Objectives of the Project:
The aim of this assignment is to study the policy processes at the RECs through a careful mapping of policy actors and actor coalitions, policy interests and incentives, the set of institutional arrangements that enable or constrain policy and how these are linked to national policy processes, and subsequently, how the implementing partners can effectively engage and influence norms at this level.
Services Provided:
• Analyzing governance structures of the RECs with the aim of assessing how they engage with organized CSO groups at regional level such as, East Africa Civil Society Organizations’ Forum (EACSOF), West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), the Southern Africa Development Community Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (SADC-CNGO) and the SADC Civil Society Forum CSOs, as well as other regional CSO networks, member states, the African Union (AU), and other relevant commissions involved in policy making on DRM.
• Analyzing RECs’ level of interest and influence on DRM issues, particularly in the thematic intervention areas prioritized by the programme.
• Assessing RECs’ capacity with respect to how they have previously engaged and continue to engage with different policy actors and processes on DRM at the regional level.
• Identifying institutional and operational CSO gaps in effectively engaging with policy processes at the RECs.
• Giving realistic findings and recommendations on mechanisms through which partners can strategically establish strong contacts, collaborations and alliances with the RECs.
• Identifying and proposing frameworks through which implementing partners can obtain more sustainable and institutionalized arrangements for policy space and engagement with political actors that are crucial to the success of the DRM programme.
• Formulating a DRM-CSO policy engagement action plan, detailing tasks and strategies that need to take place to appropriately deliver efficient change in engagement approach with policy processes at the RECs
