Requirements for Effective European Union Leadership in Science and Cultural Diplomacy on (Inter) Regionalism in the South

This inception paper expatiates on the conditions that are necessary in determining the effectiveness of the European Union’s (the EU’s) leadership in science and cultural diplomacy (SCD) on regionalism and inter-regionalism in the South. These conditions include willingness, capacity and acceptance. Willingness delineates the scope of the ambition of the EU in SCD. Capacity covers elements that pertain to breadth and depth/ quality and quantity of resources mobilized and available to lead SCD that delivers results. Acceptance refers to the nature of the credibility that the EU is able to command both within and outside the Union respecting its influence to attract followers both amongst Member States of the Union as well as third states, regional and international organizations. The emphasis of the paper is on effectiveness in terms of impact on regionalism and inter-regionalism in the South. Focus is placed on regional and inter-regional processes/ initiatives in Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America

Addressing Human Rights in the Court of Justice of the Andean Community and the Tribunal of the Southern African Development Community

ABSTRACT: The article compares how the regional tribunals of the Andean Community (CAN) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have dealt with human rights issues in order to explore options for South-South judicial cooperation through adjudicative cross-fertilization, while taking into account specificities that characterize both regions. In doing so, focus is placed on four elements: a) the scope of human rights covered by each of the regional tribunals; b) the locus standi of individuals before the tribunals; c) the added value of the regional tribunals; and d) the restrictive role of politics in the functioning of the tribunals. H The article is the culmination of a collaborative Jean Monnet Project funded by the European Union (EU) Commission. The project explored the tensions between free trade agreements (FTAs) and constitutional rights. Most of these constitutional rights include social and economic ones such as the right to food, shelter, health and water. In many instances courts at both the national and regional levels are keen to uphold these rights. 100 los derechos humanos en el tribunal de Justicia de la comunidad andina y el tribunal de la comunidad de desarrollo del África austral RESUMEN: El artículo compara cómo han resuelto disputas sobre derechos humanos los tribunales regionales de la Comunidad Andina (CAN) y la Comunidad de Desarrollo del África Meridional (SADC). La comparación se hace con el fin de explorar opciones de cooperación judicial Sur-Sur. Se pone énfasis, entonces, en cuatro elementos: a) el alcance de los derechos humanos que abarca cada tribunal; b) el locus standi de los particulares; c) el valor añadido de los tribunales regionales y d) el papel restrictivo de la política en el funcionamiento de los mismos

What's in a word? The framing of health at the regional level: ASEAN, EU, SADC and UNASUR.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the European Union, the Southern African Development Community and the Union of South American Nations have increasingly been involved in health diplomacy in the past decade, yet little is known about how they frame health as a foreign policy issue and how this has an impact on their prioritisation of policies. For this, we conducted a review of existing grey and peer-reviewed literature that address regional integration and health, as well as a documentary review according to security, development, trade, human rights, moral/ethical reasonings and global public goods frames identified in the literature. The policy frames identified responded to the challenges these regions currently face. The Association of Southeast Asian Nation's struggle with re-emerging diseases has led to favouring a securitisation approach to health, the European Union approaches health as a cross-cutting policy issue, the Southern African Development Community presents health as a driver for development, and while the Union of South American Nations emphasises health as a human right and addresses the social determinants of health as an ethical imperative. Overall, these policy frames were useful in analysing the framing of health in foreign policy at the regional level. However, within our analysis, we identified a new frame that approaches health as an intersectoral issue. The impact of regional organisations' forward will depend on their ability to harness their convening power and speak in a coherent voice on health matters

Measuring Regional Policy Change and Pro-Poor Health Policy Success: A PRARI Toolkit of Indicators for the Southern African Development Community (SADC)

PRARI is a social development research project that looks at world-regional social governance, politics, and policy. PRARI brings together an international team of researchers studying the scope for enhancing the effectiveness of the contributions of Southern regional organisations to poverty reduction. It receives funding from the ESRC

Measuring the Progress and Success of Regional Health Policies: PRARI Toolkit of Indicators for the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)

PRARI is a social development research project that looks at world-regional social governance, politics, and policy. PRARI brings together an international team of researchers studying the scope for enhancing the effectiveness of the contributions of Southern regional organisations to poverty reduction. It receives funding from the ESRC

Monitoring Pro-Poor Health-Policy Success in the SADC Region

Policy Conclusions Monitoring pro-poor health policies at the regional level can support both the countries and the regional bodies themselves by identifying gaps in addressing poverty and health, strengthening the link between regions and member states, holding actors accountable to their commitments and identifying better mechanisms for data sharing, monitoring and evaluation of activities. In the area of health, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has conducted important work in understanding how poor health and poverty coincide, are mutually reinforcing, and socially-structured by gender, age, class, ethnicity and location, demonstrated by the key health policy documents that have been facilitated by the secretariat. Yet the time lapse between the formulation of guidelines and policies and their implementation has at times been uneven. The “Poverty Reduction and Regional Integration” (PRARI) project seeks to support the development of a monitoring system to measure the contribution of regional governance in the development of pro-poor health policies in collaboration with key stakeholders in the region. This system will build on existing efforts in the region and focus on policy areas such as the social determinants of health; HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria; non-communicable diseases; maternal and child health; human resources for health; pharmaceuticals; among others. Global developments such as those related to the incoming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will also be considered. In order for this indicator-based monitoring system to be effective and to have an impact, it requires ‘regional ownership’, active participation of national and regional experts throughout the process of indicator development, implementation and evaluation, and evidence that it will be addressing health priorities for the region. For this, the institutional leadership from the SADC secretariat and the support from its Member States that are the main beneficiaries of the process is crucial. The strength of a regional body lies in the relevance that member-states see in it addressing their needs and managing the disparities between regional and national priorities. Monitoring existing processes would demonstrate the value-added by such integration efforts

Monitoring Pro-Poor Health-Policy Success in UNASUR

Monitoring pro-poor health policies at the regional level is essential for both countries and the regional bodies themselves, by identifying the issues related to the policy guidelines, the approach to health or information flows, as well as understanding implementation mechanisms of health policies at the local level. In order to address poverty and health problems, and strengthen ties between regional organizations and member countries, it is essential to generate mechanisms to track accountability to commitments and exchange of information to support the monitoring and evaluation of activities. Since its creation, UNASUR through the South American Health Council (CSS) has invested political and human resources in the area of health. The Five Year Plan 2010-2015 of the CSS, despite a number of pending activities, is the demonstration of this commitment. Added to this are the new activities the CSS gradually developed, which complement the work of the Council, such as their incursions in global health diplomacy. However, policy directions are still guided by the original values and principles included in the 2010-2015 health work plan. The “Poverty Reduction and Regional Integration” (PRARI) project presents an opportunity to generate a monitoring system that is based on existing needs in the region and supports the link between the countries and UNASUR, as well as UNASUR’s position at the global level. The aim of the PRARI project is to support the development of a monitoring system in collaboration with key stakeholders in the region. The focus will be the actions of the CSS in key policy areas such as primary health care, pharmaceutical policies and surveillance systems. Global processes such as those pertaining to the incoming sustainable development goals (SDGs) wil also be considered. In order for this indicator-based monitoring system to be effective and have an impact, it requires ‘regional ownership’ and the active participation of regional and national experts throughout the process of indicator development, implementation and evaluation. Furthermore, institutional support from UNASUR and its Member States, the main beneficiaries of this process, is critical for the monitoring system to be fully operational

Flockless shepherd : is South Africa’s performance in African Security governance marginal?

The year 2014 is a milestone for South Africa. It marks twenty years of the end of apartheid. The moment is right to reflect on how far the country has come. This article focuses on South Africa’s external influence in Africa. Based on the variables of compellence, assurance, prevention and protection, it is argued that the country has been punching well below its weight. Examples are drawn from its actions in the Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Libya and even Zimbabwe to show that the country is underperforming in the realm of ensuring African security governance. To meet the expectations ascribed to it as an anchor state in Africa the country’s leaders will first need to confront the mammoth domestic problems bedevilling South Africa