AWEPA

The Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA) is an international non-governmental organisation founded by European Parliamentarians to reduce poverty and to protect human rights by supporting the well functioning of parliaments in Africa and by keeping Africa on the political agenda in Europe.

With its roots in the campaign to end apartheid in South Africa, AWEPA now works in Africa from a development perspective to strengthen the core functions of parliaments: oversight, representation and legislation. It believes that strong parliaments are fundamental for Africa’s development; for peace, stability and prosperity.

AWEPA’s work focuses on:

*African parliaments: capacity building and parliamentary exchange
*Thematic programmes: mobilising parliamentary action on development related issues
*European parliaments: mobilising European parliamentarians for Africa
*Research and publications: on development related issues and parliamentary democracy

AWEPA has some 1500 current and former European parliamentarians as members from the European Parliament, almost all EU Member States, Norway and Switzerland. As a non-partisan organisation, AWEPA has members from the entire political spectrum.

AWEPA has 8 offices in Africa, 1 office in Brussels and its Headquarters in Amsterdam.

History of the Organisation

For more than twenty years, AWEPA has been a pioneer in implementing parliamentary capacity building programmes in Africa. The ideology of this organisation, established for and by parliamentarians, is rooted in the struggle against apartheid.br />
In 1984, a group of Western parliamentarians decided that coordinated action at a parliamentary level against Apartheid and Apartheid regimes in Africa, was an absolute necessity. This led members from different European parliaments, belonging to different political parties, to found the ‘Association of West-European Parliamentarians for Action against Apartheid’ (AWEPAA). Their main goal: to strive for European solidarity with South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle and to bring about sanctions against South Africa. "Against Apartheid", however, also included support for the liberation of Namibia and to other countries bordering South Africa.

In the years that followed, AWEPAA started to mobilise politicians in democratically elected European parliaments for this cause. The organisation grew fast; from a small group of members in 16 national parliaments and in the European Parliament in September 1985, to some 1000 members in the early 1990s. Parliamentarians ensured effective sanction policies by passing laws, they monitored the implementation of these laws and they sought to hold governments accountable for their policies. AWEPAA's involvement contributed to an early end to apartheid and to the end the occupation of Namibia and it halted South Africa's policy of destabilization in Southern Africa.

After the apartheid regime was overthrown in South Africa, the first democratic elections were held and the transformation process in Southern Africa was set in motion, AWEPAA shifted its focus of attention. With advice from its African partners AWEPAA changed its mission to promote democracy, peace, human rights and democratic governance in Africa. In 1993, AWEPAA was renamed ‘The Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa’ (AWEPA) and grew to some 1500 members.

Parliamentarians from Central and Eastern Europe began to join AWEPA in the early 1990s, and AWEPA developed into a non-partisan organisation with members in parliaments all over Europe. Its political objective is to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Africa, to maintain an effective lobby to keep Africa on the political agenda in Europe and to improve European-African relations. During the 1990s, AWEPA became active in areas such as election observation and parliamentary and democratic capacity building at regional, national, provincial and local levels in Southern, Central and Eastern Africa. Since 2000, AWEPA has also become involved in West Africa and the Horn of Africa, responding to emerging needs in these areas. Thematically, AWEPA activities promote the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Africa, including such areas as poverty reduction, women and children's rights, HIV and AIDS and peace and security.

The history and evolution of the organisation strengthened AWEPA's conviction that it should use its identity as 'an organisation of parliamentarians for parliamentarians' to contribute where possible in finding solutions to conflicts, and in promoting human rights by strengthening parliamentary democracy in Africa.

Programmes

AWEPA links African and European parliaments to exchange ideas and share experience and knowledge of democratic processes. AWEPA’s programmes include:

African parliaments

AWEPA implements capacity building programmes to strengthen the functioning of parliaments and their individual members and staff. Trainings and seminars enhance the skills of parliamentarians to enable them to better execute their legislative, representative and oversight roles. In addition, staff is trained in parliamentary rules and procedures. AWEPA currently works with some 25 parliaments in Africa, including national parliaments, regional parliamentary institutions, and decentralized authorities.

In addition to working in countries with established parliamentary system, AWEPA also works in post-conflict countries. Strengthening the role of parliament in promoting peace, reconciliation and good governance are strong elements of the capacity building programmes in these countries.

AWEPA’s programmes promote international parliamentary cooperation and exchange of expertise between Europe and Africa and support regional parliamentary cooperation in Africa.

AWEPA operates in almost 20 African countries (AWEPA’s programme countries) in the Southern, Eastern and Central African regions, by organising various activities in cooperation with national, regional and in some cases decentralised parliaments.

In addition to our programme countries, several countries are involved in our activities. Representatives from other countries in Central and Eastern Africa and from countries in Western Africa regularly participate in AWEPA’s regional and international activities. In Northern Africa, AWEPA is active in the context of our NEPAD programme.

Thematic Programmes

Through thematic programmes, AWEPA informs and mobilises parliaments to take action on developmental issues. Thematic programmes include:

*HIV and AIDS and Orphans and Vulnerable Children
*Democracy in the Great Lakes Region, including attention for poverty reduction, peace, media and private sector development
*New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

European Parliaments

To keep Africa high on the political agenda, AWEPA has built up a broad member network of current and former European parliamentarians who are regularly invited to participate in its activities. AWEPA organises various activities in Europe, such as EU Presidency Seminars and visits by African parliamentarians to European parliaments.

Research

AWEPA conducts research and produces parliamentary handbooks and other tools. AWEPA is currently working on a research programme related to the monitoring of Official Development Assistance (ODA). In 2006, research was concluded into the Role of Parliaments in Conflict Management and Peace building in Africa.

Organisational Structure

Eminent Advisory Board

Of special importance to AWEPA is its Eminent Advisory Board, which meets annually and advises AWEPA on wide-ranging policies regarding its work in Africa and Europe. This Board is composed of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ms. Graça Machel, Prof. Wangari Maathai and Ms. Mary Robinson.

Council and President [As of 1 July 2007]

The highest political body within AWEPA is the Council, which comprises representatives from the AWEPA sections in the European Parliament and the national parliaments of Europe. The Council elects the Executive Committee, which is accountable to the Council. The President of the Council, Dr. Jan Nico Scholten, is also member of the Executive Committee.

Executive Committee and Secretary-General [As of 1 July 2007]

AWEPA’s Executive Committee is the executive board of the organisation. The Secretary-General, Mr. Pär Granstedt, is the Chief Executive Officer of the organisation and Chair of the Executive Committee.

Political Coordinators

Some AWEPA members play crucial roles as political coordinators. They guide the AWEPA programmes politically in one or more countries or steer programmes on political and thematic issues. They are involved in the whole project management cycle of AWEPA’s programmes.

Offices

AWEPA’s Headquarters is based in The Netherlands, and another European office is located in Belgium. In Africa there are two regional offices: in Kenya and South Africa, and seven local offices: in Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Rwanda, Somaliland, Tanzania and Uganda.

European Sections

AWEPA has built up a broad member network of European parliamentarians that are supportive of its work; its members. Within the different parliaments in Europe, these members form a section.

Partners

The parliaments which AWEPA supports are its primary partners and this cooperation is normally laid down in a Memorandum of Understanding. In the implementation of its programmes AWEPA also works together with a variety of other organisations to increase the impact of the programmes.

Donors

The execution of the AWEPA programmes is made possible through the financial support of the donor community, appreciative of AWEPA’s work.

AWEPA enjoys a broad funding base. Its donors include the European Commission and various European governments such as Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. AWEPA also receive funding from UN agencies such as UNICEF, as well as from various foundations.

Notes

External links

* [http://www.awepa.org www.awepa.org]

* [http://www.awepa.org/index.php?option=com_resources&Itemid=72 AWEPA Resources]