The Africa Social Movement has grown considerably through the organisation of national and regional social fora throughout the Continent as well as an increasing participation on the part of Africans in the various World Social Fora. This dynamic has helped civil society heighten its awareness of the need to strengthen the independence of African countries as well as establish synergy and complementary actions on the part of the various movements towards the implementation of credible development policies.

The African continent is currently facing a number of difficulties be it on the economic, political or social level, which maintains it in a chronic state of underdevelopment. More than half of the African countries are ranked as being in the least advanced category. Economically, the implementation of severe macro-economic measures is causing more injustice and harm to the African populations. Parallel to this, the systematic pillage of natural resources and the flight of intellects are worsening the crisis and the progression of underdevelopment. Agricultural, trade or debt related issues remain unsolved at a time when free trade policies are being promoted by international financial institutions (WTO, IMF, World Bank etc.) as well as future APC-EU trade.

On a social level, with more than 52% of its population under the age of 35, the Continent is facing is coming up against serious problems related to justice, the degradation of traditional values of solidarity, identity crisis, causing increasing gaps within the social structure which are at the source of most conflicts. Furthermore, these conflicts added to a high rate of emigration, the escalade of HIV-AIDS and the overall degradation of the environment are all elements confronting the evolution of African civilisations today.

On the political front, even with the many efforts here and there towards democratization, African countries continue to pay a very high price for their bad governance. Attempts to democratize electoral systems are at a standstill in most African States, which has a negative influence on the different mechanisms used to access and exercise political power. Opposite to the recorded inefficiency of imposed values and regulations (i.e. poverty reduction strategies, structural adjustments etc.) we see the emergence of a need to identify endogenous solutions that require the africanization of certain concepts and certain principles such as democracy, good governance and conflict management.

This being said, Africa is also bursting with potential. On one hand, the Continent represents the world’s reserve in mining resources, a huge agricultural and environmental potential, a unique diversity of human expertise and a cultural heritage which finds its origin at the root of the history of man and of which many aspects have yet to be discovered. On the other hand, there are millions of people belonging to traditional and modern organizations, working together not only to fight poverty but also to preserve certain human values that lean towards sustainable development.

Indeed, at a time when the incredible technical and scientific progress we are witnessing has gone a deviated from its original mission which was to serve all mankind rather than a small minority, society has been cought up into a rat race based on the materialisation of human values which has ended up enslaving human beings.

The Forth Edition of the Africa Social Forum aims to make African development stakeholders more aware of the need to rectify the current situation and find ways to go about it in a collective manner. It will release new ideas and new strategies that promote a more just globalization while reviving and updating African values. A vision that will continue to grow at the World Social Forum in Kenya in 2007.

Objectives

General Objective

 Define the basis for a political, economic, social and cultural rebirth of the Continent through the Africa Social Movement.

Expected Results

The Africa Social Forum will have:
 Contributed to a clearer vision of the present and the future through an overview of the history and values of the African continent.
 Highlighted the abundance of human creative potential on which can be built a new identity for the Continent
 Analysed current mecanisms of subservience and exploitation
 Encouraged synergies and complementary initiatives towards change
 Promoted and encouraged mobilisation around the Polycentric Social Forum of Bamako in 2006 and the World Social Forum in Naïrobi in 2007

Format

The Forum will consist of:
 Conferences, workshops, seminars, roundtables
 Sub-regional and regional platforms
 A Youth Forum
 Women’s Tribunal
 Local Elected Forum
 Trade Union ForumForum des syndicats
 Farmers’ Forum
 Popular platforms
 Artistic and cultural events
 Exhibits

Themes and subjects of discussion :
 History of the Continent ;
 cultural identity ;
 regionalism ;
 integration ;
 religion ;
 communication ;
 economic globalization ;
 international politics ;
 trade issues and free trade areas ;
 rights and democracy ;
 governance ;
 agricultural issues ;
 health ;
 education ;
 environmental issues, security ;
 conflicts and peace ;
 art;
 etc.

Participation

The Forum is open to everyone who whish to participate.

Will be invited :
 Participants from African countries representing the main sectors
 African diaspora
 Regional and international institutions
 NGOs, Unions, Farmer’s organisations, women’s groups, youth organisations, human rights organisations, community organisations, artistic and cultural organisations, education organisations
 Local elected representratives
 Issues oriented networks
 Media
 Academics
 Leaders of opinion etc.

Organisation

The Forth Edition of the Africa Social Forum is organized by the Africa Social Forum Council, the CECIDE (International Trade Centre for Development) and the Guinean National Council of Civil Society.