Heads of CSO Coalitions Forum case study Effective co-ordination and greater collaboration In 2008, leaders of the main coalitions of civil society organisations working in Zimbabwe established an informal network for more effective co-ordination on strategy, advocacy and engagement with government to help improve in the operational environment for CSOs. The aim of the forum, which to an extent is being fulfilled, is to improve collective security by lobbying key policy makers on issues regarding the enabling environment. The Heads of CSO Coalitions Forum have co-ordinated collective action on a number of occasions including issuing joint statements in support of CSO leaders under state persecution and harassment. They have also organised action, such as visiting CSO leaders in prison and other places of detention and collectively speaking on critical issues to reduce the risk of victimisation for individual CSO leaders. A limitation of the forum is that it currently lacks adequate representation from development or service delivery CSOs. Also, as most of the CSO coalitions are based in the capital, Harare, there is insufficient representation from other regions in the country including the Bulawayo region, which is home to Zimbabwe’s largest ethnic minority group. The Heads of CSO Coalitions Forum is potentially a platform for increased dialogue and engagement between CSOs and the government, but this has not been the main focus for the forum. Directors and board chairpersons of the following CSOs constitute the Heads of CSO Coalitions Forum: Combined Harare Residents’ Association, Counselling Services Unit, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (representing over 350 organisations), Media Alliance of Zimbabwe, National Association of NGOs, National Constitutional Assembly, Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, Zimbabwe Peace Project and Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association.
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