Currently a number of NSOs in Africa Scout Region has not been able to revise or update their constitutions as per GSAT requirement due to the lack of understanding in managing constitutional matters in terms of the importance of best practices and adherence to the amendment process and statutory timeframe. Most NSO leaderships do not see alignment in their constitution and operation as a necessity. As a result, this has contributed to a number of conflicts in their governance and management process.

by laws cannot provide clear guidance to its governance body and management. The additional challenge is the lack or insufficient capacity of National Scout Organisations to update their own constitutions and by-laws. Also, a number of NSOs highlighted their own challenges in drafting and implementing resolutions at National, Regional and World levels. This has been identified during National AGMs, Regional and World conference.

Therefore, understanding this need for capacity building in this area, the Africa Support Centre would like to engage in a process that will not only help NSOs to review their constitutions but also strengthen capacity, creating processes that provide sustainable decision- making approach, produce achievable and sustainable conference resolutions, and seek alignment of strategic priorities across the Africa Region.

This project will address the NSO-WOSM institutional requirements (GSAT Dimension 1) and the Governance Framework (GSAT Dimension 2) and to provide the needed capacity to audit volunteers whose mandate is to decide on strategic priorities of Scouting in their NSOs. Information to be provided will enhance the existing knowledge, skills and attitude change towards the management and Governance of Scouting in targeted NSOs.

The participating NSOs will work towards reviewing their constitutions and policies addressing the current needs of the NSOs’ membership. This process will provide a suitable environment for growth contributing towards WOSM’s Vision 2023.
The capacity of leaders in drafting meaningful resolutions will be instrumental in according healthy debates during annual meetings and conferences. Leaders will be able to attain the skills required to develop and implement agreed resolutions at all level.

The Africa Region will have in the next 3 years and beyond NSOs practicing and replicating good governance, with lean structures, removing bureaucratic impediments, allowing more young people to be involved in the decision-making process, transparency in the business is conducted, respecting the rights of members, able to conduct meaningful AGMs, and have a clear succession process in place.

The project targets fifteen NSOs and the participants will form a core team that will carry on the work of supporting this transformation for the next 3 years. During each Zonal conference the beneficiaries of this project are expected to replicate similar workshops on the National level during the induction of new National Board members and prior to any AGMs and Regional and World Conferences. Identified NSOs are, Kenya, Mauritius, Ghana, Cote d’voire, DRC, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Some of the NSOs already meet GSAT standard, for example South Africa and Kenya. They will be instrumental in providing further support to other NSOs enhancing WOSM consultancy approach. Each of the Regional 5 Scout Zones, Southern Zone, who are the hosts, East Africa, Central Africa, Indian ocean and west Africa, are represented. Taking into consideration of the needs raised by the participating NSOs, further resources and templates will be developed and provided in digital and printable formats to all NSOs which they can use to develop or improve their trainings.