HOSSOU Léa, Communications Assistant, Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement – RFLD
Gathered in UGANDA, Kampala from Monday 07 to Friday 11 August 2023 for the CHARM consortium meeting, comprising CIVICUS, Réseau des Femmes Leaders pour le Développement, Civil Rights Defenders, Defend Defenders, Fojo Media Institute, The Wits Centre for Journalism, and Magamba Network, the teams shared their work plans, key activities, communications plans, program plans, monitoring and evaluation plans, as well as the values that govern the consortium.
CHARM Africa engages with civil society and media that support human rights defenders, journalists, particularly those representing constituencies with the most limited access to resources and opportunities in their unique contexts (such as women, youth, minority groups, people living with disabilities, racial and ethnic groups, indigenous peoples, among others).
Striving to confront the shrinking of space with common actions by strengthening civil society, the media and human rights defenders: this was the objective behind the organization of this meeting.
As a member of the consortium, the RFLD delegation was made up of Florence ENIAYEHOU, RFLD Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Asnath AÏSSO, RFLD Director of Programs and John GBENAGNON, RFLD Human Rights Officer.
Together, the consortium contributes to pathways of change related to civic space, public support (for marginalized and socially excluded groups), coalition building and access to better resources to support the work of civil society and the media. in sub-Saharan Africa.
The consortium is funded by Sida (the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency).
The majority of CHARM Consortium members present in Kampala were experts in Programs, Finance, Monitoring Evaluation and Learning, Gender Diversity and Inclusion, Communication and Advocacy.
The meeting also discussed issues relating to democracy in Sub-Saharan Africa, with a focus on French-speaking West Africa (constitutional coup d’état), the manipulation of constitutions and election results for term extensions, judicial independence, electoral bodies, anti-corruption agencies, shrinking civic space, inequality, extreme and radical violence, resource plundering and armed conflict.
The partnership between CIVICUS, RFLD, Civil Rights Defenders, Defend Defenders, Fojo Media Institute, The Wits Centre for Journalism and Magamba Netwok recognizes the role of free and active media and civil society in protecting robust and inclusive democracies and promoting sustainable national development.
CHARM Africa has identified seven critical challenges and emerging opportunities in sub-Saharan Africa:
Reduced democratic freedoms due to authoritarian facades of legitimacy
Increasing restrictions on civic space and freedoms of assembly and expression
Human rights violations resulting from shrinking civic space and discriminatory discourse
Growing threats and instability in the digital civic space, such as the prolific spread of misinformation/disinformation, polarization and hate speech
Disproportionate discrimination against specific marginalized groups, particularly women
Gaps in resources for civil society and popular and marginalized media
Growing technological and inclusive policy frameworks to support civil society and media advocacy
As a pan-African organization with a special mandate in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa, and working in West Africa with a focus on human rights, democracy and civic space, RFLD is committed to protecting and promoting the rights of women, girls and young people. And with this CHARM program, RFLD will use its network in Central and West Africa to reach human rights defenders, women, young people, journalists and vulnerable groups.
CHARM’s new brand is CHARM Africa. The CHARM Africa consortium is Sub-Saharan Africa. This meeting prioritizes regional and cross-border efforts while continuing work at sub-national and national levels, as there remains a need to inform evidence, regional strategies and influence opportunities. CHARM aims to ensure that all people-regardless of demographic or status-are free to express themselves, to look like themselves, to protect, to associate.
