The Africa Regional Mechanism of the Major Groups and other Stakeholders (ARMMGOS) was officially launched during the sixth session of the African Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (ARFSD) that was held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, under the theme; 2020-2030: A Decade to Deliver a Transformed and Prosperous Africa through the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063.
Formerly known as the Africa Regional Civil Society Engagement Mechanism, ARMMGOS is an independent mechanism that facilitates the participation of major groups and other stakeholders (MGoS) and civil society organizations (CSOs) based in Africa in regional and global United Nations sustainable development processes.
Through its structures, the ARMMGOS will reach out to civil society organizations in all 54 African countries, sub-regional and thematic networks, major groups, other stakeholder groupings, and key regional constituencies to share information with them on regional and global policy debates and processes on sustainable development, promote civil society consultations and dialogue, support national and regional advocacy and facilitate the participation of a diverse range of CSOs and marginalized groups in regional and global level dialogues and processes on sustainable development under the United Nations.
The objectives of the mechanism, which runs under the auspices of the United Nations Economic Commission of Africa (UNECA), are;
I. To coordinate and facilitate the coherent engagement of Major Groups, Other Stakeholders; and Civil Society Organizations in Africa on sustainable development and Post 2015 Development Framework Processes at Regional and Global Level;
II. To coordinate and facilitate access to and exchange of information, best practices and experiences on sustainable development amongst Civil Society Organizations, Major Groups and Other Stakeholders in Africa;
III. To contribute in defining and promoting the African narrative on Sustainable Development at national, regional and global levels.
IV. To coordinate the contribution of African civil society organizations, Major Groups and Other Stakeholders (both technical and resources) towards the implementation, follow-up and monitoring of the 2030 Agenda, Agenda 2063, Addis Ababa Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, and other sustainable development related processes.
V. To coordinate and facilitate the development of common positions, statements, and inputs on sustainable development by Major Groups, Other Stakeholders, and Civil Society Organizations in Africa;
VI. To liaise with the United Nations including, UNECA, UN Funds, Programs and Agencies on the engagement of African Civil Society, Major Groups and Other Stakeholders in Sustainable Development Processes at Regional and Global Level;
VII. To convene and coordinate a Major Groups and other Stakeholders forum as a preparatory event before each session of the Africa Regional Forum on Sustainable Development;
VIII. To represent and amplify the voice of Major Groups, Other Stakeholders, and Civil Society Organizations in Africa at the High Level Political Forum (HLPF), and MGoS Coordination Mechanism Steering Group;
IX. To contribute towards transparency and accountability in the implementation of sustainable development in Africa; and
X. To facilitate and coordinate the invitations and accreditation of Major Groups and other Stakeholders, and Civil Society Organizations in Africa in regional United Nations meetings on Sustainable Development.
The mechanism, which is being managed by a committee constituted of the 17 constituent groups - older persons , people with disability, academia, volunteers, women, children and youth, NGOs, farmers, indigenous peoples, workers and trade unions, scientific and technological community, local authorities - and national platforms working on sustainable development and representing the African Regional Blocs (East Africa, West Africa, Central Africa, North Africa, and Southern Africa), is currently led by three co-chairs; Kofi Kankam (Major Groups, NGO representative), Roseline Kihumba (Stakeholders, the elderly representatives), and Martin Tsounkeu (National Platforms, West Africa).
They are mandated to spearhead the mechanism and its activities to ensure it achieves its set objectives.
For more information, please contact:
1. Kofi Kankam (eri@eri.kabissa.org)
Co-chair (Major Groups)
Chair, NGO Major Group for Africa
President and CEO - Elizka Relief Foundation (Ghana)
Tel: +233-247-661440 / +233-50-2330605)
Roseline Kihumba; (roseline.kihumba@helpage.org)
Co-chair (Stakeholders)
Chair, Stakeholder Group on Ageing-Africa
Ag. Head of Network Coordination and Development - HelpAge International; Africa Regional Office
Tel: +254 – 20 – 2637853/4; +254 721 361 608/733 333 246
Martin Tsounkeu (martsou@yahoo.com)
Co-chair (National Platforms)
Chair National platform from Central Africa
Cameroon Common Working and Collaboration Platform (CWCP) for the SDGs
General Representative. Africa Development Interchange Network (ADIN)
Tel: +237-677 74 78 28 / +237-696 42 49 61