The National Priorities Consultative Process

E N P C P

Who We Are: We are members of a freely associated non-partisan, non-profit group composed of individuals and civic organizations formed on ENC's (Ethiopian National Congress) ENPCP (Ethiopian National Priorities Consultative Process) initiative to accomplish the following:

• To bring together concerned individuals and rights-based civic organizations to form the core and collaboratively drive the process to lead articulation of issues of national significance, facilitation of the convening of a national conference of all stakeholders to articulate and produce proposals of solutions for national reconciliation, mediation, nation building and democratic governance.

• We are formed not to replace but to complement existing civic and other rights-based groups.

• That we are not a political opposition party competing for state power.

1. VISION

A sovereign Ethiopia having a full fledged democracy, respect for human rights and rule of law as well as a prospering economy while being at peace with itself and the neighboring countries.

2. Objectives:

2.1 Long-term Objective

To establish modern democratic institutions in which the Ethiopian people will exercise, in a sustainable manner, their political rights in a fully democratic context where respect for human rights and rule of law will be supreme.

2.2 Short-term Objective

2.2.1 To identify and bring together concerned civic-minded and respectable individuals and rights-based civic organizations to form the core of the ENPCP.

2.2.2 To entrust the ENPCP core as sole body with full powers to drive the process to the stated goal of the ENPCP mission and such chores as listed below to realize and facilitate its activities.

2.2.2a Establish various committees and sub-committees to serve it as study units for issues of national importance and to help it with chores

2.2.2b The core uses the good offices of the ENC for consultation or other needs.

2.2.3 To facilitate the convening of a conference to dialog, discuss, deliberate, and debate on the problems of major national and international issues facing the country and with a proposal of national reconciliation, nation building, and democratic governance.

3. Expected Outputs

3.1 A conference at which concerned civic organizations and individuals from around the world conduct a comprehensive dialogue on the current political crises in Ethiopia;

3.2 A Declaration containing clear statements on the position taken by the conference aimed at achieving democracy, stability, peace and development in Ethiopia;

3.3 An institutional capacity in which the disparate entities and individuals would integrate and unite their energies and resources in order to mobilize the necessary resources and achieve the above stated objectives.

4. Criteria for Participation in the Conference

4.1 Commitment to the following principles:

4.1.1 The adherence and commitment to the sovereignty of Ethiopia and the unity of its people.

4.1.2 The adherence and commitment to the universal values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights.

4.1.3 The adherence to and promotions of the principles of the rule of law.

4.1.4 The adherence and commitment to mutual understanding and respect of others.

4.1.5 Commitment to accept and celebrate our diversity of peoples' languages, ethnicity, views, and cultures.

4.1.6 Commitment to desist from factionalism, extremism, and exclusionism

4.1.7 Commitment to listen, dialogue, and acceptance of the majority's views.

4.1.8 Promotion of and commitment to bring together in an institutional framework all the civic organizations and civic minded individuals to create an enabling environment and engage in a collaborative and participatory manner by coordinating their activities that helps bring measurable outputs with minimal duplication.

5. Demonstrable outputs or manifestations in terms of publications and/or actions taken - for the purpose of achieving the principles listed in item 4.1 above;

5.1 Willingness to engage in a meaningful dialogue for the purpose of establishing an integrated force or at least a coordinated movement

6. Activities

6.1 An ENC Task Force would assess the responses and submits detailed recommendation on the basis of the criteria stating whether the respondents do or do not fulfill the criteria. Based on that, the ENC would make its final decision

6.2 ENC will issue a world-wide invitation to all selected organizations and individuals to submit the information that they fulfill the criteria set down in item 4 above;

6.3 The ENC and the selected individuals and civic organizations will be the sponsors of a conference at which a comprehensive dialogue will take place 6.4 The entity that would be established by the conference will articulate and implement its strategy, objectives, plans, programs and budget.