Mechanisms for implementing and monitoring the African charter for popular participation in development and transformation

Abstract

The Conference defined popular participation as: The empowerment of the people to effectively involve themselves in creating the structures and in designing policies and programmes that serve the interest of all as well as to effectively contribute to the development process and share equitably in its benefits. Therefore, there must be an opening up of political process to accommodate freedom of opinions, tolerate differences, accept consensus on issues as well as to ensure the effective participation of the people and their organizations and associations. It affirmed that nations cannot be built without the popular support and participation of neither people, nor can the economic crisis be resolved and the human and economic conditions improved without the full and effective contribution, creativity and popular enthusiasm of the vast majority of the people. The concept of development from below was, once again brought to the fore of development issues at the Conference. Human-centred development which ensures the overall well-being of the people through sustained improvement in their living standards and the full and effective participation of the people in determining their development policies, programmes and processes and contributing to their realization were emphasized. The marginalization and subordination of Africa in world affairs, both geo-politically and economically, was deplored by the Conference.