African civil society participation in development and governance in Africa: revisiting process and practice

Abstract

This study, surveying the status of African civil society and civil society organizations (CSOs), originates from an initial intention of planning the convening of an international conference on popular participation to review the African Charter for Popular Participation in Development in Africa, which was adopted in Arusha, Tanzania in 1990. This conference would have reviewed and assessed the implementation of the articles of this charter and examined the current state of government-CSO relations in Africa. However, following discussions it was felt necessary to twist the whole process of CSO's participation in development to place it in its present context of accelerating Africa's development.