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 of the voices of African civil society in the discourse on innovative sources of financing.

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 of 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 organisations that were present at the consultation and makes recommendations for civil society action in the run up to the Doha Conference in November 2008.

Executive Summary
1. Introduction 1.1 Origins of the Innovative Financing Mechanism Process 1.2 What is the Leading Group and How is it Organised? 1.3 Menu of Proposals 1.4 Putting Together the Pieces: Innovative Sources of Financing and the Doha Agenda
2. Dakar: Coming Together 2.1 Overview 2.2 Economic Context 2.3 Issues for Civil Society to Consider
3. Breaking The Taboo 3.1 Airlines Levies 3.2 International Drug Purchase Facility 3.3 The Kyoto Protocol and its Innovative Instruments 3.4 Innovation in Migrants' Remittances 3.5 Digital Solidarity 3.6 Currency Transaction Tax 3.7 Illicit Flows and Capital Flight
4. Establishing Priorities For Civil Society And Analysis Of Options
5. Civil Society Statement On Innovative Development Financing Mechanisms
6. Follow-Up: From Talk To Action 6.1 Fourth Plenary Meeting of the Leading Group on Solidarity Levies to Fund Development, Dakar, 22-23 April 2008 6.2 The Road to Doha
7. Conclusion

Annexes Annex 1 List of Participants Annex 2 Background Paper Annex 3 References Annex 4 Note on Co-sponsoring Organisations