1. What is AMANI Forum? The Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace – AMANI Forum is an initiative of African Parliamentarians in the Great Lakes region. It is a network of parliamentarians who are committed to peace and to the peaceful resolution of conflicts, both within their own countries and in the region as a whole. Recognizing that the protracted conflicts in the Great Lakes region are fundamentally interlinked, and that parliamentarians are in a unique position to contribute substantially to conflict prevention and resolution, a group of parliamentarians decided in 1998 to create a regional structure to enable Parliamentarians work in a coordinated manner towards sustainable peace … (about 1/2).
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Address: Regional Secretariat, The Great Lakes Parliamentary Forum on Peace – AMANI Forum, 2nd Floor, Titan Complex, Chaka Road, P.O. Box 25592-00603, Nairobi, Kenya;
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About 2/2: … Since then, AMANI has grown to be a resolute voice of peace in the Region with a membership of over six-hundred and fifty (650) parliamentarians.
The Forum has established National Chapters in the seven national parliaments of Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. A Chapter was established in the East African Legislative Assembly in December 2007. The aim of AMANI is to eliminate armed conflict and promote peace and democratic governance.
2. Why a Forum of Parliamentarians in Peacebuilding?
- Political will and leadership are key issues in consolidating peace and stability. In intra-state and cross border conflicts, legislative bodies have a unique role in mediating between various interests to promote peace. As elected people’s representatives, Parliamentarians are well placed to understand and provide solutions to the many intricate issues that often contribute to conflict. Based on their solidarity, regional Parliamentarians can play a more pro-active role in setting the political agenda for peace and stability. They can carry out their representative, oversight and legislative roles to ensure equitable allocation of resources and greater representation of the people in the political system. The involvement of MPs in peacebuilding and conflict mitigation is also part of the process of incorporating the legislative arm of governments in regional diplomacy efforts.
3. The Regional Nature of AMANI Forum.
- The Great Lakes people are interlinked ethnically, culturally and linguistically. Instability in one country has direct or indirect effects on the entire region. This interrelationship also implies that conflicts in the region often stem from common or interrelated root causes. This complexity calls for national, cross-border and regional approaches to peacebuilding and conflict mitigation. AMANI is currently paying particular attention to the interface of conflict, governance and democracy, and identifying mechanisms which parliamentarians can use to impact upon the politics of war and peace. This is done through National Chapters at national levels, and through both the Regional Secretariat and National Chapters at cross-border and regional levels.
4. AMANI Structure and Functioning
- AMANI Forum consists of an Annual General Assembly, a Regional Executive Committee (REC), National Chapters in each member country and a Regional Secretariat based in Nairobi.
- The AMANI Annual General Meeting (AGM) is responsible for the general policy and direction of AMANI and: considers the report on programmes and activities of AMANI; considers the report and annual audit of AMANI finances and operations and reviews the general political and peace situation in the region.
- The Regional Executive Committee (REC) considers and approves the Secretariat’s workplan and budget. The REC supervises the development and activities of AMANI, and meets regularly throughput the year. It is charged with the general supervision and direction of AMANI Chapters and the Regional Secretariat. It is composed of 16 parliamentarians, 2 from each member country.
- The National Chapters provides a space for Parliamentarians to analyze and debate conflict issues, and generate peace initiatives at the national level. Each Chapter has an office, either within or closer to parliament, and is staffed by a National Coordinator who facilitates in-country activities and liaises with the Regional Secretariat.
- The AMANI Regional Secretariat is responsible for planning, implementation and monitoring of AMANI’s programme work at regional level. Such monitoring is carried out through reporting and meetings (to the REC and donors/partners). Monitoring and evaluation activities are also carried out through external entities whom AMANI contracts, and by the Secretariat to AMANI National Chapters. The Secretariat plays a central co-ordinating role within AMANI, serving as a contact and focal point for the organization; it consults and collaborates with peace-related organizations in the region, and relates to donors and other international partners.
5. AMANI Activities
- AMANI activities are based on building the capacities of regional Parliamentarians to effectively engage in targeted peace interventions nationally and regionally. These activities are geared towards promoting AMANI’s objectives in the Great Lakes Region. Examples of the activities currently undertaken by AMANI Forum include:
Training in Conflict Resolution and Peacebuilding: … (full text about).