Goals and Objectives of the Good Governance Desk of the
SECAM Justice, Peace and Development Department

“The Church must continue to play her prophetic role and be the voice of the voiceless” (Ecclesia in Africa 106).

This statement is the basis for the engagement of SECAM in questions of justice, peace and development.

There has been a growing desire amongst African bishops, priests and laypeople to make SECAM more relevant for the great challenges, which Africa is facing with regard to good governance.

The need for a more proactive role in political and economic life based on the biblical “option for the poor” has been further explained in Ecclesia in Africa:

 “The Synod fathers were unanimous in acknowledging that the greatest challenge for bringing about justice and peace in Africa consists in a good administration of public affairs in the two interrelated areas of politics and the economy…many of the Continent’s problems are the result of a manner of governing often stained by corruption. A serious reawakening of conscience linked to a firm determination of will is necessary, in order to put into effect solutions which can no longer be put of.” (Ecclesia in Africa 110).

SECAM, with the Support of MISEREOR and CRS, has taken this challenge up and is trying to make a further step by embarking on a concrete and ambitious programme for the promotion of good governance, which is an integral part of its justice, peace and development work. In fact, the strengthening of Justice and Peace Commissions on all levels constitutes itself a part of the governance programme and can be considered as a conditio sine qua non for a sustainable success of the Church’s promotion of good governance.

The overall goals of the desk are to help consolidate the democratic processes in Africa and, to promote the rule of law, to contribute to achieve reasonable social security, to integrate Africa and defend its interests in the international processes of globalisation, and to help provide a substantial contribution of the Catholic Church towards a successful NePAD Process and to the achieve the Millenium Development Goals.

More specific objectives include:

• To strengthen the effectiveness and development policy profile of SECAM and in particular of its Department for Justice, Peace and Development;
• To increase SECAM’s influence in matters of social justice, the promotion of peace and non-violent conflict management, democracy and the rule of law on continental level;
• To effectively implement SECAM’s vision and mission with regard to good governance, poverty eradication, and measures to promote a social market economy;
• To successfully conduct appropriate lobbying and advocacy activities at the level of the African Union and the NePAD process;
• To help create and facilitate appropriate Panafrican think tanks in the fields of the economy and social welfare, the rule of law and good governance, gender, youth, migration, urban development, and fair access to resources, so as to provide Church decision-makers with competent and sound advice in their political work;
• To seek appropriate cooperation with other Church and civil society actors on the continent on these issues.

This project is concerned with the following measures and activities:

• To establish a strong information, documentation and communication system at the SECAM office in Accra and at the offices of regional and national Bishops’ Conferences in order to collect and distribute relevant information, effectively organize political initiatives, enable decision-makers to react rapidly to political etc. processes and events on the continent;
• To create and use advisory councils of professional and resource persons to support the Bishops and Episcopal Conferences in their political work;
• To strengthen the political work of the various Catholic associations and pressure groups on the continent through appropriate networking among each other and with other Church and civil society groups, and through the provision of appropriate advisory and consultancy support;
• To promote the Social Teaching of the Church through information materials, seminars, workshops, courses;
• To plan and implement relevant lobbying and advocacy campaigns on issues of continental importance;
• To liaise with other Church and non-governmental organizations;
• To appropriately relate with national and international governmental institutions;
• To establish a liaison office at the seat of the AU in Addis Ababa;