Breaking the Taboo: Perspectives of African Civil Society on Innovative Sources of Financing Development

This report documents the proceedings of the civil society consultation on innovative development financing mechanisms, held in Dakar, Senegal in April 2008. It also highlights the voices of African civil society in the discourse on innovative sources of financing. With two African Heads of State taking on the Presidency for the Leading Group of Solidarity Levies to fund development, this is an opportunity for African CSOs, whose voices have hitherto not been heard much in discussions and deliberations of the Leading Group, to articulate their issues and concerns and make contributions to the innovative financing discourse and process.

Breaking the Taboo provides a snapshot of some of the issues and concerns shared by civil society at the consultation in Dakar. It draws on the perspectives, experience and analysis of civil society organizations that were present at the consultation and makes recommendations for civil society action in the run up to the Doha Conference in November 2008.