Founded in 1990, ACEP – Associação para a Cooperação Entre os Povos (Association for Cooperation between Peoples) is an organisation working towards a fair and equitable world through solidarity and a more active civic engagement. ACEP aims to strengthen ties of cooperation and mutual support with other expressions of citizenship, with a focus on Portuguese-speaking countries. It promotes and conducts research and dialogue to share useful information for development, social advocacy and political lobbying processes. In its interaction with society, ACEP uses forms of communication that, rooted in ethics and aesthetics concerns, and refusing stereotypes or simplistic messages, documents human dignity threats, unveiling participatory initiatives and promoting human rights.
[I] AC. 2001 [T] Nadine Gordimer. Nobel speech. 1991
Founded in a world full of complex interrelations, on rising social exclusion situations and evidences of racism, and in a progressive discredit on motivations and impacts of development cooperation, ACEP realized that was needed a fresh look at the way in which concepts involving solidarity were put into practice, particularly at a time when the mainstay perceptions of major national and international social movements were being questioned. Its work had started in Portugal in two core axes: searching on cultural and political changes underpinned by citizenship and a commitment to building a more open and supportive society. This included linking both local and national initiatives, and keeping up to date with important international processes in the field;
1990 December: Constituent assembly with the election of ACEP governing bodies. Deciding the request to join the Portuguese NGDO Platform
the second axis was more focused on working towards an improved integration of African immigrants within society, alongside building and strengthening ties with their representative organisations. The early 1990s were characterised by a focus on local initiatives, primarily in neighbourhoods with a significant immigrant population. Projects were implemented with teachers, communities, immigrant associations and their respective institutions and organisations.
in an ethical manner with a respect for aesthetic considerations. The stories shared are based on real life situations, chosen for their value in being at once thought-provoking and a call for action. An example of this was the very first documentary made to highlight racism in Portugal and in Europe and to show the challenges facing education in a sub-Saharan nation as GuineaBissau. This work had a profound impact that continued to make its mark in the coming decades.
From the very beginning, seeking new forms to contribute to political and cultural changes includes a focus on awareness-raising using communication materials and new forms of social media designed specifically for this purpose. All communications have been formulated
In tandem, ACEP has kept abreast of developments in the international arena, and was fully aware of the importance for Portugal to open up to the world, after a period of isolation that had gone on for too long.
Start of the first project in Lisbon schools, focused on the integration of African immigrant children (in Algés and Miraflores, on the outskirts of Lisbon)
Launch of locally based projects providing support for the integration of African immigrant children in schools with multicultural education and school/community links (Alto de Sta. Catarina and Pedreira dos Húngaros)
In this perspective, ACEP participates
“Zita’s Schoolbook” to support the integration of immigrant women, in a project in partnership with the Lisbon Cape Verdean Association
Participation in a information project on a revision of the Lomé IV convention
[I] RR. Portugal. 1997 [T] Solidarity in the Bantu language
Start work with the Associação José Carvalho and SOS Racismo, focusing on initiatives against racism and xenophobia
Participation in a campaign against the new nationality law, with a demand for a new legalisation period for immigrants
Projects for multicultural clubs, with spare time activities and insertion of young immigrants
First ACEP Information Bulletin (bimonthly)
Participation in the Conference on Population and Development (Cairo)
Participation as observer in the Mozambique’s first elections after the peace agreement
Chair of the Portuguese NGDO Platform
in the first world summits, representing Portuguese NGOs, or monitors the progress and the dialogue on the Europe/Africa relationship, on behalf of the Lomé Convention revision. Facing social exclusion, that affects societies, had boosted ACEP to research on innovating processes to fight poverty at international level. The inspiring experience of Banco Grameen, in Bangladesh, opened up the debate around access to finance and led to a feasibility study, the latter carried out as part of the “Right to Credit” movement. This initiative was the initial concept behind setting up the first Portuguese microcredit institution. Research/action has been a defining characteristic of ACEP since its outset as it seeks to foster know-how in social activism across academia and government institutions, whilst mobilising resources in Portugal and Europe, from both the
Start of the “Common City”, an educational project against racism and xenophobia, with specially produced materials, including multimedia, along with work involving teachers, in partnership with the Associação José Carvalho and financing from the EU
[F] ACEP. “Projecto escolas” (Schools Project). Portugal. 1991
private and public sectors. In the second half of the decade, ACEP took up the challenge of development cooperation, to catalyse change in both the north and south, through the north/south and south/ south connections, in knowledge sharing, solidarity and support
Participation in the Copenhagen Summit on Social Development, representing Portuguese NGDO
Participation in “Migrants and associative practices”, Brussels
processes, and in trying new forms of organisation and innovative ways to take action. The struggle against colonial domination and against dictatorship had provided a common ground for cooperation and solidarity between civil society organisations that were
“Living in a multicultural community” – start of a process of seminars focusing on raising awareness for and between teachers, on multicultural education challenges
Project in support of one-off legalisation for immigrants, in partnership with other associations
starting out in all Portuguese-speaking countries. In this way, natural partnerships had formed within civil society, with communities working together and learning from each other, whilst not attempting to replace or step in for each other. Joint initiatives were undertaken involving research, debate and disseminating information. Cooperation is founded on working together and solidarity: this came to the fore when the political and military conflict in Guinea-Bissau (1998/99) led to ACEP being a focal point for a range of actors in the country’s society, its diaspora, groups from Portugal, Europe and other African countries with a common vision to bring peace to GuineaBissau. NGO from the country such as AD, AIFA-PALOP and TINIGUENA worked with the European Solidarity Network and the Information
“The Right to Credit” – start of a research project on the need for and viability of a system for microcredit in Portugal, inspired by the Grameen Bank experience
Network to gather data, interpret it, and share findings to support interventions in the country – both humanitarian and political solida-
rity activities – and also to further advocacy in Europe, Africa and/or international institutions.
[F] “Cidade Comum - O mundo às portas da Europa” (Common City – The World at the Gates of Europe). 1996
Start of research on decentralised cooperation, social exclusion and human development, a partnership with the Italian NGO RC, and the Belgian ITECO
Representative of Portuguese NGDO in the task force on Cofinancing in the Liaison Committee of European NGO at the EU
“Social solidarity actions in the PALOP’s NGO”, joint research between the NGO and public sector specialists in the PALOP on the fight against urban poverty, coordinated by ACEP and funded by the Portuguese Ministry of Labour and Social Security
The 1990s finished with three highlights: firstly, the creation of the National Association for the Right to Credit), a professional organisation with a specific purpose to use micro-
credit as a tool to fight poverty and social exclusion in Portugal; secondly, the organisation, in Lisbon, of an international conference attended by representatives of the Guinea-
[F] AV. “Na no skola” (“We at School”) Iemberem. Guinea-Bissau. 1998
The “Issues” Bulletin is made up of selfteaching texts to be used by NGO, written in Portuguese, on topics identified in surveys in Portugal and the PALOP
“We at School” – a documentary and a peripatetic exhibition to raise issues on underdevelopment, starting from the situation of education in Guinea-Bissau, with financial support from the EU
“Entre Povos” (Between Peoples), a new ACEP Bulletin distributed in Portugal and the PALOP
Bissau Government of National Unity, the aim being to present proposals put forward by NGO from GuineaBissau (and their partners) to rebuild the country; and thirdly, the first NGO meeting from all Portuguesespeaking countries, jointly organised by ACEP and around a dozen organisations that bring their experiences and present their work to NGO and to other institutions involved in Portuguese cooperation. This event was an important milestone in the recognition of these organisations as partners in their own right in the joint struggle to alleviate poverty. Concerning funding resources, always focused in projects and initiatives, ACEPare funding from the public sector, including European funding and Portuguese state funding, the latter comprising the Ministry of Education and the Lisbon City Council, and from the private sector,
Building the foundations of the National Association for the Right to Credit, following on from a previous project
Building the foundations for the International Solidarity and Information Networks on Guinea-Bissau during the armed conflict, in partnership with the Guinea NGO AD, AIFA-PALOP and TINIGUENA
comprising European NGO and Portuguese philanthropic foundations such as the Fundação Gulbenkian (Gulbenkian Foundation). ACEP’s funding is channelled directly to projects and initiatives, and is disbursed to underpin an incremental professionalization of each recipient organisation, to build up institutions with a growing sphere of influence and responsibility. However, ACEP adopted an approach that refuses to allow, by funding, distortions of the organizational model and action beacons. Beneficiary institutions may choose to remain small to safeguard their independence and sustainability; remain innovative to avoid repeating the same approaches; remain efficient to handle their resources accountability and; remain rooted in solidarity because values underpin all our actions and bind us together. [I] RR. Portugal. 1997
International Conference for NGO to move GuineaBissau forward again, held in Lisbon
“The NGO from the PALOP as cooperation partners in the fight against poverty” – First meeting of the NGO from the PALOP, Brazil and Portugal (at Lisbon)
“Micro-credit for income-generating activities for women and young people”, in conjunction with SOLMI, the Cape Verde NGO
“Associative structures and microcredit in the fight against poverty and for rural well-being in Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique” – research in partnership with NGO from the three countries (SOLMI, Cape Verde NGO platform, AD, TINIGUENA, AMRU), coordinated by ACEP and publication by the Portuguese Ministry of Labour and Social Security
“Zita’s Schoolbook”, ed. with the Associação Caboverdeana “The Adults’ Teacher and the Cape Verdian Community”, project “Nô Djunta Môn” 1982/1989, ed. with the Associação Caboverdeana “Common City – Teaching/Learning Notebooks”, ed. with the Associação José Carvalho “Stories - Common City”, various, ed. with the Associação José Carvalho
“Issues”, quarterly publication, containing texts used in teaching materials about development, ed. with AD/Guinea-Bissau, ADRA/Angola, AMRU/ Mozambique and CITI-HABITAT/Cape Verde “Grameen Bank – Training Materials for the International Replication of the Grameen Bank Financial System”, David Gibbons (ed. With AD, ADRA,AMRU and SOLMI) “Cooperation in the fight against poverty: the PALOP NGO in the struggle against poverty and for well-being and
citizenship” various, ed. with AD, AMRU, SOLMI and TINIGUENA “Decentralised Cooperation: rebalancing power between north and south, bolstering links of solidarity, fostering changes”, Ana Filipa Oliveira and Ana Sofia Pinheiro (coord.) Multimedia format “Common City”, documentary, production with the Associação José Carvalho “We at school – the paths of education in Guinea-Bissau”, Andrzej Kowalski (director)
[I] RR. Portugal. 1997
Meeting of European extreme right xeno- Portugal signs the Schengen Agreephobic groups in Portugal (Sesimbra) ments, the European border control policy and restriction on citizens cirCreation of the network “Reality of culation from outside the community, Aid”, across the globe, covering analysis the start of ‘Fortress Europe’ and lobbying, the policies for poverty eradication and the international “aid” “Problematic issues stemming from system, published annually the emergence of national NGO in the PALOP”, a meeting organised by Approval of the African Charter for the SOLIDAMI institute in Bissau Popular Participation in Development, in Arusha, Tanzania Creation of FONGA – Angolan NGO Forum
First multi-party elections in GuineaBissau and Mozambique Approval of the first law on NGDO “Africa Friend” campaign put on by the Foreign Affairs Ministry, using private funds in support of Angola and Mozambique Revision of the Lomé Convention, with the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific states meeting half way through its term Approval of the statute for “Young Aid Worker” Setting up of the CPLP – PortugueseSpeaking Countries Community Setting up of the Cape Verdian NGO platform
Assassination of Alcino Monteiro, a young Cape Verdian man, by neo-nazis, on June 10th in Lisbon
First multi-party elections in Cape Verde Peace agreements in Mozambique Worsening war situation in Angola after the first round in the first election process
Debate between NGDO and state institutions on the statutes for young aid workers, and norms for NGDO co-funding Draft law on patronage in cooperation activities
“Fado Tropical”, a report on African immigrants living in Pedreira dos Húngaros, on the outskirts of Lisbon, leading to protests because of the stereotyped picture that was painted First public hearing on cooperation for development, at the behest of the Portuguese parliament
Start of a political “Portuguese cooperaand military con- tion on the threshold of the 21st century”, flict in GuineaBissau, extended a strategic guideline document approved until 1999 in the Ministers Council Huge show of public support in Portugal in favour of independence for East Timor
countries or communities. The result was “Ilhas de Fogo” (Islands of Fire), a 200-page illustrated publication that effectively “shook up” how Africa was viewed and talked about, a fact widely recognised, indeed highlighted by leading media outlets in Portugal. To this day, the publication is referred to both in training and information-exchange activities, in Portugal and beyond (for example, we know partial translation into French—and Polish!).
ACEP’s work in this decade builds on the experience gained over the previous ten years, and is focused in three main areas. The first is an ongoing commitment to challenge the prevailing mind-set in Portuguese society, reinforced by stereotypical images and over simplistic descriptions of Africa as a developing continent and providing an alternative in order to fight stereotypes and simplistic views which still predominate. The first initiative to encapsulate this approach was a reportage undertaken over a two-year period by a journalist and illustrator who travelled across the five PALOP (PortugueseSpeaking African countries), aiming to “uncover” people, processes, organisations who bring about change on a daily basis in their own respective
Participation in organising the first European and African CSO Forum
1st NGO Guide from, in partnership with NGO of the five countries and support from the ICP
ACEP’s added value for its work on raising awareness in Portuguese society and its pursuit of cooperation with other nations was made clear by this alliance of creative expression and journalism and other highly respected forms of communication. This collaborative work was grounded in rigorous ethical values, and
Start of the project involving Portuguese and Guinean NGO, focused on integrated development in the outskirts of Bissau
provides an alternate to G. Debord’s “society of the spectacle” approach. The second initiative was to seek innovative models that improve development cooperation and partnerships—starting from shared and complementary perspectives and responsibilities, combining theory and implementation in the field, an experience’s exchange and the involvement of a wide range of actors. The work that had taken off at the end of the 1990s with various organisations, above all those from the PALOP, showed that ACEP’s first steps in this field were on the right path. ACEP’s identity was beginning to take shape, as was the identity of several organisations emerging from recent positive shifts in political openness. This created an opening for institutions to interact with each
“Strengthening the Cape Verdean NGO Platform and its member organisations), a medium-term project, with EU and ICP support
First meeting of community radios in the PALOP, in Cape Verde, with the NGO AD and CITIHABITAT
“Cantos do Sul”– new ACEP information bulletin
[I] AC. “Ilhas de Fogo” (Islands of Fire). Angola. 2002
“Islands of Fire” – project involving illustrated reports with African people in Africa, supported by APAD, CGD,FCG, NOVIB, INTERPARES, SWISSAID
Setting up of the first community radio in Cape Verde, with Citi-Habitat, and support from the Fundação PortugalÁfrica
Pilot study “Observatory of poverty and well-being” in neighbourhoods on the Bissau outskirts
[T] collected by Eduardo Galeano in a Quito’s street
Support for setting up Rádio Jovem, as part of the Network of Young People Associations in Guinea-Bissau
Chair of the Portuguese NGDO platform
European meeting “Cohesion, coherence and citizenship in the enlarged European Union”, Lisbon
other, share experiences, discuss risks and innovations, and to recognise the work of others. There was also an acknowledgement, by the State, of the role of these institutions itself and international development institutions. This approach, as a question of coherence, involves the choice not to work with expatriates or local delegations, not to replace partner organisations and not to work on the basis of artificial production to shortterm “results”. This choice meant that time would be needed, along with the capacity to produce different kinds of results. This was necessary to show institutions in the field of international cooperation that this approach actually provided an alternative way forward, with its own space and its own raison d’être. The third point that stands out is participation in processes that involve [F] PNV. “Construir o paraíso aqui” (Building paradise here). Guinea-Bissau. 2009
Participation in the 2nd public hearing in the Portuguese parliament on Cooperation, as the representative of NGDO
“Cocoa Mother – Timor”, a project involving illustrated reports, two years after independence, with the support of the CGD and IPAD
Creation of the ACEP website, with the e-version of the “Cantos do Sul” bulletin
Starting online publication of the annual reports, with the accounts and external auditors’ report
Joint organisation of the Jornadas da Sociedade Civil (Civil Society Days),in Bissau, in tandem with the CPLP summit
Start of an investigation into the Portuguese companies’ social responsibility in their relationship with developing countries
strengthening Portuguese civil society, in particular where the main work of ACEP was to be found – the NGDO. In a small organisation, this option stems from a substantial pressure on human resources. However, it can be seen as part of its mission, as an expression of citizenship. Nonetheless, this can only work jointly with others if the objectives are or become similar. This is not a straightforward process. On the contrary, it involves major conditioning factors, deriving specifically from the fact that what is in progress is the development of a democratic culture, involving dialogue and participation. This goes for all Portuguese institutions, whether public or private. ACEP chaired the Portuguese platform for NGO, for six years during the decade, and was responsible for launching “AidWatch” process in
1st meeting of community radios in the CPLP, Bissau, with AD and RENARC (Community Radio Network)
Research into NGO human resources in Guinea-Bissau, with PLACON-GB
[F] FP. “Rega gota a gota” (Drop by drop irrigation). Santiago. Cape Verde. 2008
Portugal. This had implications within the organisation and for its relations with some other institutions, including those where funding was concerned. There were moments when the or-
Research into decentralised cooperation in Cape Verde and GuineaBissau, with CEsA and Aveiro University
ganisation was the “face”, personalised, of opposition to governmental positions in non-negotiable areas for NGO. It was the “mouthpiece” that was demanding respect for
Participation in the conference on community radio in Angola, organised by ADRA, Luanda
“Indivisible Sharing” – exhibition and book on development in Cape Verde, with photographers, journalists and writers, and support from Portuguese and Cape Verdean institutions
the nature of these organisations and for their role in a democratic society, including the definition and monitoring of public policies. In spite of the wear and tear caused in the short term, these processes and the results obtained by the NGDO came to stand for a new threshold in the recognition of their coherence and legitimacy, which is a gain for the longer term. At the end of the decade, ACEP set about an internal debate about the new frameworks and challenges, using as a starting point the search for innovation. Among the internal exigencies were a refusal to go in for feelings of self-satisfaction and an awareness of the routines risks setting in, but they also reflected the expectations of partners, individuals and institutions with a relationship with ACEP. The 2009 Activities Report sums up the pivotal elements in the [F] FP. “Vozes de Nós” (Our Voices). Sao Tome and Príncipe. 2009
Starting work in partnership with Ami Paúl and OADISA, platforms associated with Santo Antão, Cape Verde
Starting work in partnership with RA - Rede Ajuda, in Quínara region, Guinea-Bissau
“Borders of Europe – Europe in the World” – a cycle of debates with universities, Portuguese municipalities and African partners
“Governance, fragile states and the role of cooperation”, debate in Aveiro University with ADRA (Angola), and LGDH (GuineaBissau)
Coordination of the “AidWatch” task force on the NGDO platform
Documentary “Building paradise here”, on decentralised cooperation in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde (awarded at Agrofilm International Festival in Nitra, Slovakia)
following way: redesigning the thrust of the organisation’s actions, with an approach that involved “rights’ realization”, in all its facets, while also providing a practical application of the concept of democratic governance and the bolstering of institutions; the construction of a global vision with integrated work, without blinkered beliefs in immutable areas and territories, in a process that would be common to the progressively transversal application of advocacy in the various themes and fields where work was undertaken, the aim being to “win the battle” of human rights’ realization; to have an influence on “the way the world is learning” (Paulo Freire), continuing to row against the stream, involving more and more people in opportunities to create “good practices”; and to expand collaboration networks for mutual enhancement and for a multiplier effect, in a process that includes par-
tnerships based on the identification of common aims and alliances where differences are recognised. In terms of partnerships, the decade is marked by diversification, as regards the specific organisations with whom we work, but also as regards the nature of such organisations – ranging from NGDO to CSO, and from research centres to municipalities. All of this confirms the recog-
nition given to ACEP in many fields, where it does in fact have a role as prime mover. Where financing is concerned, if diversification is also a common thread, this decade confirmed that the point of equilibrium is the balance between a financial dimension that provides scale for our work , and what is needed to be able to control the risks of growth and preserve autonomy.
[F] TS. Community radio. Cape Verde. 2008
“From Paris to Accra – the routes towards development effectiveness”, an international conference in partnership with Objectivo 2015 and PNUD support
“Our Voices” – start of the programme with support from the CPLP in Angola/Okutiuka, Guinea-Bissau / AMIC and Sao Tome and Príncipe / Fundação Novo Futuro, focusing on self-esteem in children in vulnerable situations, with artistic expressions
“E-Glodev”: distance training project for the third sector, with European NGO and research centres
Starting cooperation with the Federação das ONGs in São Tomé e Príncipe, with support from IPAD
ACEP joins CIVICUS, a global alliance for citizen and civil society participation
The “Arquipélago” collection “Islands of Fire”, Pedro Rosa Mendes and Alain Corbel “Cocoa Mother – Timor), Pedro Rosa Mendes and Alain Corbel “Indivisible Sharing– the Millennium Goals in Cape Verde”, Antonio Valente, Leão Lopes and others News from Quelele, a neighbourhood in Bissau), Alain Corbel (coord.) “Estudos e Pesquisas” (Studies and Research) Collection
“Human Resources Guide in the GuineaBissau NGO”, Braima Dabo and Catarina Schwarz “Waves of citizenship – CPLP community radio festival”, Paula Borges (coord.) “Guide for social responsibility in Portuguese companies in developing countries”, Fátima Proença and Tânia Santos, with RSE Portugal “Borders of Europe – Europe in the World”, Ana Sofia Pinheiro and Maria João Pinto (coord.)
“Decentralised Cooperation: rebalancing powers between north and south, reinforcing solidarity, fostering changes”, Ana Filipa Oliveira and Ana Sofia Pinheiro (coord.) Multimedia format “Building paradise here”, Paulo Nuno Vicente (director) Sites “acep.pt”
“Medicinal plants in Guinea-Bissau”, Elsa Teixeira Gomes and others, ed. with AD “Cohesion, coherence and citizenship in the enlarged EU”, Fátima Proença, Tânia Santos and Rosana Albuquerque (coord.)
[I] AC. “Ilhas de Fogo” (Islands of Fire). São Domingos. Guinea-Bissau. 2001
Creation of the AU – Protocol for Cooperation between African Union the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Portuguese NGDO Platform First Europe/Africa summit for heads EU Resolution “Development educaof state, held in tion and awareness raising among Cairo the European public in favour of cooperation for development” Mozambique journalist Carlos Cardo- Creation of FONG-STP, the NGO Feso assassinated in deration in Sao Tome and Príncipe Maputo, during an Creation of PLACON-GB, NGO investigation into Platform in Guinea-Bissau corruption Creation of NEPAD, The New Partnership for Africa’s Development
“European Consensus on Development” Approval of “A Strategic Vision for Portuguese Cooperation” IPAD starts policy of cofinancing for projects in Education for Development First Meeting of NGO platforms in Portuguese-speaking countries, Lisbon
Creation of the African Court for Human and People’s Rights
Peace agreement between MPLA and UNITA in Angola, after 27 years of civil war Independence of East Timor Setting up of the campaign Publish What You Pay, for the prevention of and fight against corruption
Second public hearing on Cooperation, at the behest of the Portuguese parliament
SENEC and the Executive Management of IPAD changed their relationship with NGDO in terms of providing The “Monterrey Consensus” on Financing for Development, services, followed by NGDO public campaign defining a 0,7% target of national income for aid
Creation of EITI – Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative
Europe/Africa Forum on Civil Society and the second Europe/Africa summit, Lisbon
“Charter for African Start of the European “AidWatch” cultural renaissance” process, with Portuguese participation approved by the AU coordinated by ACEP
Approval of the African Union “Maputo Protocol”, on the women’s rights in Africa
First report on the NGDO’s monitoring of the State Budget for Cooperation First edition of “Development Days”, a SENEC initiative Approval of the “African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance”
Ranking of Cape Verde as a Middle Income Country “I accuse” platform, a social advocacy process for monitoring Europe/Africa commitments
Exoneration of SENEC from the Executive Management of IPAD, repeal of the legislation contested by the NGDO “A study on Portuguese public opinion regarding cooperation”, NGDO platform of Aveiro University
Adoption of the National Strategy for Development Education Launch of IATI – International Aid Transparency Initiative, signed by a number of countries, international organisations and CSO, in Accra
We have chosen three projects from the beginning of the 2010s, that sum up some of the quality features in cooperation for development, allied to awareness-raising and social advocacy, political influence and communication: “Vozes de Nós” (Our Voices), which is a project to boost self-esteem among children and adolescents in vulnerable situations, and is based on artistic expressions, with a network component bringing together organisations from the eight countries where Portuguese is the official language; the “Casa dos Direitos” (House of Rights), defined as a space for networking, resource creation and initiatives for the construction of a culture of peace and promotion of human rights in Guinea-Bissau, on the ruins of the oldest prison in the
The production of an illustrated book/agenda “52 stories” on human rights in the world, with pro bono work done by dozens of journalists, photographers and illustrators
historical centre of Bissau; and the production of an illustrated book/ agenda “52 histórias” (52 stories), on human rights, a look at a wider world, a set of fragments that recall the drawings of a Persian carpet, as mentioned by Kapuściński - a picture delicate, diverse and complex. These examples act as a reference to a broader range of qualities which we are looking for, among them innovation, the capacity to take risks, solidarity, persistence, rapports, the construction of useful knowledge, broadening horizons, creation of spaces allowing for mutual enrichment, communication that is both ethical and aesthetic, procedures and results, constructive institutional dialogue, good management and the use of resources to their full potential.
“Portugal and Africa: Better Cooperation, Better Development” - the start of an advocacy project, with support from IPAD
“Media, citizenship and development: an international debate with journalists and researchers” and the “Imperfect Triangles” documentary, in the 3rd edition of the Development Days
A new phase in the involvement of ACEP and RA in Quínara region, Guinea-Bissau, with support from the FCG
Starting regular information about ACEP on Facebook
[I] A. “Vozes de Nós” (Our Voices). Dili. East Timor. 2012
“e-stories of equality”, a project on gender stereotypes in communication, proposed to ACEP and undertaken with professionals in the field, with support from POPH
“Our Voices” extended to Cape Verde (ACRIDES), Mozambique (Meninos de Moçambique) and East Timor (the Communication and Youth Forum)
“Sabores d´Nha Terra”, a new phase in the work with Santo Antão organisations and support from IPAD
“Development Alphabet”, an initiative with CEsA, the Associação In Loco and journalists, photographers and researchers, leading to a book, a blog and an exhibition, supported by IPAD and FPA
[T] Jorge Silva Melo, in “Público”
4th High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness – Contributions for Busan: debate with parliamentarians, researchers, senior figures from IPAD and CPLP
This decade, however, is also impacted by violent and turbulent signs of a crisis which starts, seemingly, as financial, both national and international, but then clearly goes beyond this – and leaves us facing issues in areas such as values, models for society, the basis of relations between countries and peoples, standards of governance, the limits of the models based on economic growth, over and against the decrease in natural resources and an unstoppable worsening of inequalities. Against this backdrop, Cooperation, as a component in the development processes, sees the public policy to which it is associated wiped “discretely” off the map, on the basis of a simplistic reasoning process justifying the position by reference to circumstances. In tandem, we watch its value blotted out, as it is reduced to being an
Communication “Between entertainment and aid), in the Observatory of Africa, organised by the FCG
Conversations in Context: Africas, Journalisms and Citizenships) in Development Days, with CSO and Portuguese and African journalists
[F] LA. “Sociedade Civil pelo Desenvolvimento” (Civil Society for Development). Sao Tome and Príncipe. 2013
instrument for national interests linked to internationalisation – of the Portuguese language or Portuguese companies. In this context, it becomes more and more relevant for organisations in civil society to intensify the debate on identity, mission and domestic governance. If not, they will be forced into a
Journalist from Público offers her work for the Volunteer’s Year and wrote a book on the women’s rights in Guinea-Bissau
defensive position where their survival is concerned or lofty positions where they are fighting for their “market” at any cost. We are not underestimating the risks that come from less funding available in a country such as Portugal. In 2012, the funds available for Portuguese development cooperation had de-
“House of Rights”, an initiative of ACEP, AD, AMIC, CES, CIDAC,LGDH, SINI MIRA NASSIQUE,TINIGUENA and UICN, opens the gates of the oldest prison in Bissau for civic intervention, with support from IPAD and FCG
The FONG-STP headquarters was officially opened in Sao Tome
ACEP returns to the executive board of the Portuguese NGDO Platform
creased over 60 % through NGDO. At the same time there was an increase in the conditions for access through the requirement to show, a priori, that co-financing had been found. These cuts in the official development aid (already among the lowest in Europe), along with the institutional configuration now applied, led to a substantial reversal in this field where the skills that had been acquired were being recognised and commitments taken on.
What needs to be highlighted here is the steadily greater contribution from EU funds (in spite of the fierce competition ever more associated with this source) and from private
Within this framework, ACEP has been attempting to reinforce what has been its strategy since the early days: very close control of structural costs, emphasis on the quality aspects which give its initiatives an added value and a diversification in the funding sources. This last point serves also as a way to maintain its independence – by diversifying its areas of dependence.
Coordination of the GT AidWatch on the NGDO Platform
ACEP´s Director coordinates the Observatory for Africa, on Africa in the media, in the FCG programme Próximo Futuro (Near Future)
Interview on the RTP-África channel on the same subject
foundations, above all the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, as a counter to the considerable fall in funds from the Portuguese State. At the intervention level, – both in
[F] AFO. “Casa dos Direitos” (House of Rights). Bissau. Guinea-Bissau. 2014
“Irregular migration in East Timor”, a study commissioned by the ACP Migration Observatory, with work coordinated by Tânia Santos
Impunity, injustice and insecurity are the themes of the LGDH project, in collaboration with ACEP and funding from the EU
“Observatory of Rights”, from GuineaBissau, an initiative from LGDH,ACEP and CEsA, financed by the EU and the CICL
Portugal and abroad – ACEP has been focusing more on guidelines such as multidimensionality and cross-cutting dimension of human rights. They are an essential component in the structure, not a mere rhetorical reference. Another focus has been the reinforcement of advocacy and political influence, greater emphasis on cooperation with various organisations and institutions, and this includes collaboration with State institutions weakened by current circumstances. In this context, ACEP had decided to make itself available again to take part in the executive management of the Portuguese NGDO Platform and in the coordination of the AidWatch working group. Its work here involved initiatives such as the creation of a digital magazine, debates between different CSO on the post-2015 situation, [F] LA. “Di nôs i mindjor”. Buba. Guinea-Bissau. 2010
“A month of projects for a life with rights” - a campaign for the EU Delegation in GuineaBissau, with the Casa dos Direitos and the community tv TVKlélé
Food security, health and nutrition - a new phase of work with RA in Quinara region, with the collaboration of ATA and support from EU and FCG
“Civil society for development – communication, capacity-building and advocacy”, with FONG-STP, support from the EU and CICL
“NGDO Effectiveness in every field and latitude”, a study made by ACEP’s director for the NGDO Platform
Organisations from the 8 CPLP countries present a project on children’s rights and debate the future of this network, in Lisbon
Representative for NGDO in the Civil Society Europe/Africa process
[F] PP. “52 Histórias” (52 Stories). Arquivo Fotográfico (Photographic Archives). Lisbon. Portugal. 2012
working on documents crucial for ODAmonitoring, or coordinating civil society’s watching brief on the Europe / Africa joint strategy. ACEP has now completed 25 years of work, and it is ever more cle-
“Our Voices” starts on a 3rd phase, focusing on children’s rights; exhibition presented in the Portuguese parliament, and starting a tour in Sao Tome and Príncipe
arly the result of holding together values, a mission, collaborations, joint efforts, risks and know-how. Its hand can be seen at work in many situations where civil society groups have progressed, along with citizenship awareness, in
“Media and Development”, a new project in partnership with CEsA, CEIS20 and the Coolpolitics Association, with support from CICL and FCG
Participation in the European initiative to contest the Transatlantic Treaty being discussed by EU and the USA, demanding a public debate
particular in Portuguese-speaking countries. It refuses to accept the determinism of retrograde ideas; it will never condone excuses that point fatalistically to surrounding circumstances. And ACEP will continue along this path.
“House of Rights” with a new project, focusing on participation in drawing up policies on human rights, coordinated by ACEP, AMIC, LGDH and TINIGUENA, with funding from the EU
“Creative futures”, initiative on creative economy, with FONG-STP, Cape Verdean NGO Platform and TINIGUENA, supported by CICL and FPA, in the 3 countries
The “Arquipélago” collection “52 stories – a book/perpetual agenda”, Adelino Gomes and others “Alphabet of Development”, Adelino Gomes and others “Vozes de Nós – Bissau, Huambo, Sao Tome”, Alain Corbel (coord.) “Vozes de Nós – Díli, Maputo, Praia”, Alain Corbel (coord.) “e-stories of equality”, Liliana Azevedo (coord.) “Studies and Research” Collection “Decentralised cooperation and the dynamics of change in African countries – the cases of Cape Verde and Guinea-Bissau”, Carlos Sangreman (coord.), ed. with CEsA “Santo Antão’s Craftsmen”, Manuel Fortes “Media, Citizenship and Development”, Ana Filipa Oliveira (coord.)
“Diagnosis of Sao Tome and Príncipe NGO”, C. Cravo, L. Londaitzbehere, O. Diogo and S. Sousa “Portugal and Africa: Better Cooperation, Better Development”, various “Civil society and public policies in Sao Tome and Príncipe”, various (ed. with FONG-STP) “Civil society, communication and advocacy in Sao Tome and Príncipe”, Pedro Rosa Mendes (coord.) Extra collections “Publication Initiatives” – ACEP catalogue “Guinea-Bissau – 40 years of impunity”, Pedro Rosa Mendes (coord.)
“Challenges - Women’s Rights in Guinea-Bissau”, Ana Cristina Pereira, with LGDH “Challenges - Children’s Rights in GuineaBissau”, Alain Corbel and others, with LGDH “Challenges – a history of rights”, Fatima Proença (coord.), with LGDH Multimedia format “Imperfect Triangles”, Paulo Nuno Vicente (direction) “4 stories of Guinean women”, TVKlélé (production) “e-stories of equality”, André Sá and Javier Martinez (direction) In digital format “Socio-economic study of Tite and Fulacunda (Guinea-Bissau)”, Tânia Santos and Danilo Altair “Street know-how: models of how to engage with children and youngsters in vulnerable situations in CPLP countries”, Orlando Garcia (coord.) “Children’s Rights Handbook in Guinea-Bissau”, Laudolino Medina (coord.) “Contributions towards communicating on equality”, various Blogs, Sites “52 stories” “Alphabet of Development” “e-stories of equality” “Better Cooperation, Better Development” “Our Voices”
[I] LG e KL. “Casa dos Direitos” (House of Rights). Illustration workshop. Bissau. Guinea-Bissau. 2013
Creation of the Cooperation Forum, a SENEC initiative Government cuts out PO5, the Budget Programme for Cooperation, hampering the budget monitoring process Approval of the “Istanbul Principles” on the CSO effectiveness
High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, held in Busan, South Korea “Human Rights and Democracy at the centre of EU external action”, the European Council and Parliament
“The Tunis Consensus”, supported by ADB and NEPAD, on a vision of developing Africa Partnerships in the centre of the Africa progress report, in the Africa Progress Panel
Portugal among 16 of the “Boomerang aid” benefits EU member-states criticised the donor countries, in the report of Access Info according to the second Europe on transparency EURODAD report “How to standards spend it” “Structured dialogue on aid effectiveness”, EC
“Proposals from NGDO for the Future of Portuguese Cooperation” and “One year of (un) governance in Portuguese cooperation”, documents of the NGDO platform “Europe/Africa Civil Society Forum”, in Brussels “Integrating Human Rights into Development”, OECD and World Bank
“Planeta Futuro” (Future Planet), an editorial dedicated to development in the Spanish daily El País CPLP approves a resolution on the promotion and protection of Human Rights
Open letter from the NGDO Platform on the future of cooperation
Portuguese Cooperation ceases to have its own institution and becomes part of the organisation for external promotion of the Portuguese language Reduction of nearly 60% in the funds from Portuguese Cooperation for the NGDOs
Coup d’état in GuineaBissau “Por uma comunidade de valores” (For a community of values) – civil society in CPLP countries contests plans to allow Equatorial Guinea to join the CPLP
“Agenda 2063” approved at the AU summit, “for an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dyCreation of a magazine for the namic force in the global NGDO Platform, coordinated arena” by Liliana Azevedo, ACEP
“AidWatch Report”, on 10 years of Portuguese cooperation, coordinated by Ana Filipa Oliveira, ACEP
Constitutional norms agreed “Charter of Lampedusa” calls for a radical chanin Guinea-Bissau ge in the way migration Adoption of the “Strategic is treated and sends an Concept for Portuguese alert on violations of Cooperation, 2014-2020” human rights stemming from the EU’s policy on AidWatch – debate in the immigration Portuguese parliament on the state of Portuguese A public hearing on hucooperation man rights in Equatorial The CSO Networks Forum publishs the Declaration on Post-2015 Commitments 2012
Guinea and a meeting in Lisbon with a human rights’s activist in that country
A CPLP summit in Dili (East Timor) approves acceptance of the application by Equatorial Guinea to join it Europe-Africa Summit in Brussels TTIP, known as the Transatlantic Treaty, is under negotiation between EU and USA
Africa ACRIDES . AD . ADRA . AIFA PALOP . ALTERNAG . AMDU . AMI PAÚL . AMIC . AMRU. ATELIER MAR . CASA DOS DIREITOS . CITI-HABITAT . FNF . FONG-STP . KAFO . LGDH . MDM . OADISA . OKUTIUKA . OMCV . ORAM . PLATAFORMA ONGS DE CABO VERDE . RA . RENAJ . RENARC . SINIM MIRA NASSIQUÊ . SOLMI . TINIGUENA . TV KLÉLÉ . UICN . ZATONA-ADIL Europa ASSOCIAÇÃO CABOVERDIANA. ATA . BAGA BAGA STUDIOS . BUALA . CEsA . CEIS XX . CIDAC . CISS . COE . COOLPOLITICS . FCG . FOCSIV . IEPALA . IN LOCO . ITECO . RC . FCD . MANITESE . OXFAM NOVIB . PLATAFORMA PORTUGUESA ONGD . PANOS . PROACT . RSE PORTUGAL . SIW . SOS RACISMO . SWISSAID America ABONG . CRESOL . CRIA . INTER PARES Asia FCJ Antena 1 . Lisbon City Archives . BPI Bank . Caixa Geral de Depósitos . Lisbon City Council . Commission on Citizenship and Gender Equality . Catholic Committee against hunger for Development . Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries . French Cooperation . Portuguese Cooperation . Alta Mane Foundation . Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation . Portuguese-American Foundation for Development . Foundation for Science and Technology . Portugal-Africa Foundation . European Social Fund . Government of the Guinea-Bissau Republic . Montepio Banking Group . Inapa Portugal . EU EQUAL Community Initiative . Cape Verde Book and Library Institute . Portuguese Institute for Consumer Protection . Inter Pares . Ministry for Decentralisation, Habitation and Land Use, Cape Verde . Ministry of Education . Ministry of Labour and Solidarity. Fishermen’s Mutual Association . Novib – Oxfam Netherlands . United Nations Programme for Development . Leonardo Da Vinci Programme . Operational Programme for Science and Innovation 2010 . Operational Programme for Human Potential . QREN – National Strategic Reference Framework . RDP Africa, Portuguese Radio Station. RNTrans . Silva! designers . SWISSAID . European Union. UNICEF . Aveiro University text ACEP . photographs Ana Filipa Oliveira . António Valente . Fátima Proença . Liliana Azevedo . Paulo Nuno Vicente . Pedro Proença . Tânia Santos . illustrations Abrilia . Alain Corbel . Kevin Lima . Lionel Gomes . Ricardo Rodrigues . Design Ana Grave
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