Boosting Civil Society Engagement in Central Africa

More than 20 non-governmental organizations representing six francophone countries engaged with CAO and other accountability mechanisms on November 18, 2021. Coalescing to promote access to accountability in development contexts, the group of civil society representatives in the Central Africa region—specifically in Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo—participated in this virtual event.

With the goal of enhancing development outcomes for communities in Central Africa, speakers from CAO and three other independent accountability mechanisms (IAMs) provided overviews of their functions and casework and gave guidance on how to find information on projects funded by multilateral development banks. The webinar also dedicated a segment to how IAMs respond to intimidations and reprisals against civil society and community members. The presentations were followed by lively discussions about how IAMs and non-governmental organizations can work together to better assist project-affected communities throughout the region.

This outreach webinar was co-hosted by CAO and the IAMs of the African Development Bank, European Investment Bank, and World Bank, in partnership with the REPONGAC—network of national platforms of NGOs in Central Africa.