Application Form of CSAP (Sierra Leone ) (Additional Letter)

Dear All C-CfA Colleagues

 

Letter of intent to be member or the C-CfA steering committee

 

Our intention to present CASP-SL, as a candidate for the membership of the Steering Committee of the C-CfA is not borne out of pride or self-interest but the humble, genuine desire to serve our people wherever and whenever the occasion avails itself.

 

It is unfortunate that an opportunity which was given to 51 countries in Africa, only 17 were able to take the challenge an unfortunate but real situation. We have to reflect on why this is the situation? This is complexly because of the conditionality imposed by C-CfA: aspiring organizations must be able to provide own resources, effective means of communications including, office, telefax, e-system etc. How many CSOs/NGOs in our present day Africa where communications from most none state actors are surveillanced, CSO workers harassed can match the cardinalities and brave the government eye to apply? Most appallingly only 17 of us; a paltry 33% of the countries in Africa were able to field candidates for the general Country-Based membership. Worst still, of the 17 successful country-Based organizations there is no Women’s organization – too bad.

 

This brings me to the issue of countries emerging from war which applied for general membership of the C-CfA, none but Sierra Leone where every effort was made not to be left out. In West Africa, countries emerging from bitter war include Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Cote d’Ivoire but none other than Sierra Leone applied for various reasons. Infact CSAP-SL is the only CSO that is coming from a recent war affected country in the whole of Africa and we believe that the war experience within the Steering Committee can make huge difference if it became part of the VOICES from Africa.

 

It can easily be discerned that by way of contribution, CSAP-SL, as a platform, Process and Forum that is part of the peace process in sierra Leone can enrich the Steering committee with the causes of wars in West Africa, differences between wars in English and French speaking countries; reasons for the encroachment of Guinea on Sierra Leonean land and the role of the colonial masters Britain and France.

 

We can contribute to the C-CfA by the following:-

 

·        Presenting the VOICES of Sierra Leone, Countries in the Mano River basin of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone and together with others on the Steering Committee, VOICES of the people of West Africa and Africa as a whole

·        Take the feedback from the C-CfA and disseminate the information through our networks in the country, Mano Rive Union and West Africa

·        Commit resources – human, financial and technical to the achievement of the aims and objectives of the C-CfA.

 

While hoping that CSAP-SL will be voted one of the 4 Steering committee members from the Country-Based CSOs we wish every applicant success because we are not in this to be elected by all means but to have space to serve our people and mother AFRICA.

 

Your Comrade in the struggle

 

 

Falla Ensa-N’Dayma