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forum connect proposal for aci
last modified January 25, 2022 by facilitfsm
Proposal for "Africa Connections in WSF" initiative
ACI WSF
CONTRIBUTING TO DEVELOP AFRICAN PARTICIPATIONS IN VIRTUAL INTERACTIONS IN WSF CONTEXT
This text explains the ACI WSF initiative idea,CONTRIBUTING TO DEVELOP AFRICAN PARTICIPATIONS IN VIRTUAL INTERACTIONS IN WSF CONTEXT
- it invites to join the buildup whatsapp group ACI WSF build up and fill a ACIWSF participation form version 0
- This present page is mentionned in the http://openfsm.net/projects/pfsm22/pfsm22-on-mobilization-in-africa page
- The initiative could be developped between several organizations starting a facilitation group (in which case there will be an ACI WSF autonomous space in openfsm, distinct from the "forumconnect" space in which this text is currently located)
Context
TREND TO VIRTUALIZATION OF INTERACTIONS IN WSF FORUM PROCESS
There is growing trend worldwide to have online personal and collective interaction, as a complement or substitution for physical interaction through travelling. Moreover the accessibiilty to physical long distance travel is heavily linked to accessibility to economic resources and visas ressources that are limited in many countries in the global South and particularly in Africa
Throughout the world people in personal and social sphere, using mobile phones and the internet are learning to combine online interactions and face to face interactions .This trend has been accelerated by the 2020 Covid pandemic and also by the increasing awareness of the huge environmental impact of plane travel, compare to that of online meeting that can be diminished by self limited usage of video, privileging audio.
In the context of social forums, this trend has been visible since years 2009 with the development of usage of internet and possibility for "extension" of face to face activities and events ( see links sfex and dynex ) with efforts to make them accessible to remote participation, and thus include those that could not travel to the physical events . This has been dramatically accelerated with the first fully virtual world social forum in january 2021 using join wsforum.net platform, and now can being consolidated with a first hybrid world social forum in may 2022 in mexico
Base idea
In Africa ( and elsewhere)
1/ It is possible to get together locally and cooperate logistically "in kind" between local organizations to gather ressources for a reasonnable quality internet connection set up ( venue, equipment, data credit) , that will be usable collectively, and thus foster both long distance exchanges, and local exchanges, on occasion of preparation and holding of those long distance exchanges. This can convey in practice values that are mentionned in the WSF principles
2/ There is less cooperating motivation between local organizations to gather bigger financial and institutionnal ressources to make possible the long distance travel of one person ( money for ticket and visa).
Main description items for proposed ACI WSF initiative
This items are used for describing an initiative of action in join wsforum platform
Who ; a series of organizations interested to act together to sustain the initiative and facilitate it - When this group gets formed through interaction in the ACI WSF whatsapp group , a first versin of the initiative can be formulated in the join.wsforum platform
ACI WSF group where organizations involving in sustaining COOPs gather -
see the draft online form for participation in the group
What for CONTRIBUTING TO DEVELOP AFRICAN PARTICIPATIONS IN VIRTUAL INTERACTIONS IN WSF CONTEXT
The suggested logo for ACI WSF show that ACI is is about intercommunications ( the arrows) using internet ( A of ACI is turned into @ ) with others inside and outside the African continent and in context of WSF ( presence of WSF historical logo)
What / How : Mainly through local cooperations between local organizations, developping COOPs, Collective online Participation points, that create a collective atmosphere of interaction locally, and empower the local groups to be fully present in the virtual interactions, and with a possibiliry of expression for international solidarity support that can be developed progressively.
COOP Collective online Participation point, empowering local organization to collective on line participation in WSF process
Developing the How
1/ local organizations, or local branches of bigger organization interested by this perspective get in an ACI WSF group and look locally for cooperation, and when possible declare a ACI WSF COOP, where they cooperate logistically, but maintain their political autonomy. Local organizations use the join wsforum.net platform to make themselves visible as WSF process participant organizations, formulate COOPs as logistical cooperation initiatives, empowering them to be active participants in the WSF intercomunication process and declare activities,
2/ COOPs are the channel of participation to "ACI WSF moments/event" decided in common, where "online activities" will be proposed by the organizations in a COOP to organizations in other COOPs, and to organizations outside of Africa.The ACI WSF group may decide such an ACI Moment between the COOPs that are agreeing on it. There is no consideration of number of COOPs involved , because there is no significant "centralized logistical investment in venue/travels etc " that has to be made and be "relevant " and requires a critical mass of participation
ACI event group of days when organizations in COOPs propose "online activities" to organizations in other COOPs and beyond
3/ These ACI moments/events are in the first place an occasion for intra africa intercommunication exchanges between local organizations, through online activities, this is similar to what happened in WSF2021 virtual forum.
4/ These ACI moments may be decided also on dates coinciding with the date of an event in africa or in the rest of the world, that is a concentration of "activities" in a few days, that is visible in the WSF calendar of events,on the condition that this event is either extended or hybrid -
- In an extended event, there will be a significant proportion of the pyhsical activities in the event that are extended, that is opened to remote participation by their organizers, and local organnizations involved in ACI-WSF can decide to participate ( that is their participation in an extended is programmed as a activity in the ACI moment
- In an hybrid or fully virtual event , online activities are welcome of the event program, so it is possible for organizations involved in COOPs to proposenline activities in those events
When : whenever a few COOPs are set up throughout Africa, a first ACI WSF moment intra-Africa can be decided in the ACI WSF group for a first experience . Then on a second ACI WSF can be scheduled coinciding with the dates of an event in the WSF calendar ( for instance WSF 2022 in Mexico )
Such an ACI WSF initiative can develop and be one among various possible channels to develop participation from african organizations in the world social forum process, in short term with a first implementation towards Mexico 2022, and in the years to come