APNET 2005: A Time of Crisis and Opportunity

Statement to Members and Partners at the Conclusion of the 6th General Council
Meeting of the African Publishers’ Network, Nairobi, 26–27 July 2005

Founder Members, representatives of National Publishers’ Associations, management staff from the Secretariat, and members of the outgoing Board came together in Nairobi at the 6th General Council meeting of APNET to tackle, head on, the serious problems facing the organisation. By the conclusion of the intensive two-day meeting, the General Council had formulated constructive, practical steps to resolve these problems and take APNET forward.

The General Council has appointed a high-powered Task Team that will take immediate charge of all APNET’s affairs, pending the election of a new Board at a future meeting. The Task Team is empowered to take urgent steps to ensure that APNET’s structures, financial and human resources, and operations, are immediately streamlined so that the organisation can continue its work while a longer-term strategy is implemented.

More specifically, the Task Team will urgently investigate and report on:

• An immediate method of funding the Secretariat and of meeting APNET’s current financial obligations.
• The structure of the Secretariat, in particular its costs, viability and sustainability – including seeking an alternative location to Côte d’Ivoire.
• The development of a model for APNET’s operations that is efficient, effective and sustainable.
• APNET’s Constitution and By-laws, to ensure that they meet APNET’s need for responsibility and accountability on the part of both its leaders and members.
• The rebuilding of relationships with the founder partners and other partners, with a view to their support of specific project-based components of APNET’s programmes.
• The development of funding mechanisms that draws more strongly on internally generated funds, project levies and membership fees than on donor funds.
• Easy-to-fund or self-funding projects that can be undertaken to maintain APNET’s presence while these issues are being tackled.
• Any other matters relevant to the efficient and effective functioning of APNET and to its sustainability.

The General Council has streamlined its decision-making procedures to enable a swift response to urgent recommendations made by the Task Team while it is undertaking its work.

The Task Team is made up of the following respected African publishers and Founder Members.

• Brian Wafawarowa (South Africa) [Chairman]
• Mejbri Ghazi (Tunisia)
• Akoss Ofori Mensah (Ghana)
• Fredy Ngandu (Founder Member)
• Monica Seeber (Founder Member)

In addition, Walter Bgoya and Henry Chakava, Founder Members of APNET, have agreed to serve as special advisers to the Task Team, which has also been given the power to co-opt any members of the General Council who may be able to assist it.

The Task Team, which gets to work immediately, will provide monthly progress reports to the General Council, as it works towards the completion of its mandate by 31 March 2006.

The General Council acknowledges with gratitude the support of funding agencies, African publishers and individuals whose confidence in APNET, and contributions, have made it possible for this vitally important meeting to take place.

Brian Wafawarowa
For and on behalf of APNET and the Task team

[Issued: July 2005]