Opening Oxfam’s African Union liaison office
Last month I joined the pan-African Oxfam team and partners for the first half of the African Union Summit held in Addis Ababa and took advantage of being there to open the Oxfam International Liaison Office with the African Union (AU).
The AU Liaison Office is the only one of its kind so far (with any non-governmental organization and the AU), and one of our challenges is to help open up access to other NGOs, particularly African organizations. So it was great to work in a team, which was a majority of partners and civil society organizations leading the lobbying, with Oxfam staff providing strategic support.
We had a particularly strong contingent from the Solidarity for African Women Rights Coalition (SOAWR), a women's rights network who were lobbying to get more states to sign onto the African Women’s Protocol, on the eve of the Decade for African Women. Others included the Fair Play movement who are working on AU States meeting their commitments to essential services and NGOs working on peace and security including around Sudan.
We lobbied Ambassadors and Ministers in the week ahead of the African Heads of State meeting. The liaison office will follow the meetings closely. Although there is normally no direct access to Heads of State for civil society, we did however have a meeting with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. We raised a number of issues: climate change, where he leads for the Africa Group; and the various peace and security issues the AU is working on in a number of countries. We also raised our concerns about the restrictive NGO laws being introduced in Ethiopia and were pleased that Prime Minister Zenawi is willing for his office to continue dialogue on the issue.
Key to opening our AU liaison office is the opportunity for civil society to help the African Union hold its member states accountable to their promises in ways that the AU bureaucracy cannot, because of diplomatic niceties. Non-state actors can say things that Ambassodors may not be able to. Many Embassies welcome input from Oxfam and our partners, because it helps them put pressure on their colleagues to honor promises, whether on peace and security issues such as Darfur, or on funding for specific programs. It also means they receive a different perspective and information that cannot get from their bureaucrats.
As we met the President of the Commission, Jean Ping, and a number of Commissioners and Ambassadors, it was very clear how much Oxfam's liaison role was valued, particularly because of the way we are assisting access and engagement of African NGOs in the AU. This partner-led approach is an exciting direction for Oxfam’s campaigns and advocacy.
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JOB AND GOOD LIFE:
I am happy to give out my new comments to oxfam internation.I want to tell you that in the third world there so many problems in the families.You can get young people and mature people are unwealthly life.People are struggling to get education,job,and food in general because of money.If they will get any assistance which can make them to get well education which can make them to get job easy.Some of them they have ability to take studies so far which can help them to get job and to help their families but,because of money they failed.It is better to have your office in Africa continent and to help people to take studies which can help them from their problems in their families.Some of them they need to get projects to make their lives in good standard as others.As myself I want to take more studies and to start a project in order to assist my relatives but,the problem is money.My point to you is to support us in education and if possible to give us job from Oxfam which can help us to lift up our lives.Give us training from you and to help us to get job in contracts and it is very easy to help others too.Poor families will be in problems for all of time if you will not help them how to move from there.It is sin to see another person is dead because of hunger and you have food to give him or her.My hope is to take step forward in this crises.It is not good to see some people are enjoying their lives and others are suffering in their lives.It will be a tough task to do this but,I think will be better way to help people by this way instead of giving them food and clothes only.I wish you good work in this vision.Thanks,Mr.Moses.
"As we met the President of
"As we met the President of the Commission, Jean Ping, and a number of Commissioners and Ambassadors, it was very clear how much Oxfam's liaison role was valued, particularly because of the way we are assisting access and engagement of African NGOs in the AU. This partner-led approach is an exciting direction for Oxfam’s campaigns and advocacy." - Congratulations for your role as an agent that stimulates or precipitates a reaction, development, or change for peace, security, solidarity, development and progress in African nations.Edible Fruit Arrangement