Proposed GYAC AFRICA REGION CONFERENCE

[Tawanda Njerere]

Dear GYAC Africa Region Member,

 

I hope this communication finds you well, back in your respective countries sharing the good experiences we had in Belgium. As we discussed during the
Forum with most of the African delegates we decided to have a follow-up Conference
before the end of this year with an African agenda on fighting corruption and promoting
integrity, accountability and transparency. It is our hope when we discussed,
in Brussels,
that this conclave of African leaders on Anti-Corruption would go a long way in
coming with a unified agenda for African Youth to fight corruption. The
proposed time for this event is some time in November 2010 or early December,
with the proposed venue is Zimbabwe.
This of course gives us little planning time, but we have to ensure that this
program takes place this year so that the momentum we have from Belgium is maintained and quickly cascaded down
our constituency of young people in Africa.

 

I have some International experience in planning Conferences with the latest one being the 14^th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health held in 2009
where I was nominated to be on the Planning Committee representing the youth;
you can look it up on the Web. Given this experience I have highlighted below a
few steps that we need to take to make this conference a success. These include,
but are not limited to:

 

1.      Planning Committee. We need to set up a Planning Committee which will be made-up of three (3) sub-committees, namely Thematic, Fundraising and Logistics. GYAC Africa Region members who attended the forum will
be asked to volunteer into any of the three sub-committees. The Planning
Committee will be headed by a Chair and two (2) Co-Chairs. The Chair will be
Pauline Wanja, as we have already elected her to lead this initiative and the
other Co-Chair will come from the host country Zimbabwe and I am volunteering
to take this up given my experience with GYAC prior to the Forum as a
core-group member who was part of the network establishment, this will also
help in-terms of planning. The other Core-Chair may come from West
Africa so that we have some of balance in the administration of
issues and conducting of business.

2.      Regional Advisory Board. We need to identify key strategic partners from our respective countries who will help in developing our concept for the
Conference but most importantly in fundraising. So each country should give a
suggestion for a member of the Regional Advisory Board who will be key in the
fundraising and the general programming of GYAC Africa Region.

3.      Action Plans. The three different committees will come up with Action Plans with clear timelines for the
Conference. The Chair will directly coordinate the Thematic Committee, whilst
the two Co-Chairs will coordinate Fundraising and Logistics. It is my thinking
and of course suggestion that I take up the logistics since I am on the ground
here in Zimbabwe.

 

 

 

4.      Key Responsibilities for Sub-Committees.

a. Fundraising Sub-Committee:

·        Approaching potential sponsors from the Corporate Sector, donor community and governments
globally and regionally asking for funding to host the conference.

·        With support from the World Bank, at least by a letter of support, fundraise for Conference
Venue fees, scholarships for participants which will cover the air fare(round
trip) to Zimbabwe, Visa fee(if required), Accommodation Expenses and a per diem
to cover Conference Related expenses.

         b. Thematic Sub-Committee:

·        Coming up with the theme and sub-themes for the Conference and these should embrace how we
want to use Culture, Music, Technology and various other methods that make GYAC
unique as we discussed in Brussels

·        Working closely with the Advisory Board make a Call for Abstracts and choose the ones
most relevant for presentation

·        Ensure a high standard of Conference Materials for distribution and presentations

·        Ensure the relevance of Conference Materials to the Africa Region

·        Ensure that deliberations will progress towards a resolution and an Action Plan from
African Youth at the end of the Conference

·        Set a criteria for those who will attend in consultation with the whole Committee and accept
or decline applications for the Conference on the basis of the set criteria

 

         c. Logistics Committee:

·        Scout for the most ideal venue for the Conference and ensure such things as transportation,
accommodation and visa’s for participants

·        Will be the Action Committee on the ground

 

It is now up to us to make this happen. So let us not worst time and get into these Committees as time is not on our side. Also give me feedback on what you think on this arrangement.

 

Regards,

 

 

Tawanda Njerere

GYAC Core-Group Member

National Coordinator Youth Zimbabwe Network

 

 

[Gerald]

That is great, Tawanda.
I suggest that if we contact the African Union, The Transparent International, or may be the EU for help, one of the two could be willing. The host government should also be able to pull some resources towards this cause. But our real target should be focused on the out come. How the resolutions from the forum will be implemented. How many youth groups from each country are we targeting. We should also set up a team of individuals that should be able to visit participating countries and empowering youth to use new methods in fighting corruption. We should organise seminars on ground for them too. We should look for funding to set up a secretariate offices that will help cordinate all these activities in different countries/regions.If We contacted the AU with a good proporsal or the European Union, they should be willing to fund our secretariate. Thank God we have some good African bands which can help inspire youth with their anti-Corruption music. Otherwise, I wait to hear from you all. Gerald Bareebe, Uganda

[pauline wanja]

Dear African team.

I trust You are well.

Tawanda!!Thanks for the rolling out the discussion. It is a good thought. Last week i wrote a discussion specifically but not restricted to the task force titled getting started. I was of the idea that we should come up with a concept note outlining an operational framework , objectives,thematic scope basically working toward the mandate. So far i havent received any response but i will be getting in touch with members of the task force individually and get back to all of you.

I stand corrected but i think we all agreed to launch in Kenya on the 9th of December(World Anti corruption Day) i had began making plans on the same.

But right now i think we can mobilize the entire group to discuss on how to get started. Right now we just a group of young people who attended a conference and if we are hoping to bring other players on board we need to have everything defined.

Gerald!! good reading from you.In total agreement with you especially on bringing TI on board but we need to agree on our operational framework,objectives we need to come up with something.

Emmanuel from Cameroon, Munish and the rest we need to have this discussion.

[Tawanda Njerere]

Hi Gerald,
Thanks for the prompt reply and the great ideas. All the things you suggested will work-out well. But first, lets have people volunteer in the Sub-Committees as this will get the work done. For instance, the Fund raising Sub-Committee could start writing to the A.U, E.U and TI amongst others. Whilst on the other hand, the thematic Committee will come-up with the Concept that the Fund-raising committee will use in raising the funds. The logistics committee on the other hand could arrange for all the Mobilizing Trips if that is the way we want to do it, and Video Conferencing can also be a good option.

Lets do this!!

[Tawanda Njerere]

Hi Pauline,
Thanks for the wonderful response, I am happy that you are setting the tone and the good pace as our leader in the Region. On the issue of where to launch it was still under debate I guess but the willingness to Host had been expressed by indeed Kenya and Zimbabwe. This is not really the BIG issue. When the different people who are willing to participate in the organizing come together that will be easily decided vis a vis what is on the ground.

Concerning "Getting started" which you send to the Global Task Force I think as a way forward you could come up with draft concept that people could debate. I am tempted to say let us come up with a Concept Note for Africa but my fear is that it might not speak the same language as the Global one. As the Region we are much more smaller and let us have people volunteer to take-up some of the tasks to come with a working concept for Africa.

Allow me to think as I write............

For instance Pauline from your law background you know best how systems work and how to enhance there efficiency you could do a write-up on the operational framework (that is how will we all operate in our respective countries and the type of relationship we will have with the Secretariat- if you propose we have one), then issues of the Constitution that will guide the GYAC Africa Region.........Pauline what is your take on this? Of course others are welcome to help out!!!

I could lead on the objectives which will of course feed into the work Pauline will be doing with the Constitution etc.

The thematic scope can indeed be done for Africa........we have Gerald who can give his contribution on the Journalism thematic Area and the Musicians can do the same. Pauline you can link-up with our innovative brother from Kenya who led the musicians with so much inspiration during the forum. He can also give us his thoughts on Music as a tool for anti-corruption.

Emmanuel and Munish you guys can do the knowledge exchange and sharing component that will make the day for GYAC Africa Region....

Can we do this guys....lets do this......this is our future.....and we represent African Youth!

[pauline wanja]

Now this sounds like a discussion...i will send a skeleton of the document i have been working on and we all fill in with our suggestion. Thanks

Tawanda Njerere said:

Hi Pauline,
Thanks for the wonderful response, I am happy that you are setting the tone and the good pace as our leader in the Region. On the issue of where to launch it was still under debate I guess but the willingness to Host had been expressed by indeed Kenya and Zimbabwe. This is not really the BIG issue. When the different people who are willing to participate in the organizing come together that will be easily decided vis a vis what is on the ground.

Concerning "Getting started" which you send to the Global Task Force I think as a way forward you could come up with draft concept that people could debate. I am tempted to say let us come up with a Concept Note for Africa but my fear is that it might not speak the same language as the Global one. As the Region we are much more smaller and let us have people volunteer to take-up some of the tasks to come with a working concept for Africa.

Allow me to think as I write............

For instance Pauline from your law background you know best how systems work and how to enhance there efficiency you could do a write-up on the operational framework (that is how will we all operate in our respective countries and the type of relationship we will have with the Secretariat- if you propose we have one), then issues of the Constitution that will guide the GYAC Africa Region.........Pauline what is your take on this? Of course others are welcome to help out!!!

I could lead on the objectives which will of course feed into the work Pauline will be doing with the Constitution etc.

The thematic scope can indeed be done for Africa........we have Gerald who can give his contribution on the Journalism thematic Area and the Musicians can do the same. Pauline you can link-up with our innovative brother from Kenya who led the musicians with so much inspiration during the forum. He can also give us his thoughts on Music as a tool for anti-corruption.

Emmanuel and Munish you guys can do the knowledge exchange and sharing component that will make the day for GYAC Africa Region....

Can we do this guys....lets do this......this is our future.....and we represent African Youth!

[Gerald]

May I suggest that all of you guys open up a Skype account. It is Cheap and we can actually speak for free on Skye..
Let us do this as we wait for Pauline to finalise a draft working document.... Thanks, Gerald

[pauline wanja]

Good Idea Gerald. lyn.wanja is my skype account.

Gerald said:

May I suggest that all of you guys open up a Skype account. It is Cheap and we can actually speak for free on Skye..
Let us do this as we wait for Pauline to finalise a draft working document.... Thanks, Gerald

[Tawanda Njerere]

this site is so full of great ideas. my account name is Tawanda.Njerere

[Ogaga E. Maxwell]

Hey Guys
I think that both of you guys have done a lot in this issue, Tawanda and Pauline, the steps outlined by Tawanda is great and easy to follow regardless of the host country, i think we picked Dec 9th which is the global anti-corruption day for the conference if I am not mistaken.
We need to start and start fast

[MUTHAKA ILOT Alphonse]

Dear All
i am delighted by your commitement in the struggle against corruption on our continent and thank you for that. tawanda, you are right and think that if we should start by creating these sub committees it could help to having a best structure. so each team may work on a precise theme.
i don't know if every body is elligible in the core group or only those who were present in brussels. But i suggest that participants of the forum should be active in the core group and new members should be selected and invited to the evnt then we may set up a secretariat.
at my side, i have experience in logistics that is why if i may be part of this committee.
thanks

[Ogaga E. Maxwell]

I think I agree let us start working on the committees, but only very few people are using this forum

MUTHAKA ILOT Alphonse said:

Dear All
i am delighted by your commitement in the struggle against corruption on our continent and thank you for that. tawanda, you are right and think that if we should start by creating these sub committees it could help to having a best structure. so each team may work on a precise theme.
i don't know if every body is elligible in the core group or only those who were present in brussels. But i suggest that participants of the forum should be active in the core group and new members should be selected and invited to the evnt then we may set up a secretariat.
at my side, i have experience in logistics that is why if i may be part of this committee.
thanks

[Deogratias Munishi]

I believe everybody in this chamber is doing well.

My apreciations to Tawanda for his briliant move towards the proposed event.

As time is not with us, I encourage other members in this group to indicate in which committee they want to belong.
As for me I will volunteer in the Logistics commitee.

I have no problem with the proposed ground for the event.

Otherwise I'm here cracking the mind to see how best will make this hapen