hoped that the process of research will enable a broader range of actors to be involved and lead to conflicts being resolved – or at least addressed - with out recourse to violence.

Another study “Mainstreaming of Gender in Programming: towards strategies and policies for rural development in Burundi” seeks to identify gender disparities/gaps, prioritise needs of rural women, and how to carry out advocacy for a systematic gender mainstreaming in development programmes at local and national levels. The main areas of analysis include, women’s access to basic services (health, education, clean water), access to income, management/control of resources and participation in decision-making. For further information, contact ACORD Burundi on acord@cbinf.com  


1g) BURUNDI: Evidence of economic and social rehabilitation of Bujumbura communities affected by war.

Buterere, an area on the periphery of Bujumbura, is home to the Batwa, one of Burundi’s ethnic minority groups and one of the three major groups of displaced people in the Bujumbura district. The area straddles the rural-urban divide, has no access to electricity and is one of the areas covered by ACORD’s programme aimed at the economic and social rehabilitation of Bujumbura communities affected by war. The zone’s leader, Mr Bernard Bangirimbereka, also a member and councillor of the programme’s steering committee, commented on the impact of ACORD’s intervention on the Batwa and neighbouring communities. See his testimony at www.acord.org.uk/e-news/No6/Art2.htm. Buterere, an area on the periphery of Bujumbura, is home to the Batwa, one of Burundi’s ethnic minority groups and one of the three major groups of displaced people in the Bujumbura district. The area straddles the rural-urban divide, has no access to electricity and is one of the areas covered by ACORD’s programme aimed at the economic and social rehabilitation of Bujumbura communities affected by war. The zone’s leader, Mr Bernard Bangirimbereka, also a member and councillor of the programme’s steering committee, commented on the impact of ACORD’s intervention on the Batwa and neighbouring communities. See his testimony here 


1h) ETHIOPIA: Participatory research to be undertaken into the use of Nile water in reducing food insecurity in Ethiopia.

ACORD is planning a participative research in partnership with local communities, civil society organisations, government, NGOs, and research institutions into the value of increasing Ethiopia's share of Nile water to increase food security in the area and ways of ensuring an equitable share for the areas most marginalised communities. The research will be one of the three project components which include information dissemination and advocacy. For further information contact ACORD Ethiopia at acord.eth@telecom.net.et


1i) ERITREA: ACORD develops new directions for its work in Eritrea

Having successfully managed to do meaningful development work in the first post-war period after independence (1993), during the years of peace, during the new war with Ethiopia and during the war’s aftermath, ACORD has now developed a new strategic direction for its future work in Eritrea which builds the institutional capacities that will take the current micro-finance work into the future as well as address issues of  such as conflict, gender rights and AIDS outside the microfinance field.. A summary of the developments are available here


1j) ERITREA: Developing trust fund to provide first loans for the most marginalized.

Habitat International (UN) recently approached ACORD regarding a partnership in Eritrea. It has shown interest in working with ACORD to develop a trust fund for women, single mothers, the poor and marginalised and the internally displaced by providing small loans and which would provide them with the first step in supporting them to emerge from poverty. For further details, please contact Hasebenebi Kaffel at ACORD Eritrea in Asmara at acord@gemel.com.er or Tel: 291 (1) 184 272  


1k) KENYA, UGANDA: Regional research on pastoralism and resource-based conflict.

A cross-cultural study is planned for 2003 on pastoralism and resource-based conflict amongst the Karimonjong of North-eastern Uganda and the Turkana of North-western Kenya. The research is aimed at understanding why previous attempts at achieving sustainable peace in the region have failed. The study will contribute to ACORD's Conflict theme to better understand the dynamics of resource-based conflict, as well as generate viable links between traditional “customary” and modern “statutory” conflict transformation and resolution models.


1l) MAURITANIA: Developing lobbying and advocacy as vital tool in food safety and security

ACORD has seen significant impact of its lobbying and advocacy support work in its food security programme in Mauritania. The programme is aimed at improving the living standards of the most marginalised communities in Mauritania. Awareness-raising with local government officials and the mobilisation of community leaders in communicating their needs to the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs has resulted in the construction of a health centre in Gneïba. The village's 3000 inhabitants were previously 100km from the nearest health station.

On another level, advocacy aimed at the local UN system and other international organisations has resulted in the World Food Program (WFP) financing two aid programmes aimed at ensuring food security and safety in the drought stricken area. Five water retention dams have been built to assist crop production and the impact on the environment is already evident: there is an increase in ground water and the area's vegetation has begun to regenerate. Local government has divided and distributed arable land amongst the poor and excluded who would otherwise have had little hope of ever becoming land owners. The Food Safety Security Programme is financed by the EU, NOVIB and the Stromme Foundation. For further information on ACORD's support in Mauritania, contact Mohamed Aly Ag Hamana on acord@opt.mr or Mamadou Goita at acord@datatech.toolnet.org


1m) MOZAMBIQUE: Study being conducted on women and land: heritage rights, property rights and traditional practices in the Panadana District of Mozambique.

This latest ACORD study in Mozambique is an attempt to research women’s (especially heads of households) rights regarding access, management and control over their heritage and property rights in rural areas. The main focus is on land and its use with regard to traditional practices, distribution and right/inheritance mechanisms in both ‘customary’ and ‘statutory’ legislation.  

Another study is planned into food insecurity and malnutrition in Niassa Province, from a gender perspective. The main focus will be household food security and nutritional aspects, the status of women with regard to agricultural incomes (access and control), and use of and/or knowledge of sustainable technologies. It will use ‘causal analysis’, ‘role/obligation analysis’ and ‘resource analysis’ respectively. For further information on ACORD’s work in Mozambique, please contact Celeste Guambe at acordmoz@teledata.mz


1n) RWANDA: New collective programme to fight poverty and injustice

ACORD has developed a new programme in Rwanda aimed at raising the capacity of poor and marginalised communites to engage in collective action against poverty and social injustice. The programme works with the poor and excluded to explore ways of developing social fora which can feed into larger civil society social movements in Rwanda. Research is currently being carried out into mechanisms for developing such social fora. Read the latest programme developments (in French) here.  For further information regarding our work in Rwanda, please contact Francois Munyantwani, Programme Manager ACORD Rwanda at acordrw@rwanda1.com


1o) SUDAN: Red Sea Hills programme acting as a focal point for a state-wide campaign against all forms of Female Genital Mutilation

Research on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), conducted by ACORD in the Red Sea Hills, has resulted in the programme acting as a focal point for a state-wide campaign against all forms of FGM. ACORD has witnessed some very impressive results from its work which includes numerous tribal leaders abandoning the practice completely. The group is now working towards influencing the state’s legislative body.  


 1p) SUDAN: Recent research on HIV and AIDS already showing already showing positive results

Joint research on HIV and AIDS by ACORD’s programmes in Khartoum, Kassala and Juba is currently being finalised and the joint analysis should  be complete by March . The dissemination of the Kassala research findings has already lead to the creation of an extremely conducive environment for further discussions and action, especially with regard to the state. An HIV/AIDS network has been formed which is active in formulating strategies and activities around the issue. It includes all the International NGOs in Kassala, as well as UN agencies, government ministries, local NGOs and students' groups. 


1q) SUDAN: ACORD Sudan continues its active role with regard to national issues

ACORD Sudan has continued its active work with regard to national issues in Sudan. It has been fully engaged in the civil society debate around the Machacos Peace Talks, attending a number of workshops, seminars and discussion around the agreement. ACORD’s participation was particularly appreciated by the Women’s Solidarity Group, a network of 52 women organisations from different part of the country. ACORD also participated in the assessment of the Sudanese Women Empowerment Programme in Nairobi on the 9-10th of Nov. 2002, supported by the Dutch Embassy. For further information on ACORD’s work in the Sudan, please contact Asha El Karib at acordsud@hotmail.com


1r) LAKE VICTORIA BASIN: New area programme in the making

1q) SUDAN: ACORD Sudan continues its active role with regard to national issues

ACORD Sudan has continued its active work with regard to national issues in Sudan. It has been fully engaged in the civil society debate around the Machacos Peace Talks, attending a number of workshops, seminars and discussion around the agreement. ACORD’s participation was particularly appreciated by the Women’s Solidarity Group, a network of 52 women organisations from different part of the country. ACORD also participated in the assessment of the Sudanese Women Empowerment Programme in Nairobi on the 9-10th of Nov. 2002, supported by the Dutch Embassy. For further information on ACORD’s work in the Sudan, please contact Asha El Karib at acordsud@hotmail.com


1r) LAKE VICTORIA BASIN: New area programme in the making

1q) SUDAN: ACORD Sudan continues its active role with regard to national issues

ACORD Sudan has continued its active work with regard to national issues in Sudan. It has been fully engaged in the civil society debate around the Machacos Peace Talks, attending a number of workshops, seminars and discussion around the agreement. ACORD’s participation was particularly appreciated by the Women’s Solidarity Group, a network of 52 women organisations from different part of the country. ACORD also participated in the assessment of the Sudanese Women Empowerment Programme in Nairobi on the 9-10th of Nov. 2002, supported by the Dutch Embassy. For further information on ACORD’s work in the Sudan, please contact Asha El Karib at acordsud@hotmail.com


1r) LAKE VICTORIA BASIN: New area programme in the making

In line with ACORD’s change process aimed at creating greater impact, coupled with the spirit of linking issues at micro-to macro level, and also building upon the opportunities provided by the East African Community, ACORD has moved its programming to focus on the Lake Victoria Basin. The initial programme, The Lake Victoria Area Programme (LVAP), incorporates N.W Tanzania and S.W Uganda. ACORD’s programming in these areas began in 1987-89,with most of the interventions responding to service delivery needs in remote and marginalised areas least supported by mainstream government support.  

The goal of the new programme will be to contribute to building the capacity of marginalised people living in the Lake Victoria area through strengthening realisation of their rights and achieving basic needs in a sustainable manner. Research is currently being carried out into the role of institutional capacity building in the promotion of decentralisation in poverty reduction through a comparative analysis of the experiences in remote districts of North Western Tanzania and South Western Uganda. The research will investigate the effectiveness and added-value of capacity building for decentralisation among local government and civil society organisations in translating pro-poor policies into practice. For further details, read this article.  


1s) Twenty-two UK charities come together at London Eye to campaign against AIDS


ACORD and other development activists working on HIV and AIDS joined UK and international politicians, UN representatives and celebrities at the London Eye to highlight the ongoing fight against AIDS. Read the full report by Carolyne Culver, writing on behalf of the Stop AIDS Campaign.


1t) AIDS programme to develop own newsletter

ACORD’s first fully-fledged thematic programme, the HIV and AIDS Support and Advocacy Programme (HASAP) will shortly be publishing its own thematic newsletter. For further details, please contact Dennis Ndhua on eaf@afsat.com or Angela Hadjipateras on angelah@acord.org.uk   


1u) SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMME: What does it mean to support social movements?

ACORD’s Strategic Plan 2003 – 2006 says that we will work with and be part of African Social Movements. To explore what this should mean and how we and other agencies might put it in to practice, the ACORD Board, its Assembly members and a cross-section of participants from various organizations and agencies met in Nairobi early last November to explore the relevance and viability of social movements in fighting social exclusion in Africa.

Read a summary of the three excellent presentations on this topic by Prof. Peter Anyang N’yongo, academic and politician (since named as Minister of Planning in the new Kenyan government), Murtaza Jaffer, Novib's Project Coordinator for Somalia and Opiyo Makoude, ACORD’s Assistant Programming Director for Advocacy. It was clear from the debate that there were no simple answers but as Molly Kane, ACORD’s Chair put it, “may be the debate itself is the answer.”


2. ORGANISATIONAL NEWS


2a) Global Programme finalised


ACORD's Global Programme document has undergone considerable drafting in the past few months, and now captures the way in which ACORD is aligning all aspects of its work, both internally and externally. The programme’s four components are:  

- The geographically based Area Programmes that are bringing together ACORD's traditional interventions into more coherent and manageable programmes integrating practical activities, research, communications, influencing/advocacy and networking/alliancing.

- Four cross cutting Thematic Programmes which pull together ACORD’s work on Conflict, Gender, HIV and AIDS and Livelihoods. These programmes are at varying states of evolution but all will be fully operational by the end of 2003.

- A Social Action Programme that brings together all the Geographical and Thematic programmes as vehicles for strengthening leaders, organisations and alliances as well as undertaking advocacy to influence how other development actors (NGOs, government administrations and donors, local, national and international) interact with those individuals, organisations and alliances/movements on the margins of African societies.

- The Organisational Development Programme that puts the development of the capacity of ACORD and its staff at the centre of its programme of developing leadership, organisational and network/movement capacity. It will make ACORD itself a place in which staff can develop their skills and confidence as activist citizens as well as skilled technicians.

The document is available on our web site at www.acord.org.uk/b-resources.htm A summarising brochure is also available from most ACORD offices or by e-mailing ACORD at info@acord.org.uk  


2b) Executive Director post readvertised.

Having been unable to appoint an Executive Director in the first round of recruitment last November, ACORD has refined the job description and has readvertised the post. For full details, see http://www.acord.org.uk/b-newvacancies.htm. Closing date for all application is 24 January 2002 with interviews to be held in the first week of March.  


2c) Research remains at the heart of ACORD's programmes
Acknowledging the vital role of research in its new Programming, ACORD has developed an advisory desk in its Programming Directorate in Nairobi led by a Programme Development Advisor (PDA) for Research who works with other advisors, field programmes, and other relevant partners in the implementation of the research strategy. Not only is ACORD's research closely linked to its advocacy, it also provides links between the Area and Thematic Programmes through a learning process of reflection-action-reflection.

Based on its current and future direction, ACORD's research now encompasses five distinct but interrelated main themes, namely Conflict, Livelihoods, Civil Society and Governance, HIV/AIDS, and Gender and other forms of Social Exclusion. Its 2003 Research and Advocacy strategy is primarily guided by these themes and previous research experience. The various research projects are outlined above in the Programmes section. Though ACORD is attempting to finance these proposals and has submitted some to donors, it is seeking additional support from interested donors or partners. For further information regarding ACORD's research, please contact Ibrahim Sahl, PDA Research in Nairobi at ibrahimsahl@acordnairobi.org


2d) Staff Changes at ACORD

Patricia Aquino has joined ACORD London as Funding Assistant. She comes from an Economics/Research background and has experience of preparing proposals for DFID, MIF and other such organisations. Alan Warburton, Funding Officer based in London, will be moving permanently to ACORD’s office in Nairobi on February 7. He will be joining Sylvia Mwichuli as the second member of the Fundraising Department in Nairobi. Sakeel Toraub, who has been working for ACORD as a temporary Finance Officer since April this year, has been appointed a permanent post as Finance Officer. Laban Mutwiwa has been promoted to Operations Manager for the Southern Sudan programme. Florence Kiff, Communications and Memberships Manager, and editor of this newsletter and the ACORD web site, will be leaving ACORD in March. She will be moving to Johannesburg to start up a Communications Consultancy. Niki Kandirikirira will be leaving at the end of January to join the Scottish Human Services Trust in Edinburgh who work on social inclusion advocacy in Scotland. She will work as their senior research consultant. Niki has been with ACORD for 11 years, having worked in Uganda from 1988-92, in Namibia from 1992 to 2001 and more recently as a consultant in London.

Advance Notice: ACORD’s chief accountant, Mamode Galamgouse, will be retiring in April after more than 22 years with the organisation. Given the huge role Mamode has played in ACORD’s life, we are planning to make it a special leaving party that celebrates his time with ACORD and all the changes that the organisation has been through during those years. To do this we would like to get in touch with as many former ACORD staff as possible for any stories about working with Mamode as well as what ACORD was like in the past. If you have any tales to share, please get in touch with Marie Aziz at mariea@acord.org.uk . Many thanks.


2e) ACORD Nairobi office expands as London office relocates

ACORD Nairobi has taken on an additional 3,400sq.ft of office space at ACK house. Besides creating additional room for staff and archives, it will provide space for the staff recruited in Nairobi as the London office is reduced to just three or four people by the end of this year.


2f) Two new policies being finalised
Proposals are being finalised and are currently out for consultation with regards to a) ACORD wide salary and pay policy review and b) managing the process of relocation to Nairobi.
 


2g) Planning the conflict programme and raising fundraising capacity; East African Workshop, Kampala.

Programme staff from Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Eritrea and DRC attended a weeklong workshop in Kampala in November to learn skills in fundraising and develop the programme document for the conflict theme. Using the concept note that had been developed for the conflict programme as a case study the participants worked to develop both the programme document and the strategies necessary to fund it. This was a first step in the Funding Department capacity-building process and was aimed at sharing information and learning on raising funds from local sources. It was also an opportunity for ACORD staff to share their fundraising experiences. One of the major outputs was the pledge to produce a regular Fundraising newsletter to provide information, share knowledge and keep staff informed of donor deadlines, priorities and policy shifts. The Funding Department is planning two further workshops on a similar theme in Southern and Western Africa in close conjunction with the Programming Department in Nairobi. The redrafted conflict programme document is currently being finalised: contact Ibrahim Sahl at ibrahimsahl@acordnairobi.org  


3. USEFUL RESOURCES

3a) Web Sites

http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/ssrg/africa/women.html
http://www.euronet.nl/%7Efullmoon/womlist/womlist.html
Useful lists of women's civil society groups.

Urban Poverty Reduction - Papers from World Bank symposium http://www.worldbank.org/urban/symposium2002/pres.html
Organizations, networks, and individuals, working at the forefront of research on issues of urban poverty in developing and transition countries met in Washington DC in December to exchange knowledge and broaden the scope for international research in urban poverty.

Insights #4: RESPONDING TO DISPLACEMENT: BALANCING NEEDS AND RIGHT http://www.id21.org/insights/insights44/
The latest issue of Insights, published by ID21 focuses on displacement and refugee issues from thematic and regional perspectives.  


3b) Publications

GLOBALISATION: A CONFLICT BETWEEN FREEDOM & TRADITION
by Carlos Arboleda Gonzalez (from The Drum Beat, www.comminit.com
"There is much debate whether terms such as culture and identity can be applied in certain contexts. For example, is it permissible to speak of "the culture of violence"? Can we define anthropologically the identity of gangs, assassins for hire, self defense groups, or any of the other nonofficial factions which exist? This issue highlights a very important part of the study of culture: its reference to language itself..." Source (CODEP Newsletter, Dec 2002)

THE LUSAKA PEACE AGREEMENT: The Conceptual Crisis in Understanding Peace in the DRC
This paper was initially presented at a seminar entitled, “The Role of Academics and Popular Forces,” held in Nairobi in June 2001. The author uses the 1999 Lusaka Ceasefire Agreement for the DRC as a reference and raises a number of questions on the “realist-militarist” conception of peace and popular participation in peace processes in Africa. Author: Horace Campbell. CONTACT: The Nairobi Peace Initiative, Email: npi@africaonline.co.ke (Source : Co Existence Initiative newsletter)

UNCERTAIN POWER: The Changing Role of Official Donors in Humanitarian Action  
This set of publications analyzes the ways in which official donor behaviour is changing and assesses the implications. The Humanitarian Policy Group has completed a major study examining the implications of the apparent ‘biliateralisation’ of humanitarian response. This study examines the increasingly active role of donors in humanitarian decision-making and operations. For more info contact  Joanna Macrae, Overseas Development Institute. Details: Available online www.odihpn.org or Julie Bygraves, Projects Administrator, Humanitarian Policy Group, Overseas Development Institute, 111 Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7JD, UK. Email: publications@odi.org.uk  


3c) Events, training, conferences

EADI Gender and Development Working Group Workshop on: ‘Sexuality, Gender and Development; a feminist challenge to policy and research. 
The Hague, March 20-22 2003, hosted by the Institute of Social Studies, Dr Saskia E. Wieringa, Associate Professor Women’s Studies, Wieringa@iss.nl, saskiaew@hotmail.com. Deadline for abstracts of papers is 30 January 2003.

 4th GLOBAL CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM
1 - 2 February 2003, United Nations Office, Nairobi, Kenya.
An opportunity for civil society organisations to share experiences and ideas. The forum will focus on the Environment Initiative of the New Partnership for Africa's Development and the role of Civil Society in the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

UNU/INCORE International Summer School , 9-14 June 2003  
The International Summer School provides an intensive week of training, networking and discussion in the field of conflict resolution. Facilitated by leading experts, the school is aimed at mid to senior level policy makers, practitioners, academics, members of the media, military and religious organisations. It provides an interactive learning environment and attempts to bridge the gap between policy, practice and research. Three courses are on offer for 2003:  
1) Managing Peace Processes
2) Track Two Diplomacy and Conflict Transformation
3) Evaluation and Impact Assessment of Peacebuilding Projects
Further details about the Summer School can be found at:
www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/news/events/ss/index.html  

World Leprosy Week , 20 –26 January, www.lepra.org.uk  

World Book Day, 6 March, 2003  

European-wide Action Week Against Racism, 15 –23 March, 2003 www.unitedagianstracism.org

Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace, 8 March, 2003

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination., 21 March, 2003

Week of Solidarity with People Struggling Against Racial Discrimination, 21 – 27 March, 2003, www.un.org/events

World Day for Water, 22 March, 2003

World Tuberculosis Day , 24 March, 2003 www.stoptb.org  

UN International Year of Freshwater 2003  
Dedicated to increase awareness of the importance of sustainable freshwater use, management and protection www.un.org/events  


4. ACORD MEMBERS 

ACORD is currently made up of 10 institutional members and six individual members:

1. Comité Catholique contre la Faim et pour le Développement (CCFD)  
2. Groupe Devéloppement
3. HEKS http://www.heks.ch
4. Inter Pares
5. Mani Tese http://www.manitese.it/manitese.htm
6. NOVIB http://www.novib.nl/
7. Oxfam GB http://www.oxfam.org.uk
8. Oxfam Hong Kong http://www.oxfam.org.hk
9. Stromme Foundation http://www.stromme.org
10. Vredeseilanden http://www.vredeseilanden.be  


5. NEWSLETTER AND SUBSCRIPTION DETAILS


Subscription Details

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Editor: Sylvia Mwichuli
smwichuli@acordnairobi.org

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