The ABCs of the Cotonou Agreement ( part III )

How is the Cotonou Agreement implemented?

By our staff reporter

I. What is non-state actor engagement within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement?
Participation of non-state actors within Cotonou is considered a fundamental principle of cooperation. Governments of the ACP countries and the EU are obliged to involve non-state actors in the Cotonou process. This represents a brake with the past and is considered a major innovation in international cooperation.
Participation of non-state actors is not limited to project implementation only but extends to political dialog, policy formulation and monitoring and evaluation.

Examples of non-state actors
Human Rights Groups
Grass roots organizations
Women’s associations
Youth organizations
Child protection organizations
Environmental movements
Farmers’ organizations
Consumer associations
Religious organizations
NGOs
Cultural associations
Media

II. What are non-state actors?
The Cotonou Agreement defines non-state actors as comprising of private sector, economic and social partners such as trade unions, and civil society in all its form.
ii) The new roles for non-state actors in the Cotonou programming cycle
a. Consultation on the country and regional strategy papers where non-state actors are informed and consulted. This provides an opportunity for organizations to advocate priority areas for support.
b. Consultation on the National and Regional Indicative Programs and sector strategies: this involves non-state actors in the development of indicative programs for progress and results.
c. Involvement in the implementation of programs and projects: the level of non-state involvement in implementation of sector programs will depend on the nature of the programs as well as the agreed division of roles between the state and the non-state actors, on a program by program basis.
d. Participation in performance reviews: non-state actors are involved in the monitoring and review process. During the implementation period, a flexible and regular review mechanism will make it possible to continuously update the Country or Regional Strategy Paper.
Cotonou does not provide details on exactly how to structure the dialogue process between the EU, ACP state and non-state actors. The provisions of the agreement with regard to non-state actors is the responsibility of all concerned, namely ACP governments, non-state actors and the Commission Delegations. It will be up to all actors involved including non-state actors themselves to help define how participation will work in practice.
iii) Resourses available directly to non-state actors for capacity building
There are two avenues of funding available directly to non-state actors:
a. Direct access to EDF (European Development Fund) resources for capacity building and dialogue via the EC delegation.
b. Decentralized co-operation budget line which aims to provide capacity support to non-state actors through, for example, supporting information exchange, dialogue processes and networking.
Networking with other actors is emerging as an important strategy for non-state actors to organize effective participation under Cotonou.
II Conflict Prevention and the Cotonou Agreement
In addition to respect for human rights, democratic principles and rule of law, which are essential elements to peace building, Conflict prevention and resolution is also present within the framework of the Cotonou Agreement.
Political dialogue between the EU and ACP countries is seen as central to conflict prevention. This would include mediation and negotiation in crisis and conflict situations. However the extent to which the Cotonou Agreement addressees conflict prevention remains somewhat limited. Conflict resolution is not given the same legal basis as the essential elements, nor is it even listed as a thematic or cross cutting issues within the agreement.
It remains to be seen how the EU will ensure how sectoral policies are consistent with the aims of conflict resolution.
Safeworld and Conflict Prevention Network with Africa Peace Forum and InterAfrica Group prepared the guide on the APC-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement from which the last three parts of this report were extracted.
The next segment will be based on “Development co-operation between the Government of Ethiopia and the European Union”, prepared for the awareness workshop on Cotonou Partnership Agreement for Journalists by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.