African CSOS’ AFCFTA Moment

African CSOS’ AFCFTA Moment

There is no better moment than now for civil society organisations (CSOs) to support the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). AfCFTA is about creating a unified continental market that works to the benefit of its citizens, and this purpose is closely related to the work of CSOs across Africa.

In order to create a continent that thrives on domestic resources and greater economic co-operation, the integration of African citizens is a pre-requisite. Small economies do not stand a chance to sustain their growth otherwise, and large economies cannot only rely on exports outside of the continent to maintain the transformation of their economies. The vast countries of China and India represent models of internal integration which takes advantage of free movement of people within their countries and as a result, have been able to leverage domestic human and financial resources. In contrast, to date, Africans have liberal access to 51 per cent of the continent, thus limiting our ability to take full advantage of our internal resources.

AfCFTA cannot succeed when people are unable to move their goods and services with them. The free movement of people is an issue for which CSOs can play a role as it does not only affect trade. Those restrictions increase the vulnerability of migrant and refugee populations on the continent. CSOs need to reinforce the linkages between domestic issues that matter to them and continental ones that can boost intra-Africa trade.

AfCFTA aims for greater economic cooperation and integration among African countries. It starts with citizens’ understanding of the issues at hand to accelerate economic integration through the work of citizens in the informal economy. While industrialisation and structural transformation are important, it is critical that AfCFTA builds on the economies that we have on the African continent. Indeed the real change will come from transforming the hidden opportunities of the informal economy.

CSOs have raised their voices on issues such as HIV/AIDS to make African leadership take a bigger step against the viral impact of the disease on the lives of Africans. The impact of CSOs in addressing the problem has been significant. It required coordinated efforts with domestic and external funding to save more lives. That experience of coordination across the continent must serve us to advance the goal of stitching the political ideals of Kwame Nkrumah – political integration – with the economic thread embedded in the informal economy. For socio-economic transformation, Africa needs to start with the current structure of its economies while it seeks to build a stronger formal economy.

But for this to happen, we need to provide CSOs with the tools and elements that will make them advocate of the kind of change that will increase our ability to raise domestic resources for issues that matter to us. But, their work is already cut out for them. They need to lobby citizens to accept that informal economies are not what we assume them to be: illegal. That psychological barrier makes it impossible to attempt at integrating the informal economic system with the global one.

In reality, it is already integrated. Mobile Network Operators sell credit for data and voice through a dense network of informal traders at traffic lights or other locations. I recall the story of Teresia who sold clothes under a tree on the Kenya-Uganda border. While on the surface, her effort may seem haphazard, in reality, she pays the county government taxes, keeps records of her trade and uses mobile money for daily deposits. She invests US$ 20,000 in trade goods per year, but her business and contribution will fall through the cracks of AfCFTA if CSOs do not pick up the issue and make the case for trade to reflect the reality of our economies.

The missing bottom line for our economies is that we do not recognise the skills that Teresia and many other informal workers across the continent have. Thus, AfCFTA offers a catalyst for CSOs across the continent to pick up an issue that will change the economic structure of women, youth and families across Africa.

Right now, 54 out of 55 member states are signatories to the AfCFTA agreement. In all these countries, the power of the informal economy is real. And CSOs that work closely with communities are best placed to make the case for AfCFTA to embrace the Africa we have through the creative minds of our citizens.

AfCFTA is the glue that will keep African citizens together. While many argue that industrialisation should come first, we should also recognise that informal traders know what citizens buy. Thus, should provide us with a sense of what the market needs in our endeavour to produce in Africa what we consume while allowing citizens to move freely within Africa.

About the author

Carl Manlan, from the Ivory Coast, is an economist with a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University. His areas of expertise include African economic transformation, health, finance and project implementation. Having worked with communities in Africa, he has developed systems to improve public health financing to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He is currently the chief operating officer (COO) of the Ecobank Foundation which aims to improve the quality of life of people across the African continent with a focus on three areas: health, education and financial empowerment.

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Carl Manlan

Carl Manlan, from the Ivory Coast, is an economist with a Masters in Public Administration from Harvard Kennedy School at Harvard University. His areas of expertise include African economic transformation, health, finance and project implementation. Having worked with communities in Africa, he has developed systems to improve public health financing to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. He is currently the chief operating officer (COO) of the Ecobank Foundation which aims to improve the quality of life of people across the African continent with a focus on three areas: health, education and financial empowerment.

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FIIFI BOATENG

Fiifi is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Communications and Information Officer at the West Africa Civil Society Institute. He joined the Institute in December 2020.

NANCY KANKAM KUSI

Nancy is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Programme Officer in the Knowledge Management unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute. She joined the Institute in January 2021.

AGNES ADWOA ANIMA

Agnes is a Ghanaian and currently serves as Head of the Administration unit in the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in October 2021.

DORIS ODEI

Doris holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social sciences (Economics and Sociology) from the University of Cape Coast. She is passionate about impacting young lives hence co-founded Impart Foundation. A non-profit organization which seeks to empower young lives through education, technology and entrepreneurship.

PRINCE AKOWUAH

Prince Akowuah is a Ghanaian and currently the Programme Assistant in the Translation Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

MAXWELL APENTENG

Maxwell Apenteng is a Ghanaian and joined WACSI in September 2010. He provides gardening and janitorial services at the Institute.

GEORGE ADU-MINTAH

George Adu-Mintah is a Ghanaian and currently the Protocol Assistant/Driver at the West Africa Civil Society (WACSI). He joined the Institute in October 2006.

IBRAHIM KWAKU GBADAGO

Ibrahim Kwaku Gbadago is a Ghanaian. He joined the Institute in 2008 and provides janitorial services and assisting the institute's errands. Before joining the Institute, he worked at the Palestinian embassy in Accra, Ghana.

RUTH YAKANA

Ruth Yakana is from Cameroon and currently the Receptionist at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

BETHEL KWAME BOATENG

Bethel is a Ghanaian. He provides technical and IT related support to the Institute. He joined the Institute in October 2006.

WHITNAY SEGNONNA

Whitnay Segnonna holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Management from the University of Benin. With 2 years of experience, she has a strong knowledge of organizational and project management. Combined with her bilingualism, she is very passionate about her work. She joined WACSI as Project Assistant on Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) for the Capacity Development Unit.

STELLA YAWA WOWOUI

Stella Yawa Wowoui holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Translation Studies. She has a perfect grasp of both French and English, as well as an intermediate level in Spanish. She is currently working as a Project Assistant on the Techsoup Project.

KWAME ASANTE

Kwame is an experienced IT Consultant/Software Developer. He is skilled in Web Applications Development, Digital Security, Database Management, Digital Marketing and Brand Management. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Information Technology and is a Microsoft Programme Alumni. He is currently serving as a Marketing and IT Officer on the Techsoup Project.

GRACE AKPENE ZIGGAH

Grace Akpene Ziggah is a Togolese and currently the Logistics Officer and also assists in administration duties at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in June 2009.

LILLIAN DAFEAMEKPOR

Lilian Dafeamekpor is a Ghanaian and currently the Assistant to the Executive Director at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in 2020.

JOHN P. FRINJUAH

John P. Frinjuah has expertise and interests in civil society, international development, democracy and governance, conflict, crisis, and security. He has extensive experience working with civil society and international development organizations where he supported and managed research, programmes, and provided technical assistance on a variety of themes around public policy, governance, and development. He is an alumnus of the University of Ghana and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy - Tufts University in the United States, with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from two institutions respectively. John speaks English, French and several Ghanaian and regional West Africa languages.

GERVIN CHANASE

Gervin has extensive international development experience, including 5 years of policy advocacy and capacity building of grass root organisations. He has implemented over the years a combination of agriculture value chain, livelihood, food security and governance and rights programmes.
Prior to joining WACSI, Gervin worked on two USAID projects focusing on agriculture value chain development and governance in northern Ghana
Gervin holds a master’s degree in development & Governance from the University of Duisburg-Essen, Germany as well as a Masters in Global Studies from the Universities of Vienna (Austria), Leipzig (Germany) and California (Santa Barbara), USA. He is passionate social justice and inclusion.

LEANDRE BANON

Leandre Banon, Beninese, joined WACSI in September 2014 as Capacity Development Programme Assistant. Since then, he has worked in various units within the Institute to support operational and institutional capacity strengthening programmes for civil society in the region. Currently serving as Capacity Development Programme Officer at WACSI, his main responsibilities involve designing, planning, implementing and monitoring capacity development programmes for civil society constituents and grouping across the West Africa. Leandre is a certified Change the Game Academy Programme Trainer. His background lies in the areas of economics and development planning.

SAMUEL APPIAH

Samuel Appiah is a Ghanaian and currently the Programme Officer in the Finance and Administrative Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). He joined the Institute in May, 2016.

JIMM CHICK FOMUNJONG

Jimm Chick Fomunjong, Cameroonian, joined WACSI in May 2018 as the Head of the Knowledge Management and Communication Units of the Institute. He has over ten years’ experience as a journalist and a development communications expert. He has a vast experience in supporting African organisations to strengthen their internal and external communications, building and sustaining relationships with the media and, leveraging on the power of social media to promote their mission. He is also excellent at supporting organisations to set up and operationalise functional communications and knowledge management systems. He has a deep passion and expertise in supporting Africans and African civil society organisations to document their praxis, share and learn from experiences documented from the African civil society sector.

FRANCK A. SOMBO

Franck Sombo is a development practitioner with the drive to lead self and others to influence productivity and efficiency. His work involves supporting organisations to develop strategic plans, design monitoring and evaluation systems, develop and use relevant performance measurement tools to track progress, assess organizational growth and institutionalise learning. Franck has eight years of experience working with WACSI where he currently serves as the Head, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning. His academic qualifications include Masters in Organisations’ and Projects’ Management, and in Business Sciences and a High National Diploma in Finance and Accounting.

Franck is a Fellow of the International Program for Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) and a graduate of the Graduate Training Institute (GTI) - Ghana with specialization in Strategic Management and Corporate Leadership. He has a rich experience in Project Management, Capacity Development, Strategic planning, Data Analytics, Monitoring and Evaluation, Training and Facilitation, Mentoring and Coaching among others.

OMOLARA T. BALOGUN

Omolara is a development practitioner and advocacy strategist with over 15 years of progressive experience in development programming targeted at strengthening civil society in West Africa.

She joined WACSI in November 2009 as a Regional Advocacy Consultant and later became the first Policy Advocacy Officer of the Institute in 2010.

She was promoted to Head of the Policy Influencing and Advocacy (PIA) Unit in 2015. As the Head of the PIA unit, Omolara offers strategic direction to the Institutes’ ambitions to connect and convene groups of organised and organic civil society actors; and influence regional and global discourses on crosscutting policy issues including—civil society regulations, sustainable development goals, civic space and enabling environment, aid effectiveness, gender equality, and civil society accountability.

Previously, Omolara served as a Programmes Associate with the Women in Peace and Security Network-Africa (WIPSEN-Africa), where she worked with her team to design and implement pan-African programmes on—multidimensional peace support operations and gender mainstreaming in security sector reform in Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

She also served as a Service Development Marshal at TVQ Consulting Group, a customer service firm focused on designing strategic customer relationship and business growth plans for private and public financial institutions in Nigeria.

Omolara is a social justice advocate, a network weaver, and a convener. She has a postgraduate degree in Peace and Conflict Studies; a degree in International Relations and History, from the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria respectively.

She also holds executive certificates in Behavioral Science in Public Policy from Harvard University Executive Education in Cambridge and in Citizen Advocacy from the Coady International Institute, St Francis Xavier University in Canada.

KWABENA KRODUAH

Kwabena Kroduah is a Ghanaian and currently heads the Finance Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). He joined the Institute in January 2008.

CHARLES KOJO VANDYCK

Charles currently serves as the Head of the Capacity Development Unit at the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). Charles has over 10 years of experience working in international development and social justice issues in Africa. Charles has expertise in strengthening civil society and public agencies including the design and implementation of governance and leadership programmes, development of knowledge pieces and policy advice. Charles was the founding Board Chair of Innovation for Change (i4C)-Hub Afrique, as well as the founding member of the International Consortium on Closing Civic Space (iCon), an initiative of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC. Charles currently serves as the Member of the Governing Board (Coordination Collective) of Africans Rising. He is a Member of the Development Studies Association, United Kingdom. Charles is a 2017 Stanford University Fellow for Nonprofit Leaders and a certified Change the Game Resource Mobilisation Trainer.

NANA ASANTEWA AFADZINU

Nana Afadzinu is a Ghanaian and currently serves as the Executive Director of the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI). She joined the Institute in October 2010.