The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

Excellencies, Distinguished Invited Guests, Esteemed Non-State Actor representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The 2^nd ACP Civil Society Forum is taking place at a very opportune time, as it provides us the opportunity to, once again, confirm the participatory and inclusive approach to development, as embedded in Article 2 of the ACP-EU Partnership Agreement.

It is for me an honour and privilege to participate in this stock-taking evaluation on where the ACP and the EU partners are today, in terms of Non-State Actor participation under the Cotonou Agreement Framework. The Agenda items for this Forum are therefore extremely relevant, namely those relating to NSA involvement in the operations of the ACP-EU Natural Disasters Facility, fight against HIV/AIDS;  promotion of social and political dialogue, NSA consultation process in the on-going regional Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations,  implementation of Information Communication Technology Programmes, and the promotion of ACP Cultural Industries.

We all acknowledge that the unique nature of our Partnership Agreement is rooted in its promotion of a participatory and inclusive approach. However, our discussions at this Forum will reveal the practical realities, and it will be your task to determine best practices that are practical and implementable.   

Priority areas for NSA involvement are, inter alia, (1) Programming, (2) Implementation of National and Regional Indicative Programmes, (3) Mid-Term Review process of the Country Strategy Papers and the National Indicative Programmes, and (4) ACP-EU Economic Partnership Agreement negotiations. In relation to the last point, we should never forget during our discourse, that jointly the ACP States and NSAs have consistently made the point that EPAs must be designed to achieve long term development, economic growth and indeed poverty reduction in ACP States. A PEOPLE CENTERED APPROACH THAT PUTS DEVELOPMENT FIRST, is to be recognised as an integral component of the EPA negotiations.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As we meet today to welcome some very experienced NSA representatives from our ACP States and regions, I encourage all of you to listen to their presentations with an open mind, and to enter into a frank exchange of views evaluating the various experiences of NSAs.

As ACP States, we should ask ourselves whether we are truly satisfied with our efforts to promote a NSA participatory and inclusive approach in our development efforts, are there any obstacles, and are the necessary structures in place to facilitate NSA involvement?

Further, how satisfied are we with our Governments approach to active policy dialogue with a wide range of actors? These are all pertinent and relevant questions, and as the ACP Secretary-General, I urge you to make the most of this all-ACP platform of stock-taking and policy dialogue.

Excellencies, Distinguished Invited Guests, Esteemed Non-State Actor representatives, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let us take hands in the name of development, and acknowledge the important complementary role of NSA.  It is our task to create an enabling environment for their full participation in the development efforts of our States and regions.

In conclusion, allow me to welcome you to ACP House, and I wish you a focussed and successful meeting.

I thank you.