The roundtable was convened under the theme “ addressing the nexus between business and Peace”, as the second break out session on 22nd July 2015, at Africa Hall. It brought together senior representatives of IGAD, COMESA, EAC, the African Union, analysts and business leaders and was presided over by the East African Community Secretary General Amb. Richard Sezibera.
The session comprised a series of expert presentations that made a strong case for a more proactive and direct support from the private sector in conflict mitigation in the East and Horn of Africa region due to the strong mutually reinforcing relationship between of thriving businesses and sustainable peace.
Acknowledgements
Gratitude to co-conveners GPF, IGAD-CEWARN and EAC together with their partner COMESA. Special gratitude to the key note Speakers: Amb. Richard Sezibera, Secretary General, EAC; Amb. Tewolde Gebremeskel Redda, Director Peace and Security, IGAD, representing IGAD Executive Secretary; Madam Beatrice Hamusoude, Director Gender Affairs, COMESA, representing the Secretary General COMESA.
Special mention to the following expert presenters for the immense contributions to the debate: Richard Barno, Director CEWARN, Dr. Mehari Taddelle Maru, Regional Political Analyst and Associate Professor, Addis Ababa University, Mr. Joseph Rwanshote, IGAD programme Manager for Trade, Industry and Tourism, and Amb. Ben Rutsinga, AU Ambassador to EAC.
The business sector was represented by three able speakers Mr. Mukesh Shukia, CEO, Shumuk Group of Companies, Dr. Godwin Kaganda, Institute of Finance and Management of Tanzania and Mr. Keli Kiilu from the East Africa Business Council. We further express gratitude to the many participants who attended- house full, and for the comments, questions and interactions that followed the presentations.
It is important at the onset to recognize that the roundtable was singularly unique for bringing together multiple stakeholders- RECs, Private Sector, Academia, Governments and even CSOs to deliberate an issue that is as complex as it is simple.
Highlights of Roundtable Seminar
- There is strong and sufficient data from the region that that illustrates conclusively the nexus between, peace, businesses and development including the cost of the recent crisis in Burundi and South Africa as well as the cost of recent series of terrorist attacks to the tourism industry in Kenya and their negative impact on the economies. The crisis in South Sudan is estimated to cost the region 58 billion in the next 5 years if not resolved.
- The East and Horn of Africa regions have huge development potential but is unfortunately is being undermined by conflict which have direct and highly damaging consequences for businesses.
- There is a huge potential that business has in terms of financial investment, socio-economic and political linkages and influence that can be tapped into for peace building and conflict prevention. It is, for example, necessary to tap into partnerships for peace with privately owned media given media’s critical role in peace efforts and conflict mitigation.
- Thriving businesses are sources of public revenue and employment. Businesses also have prominent role in promoting human security through delivery of basic public services and thereby promote inclusive development and contribute to the legitimacy of the state.
- The Private sector needs to engage proactively and directly in democratization, governance and conflict mitigation initiatives – and not shy away from investing in conflict prone areas to directly investing in opportunities and mechanisms that avert and mitigate conflicts. Business must help bring about conducive environment for business.
- It is imperative that there is investment in early warning mechanisms that are effective and efficient in terms conflict prevention.
- A number of existing frameworks in IGAD, EAC, COMESA and African Union exist for engagement with the private sector that can be leveraged to have business directly support peace building conflict mitigation and resolution programs. These include the IGAD Business Forum, the East African Business Council, GPF supported COMESA Trading for Peace and Youth Entrepreneurship Programs as well as the AU’s African Solidarity initiative that has been conceived as mechanism for mobilizing resources within the continent to support countries emerging out of conflict with a prominent role of African private sector.
- Recognition of the potential of businesses to be an aggravator conflicts and profit from illegitimate business activities including in attractive industries; private military and security companies; financing terrorism and violent extremism as well as funding and inciting election-related violence; spreading the act of corruption that may undermine state capacity to deliver public security and other vital services.
Roundtable Consensus
At closure, the chair of the meeting, Amb. Sezibera projected the following meeting consensus as outcomes.
1. Economic growth requires partnership between the public/private sector and the other social groups
2. Business (private sector) can and does contribute to peace/security should be involved in the search for peace.
3. Business can also benefit from and be a cause of insecurity.
4. RECS need to invest in and give voice to policies that promote the private sector.
5. RECs and Private sector express their solidarity with the African Union’s Africa Solidarity Initiative whose objective is to raise resources from within Africa for Post Conflict Reconstruction and Development of countries emerging out of conflict. The private sector is a key contributor to this Initiative.
6. There is need to invest in opportunities that stop conflict. The roundtable identified as possible initiatives for immediate investment
a. The Scaling up of the Integrity Initiative in Uganda to all part of the EAC, IGAD and COMESA region;
b. The Scaling up of CEWARN Peace Dividends to areas identified from conflict assessments including areas threatened by radicalization to violent extremism;
c. The convening of EAC/ HOA roundtable and Summit for Private Sector and RECs; and
The scaling up by CEWARN of interactions between conflict analysts and private sector practitioners directly and through such forums
There is urgent need for RECs, Private Sector and others to support and scale up youth empowerment programs.
Special focus should be paid to Small and medium enterprises as avenues for promoting the role of youth in the peace agenda.
……Ends……