The National Priorities Consultative Process

The NPCP Concept Framed:

• At the conclusion of the meeting to evaluate ENC's programs and the way forward, the following was framed: “As we said to you during the first meeting, the ENC will invite various civil society associations and individuals to work together, each from their perspectives, towards goals that they will agree among themselves. The purpose of the dialog will be on identifying the problems Ethiopia faces politically, socially, economically and in other ways, and finding the solutions and the ways of implementing them. The process of the dialog among the conversing individuals, and civil associations will be building consensus on their common agenda. We are suggesting naming this process, the National Priorities Consultative Process.” “ The ENC will facilitate this process, but we invite you to discuss with us this proposition including the name and how to go about it in the next meetings.”

The NPCP Defined:

• The NPCP concept as a ‘consultative process' focuses on the national outlook and dealing with issues of national importance; the idea anchors on deliberating and debating in an enabling environment to build consensus and confidence; to win trust, to belong and be part of a solution that ultimately empowers our citizens to be the owners of their destiny. Thus in the earlier phases of the NPCP process, we identify and select distinguished members of society, i.e., rights-based civil society organizations and civic-minded, respectable individuals with track record of leadership and contribution to society and capable of completing tasks enshrined in the NPCP process. These form the core of NPCP empowered to drive the process as defined in the mission.

• It was underlined that the idea behind the NPCP was not to create yet another organization. It was rather to rally all to come to a conducive, consultative environment in a process for all to participate and formulate national priorities of issues that would ultimately lead to the realization of the dreams of our people. The hope is to enable a process that helps to reach out various civic groups, at home and abroad, that are striving to ensure the rights of Ethiopians are respected, to foster the spirit of working together; avoid mission duplications; to dialog with one another and reach at a consensus to sort out national priorities; muster resources to focus and tackle challenges; create a positive working environment to attract all concerned Ethiopians to feel comfortable, overcome suspicions and develop trust to work together for larger national causes; to identify talent, experiences and resources for assignments of chores; maximize organizational and resource efficiencies for the benefit of the collective good; and to make strides to fill in the political void of ownership of the country. After a long discussion it was agreed that such an effort needs to go through a process and it was agreed to keep the NPCP name for the group, as accepted at the earlier NPCP sessions.

Thus:-

• Recognizing the immense impact a democratic struggle by a unified team of rights-based civic organizations in alliance with civic minded individuals would have in collaboratively spearheading and leading a structured, coordinated, and unified democratic movement.

• Convinced that the facilitation of the convening of a national conference of all stakeholders in the country to discuss, deliberate, dialog and debate on major issues facing the country with a clear mission to articulate and produce declaration of statements containing proposals for national reconciliation mediation, nation building, and democratic governance; including

• The facilitation of the formation of a united front in the forthcoming May 2010 election that ensures a level playing field for competing parties and advocating for a genuinely independent election board, judiciary, free media and the presence of international observers in all election districts.

• To enable the realization of the initiative of the mission, bring together the various civic organizations and civic minded individuals in a collaborative arrangement in which they integrate and unite their resources and energies forming the NPCP core to achieve measurable outputs in terms of leading a coordinated and unified democratic process and facilitating national dialog on issues of national importance with minimal duplication of efforts.

The NPCP, unique features of the process: The CSO and Individuals form the Core, a unique arrangement to serve as the drivers of the process

• The Core as drivers of the NPCP process lead activities to identify, articulate, and prioritize issues of national significance

• Call a national convention of all stakeholders to dialog, deliberate, and formulate realistic solution to the identified issues

• Establish various committees and subcommittees as necessary to study, formulate, and to perform tasks necessary to drive the process to its stated goal

• Take actions based on recommendations of the conveners, to a stage where these recommendations will be implemented.

• Follow through recommendations and assessments

II . Tasks Accomplished Since the Launching of the NPCP process

The first gathering of the ENC and its friends was held on March 14, 2008 was attended by about 15 people to witness ENC's reorganization and the launch of the NPCP concept. Since the launch, the following chores were accomplished.

• Developed the NPCP terms of reference/strategy

• Developed criteria for selection of CSO and Individual partners of the NPCP

• Established Task Forces to identify CSOs and respectable individuals

• Formed Team to develop talking points

• Developed letters of invitation

• Convened to launch and transfer chores to the forming core