Social Watch International is a coalition of CSOs globally whose origin is traced to the 1995 World Summit on Social Development (WSSD) which was held at Copenhagen, Denmark
National citizens’ groups realised that several international agreements, conventions and commitments, e.g. on Human Rights, Education, Social Development, were made with least involvement of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in following their fulfilment;
Social Watch International (SWI) therefore adopted a working arrangement which was to use national information (Budgets, Strategies – PRSP, PEAP, MDGs), to inform internationally, country level social development situations;
Social Watch East Africa Region (SWEAR), a coalition of NGO Networks in East African countries i.e originally Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya, emerged, expected to be a means by East African CSOs to monitor and report on the progress of East African governments towards these commitments and goals, e.g. the MDGs and the national processes linked to the global policies aimed at improving people’s welfare.
Milestones
- 1998 adoption of the initiative in Arusha, Tanzania Coordination by Prof. Edward Oyugi (SODNET) as Interim Chair. Seed support by the Danish Association for International Cooperation (MS) Development of a Memorandum of Understanding.
- 1999 further consultations on the MoU and on matters pertaining to strengthening the initiative at a meeting hosted by DENIVA in Entebbe was discussed.
- 2004 an African Social Watch Forum more consultations held in Arusha, Tanzania and agreement was more to the effect that SWEAR was an informal arrangements which would help facilitate information exchange and inspire synergy among national Social Watch initiatives in the East Africa region
- 2006 SWEAR meeting at Kasarani, Nairobi, Kenya: Draft MoU discussed.
Agreement of areas of Focus
- Coordination of the monitoring of national budgets, which are read on the same day in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
- Analysis of the external debt situation and support of debt cancellation campaigns.
- Monitoring the implementation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the region.
- Participation in MDG campaign under aegis of the Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP).
- A clear strategy needed to be developed so that the Social Watch Global Secretariat could give assistance in resource mobilisation
- SWEAR Platform be used for regional advocacy work since SW Reports were generated from the grassroots in line with SW agreed international themes.
- There was necessity to establish an enabling regional structure in pursuit of the SWEAR strategy.
- The national chapters needed to improve on their work to cause impact on a number of issues such as poverty reduction, the right to shelter, etc;
- A clear strategy for the dissemination of research information generated during the compilation of Social Watch reports was useful.
- SWEAR should raise issues that are not addressed at the national levels.
- The initiative should have a very strong CBO focus
Country Reports
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have been active in producing national reports which have contributed to informing stakeholders at various levels.
Focal Points for coordination of Social Watch Coalitions and for the production of the reports have been made by SODNET (Kenya), WLAC & SHARiNGON (Tanzania) and DENIVA (Uganda) .
The Country Reports have been used by stakeholders in writing position papers, advocacy, etc
For Country reports and annual Social Watch reports, please visit, Social Watch International Website.
