Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the African continent are brainstorming in Abuja Nigeria on Civic Tech Networking, the Future Of Work, the Ecosystem among other issues.
The Programme put together by GIZ and Yiaga Africa is to enable participants share information about the work they do for better partnership.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the Programme on Thursday evening, the head of programmes, Citizens Engagement and Innovative Data Use for Africa’s Development (DataCipatation), GIZ African Union Office, Franz von Weizsaecker, said they will continue to share understanding for the betterment of Africa.
“We’ve been hiring alot of tech fellow from the African countries. We respect the sovereignty of African state so we don’t engage in politics but assist communities to develop,” Weizsaecker said.
According to him, “Development agenda is very important. Engagement with CSOs is also very important. It help people to voice out the mind of the citizen in the agenda 2063.
“The citizens should benefit. We will ensure the sustainable development goals is achieved in the African continent,” Data governance frameworks and related digital policies are critical for Africa’s development in the 21st century: as much as digitalization and innovation are recognized as key enablers for participatory and inclusive decision making the former are instrumental to realize the vision of an “integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens” (Agenda 2063).
The African Union has prioritised citizens engagement as part of its institutional reforms agenda with the aim to foster systematic citizen participation across AU Organs and Institutions. In many African countries, citizen groups – women, youths, persons with disabilities, African Diaspora, private sector, civil society, media, and academics – are contributing actively to policymaking on governance and development agendas at all levels.
“The AU Digital Transformation Strategy 2020-2030 envisions “an integrated and inclusive digital society and economy in Africa that improves the quality of life of Africa’s citizens.” Enhancing digitalization presents opportunities and challenges for governments, civil society, private sector and citizens alike. These are further implicated by power shifts and geo-political realities at national, continental as well as global level, which requires realistic and pragmatic policy responses and strategies,” he said.
Also, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo said the collaboration is to open new opportunities for CSOs carrying out different activities in the African continent.
Itodo said collaboration and sharing of contacts will help in achieving better development.
The founder of Follow The Money, Hamzat Lawal, said leading a grassroot campaign in over 40 African countries on practical issues associated with climate change, open data advocacy campaign and development policies as it affects rural and deprived grassroots communities need collaboration and funding.
He said despite raising alot of funds for their campaigns, they still need over $200 million dollars for other projects stating that such collaboration will help in achieving better development.
