West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)
From TrustAfrica wiki - African Regional Organizations
West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF)<big /> 30 Lingu Crescent<big /> Off Aminu Kanu, Crescent<big /> Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234 9 762 5158
Website: http://www.wacsof.org
Description
WACSOF is a membership based network comprising more than 150 organizations within the sub-region, established to facilitate ECOWAS-civil society relations. It was also established to support the process of political and socio-economic development of the sub-region, including its integration agenda. Some of WACSOF’s objectives as enunciated in its Charter include:
- To strengthen and institutionalize a relationship between West African civil society and ECOWAS;
- To build a biennial People’s Forum for members of WACSOF to submit recommendations to West African ministers and heads of State on human security;
- To audit the implementation and legislative domestication of ECOWAS treaties, protocols and decisions relating to human security and peace in the region;
- To establish national and sub-regional monitoring mechanisms in the status of human security in West Africa; and
- To popularize ECOWAS.
WACSOF was created to work in the following areas: peace, security, human rights, democracy and good governance, health, social development, trade and HIV-AIDS. However due to lack of resources and capacity, WACSOF has mainly been involved in election observation.
WACSOF’s structures create many opportunities for civil society-ECOWAS relations. These structures include the People’s Forum which meets annually and makes recommendations to the heads of State and Government Summit. There is also an Executive Committee that is elected by the People’s Forum and monitors the Secretariat. Technical Working Committees resemble those of ECOSOCC and this is where much intervention can take place through expert submissions. Finally, the Secretariat implements programs of the network.
