Recent Events

Johannesburg: Transforming Conflict in Communities; Exploring Conflict vs. Structural Violence: 8-11 April 2013

The ACTION Support Centre (ASC) invited activists connected to different organisations and movements to be part of a locally organised Conflict Transformation workshop. Participants travelled from within Johannesburg and surrounding areas.

The 4-day workshop entittled-Transforming Conflict in Communities; Exploring Conflict and Structural Violence took place at the Stay City Hotel in Berea from Monday, April 8th to Thursday, April 11th.  All of the participants committed themselves to attending all 4 days of the workshop, which included a field trip to the Apartheid Museum on Wednesday afternoon.

This unique workshop was part of ASCs longer extended learning programme, which will be built upon with additional activities throught the year. The course further strengthened relationships between an already rich and diverse group of volunteers and activists; whilst creating space to share experiences and some of the challenges being faced by local communities, South Africa and the continent more broadly. 

ASC looks forward to collaborating with the participants to take the recommendations emerging from this workshop forward! it's

Syria: Towards a Network of Peace Ambassadors: 24-29 February 2013

From the 24^th to the 29^th of February, ASC staff were invited by Mobaderoon, a network movement from Syria, to facilitate a 5 day workshop for active citizens who are intent on establishing themselves as a network of Peace Ambassadors keen to find a new way of organising in a context that is marked by devastating forms of violence and rapidly increasing polarisation between the regime and the Free Syrian Army.

The workshop was held in Beirut, Lebanon in order to ensure that participants were able to express themselves more freely and to give people space to breathe away from a context in which arbitrary arrests and extra-judicial killings have become commonplace.

In an emotional encounter participants from across the political spectrum spent their time analysing the context, sharing information that assisted in shifting perceptions and clarifying the dynamics of the context, and strategising amongst themselves as to what an effective contribution to peace might constitute in an environment where there is very little space to organise.

The depth of the polarisation between Syrian citizens deeply affected the dynamics of the workshop, and it took several days before sufficient trust had been built to allow participants to recognise the strength in their diversity and begin working together instead of against each other.

Despite the very real difficulties that will be encountered, this courageous and dedicated group will now seek out opportunities for creating bridges, encouraging new forms of dialogue and building a movement that is principled and opposed to violence in all its forms.

SADC Human Rights Defenders Steering Committee Meeting: 22 February 2013

ACTION also took part in the Southern Africa Human Rights Defenders Trust meeting on the 22^nd February 2013 as a part of the organisations that have been selected to sit on the task team. The Trust was set up in 2009 as a small unit within OSISA, primarily with a regional focus. To date it has given support to human rights defenders from Zimbabwe, DRC and Malawi.

The Southern Africa region currently has several NGOs attending the biannual sessions of the African Commission. Most of the SADC NGOs make statements during the African Commission’s public session and participate at the NGO Forum sessions. The purpose of this meeting was to ensure the establishment of a SADC Human Rights Defenders Network at this Commission. It is envisaged that the Network will receive support from the Pan African Human Rights Defenders Network, once it has been established. The SADC HRD Network’s mandate will be to give humanitarian aid to HRD's advocate for the amendment of policy at local and regional level; capacity building and training; protection and security (human and material); connection of HRD's to organisations who have the capacity to deal with the specific sensitive issues; research; information sharing; coordination; and networking.

The ASC will continue its role as part of the task team under the leadership of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights as the host organisation, the International Commission of Jurists-Africa as interim chair and the Southern Africa Litigation Centre as deputy interim chair for the network.

The African Hip-hop Symposium: An Educational Exploration of Hip-hop Culture: 20 February 2013

As part of the ASC’s ongoing support for the arts and its belief that artist expression has a critical role to play in the creation of a free and democratic societies across the SADC region (with acknowledgement of the role played by the arts in the realisation of South Africa’s freedom), the ASC supported the second leg of The Afrikan Hip-hop Symposium on the 20^th of February.

This Symposium forms part of the Afrikan Hip-hop Caravan; an initiative of various grassroots African arts and culture collectives that transcends borders and explores the impact of Hip-hop on youth culture in six cities. The Caravan starts in Cape Town on February 11^th 2013 and moves across the continent, presenting a week of educational events and performances.  Other cities include Johannesburg, Harare, Nairobi and Dakar, finally ending in Tunis for the World Social Forum (WSF) at the end of March.

The ASC co-sponsored this event as it provides a unique space for scholars and artists to interface and discuss the current state of Africa and African Hip-hop. The Symposium discussions included the exploration the relevance of Hip-hop to socio-political processes and community development; the interaction between Hip-hop and the state; the impact of Hip-hop on urban youth culture and identity; the role of women in African Hip-hop; the linguistic, literary and poetic contributions of African Hip-hop to language, arts and culture; and the dichotomy between ‘Mainstream’ and ‘Underground’ Hip-hop in Africa.

South African Somali Women's Network Launch: 19-20 February 2013

Over the 19^th and 20^th of February, we held the first gathering of the South African Somali Women’s Network (SASOWNET) in Cape Town, South Africa. The concept of SASOWNET was born out of a perceived lack of wide scale Somali women’s participation within various decision-making and consultative arenas’.

In our previous newsletter we detailed the ASC’s attendance at the Somali Diaspora in South Africa Conference hosted by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in Cape Town last year as well as the subsequent Somali Diaspora Consultation meeting hosted by the ACTION Support Centre in Johannesburg. One of the issues that emerged out of these two forums was the lack of participation of the Somali women within the political arena. This was attributed to a feeling of marginalization and a lack of confidence to enter a traditionally male-dominated decision-making space.

As a part of the ASC’s ongoing commitment to add a capacity building component to the Somali Solidarity Campaign launched in late 2011, the ASC together with members of the Somali community in South Africa began to develop a programme that would address the challenges to participation identified. The result has been the initiation of a South African Somali Women’s Network (SASOWNET) as a platform through which to support Somali women in Somalia, across the Somali region and within the Diaspora, in their efforts to ensure that gender issues are addressed and that women’s representation and participation is assured in this critical transition phase.

The ASC has undertaken to spearhead an initial 6-month process focused on networking, organisation building and empowerment. This initial meeting in Cape Town was the first step towards the establishment of a national network, with similar meetings planned for Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth. The meeting was a great success with more than 20 women in attendance. There was an optimism and excitement at the prospect of a platform through which to air the grievances and challenges experienced by the women of the Somali Diaspora and a shared commitment to making this network a success.

For updated information on the Somali Solidarity Campaign and the South African Somali Women’s Network, please ‘like’ the Somali Solidarity Campaign Facebook page.

Myanmar Activists Training Programme

During the first week of February, the ASC participated in delivering the first of a three-module training programme to activists from Myanmar, as part of a broader programme designed by our partner organisation, the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, in support of the peace process.

Module 1, an introduction to Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation, brought together a range of activists from the ‘88 Generation, Generation Wave, the Community Response Group and several student unions, as well as those from armed conflict affected ethnic areas and community representatives affected by the extractive industry.

Many of these activists have spent considerable time in prison as a result of their support to the opposition efforts to challenge the military elite who ruled Myanmar with an iron fist from 1962 to 2011. With the recent shifts in the political context, including the lifting of restrictions on Aung San Suu Kyi, the beginning of peace talks with armed ethic groups and the opening up of social and political space to organise, many active civil society groups have been scrambling to reposition themselves and define a new strategic role in a rapidly changing context.

These modular courses are aimed at supporting groups as they think through how best they can contribute to the peace processes, while at the same time ensuring the needs of communities and the voices of those who demand transformation remain at the forefront of the civic agenda.

There are remarkable parallels in the contexts of Myanmar and Zimbabwe, and the extent to which the resource driven extractive industry is negatively impacting communities across the country.

The ASC will continue to participate in Modules 2 and 3 and is also exploring other ways in which exchange visits and facilitated forms of learning can be strengthened between Myanmar and the African continent.

COSATU International Department Special Strategic Planning Workshop: 4-6 February

From the 4^th until the 6^th of February, both the ASC and ZSF attended the COSATU Special Strategic Planning Workshop held at the Elijah Barayi Memorial Training Centre, in Midrand, Johannesburg. The overall aim of the workshop was to determine COSATU’s key priorities for 2013 and to establish the most effective method of implementation together with affiliates and affected parties.

Discussions prioritised efforts to ensure that the international work of Affiliates and the Federation are complementary; maximisation of the involvement of COSATU members in international solidarity work through interaction with key role players, including international solidarity campaigns; and the development a clear plan of action for 2013 that relates to Affiliates and the Federation and that can be presented to the COSATU Central Executive Committee later in the year.

The platform created by COSATU offered an opportunity for open discussion and debate on key South Africa policy issues and, equally important, a chance to reiterate the resolutions made at the COSATU’s 11^th Congress on issues of xenophobia, criminal violence, local government challenges and, above all, resolutions on international solidarity campaigns focusing mostly on Burma, Palestine, Swaziland, Western Sahara and Zimbabwe.

The ASC and ZSF’s participation in this workshop was a contribution to our continued relationship strengthening with the labour movement of South Africa as led by COSATU and including important structures of the South African Tripartite Alliance, ANC and SACP.

Civil Society, Academics and Experts meet in Bulawayo: 01 February 2013

ASC  travelled to Bulawayo, Zimbabwe for a civil society meeting on the 1^st of February. This think tank process was organised with the intention of preparing a civil society response to and interventions in the upcoming referendum and following election with the aid of expert analysis and recommendations. In attendance were academics and experts from various fields such as governance, political economy, constitutional law and elections. The lead panelists were both from Zimbabwe and the greater Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.

Among the topics for discussion was the likely outcome of the Zimbabwean transition as well as the role of SADC and the African Union (AU) in ensuring the fulfillment of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

International Crisis Group (ICG) Senior Analyst for Southern Africa, Trevor Maisiri, said that the GPA principals are delaying the announcement of an election date. This has a bearing on the organization and arrival of election observer teams in Zimbabwe before the election. He argued that the delay would eventually lead to late observation, which will have an impact on the legitimacy of the forthcoming elections.

Dr Ibbo Mandaza of the SAPES Trust argued there had been an over-exaggeration of the impact of the military factor in the democratisation agenda. He was not in agreement that the threats by the military would upset the constitutional order should someone who did not take part in the armed liberation war win the next election. 

The think tank meeting was expected to leverage the efforts of pro-democracy forces ahead of the election expected in 2013.

Sierra Leone - Conflict Analysis Process: 8-18 January 2013

The ASC will be working closely with Mobaderoon to explore additional ways of connecting and forging a stronger partnership that nurtures the solidarity connection between South Africa and Syria.

The dynamic context of Sierra Leone became the focus of an intense process of conflict analysis undertaken by Partners in Conflict Transformation (PICOT), (a partnership led by Network Movement for Justice and Development (NMJD) and the Methodist Church of Sierra Leone (MCSL)), with the support of the ACTION Support Centre.

During a series of site visits between the 8^th and 18^th of January 2013 participatory conflict analysis processes were undertaken with a range of PICOT staff, community members directly involved in the PICOT programmes, community stakeholders interested in the process and its outcomes, and civil society partners and government officials active at District and National levels.

A conflict transformation approach, which centred on the full involvement of all participants in the process, and which was guided by principles that sought to ensure the analysis was helpful to all involved, was utilised. Strong focus was placed on empowering communities, with particular emphasis on the inclusion of women and youth. This was achieved through a range of rights-based training and advocacy and awareness raising activities, which encouraged communities to engage with decision makers and leaders at local, district and national levels.  

The understanding of conflict that underlies the analytical approach, as part of an interconnected system of conflict dynamics, is key when it comes to designing programme strategies. Community members in Sierra Leone are particularly badly affected by the actions of mining companies and multi-nationals who are growing bio-fuels on land that has been expropriated through collusion between national government, local chiefs and the companies that are intent on putting profits before people.

The shift in land use, which is the key driving factor in government efforts to stimulate economic growth, has a detrimental effect on communities who have traditionally relied on subsistence farming to ensure their own food security. Other key fault lines for violence that emerged depict an increasingly predatory government and political manipulation of the justice system that allows a system of patronage to flourish.

The detailed analysis included over 175 participants from 60 Villages, in 6 Chiefdoms and 2 Districts.  The outcomes of these analysis sessions included the production of a detailed report on conflict analysis in Sierra Leone and a practical manual for practitioners interested in understanding and adopting a conflict transformation approach within their unique contexts. These productions will be used by PICOT to guide its programme work over the next few years. A civil society communiqué has been released that uses the analysis that emerged as a foundation for a series of recommendations to government, civil society and its international partners.

The partnership between the ASC and NMJD is part of an ongoing engagement since 2002, and has included learning exchanges, process facilitation and contributions to the Peace and Development Platform Drums of Change publication.  The ASC and PICOT will be exploring ways of deepening the partnership and realising practical forms of people-to-people solidarity over the next few months

PICOT's work, until early 2005 was documented in detail by the ACTION Support Centre in the publication, "Transforming Conflict, Transforming Lives," which you can find on our website (www.asc.org.za).  The report and manual will be shared on our website in the near future so watch this space!

ACTION Support Centre (ASC) and COSATU's 11th National Congress - the Workers' Parliament: 17-20 September 2012

ACTION Support Centre (ASC) and the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) was part of the COSATU 11^th National Congress held at Gallagher Estate, Midrand from the 17^th – 20^th September. The theme for this Congress was, “A Call to Action, Workers Parliament�. The participation of the ASC and ZSF in COSATU led congresses and conferences is significant, as the outcomes of these play an important role in shaping the socio-economic and political lives of the working class in South Africa and the region. The South African labour movement recognises that solidarity movements play a strategic role in not only influencing South African policy matters but in giving direction and impetus to solidarity campaigns in South Africa. ASC and ZSF continue to build strong relationship with the labour movement of South Africa led by COSATU including important structures of the South African Tripartite Alliance, ANC and SACP.

The 11^th Congress offered an opportunity for open discussion and debate on key South Africa policy issues and equally important for discussions and subsequent resolutions on issues of xenophobia, criminal violence, local government challenges, and above all resolutions on international solidarity campaigns focusing primarily on Burma, Palestine, Swaziland, Western Sahara and Zimbabwe. ASC and ZSF played a significant role in the lobbying of affiliates to support a resolution on Zimbabwe and Swaziland. This resolution called for support for the people of both countries who are calling for a genuine process towards free and fair elections. This resolution has subsequently been submitted to the COSATU CEC for adoption.

ASC and the Reflective Report for the International Alliance of Natural Resources in Africa (IANRA)

The ACTION Support Centre took part in a reflective report identifying the achievements and challenges faced by the International Alliance on Natural Resources in Africa (IANRA) over the past few years. The fieldwork team travelled to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Kenya conducting interviews with a combination of National Grouping representatives and local community members. These filmed interviews showcased the work IANRA has been able to support through local organisations dealing with national resource extraction and the often-dire consequences for the local communities and their land. Kate and Sipho travelled with cameraman, Jacque, to Harare, Zimbabwe where they conducted interviews with people from Women and Land in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwean Environmental Lawyers Association (ZELA) ,and the various community members that have benefited from the support and training they have received from these IANRA sponsored organisations. Following this, Allie and Jacque took off for Kenya where they conducted interviews in the coastal towns of Mombasa and Malindi. These interviews included 3 of the 9 members of KeNRA (Kenya Natural Resource Alliance) including ActionAid, Coastal Rights Forum and Malindi Rights Forum. Through the KeNRA network alliance Community Based Organisations and other network members have made great inroads engaging with government and policy makers. Voices from the community are being heard at the local, national and regional levels. Lastly, Philani accompanied Jacque to Lusaka, Zambia where they met with IANRA members from Caritas, ActionAid, the World Bank, and the Non-Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC), in addition to members of Zambia' s National Groupings.  Zambian National Groupings shared stories of the benefits they've acquired through cross-border learning exchange initiatives with Malawi and Congo, which focused on the mining of Uranium and through the mobilising of communities.  There is a need to identify an increasing number of community-based organisations to help strengthen the alliance but the national grouping is feeling hopeful and motivated for the future.

Building and Strengthening International People to People Solidarity

Over the month of September 2012, ASC participated in partners’ events in Uganda and Cambodia, in the spirit of people to people solidarity. His trip to Uganda was inline with the ASC’s ongoing efforts to build relationships with key activists and practitioners working across the Somali region (in support of the Somali Solidarity Campaign) and as part of our efforts to support conflict transformation efforts in the region. The visit also provided an opportunity to meet with board members of the Uganda Peace Foundation (UPF). The meeting created a strong foundation for a partnership between the UPF and the ASC in attaining our objectives of promoting global peace and security. The ASC is exploring the possibility of an ongoing partnership, including finding ways of supporting the proposed conference to be hosted by UPF in April 2013, in addition to expanding long term opportunities for joint programming.

In Cambodia, ASC worked with the ACTION affiliated Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies in their efforts to incorporate and provide support to all civil society groupings that have been excluded from the national peace talks. Utilizing Conflict Transformation strategies to help groups understand their place in the process, the Centre for Peace and Conflict studies is working towards taking a more hands on supportive approach within the peace process. Members of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies will be joining the ASC and others at the International African Solidarity Festival this November.

ASC and Global Week of Action on Swaziland: 3-7 September 2012

The 3^rd to the 7^th of September marked the Global Week of Action for Democracy in Swaziland (GWoAS), co-ordinated by the Swaziland Democracy Campaign (SDC). Various members of the ACTION Support Centre team supported a range of activities held during the GWoAS. The most notable event was the picket held on the 5th of September. This picket took place at the Swazi Consulate in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. It was attended by many allies and sister organisations supporting the democracy movement in Swaziland. There were many profound, moving and inspiring speeches given at the picket, which was followed by a signed memorandum of understanding being presented to the High Commissioner, Mr. Solomon Dlamini, at the Swazi Consulate. The gathering made clear that the bravery and courage of the Swazi people is inspiring and worth all the support we can amass, even if there were attempts by the state to divide the progressive movement and divert attention from the real and burning issues as raised by the people of Swaziland. The GWoAS was a success.  One of the notable achievements was the birth of the Peoples Charter, which was, for the first time in the history of Swaziland, adopted at the Peoples Summit on the 6th of September 2012 in Manzini. The SDC will build on these successes and intensify its campaign for democracy in Swaziland. The ASC remains committed to mobilising and giving people to people solidarity to the Mass Democratic Movement (MDM) in Swaziland.

ASC and Kikambala Cultural Peace Concert

On the first of September 2013 the Kikambala Arts Experts Youth Group put into action their plans to appreciate diverse cultures and advance peace by putting on a Cultural Beach Peace Concert. The ASC was delighted to be in a position to provide support to this festival under the banner of its Solidarity and Transformation Agenda. The concert was staged to bring people together from different faiths, cultures and races to encourage co-existence. Though the concert opened under a light drizzle, this did not dampen the spirits of the 500 concertgoers. Opening with the national anthem and continuing with a 1km peace procession, the concert started on a high note. As the day wore on there were traditional dances and drumming, a play on land rights, and speeches from various figures in the community. Overall the concert was a rousing success as it fulfilled its mandate of promoting peace, cohesion and appreciation of each other's uniqueness and culture through dance and art.

Coalition for a Free Palestine: Launch: 28 September 2012

The ASC was part of the launch of the Coalition for a Free Palestine held at COSATU House on the 28 September 2012. In an official report commissioned by the South African government in 2009, the Human Sciences Research Council confirmed that Israel, by its policies and practices, is guilty of the crime of apartheid. Israel is not only in contravention of the crime of apartheid as defined by the United Nations Convention Against Apartheid but also shares similarities with the former apartheid regime that the South African people fought against. The establishment of the Coalition is inspired by the international solidarity South Africans received during their own struggle for a free and democratic society. It is now time to repay the same solidarity to the Palestinian people. The Coalition intends to send out clear signals of resistance to all those who are set to maintain the oppression of the Palestinian people both in South Africa and around the world. The ASC and the ZSF support this initiative

ASC and the Somalia Diaspora in South Africa: Supporting Peace and Reconstruction in Somalia

The ASC took part in the Somali Diaspora in South Africa Conference held at the African Pride Crystal Towers Hotel in Cape Town. The Department of International Relations and Co-operation (DIRCO), the Somali Council for Research and Development (SOMCORD) and ACCORD, hosted this two-day conference. The conference was well attended with presentations by a variety of stakeholders within academia, civil society and government. Presentations focused on work happening on the ground in Somalia and South Africa, as well as possible opportunities for future engagement including added involvement in the South African Somali Business Association (SASBA). This was a great networking opportunity, and ACTION was able to build connections with various Somali government officials, academics and civil society members, as well as strengthen relationships with DIRCO and ACCORD. The conference saw the launch of a South African Somali Diaspora Forum. 

Video Dialogue Series

The last half of 2012 saw ASC organising a series of 10 community video dialogues debates. The sessions were held bi-monthly in the Melville community in Johannesburg and welcomed a diverse group of interested students, civil society members, peace builders and other professionals. The series sought to share social, economic, political and environmental issues challenging our global society through the screening of short video clips, which were then discussed and debated throughout the evening. Reflections from our regular group of dedicated participants celebrated the series for the unique and safe environment the sessions created, where people felt willing and able to share their ideas, debate and develop plans for action to take to their own communities or work environments. People learned about issues they felt they otherwise would not have and equally, met and developed new connections within the community.

Applied Conflict Transformation Course 2011

By all accounts the course appears to have been highly successful. The learning environment ACTION was able to create was intense and useful and the evaluative comments we received in the forms filled out spoke strongly of the personal and professional transformation processes participants went through. A large part of this was the result of the diverse and experienced group of participants that took part in the process.

The ACTION Support Centre will be following up with all of the participants in 3 months and again after a year to get a better sense of the longer term impact the course has had.

In the meantime the belief that ACTION has a process that speaks powerfully to people has led us to plan two additional similar courses in 2012 - one in February March, and another in October. ACTION will be sharing details of these workshops in due course.

Evaluative comments from participants:

What people learned the most from:

For information on the next training workshop contact richard@asc.org.za or rindai@asc.org.za

The Regional Capacitybuilding Project (RCB) 2011  

ASC organised two Learning Exchange Worshops in Swaziland and Mozambique respectively.

Regional delegates drawn from Soweto Concerned Residence (SCR)-South Africa, Swaziland Coalition (SCCCO)-Swaziland, Swaziland Young Women’s Network (SYWN)-Swaziland, Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe (YIDEZ)-Zimbabwe, PROPAZ-Mozambique, and Forum Mulher-Mozambique attended the workshops.

The aim of the RCB is to build capacity on common areas of need such as mobilising for socio-economic and political change, and strengthening internal and external organisational communication in the region.

It also focuses on strengthening people to people solidarity through learning, sharing skills and exchanging information. Learning Exchange Workshops are seen as critical in the implementation of this project.

Cultural Diversity Project 2011

Two cultural diversity workshops have been organised and successfully carried out in Alexandra Township. These are two of eight activities under this project which is themed “Ubuntu Has No Borders.�

The purpose of this project is to build and strengthen communities of diversity and peace. Local community members attend the workshops in an effort to address the conflicts arising out of cultural intolerance.

Topics covered in the course are Understanding Conflict, Early Detection of Conflict, Conflict Analysis, Intervention Strategies and then the participants look at options for Longer Term Transformation and Prevention.

Human Rights and Refugee Rights Workshop-Building communities of mutual understanding and cultural diversity

As a build-up to the Anti-Xenophobia Indaba which took place in Soweto last year, ASC has organised follow up workshops on Human Rights, Refugee Rights and Xenophobia in Orange Farm-Johannesburg.

The next workshop is scheduled to take place in Soweto.

Insider Mediators Platform - Africa

IMP-AF
26th-27th July 2011

The 2nd Working Group meeting of the Insider Mediators Platform was held in Mombasa, Kenya from the 26th to the 27th of July 2011. The objectives of the meeting centred on reflection, learning and planning the most effective way forward for the platform.

The meeting was well attended with 20 participants from 16 different countries representing a range of practitioners and institutional representatives working on conflict contexts at all levels. The range of participants constituted the forms of collaborative partnership envisaged as being key to the development of an insider mediator driven process.

Evaluative comments highlighted the dynamic nature of the group, the high quality of participants and the fluidity of the process as being key to the successful outcome of the meeting. A full summary of these comments is included as an appendix to this report.

The meeting began with an update of AIMP activities and a process of sharing experiences amongst participants. This was followed by an analysis of the external environment to identify key challenges, opportunities and trends likely to impact on the work of insider mediators.

The analysis was strengthened with the presentation of several case studies that highlighted the potential role of the platform. The session then moved into a strategic planning process that identified key focus areas and the critical next steps for the platform.

The initial outcomes of the meeting, contained within this report, will be used to draft an Action Plan that will form the basis for the development of a full proposal that will be used as a resource mobilisation tool to take the work of the platform forward.

Summary Outcomes

1. The ability of the platform to initiate and strengthen mediative processes aimed at crisis prevention and in support of conflict transformation was seen as the critical added value that informs its establishment.
2. The proposed Action Plan will endorse the conceptualisation of the platform as a capacity multiplier that will use innovative forms of learning and experience sharing to enhance national level mediation capacity in support of a collaborative inclusive partnership approach to mediative processes.
3. The Action Plan will be focused on tapping into learning opportunities through the development of in-depth case studies, analysis of key geographical areas of concern, consolidating the relationship building and networking capacities of the platform and establishing a directory of insider mediators and institutional resources.
4. The meeting agreed to rename the initiative as the Insider Mediators Platform – Africa, or IMP-AF. This would reflect the longer-term potential of replicating the IMP initiative in other parts of the world.
5. It was also agreed that the interim coordinator would work towards establishing a lean full time secretariat that would work to promote the platform as a resource for learning and information.
6. The platform will embark on a programme of needs driven support to insider mediators aimed at enhancing national mediation capacity, and focused particularly on crisis prevention and longer-term mediative processes.
7. The immediate mobilisation of resources in support of these intentions is a key priority.

African Insider’s Mediators Platform

A participatory analysis and strategy development workshop was held in November 2010 to better understand the contribution of insider mediators to the resolution of conflict across Africa. Insider mediators play a significant strategic role in providing continuity between short-term peacemaking responses to periods of crisis, as well as long�term peacebuilding processes. Supported by the Peace Nexus Foundation, the workshop aimed to enhance internal national mediation capacity and contribute to local ownership of mediation outcomes.

The research identified a key group of insider mediators working at multiple levels across a wide range of conflict contexts. Essentially, these mediators require greater support in their efforts to provide critical linkages between senior--�level mediation processes, and the mediation of residual conflicts affecting people at community level. Looking to the future, AIMP aims to establish supportive partnerships with which to agree an action plan and allocate responsibilities in its implementation.

Confidence Building Electoral Process Sudan/ UNMIS

ACTION staff worked with local partners in Khartoum and the United Nations Mission in Sudan to develop and implement a confidence building process between political parties in the run up to the election in 2010.

The event itself took place on the 11th February and included about 175 representatives from approximately 35 of the registered political parties, as well as representatives of the National Elections Commission, the PPAC, UNMIS and the UNDP. With a reported 80% of the delegates being candidates contesting the election, the event had real significance and potential to impact the election.

Combining small focused group discussions and larger break-away groups that required a process of summarising, synthesizing and agreeing on a shared report-back, the workshop created an essential space for dialogue between political party representatives and key stakeholders.

Developing organic leadership roles within the groups facilitated and guided the group discussions, and highlighted an important process through which dispute resolution processes have the potential to identify a form and type of leader that is able to overcome any ideological differences and divisive contestations for power.

In addition to demonstrating the potential for parties to work together beyond their differences, the need for extensive contact and relationship building between party representatives was illustrated. This relationship building aspect alone will make a significant difference in laying the foundation for non-violent dispute resolution processes in the longer term.

Conflict transformation training

Conflict transformation workshops form an integral part of ACTION’s work. In November 2010 ACTION preformed a peacebuilding workshop for PACT partners in Zimbabwe. ACTION adopted a highly participatory and elicitive approach which took participants through a series of incremental steps, building knowledge through the introduction of new ideas and tools, and tapping into the collective experience of the group.

The workshop established a common language, shared understandings of key concepts and reflected on conflict analysis, strategy and planning. The workshop aimed to utilize local experiences in shaping more sustainable and long-term initiatives, highlighting the relationship between local initiatives and the wider context. Participants’ evaluations of the workshop revealed its positive reception as well as important practical considerations for the future. The workshop revealed additional challenges regarding resources that constrain peacebuilding efforts, these important insights will inform the planning and implementation of initiatives in the future.

Support to networks and learning workshop – Netherlands

ACTION, with the support of the Netherlands based PSO, engaged in a collaborative learning process aimed at understanding in more detail what drives networks and assists them in becoming more effective.

In an engagement with several peacebuilding networks from across the world a number of insights and lessons on networking were derived that will be fed back into organisations in an effort to add value to the networking efforts of practitioners. The criteria for establishing a vibrant network, which allows members to mutually thrive from a palpably energetic collaboration, was examined. The history of the network as well as factors underpinning fluctuations in the network’s vibrancy were explored, agency of the participants was highlighted as a crucial factor. The potential of collective action, and the strength that can be derived from network membership becomes more real as this upward recognition grows.

Yeoville Community Engagement

ACTION enjoys a sustained relationship with the Yeoville Community. Recognised as a key organisation in the community ACTION has appeared in their publication ‘Yeovue news bulletin’. ACTION acts as a platform and opportunity to share information and interact with Diaspora and South African communities. Approaches include utilising strategic meetings, dialogue forums and imbizos. ACTION is influential in contributing to municipal law and policy regarding Yeoville and offers insight into areas such as informal trade, crime, criminal violence, gender abuse, refugee issues and environmental issues.

Schools’ Anti-Xenophobia Project

Building on the success of previous Gauteng schools’ project, ACTION’s Schools Anti-Xenophobia project was extended to Limpopo Province for the month February and March 2011. The project’s events included Conflict Transformation workshop and a debate and impromptu speeches day.

These two projects created space for learners, facilitators, educators and members of the community to critically engagement with subject issues that relate to xenophobia in Gauteng and Limpopo respectively. The ‘Sports and Indigenous Games Day’ celebrates cultural diversity through sports; the Cultural Day highlights the richness of African cultures through regalia, poetry, music, dance, drama and food. The ‘Conflict Transformation Workshop’ and the ‘Debate and Impromptu Speeches Competition’ in particular provided an opportunity for in-depth discussions and critical analysis on xenophobia-its trends, impacts and possible solutions.

World Social Forum

ACTION Support Centre attended the 11th edition of the World Social Forum in Dakar Senegal. Other organisations that graced the event include COSATU came with 20 delegates, 10 came from Climate and Environmental movements, TCOE, Ecumenical and women’s movement, and many other movements.

Apart from debating contemporary issues and challenges in areas of economics and trade, politics, health, education and environment a profound public march was organised. More than 60 000 people participated in the march.

Swaziland Democracy Campaign Anniversary

The Swaziland Democracy Campaign had its first anniversary celebrations in February 2011. We joined the Campaign in celebrating a year of successful and sterling campaigning for democracy in Swaziland.

For more information please contact:
Ntokozo Mbhele at ntokozo@publicservices.org.za
Philani Ndebele at philani@asc.org.za

Regional Capacity Building Project: December 2010 (3 year project)

Regional delegates drawn from Soweto Concerned Residence (SCR)-South Africa, Swaziland Coalition (SCCCO)-Swaziland, Swaziland Young Women’s Network (SYWN)-Swaziland, Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe (YIDEZ)-Zimbabwe, PROPAZ-Mozambique, and Forum Mulher-Mozambique gathered for a three day regional capacity building workshop in Conflict Transformation at Willow Park Hotel in Johannesburg South Africa. Fourteen participants engaged effectively in this capacity building workshop.

The project has twenty four organisations across the region participating in it. The aim of this project is to building capacity on common areas of need such as mobilising for socio-economic and political change, and strengthening internal and external organizational communication in the region. It also focuses on strengthening people to people solidarity through learning, sharing skills and information with each other particularly face to face exchange of information where possible, including exploiting communication mechanism that are at our disposal. Exchange visits are seen as critical in the implementation of this project. Therefore, strategic learning platforms and workshops will be organized.

Limpopo Schools Anti Xenophobia Project

ACTION Support Centre (ASC) is implementing an anti-xenophobia project in schools that are in the Limpopo region. These schools are drawn from the Vhembe District. A trainer of trainers’ workshop took place in Louis Trichardt in December 2010 following by a teachers planning meeting. A learners Conflict Transformation work and a debate competition. Dates for these events will be released as soon as possible

The African Insider Mediators Platform

In November 2010 a workshop supported by the Peace Nexus Foundation brought together 14 key insider mediation stakeholders. The workshop explored existing support initiatives and collaboration, and used the insights into existing gaps and challenges in these areas as the starting point of a strategic discussion on focusing and enhancing efforts to support and strengthen the contribution of insider mediators on the continent.

Overall Goal

To establish a support base for African mediators working on conflict systems at multiple levels that enhances internal national mediation capacity and contributes to local ownership of mediation outcomes.

Strategy objectives

• To forge and maintain linkages between mediators across existing networks and organisations
• To expand learning opportunities for sharing insights, exchanging experience, and mediation systems training, that builds a community of excellent practice
• To document and disseminate examples of good practice that enhances the credibility and legitimacy of the long-term contribution of African mediators to building peace and preventing violence
• To promote the inclusion of mediators that connect mediation efforts at different levels with senior-level mediation processes
• To provide a pool of skilled resource people that can accompany complex mediation initiatives and respond to requests for technical mediation support
   

Swaziland Democracy Campaign Picket at the Swazi Consulate in Braamfontein

SDC organised a lunch hour picket that turned into a big march as an unexpected number of workers pour in from different workplaces to express their disgust and outrage at the Swazi regime’s continued persecution of the struggling masses of Swaziland.



The whole Braampak area was littered with red t-shirts of workers from different COSATU affiliates, most notably SAMWU, as well as broader civil society organisations to express their unwavering support to the cause of Swazi workers. About 500 workers participated in the picket, admittedly the biggest lunch hour picket we have so far organised; except for marches and blockades whose numbers are way above that.

Building a culture of people to people solidarity and identifying long term responses to xenophobia in South Africa

21 March 2010

After just more than a year, xenophobia swept across many South African communities and seems to be returning to haunt South Africa again. History has it that more than 150 000 people were displaced, about 62 killed, hundreds wounded, scores raped and property destroyed. It is important to highlight that while the worst and most visible attacks occurred in Alexandra and many other parts of South Africa over such periods, they date back years before and still continue today.

Communities still experience violence against non-South Africans and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community based organisations (CBOs) and research organisations working with migrants are sounding the alarm that nothing stands in the way of a new wave of violence.

On another note, research and analysis sight different causes of xenophobia, and xenophobia is even understood differently at different places, times and peoples. Basic service delivery issues like housing, running water, electricity, jobs, proper roads and schools continue to be a bitter point of contention as people battle for scarce resources. Some argue that local business people lead campaigns against non-South Africans, where hatred and ultimately violence is fuelled by commercial rivalry, while some refer to issues such as criminal activities by non-South Africans as a cause to xenophobia. All these reasons one way or the other contribute to xenophobia.

Response to xenophobia was and still remains mediocre. There has been a failure to learn lessons from the violence especially from the South African government. Many responses were poorly coordinated and short term in nature. Therefore, successes remain isolated. A new migrant desk was set up in Johannesburg, visa requirements for the people of Zimbabwe were scraped and a solution for those already in South Africa is underway, and some communities have welcomed back displaced non-South Africans and have managed to hold peace.

As a result, taking steps in the right direction is imperative. Opportunities exist for communities, organisations, provincial and national governments to find common purpose and deal with xenophobia. Time for expressing horror and shock is over. Effective dialogue, analysis, studies and literature on the subject must feed into long term response to xenophobia. Community intelligence must be established, isolation of those bent on campaigns of violence should be encouraged. Above all, engagement with important sectors of communities especially schools, to share ways of embracing our cultural diversity including tolerance must be promoted.

This is not the first ASC is involved in a campaign against xenophobia. Through formal and informal research, ASC has organized a youth seminar and a schools’ debate competition that dealt with issues of xenophobia.

However, challenges are being experienced too. New and good ideas to respond to xenophobia continue to emerge but, however lacks of resources remain a huge challenges. With the FIFA world Cup coming, incessant service delivery protests, and the rising costs of basics food, petrol and electricity a lot needs to be done.

For more information contact
Philani Ndebele
011 339 6332
076 942 3565
philani@asc.org.za