A Summary of Proceedings from the
"G8, NEPAD, WOMEN, PEACE, AND SECURITY MEETING"
November 8, 2002, Cambridge, MA, United States

At the G8 Summit in Canada in July 2002, the G8 nations pledged their support for the implementation of NEPAD (the New Partnership for Africa's Development) and agreed that by 2006, G8 countries' overseas development aid to Africa will increase by $12 billion per annum. With regard to the needs and interests of women, the G8 Africa Action Plan states that they will "support African efforts to achieve equal participation of African women in all aspects of the NEPAD process and in fulfilling the NEPAD objectives with regard to peace and security issues." It specifically notes that the G8 will support:

1. more effective peace-building efforts, including addressing the needs of women (and children);
2. the implementation of all UN Security Council resolutions addressing women, children, and civilians;
3. African efforts to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women; and
4. the application of gender mainstreaming in all policies and programs.

On November 8, 2002, Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace hosted a consultation among eleven African women leaders from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, and Sudan and representatives from relevant Canadian, the United Kingdom, and the United States government agencies to discuss the G8's support for NEPAD and its impact on women.

The consultation provided a unique opportunity for an in-depth discussion between donors and stakeholders regarding the most effective and concrete means of fulfilling NEPAD's promise and the G8's commitment.

GOALS OF THE CONSULTATION

• To serve as a catalyst for information sharing and cooperation between African women leaders and activists and the G8 governments committed to financing development activities under NEPAD.
• To recommend concrete programs through which G8 countries could support "gender mainstreaming" and women's inclusion in their provisions for governance and peace under NEPAD.
• To identify additional processes for dialogue, consultation, and partnership in shaping wider G8 support on the ground for women in the context of NEPAD.

SUMMARY OF KEY ISSUES AND CONCERNS
There was consensus that NEPAD provides a unique opportunity for African nations to focus on sustainable development and peace. However, a number of key concerns were noted:

1. The NEPAD process has been limited to the political elite and traditional leadership in Africa - women in Africa have little knowledge about the issues, funding, implementation, or implications of NEPAD. African participants noted that those at the civil society or grassroots levels have not been informed about the about the process or its implications. There is little understanding of the commitments that governments have made, or of the expectations that citizens should have. There are not mechanisms established to bring women into the process.
2. The NEPAD framework does not accurately reflect women's contributions to African nations in the economic, agricultural, social, political, or security arenas. Women are the major agricultural producers and are active in trade and the informal economy, yet represent the majority of the illiterate and poor. They are profoundly affected by conflict and displacement and are at greatest risk of contracting HIV/AIDS, while they continue to shoulder the burdens of their families during war and when engaged in peace building on the ground.
3. NEPAD and the G8 Action Plan are not sufficiently gender-sensitive. Donors claim to be supportive of gender mainstreaming but say they are faced with a lack of interest on the part of their own policymakers and African governments. Women participants voiced their concerns about their lack of access to decision-making and the absence of gender sensitivity on the part of their governments. The result is a domino effect: gender perspectives decrease in each phase of negotiation, planning, and implementation.
4. When gender issues are addressed, it is not in the context of the broader issues of governance, peace, security, and their impact on women. It is essential to integrate gender equality issues in all aspects of NEPAD implementation, not just isolated "soft issues" such as micro-enterprise, socio-economic development, and primary education.
5. Funds must go to Africans at the grassroots level to address real social and economic needs. They should not be left to governments alone.
6. Donors should be cognizant of women's opinions and solutions, as well as their needs and concerns. Despite their statement to support women's inclusion and gender equality, donors are setting their own priorities and agendas rapidly, with no consultation with or access to women in government or civil society.
7. The issue of HIV/AIDS-its gender-based implications and its impact on the economy and security of Africa - must be fully addressed by NEPAD and factored into the G8's support. The potential impact of HIV/AIDS on Africa's security must be fully understood, and more attention must be given to prevention as well as treatment. Additionally, more attention must be given to women as victims of HIV/AIDS.
8. There needs to be greater clarification on the relationship between NEPAD and the African Union. Not all African nations have been brought into the NEPAD process. Broader consultation is needed for the entire continent to become a part of NEPAD.
9. The mechanisms for peer review must be implemented effectively, as they are critical to NEPAD's success. The inclusion of gender perspectives and women's empowerment should be a key indicator of good governance.

RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION STEPS
The matrix on the following pages provides recommendations for detailed action steps that could be taken by African governments, donor agencies, and African women to address the concerns noted above.

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