Annual Report 2006 · munity has reaffirmed,in the context of several major conferences and summits, its determina-tion to support these efforts.As a result, there is now consensus

UNITED NATIONSECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Distr.: GENERAL

E/ECA/CM.39/227April2006

Original: ENGLISH

ECONOMICCOMMISSIONFORAFRICATwenty-fifthmeetingoftheCommitteeofExperts

oftheConferenceofAfricanMinistersofFinance,PlanningandEconomicDevelopment

Ouagadougou10-13May2006

Annual Report 2006

ECONOMICCOMMISSIONFORAFRICAThirty-ninth session of the Commission/Conference

of African Ministers of Finance, Planning andEconomic Development

Ouagadougou14-15May2006

iiiAnnual Report 2006

Table of Contents

Acronyms ............................................................................................................v

Foreword ........................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER I: Recent Economic and Social Developments in Africa: An Overview ...................................................................................................... 1

Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1StronggrowthperformancecontinuesinAfricain2005....................................................... 1Medium-termeconomicoutlook.......................................................................................... 4

CHAPTER II: Major Achievements in 2006 ..................................................... 5RegularProgrammeofWork................................................................................................. 5Facilitatingeconomicandsocialpolicyanalysis..................................................................... 5Fosteringsustainabledevelopment........................................................................................ 7Strengtheningdevelopmentmanagement.............................................................................. 9Harnessinginformationfordevelopment............................................................................ 11Promotingtradeandregionalintegration............................................................................ 14Promotingtheadvancementofwomen............................................................................... 16Supportingsubregionalactivitiesfordevelopment.............................................................. 19Developmentplanningandadministration......................................................................... 26TechnicalCooperation........................................................................................................ 27RegularProgrammeofTechnicalCooperation.................................................................... 27DevelopmentAccount........................................................................................................ 30

CHAPTER III: Meetings of Subsidiary Bodies, Including the ICEs of ECA Offices In the Subregions (SROs) ........................................................ 35

TheTwenty-fourthMeetingoftheIntergovernmentalCommitteeofExperts(ICE)forCentralAfrica................................................................................................................ 35TheNinthMeetingoftheIntergovernmentalCommitteeofExperts(ICE)forEastAfrica.... 36TheTwenty-firstMeetingoftheIntergovernmentalCommitteeofExperts(ICE)forNorthAfrica.................................................................................................................. 37NinthMeetingoftheIntergovernmentalCommitteeofExperts(ICE)forWestAfrica....... 37TwelfthMeetingoftheIntergovernmentalCommitteeofExperts(ICE)forSouthernAfrica................................................................................................................... 38TheCommitteeonSustainableDevelopment(CSD).......................................................... 39TheCommitteeonWomeninDevelopment(CWD)......................................................... 41

CHAPTER IV: Managing for Results: Building a Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation System at ECA ..................................................... 43

Stepstakentoimprovetheimplementationofresults-basedmanagement.......................... 43BuildingaResults-basedMonitoringandEvaluation(M&E)SystematECA................... 44TheWayForward................................................................................................................ 47

ANNEX ............................................................................................................ 49

�Annual Report 2006

ACRONYMS

AAU AssociationofAfricanUniversitiesABSA AdvisoryBoardonStatisticsinAfricaACGD AfricanCentreforGenderandDevelopmentACP AfricanCaribbeanandPacificCountriesADF AfricanDevelopmentForumAEC AfricanEconomicCommunityAfDB AfricanDevelopmentBankAFREF AfricanReferenceFrameworkAGDI AfricanGenderandDevelopmentIndexAGF AfricanGovernanceForumAGR AfricanGovernanceReportAISI AfricanInformationSocietyInitiativeALG AutoritéduLiptakoGourmaAPRM AfricanPeerReviewMechanismARAPKE AfricanRegionalPlanofActionontheKnowledgeEconomyARIA AssessingRegionalIntegrationinAfricaARN AcademiaResearchNetworkARCT AgeingResearchComputationalToolsASARECA AssociationforStrengtheningAgriculturalResearchinEasternandCentralAfricaATCP AfricanTradePolicyCentreAU AfricanUnionAUC AfricanUnionCommissionAVLAC AfricanVirtualLearningAcademyAVLIN AfricanVirtualLibraryInformationAWDR AfricanWaterDevelopmentReportAWICH AfricanWaterInformationClearingHouseAWR AfricanWomen’sReportBADEA ArabBankforEconomicDevelopmentinAfricaBDEAC BanquedeDéveloppementdesEtatsdel’AfriqueCentraleBPFA BeijingPlatformforActionCAADP ComprehensiveAfricanAgriculturalDevelopmentProgrammeCCA CommonCountryAssessmentCEDAW ConventionontheEliminationofallFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomenCD-ROM CompactDiskReadonlyMemoryCEEAC CommunautéEconomiquedesEtatsd’AfriqueCentraleCEMAC CentralAfricanMonetaryandEconomicCommunityCEN-SAD CommunityofSahelandSaharaStatesCHDCS CommitteeonHumanDevelopmentandCivilSocietyCIPS CommitteeonIndustryandPrivateSectorCODI CommitteeonDevelopmentInformationCPC CommitteeforProgrammeandCoordinationCRCI CommitteeonRegionalCooperationandIntegrationCSD CommitteeonSustainableDevelopmentCWGD CommitteeonWomen,GenderandDevelopmentCILSS ComiteInter-EtatsdeluttecontrelaSécheresseauSahel

�i Annual Report 2006

Acronyms and Abbreviations

CLEAR CentreforLand,EconomyandRightsCOMESA CommonMarketforEasternandSouthernAfricaCRNEPADAC TheSub-regionalCommitteeforCentralAfricaontheNEPADCSOs CivilSocietyOrganizationsCWD CommitteeonWomeninDevelopmentDA DevelopmentAccountDESA DepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairsDRC DemocraticRepublicofCongoEAC EastAfricanCommunityECA EconomicCommissionforAfricaECCAS EconomicCommunityofCentralAfricanStatesECLAC EconomicCommissionforLatinAmericaandCaribbeancountriesECLAC EconomicCommissionforLatinAmericaandCaribbeancountriesECOWAS EconomicCommunityofWestAfricanStatesEMA EthiopianMappingAuthorityENEA-DSD École nationale d’économie appliquée Département de la statistique et de laDépartement de la statistique et de la

démographieEPAs EconomicPartnershipAgreementsePol-Net GlobalElectronicPolicyResourceNetworkERA EconomicReportonAfricaESCAP EconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthePacificESCWA EconomicandSocialCommissionforWesternAsiaESPD EconomicandSocialPolicyDivisionEU EuropeanUnionFASDEV ForumonAfricanStatisticalDevelopmentFDI ForeignDirectInvestmentG-8 GroupofEightGA GeneralAssemblyGDP GrossDomesticProductGTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit (German Agency for

TechnicalCooperationLtd.)HIV/AIDS HumanImmunodeficiencyVirus/AcquiredImmunodeficiecySyndromeICE IntergovernmentalCommitteeofExperts ICP InternationalComparisonProgrammeICRAF InternationalCentreforResearchinAgroforestryICT InformationandCommunicationTechnologyIDRC InternationalDevelopmentResearchCentreIDEP InstituteforEconomicDevelopmentandPlanningIGAD IntergovernmentalAuthorityonDevelopmentIGOs IntergovernmentalOrganizationsIHSN InternationalHouseholdSurveyNetworkILO InternationalLabourOrganizationIMF InternationalMonetaryFundIS InformationSocietyITCA InformationTechnologyCentreforAfricaITES InternationalTradeEducationSystemITU InternationalTelecommunicationUnionJPOI JohannesburgPlanofImplementationKSIM KnowledgeSharingandInformationManagement

�iiAnnual Report 2006

LAC LatinAmericaandtheCaribbeanLCBC LakeChadBasinCommissionLDC LeastDevelopedCountryMDGs MillenniumDevelopmentGoalsMDRI MultilateralDebtReliefInitiativeMoU MemorandumofUnderstandingMRU ManoRiverUnionMP MemberofParliamentNBA NigerBasinAuthorityNCEMA NationalCentreforEconomicManagementandAdministrationNEPAD NewpartnershipforAfrica’sDevelopmentNGO Non-GovernmentalOrganizationNICI NationalInformationandCommunicationsInfrastructureNSDI NationalSpatialDataInfrastructureNSOs NationalStatisticalOfficesOECD OrganizationforEconomicCooperationandDevelopmentOIOS OfficeofInternalOversightServicesOPC OfficeofPolicyandProgrammeCoordinationOSISA OpenSocietyInstituteforSouthernAfricaPARIS21 PartnershipinStatisticsforDevelopmentinthe21stCenturyPDCT-AC PlanDirecteurConsensueldesTransportsenAfriquecentralePICTA PartnershipofICTsinAfricaPPR ProgrammePerformanceReviewPRSs PovertyReductionStrategiesPRSP-LG AfricanLearningGrouponthePovertyReductionStrategyPapersRBO RiverBasinOrganizationRCMRD RegionalCentreforMappingofResourcesforDevelopmentREC RegionalEconomicCommunityRIM RegionalImplementationMeetingRPTC RegularProgrammeofTechnicalCooperationRRSF RegionalReferenceStrategicFrameworkRBM Results-BasedManagementSSA Sub-SaharanAfricaSADC SouthernAfricanDevelopmentCommunitySAIIA SouthAfricanInstituteforInternationalAffairsSDC SwissDevelopmentCooperationSDI SustainableDevelopmentIndexSMART SustainableModernizationofAgricultureandRuralTransformationSROs SubregionalOfficesSSATP Sub-SaharanAfricaTransportProgrammeSTCs StatisticalTrainingCentresTIIP Technology,Infrastructure,InstitutionsandPoliciesUEMOA UnionEconomiqueetmonétaireouestafricaineAMU ArabMaghrebUnionUN UnitedNationsUNCTAD UnitedNationsConferenceonTradeandDevelopmentUN-DESA UnitedNationsDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairsUNEG UnitedNationsEvaluationGroupUNIFEM UnitedNationsDevelopmentFundforWomen

�iii Annual Report 2006

UNDP UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgrammeUNEP UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgrammeUNIDO UnitedNationsIndustrialDevelopmentOrganizationUNESCO UnitedNationsEducational,ScientificandCulturalOrganizationUNGIWG UnitedNationsGeographicInformationWorkingGroupUN-OHRLLS UnitedNationsoftheHighRepresentativefortheLeastDevelopedUNSD UnitedNationsStatisticalDivisionWAMU WestAfricaMonetaryUnionWSIS WorldSummitontheInformationSocietyWSSD WorldSummitonSustainableDevelopmentWTO WorldTradeOrganization

ixAnnual Report 2006

The present report reviews the progress madesinceMay2005 in the implementationof theEconomicCommission forAfrica (ECA)pro-grammeofwork.Thereportfocusesonresultsthat have been achieved and is in response tothereformmeasuresoftheSecretary-General,whichstressedthe importanceofreportingonthe results and impact of activities that havebeenundertakentoenablemembercountriestoassestheworkoftheOrganizationandfacilitatedecision-making.

Theshifttoaresults-basedbudgetingandresult-basedmanagementapproach,withtheultimateaimofenablingtheOrganizationtodeterminemoreclearlyandsystematically,theusefulness,relevance,effectivenessandimpactofitswork,hasnecessitatedarevisionoftheformatoftheannualreport.

The present report provides an account ofthe achievements in eachof the eight subpro-grammesofECAintermsoftheprogrammeofworkasdetailedbelow:

Subprogramme1.Facilitating economic and so-cial policy analysis;

Subprogramme2.Fostering sustainable develop-ment;

Subprogramme 3. Strengthening development management;

Subprogramme 4. Harnessing information for development;

Subprogramme5.Promoting trade and regional integration;

Subprogramme6.Promoting the advancement of women;

Subprogramme7.Supporting subregional activi-ties for development; and

Subprogramme8. Development planning and administration.

The report describes the major activities un-dertaken, theprogressmade towards attainingtheobjectives, theresultsachievedand lessonslearned.Itreviewstheprincipalactivitiesofthesecretariatintwoparts,ofwhichthefirstcoverstheregularworkprogramme,whilethesecondreviewstechnicalcooperationactivities.

Itishopedthatthisapproachwillhelptheread-ertodeterminetherelevance,effectivenessandusefulnessoftheactivitiesoftheCommission.

FOREWORD


Introduction

1. Theyear2005wasseenbymanyasacritical one for Africa. It was an excellent op-portunity, given the emphasis on the Millen-niumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs)thatyear,totakestockoftheprogressachievedanddesignawayforwardtoacceleratedevelopmentintheregion. Many African countries have under-taken, over thepast few years, very ambitiousagendaofreforms.Inadditiontothenationalandregionalinitiatives,theinternationalcom-munityhasreaffirmed,inthecontextofseveralmajorconferencesandsummits,itsdetermina-tiontosupporttheseefforts.Asaresult, thereisnowconsensusonkeyissuessuchastheneedto enhance aid effectiveness, both in terms ofqualityandquantity,andtoaddressthemargin-alizationofAfricancountriesinthemultilateraltradesystem.

2. So far, these initiatives have led tosomeimprovement.Africancountrieshavere-cordedhighergrowthratessincethelate1990s,theyhaveheldmanydemocraticelectionsandoverall improved their governance structures.However,foramajorityofcountries,andmorespecificallysub-SaharanAfrica(SSA),theprog-ress achieved remains insufficient to reach thedevelopmentgoalsoftheregion,includingtheMDGs.Therefore,itisimperativetostrength-entheseeffortsandstriveforbetteroutcomes.Inparticular,thereisneedtoachievefasterandsustained economic growth and implementcomprehensive employment creation policiesandprogrammes.

Strong growth performance continues in Africa in 2005

3. According to theSurveyofEconomicandSocialConditionsinAfrica,thegrowthofrealGrossDomesticProduct (GDP) inAfricaandsub-SaharanAfrica isestimatedat5.3percentin2005,marginallyupfrom5.2percentin2004.Akeydriverofthisoutcomeistheef-fectofimprovedmacroeconomicmanagement,resultingincontrolledinflationratesandcon-solidationoffiscalimbalancesinseveralAfricancountries.Anotherfavourablefactoristhein-crease in oil revenues due to high productioncoupledwithrecord-highpricescommandedbyworldwiderisingenergydemand.

4. Despitetheseimprovements,concernsremain with regard to the very limited socialgains achieved so far and the sustainability ofgrowth in the medium-term. Furthermore,thesegrowthratesremainmuchbelowthelevelrequired to significantly accelerate poverty re-ductionandachievetheMDGs.TheSurveyre-portsthatovertheperiod1998-2005,onlyfourcountriesrecordedaveragegrowthratesofmorethan7percent.Theseare:EquatorialGuinea(22.3percent),Chad(9.7percent),Mozam-bique(8.9percent)andAngola(8.2percent).

The subregional outlook

5. Bysubregion,EastAfricaregisteredthebestperformanceforthesecondconsecutiveyear

CHAPTER I Recent Economic and Social Developments in Africa: An Overview

� Annual Report 2006

Recent Economic and Social Developments in Africa: An Overview

withrealGDPgrowthrateat6.1percent.Thisoutcome was mainly driven by better agricul-tureproductionwhilehigherpublicandprivateinvestments boosted growth in Djibouti. Loweconomic growth in Eritrea is attributable todroughts.SouthernAfricawasthesecondfast-estgrowingsubregion in2005withrealGDPincreaseof5.8percent,upfrom5.1percentin2004.Overall,thesubregionbenefitedfromhighermetalandoilprices.Thesolidperform-anceinAngolaisexplainedinpartbyapickupin activity in the oil sector. In Mozambique,the economic growth increased due to higherexportsofaluminiumandelectricity,andcon-tinuedtobenefitfrompastreformsandsupportfrom development partners. In South Africa,the acceleration of GDP growth is explainedbygoodperformanceinthetourismsector,andhigherdomesticdemandandexports.GrowthinNorthAfricaremainedsolidin2005at5.3percentcomparedto5.2percentin2004.Thisresult isdue to the strongperformanceof theoilsectorandalsotheimpactoftheeconomicreformsastheyhavestrengthenedthecapacitytoresistexternalshocks.InMoroccoandTuni-sia,thetextileindustrysufferedfromthephaseoutoftheMultifibreAgreementonTextileandClothing in January 2005. In Morocco, thegrowthwasfurtheraffectedbyasharpcontrac-tioninagricultureoutputduetopoorweatherconditions.

6. In Central Africa, economic activitysloweddownfromahigh6.3percentin2004to3.7percentin2005.ActivityintheoilsectorremainedsolidinChadandEquatorialGuinea,thoughatamuchlesserratethanin2004.The

completion of major oil investment projectspartly explains the slowdown. The improvedpoliticalconditionsinCentralAfricanRepublicandintheDemocraticRepublicofCongohavecontributed positively to the growth outcomeobservedin2005.InWestAfrica,theeconomicactivitymarginallyincreasedfrom4.8percentin2004 to4.9percent in2005.Poorweath-er conditions affected agriculture productionnegativelyinGhanawhileinCoted’IvoirethepoliticaluncertaintycontinuedtoimpactGDPgrowthnegatively.Therestorationofpeaceandthe reconstruction efforts, supported by in-creasedaidflows,stimulatedgrowthinLiberiaandSierraLeone.

Improvement of macroeconomic fundamentals

7. Africahasmadesignificantprogressintermsofmacroeconomicmanagement, adopt-ing prudent fiscal and monetary policies. Asaresult,countries intheregionhavegenerallyimprovedtheirfiscalbalance,reducedinflationrates, stabilized exchange rate movements andaddressedcurrentaccountimbalances.

8. Theaveragefiscalpositionintheregionmovedfromadeficitof0.7percentofGDPin2004toasurplusof0.7percentin2005.Thesefigures, however, mask very different countryexperiences. Theshift toa surplusonaveragein Africa was mainly driven by sizeable fiscalsurpluses recordedbyoil-producing countries.Nonetheless, some non-oil economies such asKenya, Lesotho, SaoTome and Principe, and

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Average over 1998-2003

2004

2005

Figure �: Real GDP growth in Africa from �998 to �005



Seychelles also recordedfiscal surpluses. Not-withstandingthesepositiveresults,fiscalimbal-ancesremainacriticalissueforseveralcountrieswithdeficitsreachingunsustainablelevels.Fis-calconsolidationthereforeremainshighontheagendaforeconomicreforminAfrica.

9. Monetaryauthoritiesintheregionhavecontinuedtoimplementprudentpolicies.Asaresult,inflationremainedrelativelylowinAfri-camovingfrom7.8percentin2004to8.2percentin2005.Severalcountriesrecordedsingle-digitinflationratesin2005while14countriespostedratesabove10percent.

10. Thecontinentcontinuestoimproveitsexternal position in terms of current accountbalance,exchangeratemovements,andfinancialflows.Inthatregard,totalofficialdevelopmentassistancetoAfricacontinuesitsrecoveryfromthelongdeclineexperiencedbetween1990and2001.AidfromalldonorsstoodatUS$26.5billionin2004comparedtoUS$16.2billionin2001.

The debt problem remains of concern

11. Despite the implementation of theHIPC initiative, Africa’s total external debtstockstoodatUS$285.5billionin2005,thesamelevelasin1997.TheworkdonebyECAhighlightsseveralkeyissuestobeaddressedtosolve Africa’s debt problem. Among the pro-posedsolutionsare:(i)theneedtousemultipleindicators intheanalysisofdebtsustainabilitytoenrichanddeepentheinsightintocountry-specificcircumstancesofthedebtcrisis;(ii)toclarify legal aspects of external debt manage-ment; to minimize the impact of exogenousshocksonAfrica’sdebt sustainability; and (iii)toassessfinancingneedsfordebtreliefandde-velopment.Inthiscontext,therecentMultilat-eralDebtReliefInitiative(MDRI)proposedbytheGroupofEight(G-8)at its2005SummitinGleneaglesismostwelcome.Itwillhowevernotbesufficienttoadequatelymeetthefinanc-ingneedsfordevelopmentinAfrica.Toensure

debt sustainability, theMDRIwill have to beaccompaniedbyconcretemeasurestodealwithcommoditypriceshocksandinitiativestodiver-sifyAfricaneconomies.

African countries need to create more jobs to reduce poverty

12. Whileeconomicgrowthhasimprovedsignificantly, the impact on employment crea-tionintheregionremainsinsufficient.Thisre-sult isnotablycausedbyahighconcentrationofeconomicactivityincapital-intensivesectorssuchasoilandmining.Thepoorperformanceinthisareaisaserioussourceofconcern,giventhat theability toacceleratepovertyreductiondependsonthecapacityofAfricancountriestocreateenoughjobstoprovidepeoplewithmoresecuresourcesofincome.

13. So far, the region has registered slowprogress in thefight againstpoverty, illiteracy,endemic diseases, gender inequality and othersocial problems. While the developing worldingeneralhasmadesignificantprogresstowardsachievingtheMDGsoverthepastdecade,manyAfrican countries are still lagging behind forseveralofthegoals.Indeed,sub-SaharanAfricaistheonlyregioninthedevelopingworldwherepovertyheadcounthasincreasedsince1980.Inthe2005Human Development Report,30ofthe32countriesclassifiedinthe“lowhumandevel-opment”categoryarefromsub-SaharanAfrica.Animportantcauseoftheslowprogressinhu-mandevelopmentisthefactthatgrowthhasnotbeenaccompaniedbysufficientjobcreation.

14. In addition to the other developmentchallenges discussed above, African countriesfacethecriticalissueofpervasivegenderinequal-ityinbasicrights,accesstoproductiveresourcesandeconomicopportunities,andlackofpoliti-calvoice.Theinternationaldevelopmentcom-munityhasrealizedthatgender inequality isacriticalissueandmustthereforeoccupyacentreroleindesigningeconomicpolicies.Thefocusongenderinequalityisreflectedinthelargeandgrowingnumberofnationaland international



declarations and conventions on the advance-mentofgenderequity.However,actualimple-mentationof thesedeclarations remainsweak,mainlybecauseof the lackofeffective institu-tionalbacking,thusthepersistenceofpervasivegenderinequalityacrossthecontinent.

Medium-term economic outlook

15. Overall,theeconomicoutlookforAfri-cainthecomingyearsremainspromisinggiventhe improvedmacroeconomic fundamentals,acontinuedrecoveryintheglobaleconomyandthe commitments of development partners tosubstantiallyincreaseaidflowstoAfrica.Asaresult, real GDP growth in Africa is expectedto increase to5.8per cent in2006.However,many countries are likely to continue to faceimportant challenges thatmayundermine theoveralleconomicperformanceandprogressto-wardspovertyeradication.Themainfactorstopositively impact growth include the expectedhighoilprices,deliveryofpromiseddebtrelief,anddividendsfromcontinuedimprovementsin

macroeconomicmanagement.However,otherfactors are likely to dampen growth, includ-ing poor infrastructure, climatic vagaries suchasdroughts,higherworldinterestratesandtheimpliedcostsofdebtservicing,andtheadverseeffects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Policymakers must therefore focus on strategies toalleviate the impactof these risks in the shortrun.Inthelongrun,thebeststrategyconsistsinmainstreamingriskpreventionandriskman-agement into national economic developmentplanning.

16. In that regard, the 2005 Survey con-cludes with a set of policy recommendationsaimed at increasing economic growth and ac-celeratingpovertyreductioninAfrica.Itnota-blyproposespolicymeasures intendedtocon-solidatemacroeconomicmanagement,promoteeconomicdiversification,improvepublicinfra-structureandprovidereliablesourcesofenergy.Asaresultoftheimplementationofsuchmeas-ures,itisexpectedthatAfricancountrieswouldbeinabetterpositiontogenerateemploymentopportunitiestoreducepoverty.

5Annual Report 2006

Regular Programme of Work

Facilitating economic and social policy analysis

17. The objective of ECA’s work underthissubprogrammeistostrengthenthecapac-ityofmemberStatestodesignandimplementappropriate economic and social policies andstrategiestoachievesustainedeconomicgrowthforpoverty reduction. To this end,particularemphasiswasplacedonmonitoringandtrack-ingAfrica’seconomicperformance;conductingresearchandpolicyanalysisonmacroeconomic,financial and social issues; and strengtheningthestatisticalcapacitiesofAfricancountriesformonitoringprogresstowardstheMDGs.

18. ECAengages in trackingregionalandcountryeconomicperformanceinordertopro-vide timely and accurate information, analysisandoptionsforshort-termpolicydesigninthecontextofimplementationoftheobjectivesofpovertyreductionstrategiesandothernational-ly-owned development programmes. Activitiesin this area include the provision of in-depthanalyses showing macroeconomic trends andvariablestoservepolicymakersandotherend-usersintheregion;workshops;studies;anddia-loguewithregionalstakeholders.

19. The Economic Report on Africa, whichistheannualflagshippublicationoftheCom-mission,offersacomprehensivereviewofeco-nomicandsocialdevelopmentsinAfrica,pro-motesunderstandingofkeydevelopmentissuesand facilitates policy-making. Preparation of

the2006editionofthereportwasakeyactiv-ityunderthissubprogrammeduringtheperiodunder review. In view of Africa’s low savingsandinvestmentrates,andtheneedtomobilizeadditional resources for meeting the MDGs,ERA 2006 focusedonthetheme, �apital Flows�apital Flows and Development Financing in Africa. The re-port brings the issue of capital flows to thecentreofthedebateondevelopmentfinancingand examines how increased capital flows canhelpAfricancountriestoaccelerategrowthandachieve theMDGs. Thereportalsoexaminestheimpactofcapitalflowsoneconomictrans-formation, the role of macroeconomic policyandtheinstitutionalenvironmentinattractingcapitalflows, constraints to capital inflows in-cluding absorptive capacity, and strategies forbettermanagementofcapitalflowstomaximizetheir positive effects on growth and minimizetheirpotentialdestabilizingeffects.

20. TheaimofthereportistocontributetotheadoptionbymemberStatesofpolicymea-sures for attracting capitalflows as an integralpartoftheirdevelopmentandstructuraltrans-formationstrategies.Theanalysisinthereportalso draws on lessons from other developingcountriesintheareaofmanagementofcapitalflows,thusprovidingavaluableinputtonation-alpoliciesformanagingtheprocessofintegra-tionintotheglobaleconomy.Otheractivitiesundertakenbythesecretariataimedatstrength-ening capacity for attracting capital flows fordevelopmentincludedanadhocexpertsgroupmeeting on capital flows and current accountsustainability(Accra,Ghana,September2005),whichidentifiedpolicieswithrespecttotrade,capitalflowsanddebtthatcouldincreasecur-rentaccountsustainabilityinAfricancountries.

CHAPTER II Major Achievements in 2006


Major Achievements in 2006

21. The year under review also saw thepublicationofamajorresearchreportentitled,Unleashing the Private Sector in Africa.There-portcoveredawiderangeofissuesrangingfromconditionsforfirmentryandgrowth,encourag-inginnovations,theuseofICTandtheroleofFDIandtheAfricanDiasporainprivatesectordevelopment. Inparticular, the reportunder-lined the role of African governments in pro-moting the development of the private sectorby addressing the constraints to private sectorgrowth and development, including strategiesforincreasingFDIflowstotheregionandmaxi-mizing the contributions of the African Dias-poratothecontinent’sdevelopment.

22. With 34 out of the world’s 50 LeastDeveloped Countries (LDCs) in Africa, ad-dressingthespecialneedsofthisgroupofcoun-triesremainsapriorityareaforECA’swork.Inpreparation for the global mid-term review oftheBrusselsProgrammeofActiontobeheldinSeptember2006,theECAsecretariat,togetherwith the United Nations Office of the HighRepresentative forLeastDevelopedCountries,Landlocked Developing Countries and SmallDeveloping Island States (UN-OHRLLS) andUNDPAfricaBureau,jointlyorganizedtheAf-ricanRegionalpreparatorymeetinginFebruary2006.Themeetingagreedonasetofactionstoaccelerateprogresstowardsattainingthetargetsand commitments of the BPoA. The AfricanoutcomedocumentalsoinformeddiscussionsattheAsiaandPacificRegionalreviewmeeting.

23. Theworkofthesecretariatintheareaofsocialpolicyandpovertyanalysisduringtheyearfocusedonactivities insupportoftheef-forts of member States in achieving the goalsof NEPAD and the Millennium Declaration.For instance, the secretariat submitted to theCommission’s session in2005,an issuespaperwhichidentifiedthemainchallengesinmeetingtheMDGs inAfrica andprovidedpolicy rec-ommendationsonhowthesecanbeaddressed.In preparation for the thirty-ninth session oftheCommissioninMay2006,whereissuesofemployment and poverty reduction strategiesareontheagenda,anissuespaperhasalsobeen

preparedhighlightingthecentralityofemploy-mentinachievingpovertyreduction.

24. ECA’scontributiontothedevelopmentofcomprehensivenationaldevelopmentstrate-giesforachievingtheMDGswasalsoenhancedbyconveningtheAfrican Plenary on Poverty Re-duction Strategies (PRSs) and the Implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)in March 2006 in Cairo, Egypt. The Plenaryprovided a forum for sharing national experi-ence and best practices including identifyingweaknessesinthedesignandimplementationofPRSs,andchartingthecourseforthedevelop-mentofthesecondgenerationofAfricanPRSs.Themeetingalsoprovidedanopportunity forAfrican policy makers to examine the optionsforachievingtheMDGsandreducingpovertythrough structural transformation. A majoroutcomeof themeetingwas the launchof ananInternet-basedPRSKnowledgeNetworkwhichlinksPRSpractitionersandscholarsonthena-tionalandinternationallevels.ThemeetingwasorganizedincollaborationwiththeAfricanUn-ionCommission(AUC)andUNDP.

25. Inaddition,ECAprovidedsubstantivesupporttotheTackling Poverty Togetherproject,aninitiativeoftheUnitedNationsYouthUnitoftheDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAf-fairs (DESA) aimed at facilitating youth par-ticipation in the implementation of povertyreduction programmes and activities in theircountriesatbothcommunityandnationallev-els.Inthisregard,ECAparticipatedinameet-ingofyouthsinLusaka,ZambiainSeptember2005 andhelped youths from seven countriesindevelopingactionplanstoensurethattheirinputs are taken into account in the formula-tionandimplementationofnationalpovertyre-ductionprogrammes.Themainpremiseofthisprojectisthatyouthsconstituteamajorpropor-tionofthepoorandshouldbeanactivepartoftheprocessofdealingwiththeproblem.

26. Despitegrowingawarenessofthecru-cru-cialroleofindicatorsandstatisticsinachievingdevelopment outcomes and the overall moni-toringofdevelopmentgoals,thelackofqualityquality



ofsocio-economicandenvironmentalstatisticsremainsamajorchallengeinAfrica.Toaddressit,thesecretariatundertookanumberofactivi-tiesaimedatstrengtheningthestatisticalcapaci-tiesofitsmemberStatesforinformeddecision-makingas well as for tracking progress towardsaswellasfortrackingprogresstowardstheachievementoftheMDGsandotherdevel-opmentgoals.A major achievement in this areaAmajorachievementinthisareawasthedevelopmentandimplementationofaprototypemodelfortheECAregionalstatisticaldatabase,followingacomprehensivedataneedsassessmentconductedduringthethirdquarterof2004.

27. The secondForumonAfricanStatis-tical Development (FASDEV II) was held inAddisAbaba from9 to10February2006 toreviewandendorsetheRegional Reference Stra-tegic Framework (RRSF) forAfrican statisticaldevelopment,whichprovidesanactionframe-work for Africa’s statistical development overthe next 10 years. FASDEV was launchedin2005 to (i) setupapermanent systemformonitoring statistical development in Africa;(ii)strengthencollaborationandcoordinationin the field of statistics by leveraging on thecomparativeadvantageofthevariouspartners;and(iii)provideanoverviewofstatisticalactiv-ities, includingtechnicalassistanceandtrain-inginAfrica.TheorganizationofFASDEVIIis an excellent illustration of the cooperationbetweenECA,theAfricanDevelopmentBank(AfDB), the Partnership in Statistics for De-velopmentinthe21stCentury(PARIS21)andtheWorldBank.

28. In February 2006, ECA joined forceswith the United Nations Statistical Division(UNSD)andtheStatisticsOfficeofSouthAf-ricatoorganizeameetingonthetheme,2006 Africa Symposium on Statistical Development: The 2010 Round of Population and Housing �en-susesinCapeTown.ThemeetingunderscoredtheneedtostrengthenthelinkagebetweentheMDGsandnationalcensuses.ThesymposiumwasparticularlytimelyanditsoutcomewouldhelpexpandawarenessofthemoderntechniquesusedinnationalpopulationcensunsesasmanyAfricancountriespreparefortheirnationalcen-

susesin2006andbeyond.Thesecretariatalsoorganized a series of training workshops andexpertgroupmeetingsaimedatenhancingthecapacityofAfricancountriesintheharmoniza-tion,compilation,analysisanddisseminationofreliable, timely and standardized statistical in-formationinlinewiththecriteriaoftheInter-nationalComparisonProgramme(ICP).

Fostering sustainable development

29. The 2005 World Summit Outcomereaffirmed the importance of environmen-tal sustainability as the foundation on whichstrategies for achieving all the other MDGsmustbebuilt.Nowhereistheimportanceoftheenvironmentasafoundationfordevelop-mentmoreobviousthaninAfricawheremanycountries continue to face unique challengesintermsofnaturalresourcesmanagement.Inresponsetothesechallenges,theworkofECAunder this subprogramme aims to promotepromoteawarenessoftheenvironmentalfoundationsofsustainable development, with particular em-phasis on integrating environmental sustain-ability into national development processesand poverty reduction strategies so that eco-nomic and social development is not under-minedbyenvironmentaldegradation.

30. Insupportofthisbroadobjective,theactivities undertaken focused on the follow-ing three interrelated areas: (a) strengtheningstrengtheningnational capacities to design institutional ar-rangements and implement national policiesand programmes that reinforce the linkagesamongthenexusissuesoffoodsecurity,popu-lation,environmentandhumansettlementsinorder to achieve sustainable development; (b)improving stewardship of the natural resourcebasebystrengtheningcapacitiesforsustainableexploitation,managementandeffectiveutiliza-tionofmineral,energyandwaterresources;and(c) contribute to building capacity of Africancountriestoutilizescienceandtechnology, in-in-cludingbiotechnology in achieving sustainableinachievingsustainabledevelopment.

8 Annual Report 2006


31. Through a variety of activities whichbuilt on thoseofprevious years,ECAcontin-uedtoadvocateandincreaseawarenessofpolicymakersoftheneedtointegratethethreedimen-sionsofsustainabledevelopment intonationaldevelopmentframeworksandplanningprocess-es.Anumberofmeetings,seminars,andtrain-ing workshops were organized with a view tostrengtheningstakeholdercapacitiesinaddress-ingcriticalsustainablechallenges.

32. Promoting agriculture and food secu-rityarecentraltoECA’smandate.Tothisend,ECApreparedvariousreports,undertookadvi-sorymissions,organizedmeetingsandpartici-patedinhigh-levelmeetingsthatwereindirectsupportofCAADPorwerecarriedoutwithintheNEPADframework. ECAparticipated infiveRegionalImplementationMeetings(RIM)and a Summit in Accra, Ghana in May 2005whichresultedintheadoptionofAccraPlanofAction to advance the implementation of theCAADPagendaatregionalandcountrylevels.

33. Analytical studies and reports wereconducted and disseminated on developmentsintheregionwithregardtosustainabledevelop-mentissues.Addressingthecriticalsustainabledevelopmentchallengeswasthefocusofthein-auguralissueofthe SustainableDevelopment Re-port on Africa.Theimportantpublicationhigh-lightsaswellassignificantenvironmentaltrendsintheregionwithaviewtoincreasingawarenessofinnovativewaysformainstreamingenviron-ment and sustainable development issues intonationalplanninginstruments.Itcoversawiderangeof issues including land-basedresources;landpolicyandresources;managementofwa-terresourcesforfoodsecurity;managementofenergy resources for harnessing land-based re-sources;andmanagementofmineralresources.

34. Thereport shows that the journey to-wards sustainable development is beset withstagnant or worsening status indicators, andcalled for concerted efforts in all countries toaggressivelyadoptandimplementpolicies,pro-grammesandstrategiesthataimtoachievetheinternationalsustainabledevelopmentgoalsand

targetsinthemediumandlong-term.There-portalsoemphasizestheneedforaholisticandintegratedtreatmentofthevariousdimensionsof sustainable development given that policiestendtohaveasectoralperspectivewithoutanyattempttoharmonizethem.Thereportrecom-mends the need for harmonized developmentpolicies, programmes and strategies. Nationalcouncilsforsustainabledevelopmentthatareinplaceinmostcountriesareexpectedtotakeontheroleoffacilitatingthisprocess.

35. Activitiesinthefieldofenergyinclud-edpreparationofaseriesofstudiesandreportsonpower sector reforms. A study,Power Sec-tor Reform in Africa: Making Africa’s Power Sec-tor Sustainable, was prepared in collaborationwithUnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP)within the frameworkofUnitedNa-tions Energy/Africa. The study provides anin-depth analysis of the economic, social andenvironmentalimpactsofpowersectorreforms.Among its findings are that while reformshelped achieve some institutional efficiency,preliminaryassessments indicatea lowlevelofinterestbytheprivatesectorinimprovingelec-tricity access levels aswell as anunwillingnessto commit the levels of investment needed toincreasegenerationcapacityandimprovetrans-mission networks. The report concludes thatoverall,reformshavenotbeenenoughtoensurethesustainabilityofthepowersector.Thestudyunderlined theneed to refocus reforms to en-sureincreasedelectricityaccessforthemajorityofpoorpeople.

36. Similarly, activities undertaken in theareaofscienceandtechnologywereaimedaten-hancingawarenessoftheroleandcontributionofS&Tinachievingsustainabledevelopment.In this context,ECAprovided technical assis-tance to Rwanda, South Africa and Ghana inreviewing,restructuring,andupdatingtheirsci-ence,technologyandinformationsystemsandpolicies. ECA also participated in the eighthsessionoftheUNCommissiononScienceandTechnologyforDevelopmentinGenevainMay2005whereitsponsoredaresolutiononmak-ing science and technologywork for thepoor

9Annual Report 2006


and the African Green Revolution which wasadoptedbytheUNGeneralAssemblyinSep-tember2005. Inarelated initiative, theECAExecutiveSecretarywasinvitedtojoinaGroupofEminentPersonsontheAfricanGreenRevo-lutionbyPresidentOlusegunObasanjoofNi-geria,duringhistenureasChairoftheAfricanUnion.

37. AnotherhighlightoftheyearwasECA’sworkontradeandenvironmentwhichseekstopromotesustainabledevelopmentbyenhancingcapacityofgovernments,businessesandcivilso-cietytointegrateenvironmentalconsiderationsinto trade andfinancialpolicies andpractices.Tothisend,aRegionalWorkshoponCapacity-Building inTradeandEnvironmentwasorga-nizedattheECAheadquartersinAddisAbabainFebruary2006todiscussthenexusbetweentradeandsustainabledevelopment.Themeet-ingunderlinedtherelevanceofenvironmentalissues for trade, and noted with concern thatenvironmental issues have not been taken asseriouslyastheyshouldhavebeenintradene-gotiationswithintheWTOframework,duetotheweaknegotiatingcapacitiesofAfricancoun-tries.Inthisconnection,themeetingcalledforawarenessraisingandadvocacyamongAfricanleaders regarding the importance of environ-ment issues and theneed to allocatemore re-sourcestothesector.

38. ECA’sworkunderthissubprogrammehasledtoincreasedawarenessoftheneedtoin-tegrateenvironmentalconsiderationsintomain-streamnationaleconomicpoliciesandplansforachieving the MDGs and poverty reduction.TheimpactinmemberStatesisreflectedintheincreaseinthenumberofcountriesthatarere-defining theirnational strategies to includeanenvironmentalcomponent.

Strengthening development management

39. The central role of good governanceinbuildingacapableStateandachievingsus-tainabledevelopmentandpovertyreductionis

nowwidelyrecognized.Asystemofgoodgov-ernanceisalsorequiredforallsectorsofsocietyto participate and contribute to the develop-mentprocess,aswellasfortheimplementationof New Partnership for Africa’s Development(NEPAD)andachievingtheMDGs.Address-ingthechallengeofestablishingandsustaininggoodgovernancepracticesforbroadstakehold-er participation in the development processandstrengtheningthefoundationsforsustain-abledevelopmentinAfricaremainsthecentralobjective of ECA’s work under this subpro-gramme. Particular emphasis was also placedon addressing the challenges identified in theConsensus Statement adopted at the fourthAfricanDevelopmentForum(ADF-IV)whichwasheldinOctober2004onthetheme,Good Governance for a Progressing Africa.

40. Activities in support of the aboveob-jective during the year under review includedmeetings, seminars and workshops to facili-tate the exchange of experience and improvestakeholder capacity in the areaofgovernance(political, economic and corporate, includingstrengtheningpublicfinancialmanagement).

41. In the area of political governance,ECAprovidedsupporttotheAPRMSecretar-iat as one of the key strategic partner institu-tions.Inaddition,ECAalsoprovidedtechnicalassistance to several member States in variousstages of their reviewprocess andparticipatedinseveralcountrysupportmissions.Crucially,the African Governance Report (AGR) coun-try case studies servedas inputs into theAPRcountryself-assessmentsinceabout50percentof thecountries involvedhavealsoacceded totheAPRM.

42. ECApublishedandlaunchedthefirstannual AGR during the period under review.AmajorpressconferencewasheldattheECAheadquartersinAddisAbabainMarch2006toformally launch the report. Thepress confer-ence was attended by several media agenciesfromwithinandoutsideAfrica.Thereportre-ceivedunprecedentedworldwidemedia cover-ageandhasbecomeoneofECA’sbestknown

�0 Annual Report 2006


publications as reflectedby thenumberof re-quests received so far for copies of the reportfrom various African and non-African institu-tions. However, even before the report wasformallylaunchedinMarch2006,ithadbeenusedbyseveralregionalandsubregionalinstitu-tionstosupporttheirworkongovernance,andwas extensively quoted in several conferences,studiesandwebsites.Forexample,duringtheForum on Governance in AfricaorganizedbytheAfrican Union in November 2005, the SouthAfricanInstituteforInternationalAffairs(SAI-IA)madeapresentationusingtheresultsoftheECA governance study as well as the countrysurveys on Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique,South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimba-bwe(SAIIA, 2005).Theforumnotedthatpub-lications suchas theAGRhad immensevalueincrucialgovernanceareassuchaslinkingandpromoting synergies between different catego-riesofactors,andgivingprioritytoimplemen-tationissues,andsupportingdialogueprocesseson governance issues. At the country level,some of the partner national research institu-tionshavealreadypublishedtheirownnationalgovernance reports based on the country pro-filesintheAGR.

43. Thereportisintendedtopromotecon-sensus-building on key issues and to develop,sustainandinternalizethenormsofgoodgov-ernanceinAfrica.Indicatorsdevelopedforthefirstreportcovered27countriesandfocusedonissues of political representation, institutionaleffectiveness, and economic management andcorporate governance. The report provided asignificantinputtotheAPRMprocessinseveralcountries.

44. Intheareaofeconomicandcorporategovernance, ECA organized a series of subre-gionalworkshopson�odes and standards for eco-nomic and corporate governance in Africa.Theseworkshops were organized in collaborationwith the five ECA Subregional Offices (Cen-tralAfrica,EastAfrica,NorthAfrica,SouthernAfrica andWestAfrica). Theobjectiveof theworkshopsistoprovideaforumforexpertsandpolicymakers,includingrepresentativesof gov-ofgov-

ernments,civilsocietyorganizations,academicinstitutionsandtheprivatesectorfromthefivesubregions to review economic and corporate review economic and corporategovernancepracticesinmemberStates;identifythemainchallenges, strategies andgoodprac-ticesandproviderecommendationstoenhanceeconomicandcorporategovernance in the re-gion. Each subregional workshop ended withEach subregional workshop ended withEach subregionalworkshopendedwiththeadoptionofaPlanofActionaimedatiniti-atingandreinforcingspecificprogrammesandcampaignofadvocacyandsensitizationforpro-motingbettercorporategovernanceinthepub-licandprivatesectors.FivebackgroundpaperswerepreparedandpresentedatthesubregionalworkshopsbytheECAsecretariat.Inaddition,atechnicalpublicationonpromotingcodesandstandardsofgoodeconomicandcorporategov-ernanceiscurrentlybeingprepared.

45. A number of ad hoc experts groupmeetingsandworkshopswereorganizedtore-view the results of various research, analyticalstudies and publications prepared by the sec-retariat on a wide range of governance issues.Theseincludedanadhocexpertsgroupmeet-ingonbestpractices inparticipatorydevelop-ment;adhocexpertsgroupmeetingonpublicfinancialmanagementandaccountabilityinthecontext of budget transparency in Africa; andaworkshopontheroleofAfrica’scivil societyintheimplementationoftheAPRM.In2005,twopublicationswerealsoproducedonpartner-shipmodalitiesforenhancinggoodgovernanceand regulatory governance and infrastructuredevelopment. One issues paper, prepared forthejointECA-ADBannualsymposiuminMay2005exploredtheissueofcapacity-buildingforachieving the MDGs in Africa. In addition,ECA isplanning toorganize the sixthAfricanGovernance Forum (AGF) in collaborationwithUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP) and ADB under the theme, Imple-menting the African Peer Review Mechanism-challenges and opportunities inMay2006.

46. As part of its ongoing reforms, ECAplans to establish strategic partnership initia-tives with various institutions in the memberStates inorder topromote cooperation in the

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areaofgovernanceandprovideitsworkwithastrongcountry-leveldimension.

Harnessing information for development

47. The overall objective of the subpro-grammeistofurtherstrengthenthegrowthofasustainableinformationsociety(IS)inAfricathat better addresses the continent’s develop-ment challenges. To that end, ECA’s workunder this subprogramme focused on threebroad interrelated areas as follows: Harnessing Information Technology for Development – imple-menting the African Information Society Initiative (AISI); Strengthening Geo-information systems for sustainable development; and Improving access to information and knowledge through enhanced li-brary services.

48. Activities undertaken in the area ofharnessing information for development wereaimedatstrengtheningthecapacityofmemberStates to create an enabling environment foran enabling environment forharnessing ICTs to achieve acceleratedgrowthand development. Key to the attainment of Key to the attainment ofthisobjectiveisthepromotionofNational In-NationalIn-formationandCommunicationsInfrastructure(NICI)policiesandplanswhicharticulatelong-termpolicy, infrastructure, regulatory, contentandapplicationstrategiesasanintegralpartofoverallnationaldevelopmentprogrammes.

49. A major accomplishment in this areaistheincreaseinthenumberofcountriesthathave either developed or implemented NICIpoliciesandplanswithECA’sassistanceduringtheyear.AsaresultofECA’sassistance,NICI’splanswereinitiated,formulatedorimplement-edin13additionalcountriesduringtheperiodunderreview-Chad,theDemocraticRepublicofCongo,Gabon,theGambia,Malawi,Niger,Niger,Nigeria, Sierra Leone, the Sudan, Swaziland, the Sudan, Swaziland,Swaziland,Rwanda, Tanzania, and Togo (which received Tanzania, and Togo (which received and Togo (which receivedassistanceinfinalizingitssecondNICI).ECAECAalsoassistedEthiopiaandUgandainlaunchingtheirsectoralplansintheareaofhealth.

50. InordertobridgethedigitaldivideandstrengthentheapplicationICTsintheeconomicsectors,ECAlaunchedanICT,TradeandEco-nomicGrowthinitiativeinMarch2006inpart-nershipwiththeGovernmentofCanadatosup-porttheuseofICTsineconomicperformanceandgrowth,buildcompetitivenessaswellasin-creasegrowthintraditionalandemergingsec-torsofAfricaneconomiesandincreaseAfrica’sexportbaseinIT-enabledServices(ITES).

51. Duringtheperiodunderreview,ECAalsocontinuedtoactivelysupporttheobjectivesofNEPADthroughassistanceto theRegionalEconomicCommunities (RECs) in thedevel-opment and implementation of subregionalpoliciesandplansinordertoensureimprovedconnectivity and unification of standards be-tweenmemberStates. InDecember2005,ane-government strategy was completed for theEast African Community (EAC). Since Sep-tember 2005, the Economic Community ofWestAfricanStates(ECOWAS)andECAhavebeenworkingtogethertocreateanICTpolicyframeworkforthesubregionwhichwouldad-dress the challenges of building the informa-tion society including harmonizing nationalICTpoliciesandplans.InNorthAfrica,astudyis being undertaken in collaboration with theArabMaghrebUnion(AMU)onthestatusofe-commercedevelopmentinthesubregiontoex-aminethefeasibilityoflaunchingasubregionale-commerceplatform,whichwillfacilitatebusi-nessactivitiesamongmemberStates.The draftThedraftICTstrategyfortheCommon Market for East-CommonMarketforEast-ernandSouthernAfrica (COMESA) was pre-COMESA)waspre-sentedanddiscussedinFebruary2006atanex-pertsgroupmeeting.Alsoin2006, ECA will be2006,ECAwillbesupportingtheCommunautéEconomiquedesEtatsd’AfriqueCentrale(CEEAC)andCentralCentralAfrican Monetary and Economic Community(CEMAC)to implementthee-CEMAC2010initiative.

52. InresponsetotheneedformeasuringtheimpactofICTsinvarioussectors,ECAcon-tinuedtoimplementitsinitiative,SCAN-ICT,which is aimed at building and strengtheningthecapacityofmemberStates in thedevelop-

�� Annual Report 2006


mentof indicatorsandbenchmarks formoni-toringandassessinginformationsocietytrends.The SCAN-ICT initiative entered its secondphaseinJune2005withthelaunchofactivitiesforcollectingcoreICTfordevelopmentindica-torsinfivecountries(Cameroon,theGambia,Ghana,Mauritius,andRwanda).Thecountrieswillbegindevelopingweb-basedresourcesanddatabases as a result of the indicators in late2006. The regional IS indicators database forAfricawilleventuallybeintegratedintoaglobaldatabase to allow for comparison. Thedevel-opment efforts for the two systems are beingcarried out concurrently. This has necessitatedextensivecollaborationbetweenECAandotherUNregionalcommissions, internationalagen-cies and national statistical offices in develop-ing harmonized and standardized informationsocietyindicatorsattheglobal,regionalandna-tionallevels.

53. AnimportantaspectofECA’snationalpolicy formulation is the development of na-tionalgeoinformationpolicies, aswell as theirintegration into national e-strategies. Duringtheperiodunderreview,ECAassistedBurkinaFaso, Liberia and Rwanda in integrating Na-tionalSpatialDataInfrastructures(NSDI)intotheirNICIprocess,andiscurrentlyundertak-ingareviewofSDIactivitiesinSenegal.Withassistance fromECA, sixcountries (Botswana,Burundi, Ethiopia, Mali, Nigeria and SouthAfrica) formally established a National SpatialDataInfrastructure(NSDI)orframework.Ef-forts are also currently underway to supporttheAfricanUnionCommission indevelopinga multi-modal transportation master plan forAfrica;andtoEthiopia,inbuildingthecapacityoftheEthiopianMappingAuthority(EMA)todevelopaweb-baseddigitalgazetteerthatbetterutilizesspatialdatabaseanddigitaltechnology.

54. TheECAsecretariatalsocontinuedtoplayitsroleasamajorgeoinformationknowl-edgehub,bymaintainingaclearinghousesys-tem for researchers and decision makers, pro-vidingthespaceformemberStatestopublicizetheirmetadataholdings.Datasetsforsixcoun-tries were completed, and five more updated,

bringingthenumberofAfricancountrieswithcompletedatasetsto19.Incollaborationwiththe International Cartographic Association,ECApreparedanddisseminatedadraftreportonfundamentaldatasetstorelevantstakehold-erstofacilitateagreementbymemberStatesona common terminology and consistent funda-mental spatial data sets for Africa. Efforts toincrease the awareness of policy and decisionmakers of the importance of geoinformationfor economic development was also deliveredthrough a workshop in March 2006 forWestAfrican countries on the African ReferenceFramework (AFREF). In addition, the ECAsecretariat is currently compiling, editing, andverifyingthesecondleveladministrativebound-ariesofAfricancountriesaspartofaworldwideinitiative.

55. Intheareaofinformationandknowl-edgedevelopment,theECALibraryiscurrentlyundertaking a baseline survey to measure thelevelofreadinessamongregional,nationalandspeciallibrariestoparticipateinaregionalnet-workaimedatfacilitatingthesharingofdevel-opmentknowledge resources. ThesurveywasdevelopedonthebasisoftherecommendationsoftheAdvisoryCommitteeoftheAfricanVir-tual Library Information Network (AVLIN)fromtheAVLINwhichishostedbytheECALi-brary.TheECALibraryalsocontinuedtoserveandprovidetechnicalinputstotheworkoftheSteeringCommitteeontheModernizationandHarmonization of United Nations System Li-brariesandInter-AgencyGrouponKnowledgeSharingandInformationManagement(KSIM).OtheroutreachmaterialsandservicesproducedbyECA tohelppromotepublic awarenessonICTs for development issues included a seriesof policy briefs and publications, which werelaunchedduringtheWSISinTunisinNovem-ber2005.Inaddition,twovideoprogrammeswereproducedtohighlightthechallengesandopportunities ICT present to Africa. Variousinitiativesinenhancingtheavailabilityanduti-lizationofcontenthavebeenundertakensuchasVarsityNetandAcademiaResearchNetwork(ARN)projects,andAISIMediaAwards.



56. Duringtheperiodunderreview,ECAmemberStateswereengagedinthepreparationforthesecondphaseoftheWorldSummitonthe Information Society (WSIS-2) which washeld inTunis inNovember2005. ThroughaseriesofECAactivities,Africancountrieswereabletoactivelyparticipateintheglobaldecision-making processes and reflect Africa’s commonconcerns and perspectives in their outcomesbasedontheAfricanRegionalPlanofActionontheKnowledgeEconomy(ARAPKE),adoptedbyAfricanICTMinisters inSeptember2005.ECAalsoorganizedorparticipated inanum-ber of side events during the Summit. Theseincludedasymposium,Building Regional Part-nerships for the Information Society, which wasjointlyorganizedwithotherRegionalCommis-sions,andchairedbyPresidentPaulKagameoftheRepublicofRwanda;aspecialpaneleventon Financing Knowledge in Africa which hadthePresidentoftheAfricanDevelopmentBank(ADB), and the ECA Executive Secretary, aswell as several African Ministers as panelists;andaparalleleventonmeasuringtheinforma-tion society, organized by the Partnership onMeasuringICTforDevelopment.

57. During the Summit, ECA workedwithagroupofAfricanjournalists toproducea newspaper entitled, WSIS Tunis Agenda, aswellasradiocoverageoftheSummitevents.Inaddition, as a follow-up to WSIS-2, ECA or-ECA or-ganized a conference, WSIS Follow-up �onfer-ence on Access to Information and Knowledge for Development,whichbroughttogetherlibrariansfrom African countries and other informationprofessionalstodevelopandagreeonanactionframework,whichwill serveasablueprint fortheimplementationoftheWSISrecommenda-tionsinAfrica.

58. Capacity-building activities remainCapacity-building activities remaincentraltoECA’smissionofpromotingawarenessoftheimportanceofharnessingandexploitingICTsforsocio-economicdevelopment.Throughthe activities of the Information TechnologyCenterforAfrica(ITCA),anICT-focusedexhi-bitionandlearningcenteratECA,asignificantnumberofgovernmentagencies,nationalpar-

liaments,academicandresearchinstitutionsandNGOsintheregionhavebenefitedfromtrain-ing in the use and application of ICTs. SinceAugust2005,ECAhasbeenprovidingtrainingsupportto100EthiopianCustomsofficersonapplicationdevelopmentandnetworkmanage-ment. The African Virtual Learning Academy(AVLAC)providesITCAwithadditionalmeanstoaddresstrainingneedsandprovideonlineca-pacity-buildingtrainingtopolicyanddecisionmakers,while theECA-IDEP initiativewhichstartedinSeptember2005isdevelopingonlinetrainingforpolicymakersoneconomicdevel-opmentandplanning.Otheronlinecoursesareavailable on internet governance (http://www.uneca.org/itca/vlac). Capacity-building work-shopshavebeenorganizedforMembersofPar-liamentintheGambiaandNiger(June2005)leading to the creation of Members of Parlia-mentICTsfordevelopmentnetworksaswellasanICTParliamentaryStandingCommitteeinNiger. Similar workshops were held in March2006 in Swaziland and similar requests havebeen received from the Parliaments of Kenya,UgandaandtheSADCParliamentaryForumtoassistinbuildingthecapacitiesofparliamentarystaffaswellasMembersofParliamentintheuseofICTs.Theserequestswillbeaddressedinthecourseof2006.

59. Inthecourseoftheyear,ECAcontinuestoleverageonanumberofbilateralandmulti-lateralpartnershipmechanismstocarryoutitsactivities.ItcontinuestoprovidethesecretariatforthePartnership for I�Ts in Africa (PI�TA),aninformalgroupofpartnersworkingtolever-ageresourcesandexpertisetobuildAfrica’sIn-formationSociety.ECAalsoservesastheAfricaRegionalFocalPointfortheGlobal Knowledge Partnership (GKP),andplaysanimportantrolein ensuringAfrican stakeholders’ participationin GKP activities on resource mobilization,poverty reduction, access to knowledge andeducation.ECAisalsoactiveintheworkofthePartnership on Measuring I�T for Development,aglobalpartnershipinitiativecomprisedofIn-ternational Telecommunication Union (ITU),Organization for Economic Cooperation andDevelopment (OECD), United Nations Con-



ference on Trade and Development (UNC-TAD), United Nations Educational, ScientificandCulturalOrganization (UNESCO), Insti-tuteforStatistics,ECA,EconomicCommissionforLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean(ECLAC),EconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaandthe Pacific (ESCAP), Economic and SocialCommission forWesternAsia (ESCWA),UNICTTaskForceandtheWorldBank,aimedatdefining and collecting a set of common ICTindicatorsforcountriestoproduceinformationsocietystatistics.

60. Bilateral partnerships continued tobestrengthenedduringtheyear.Forexample,cooperation between ECA and Finland wasstrengthenedfocusing on policy formulationfocusingonpolicyformulationandimplementation,telecommunicationreg-ulatory issues and research and innovation;withtheGovernmentofCanadaontheGlobal Electronic Policy Resource Network (ePol-Net) project,ofwhichECAactsastheAfricanre-gionalnode to support e-policy formulationandimplementation.Otherbilateralsupporthas been for outreach and building stake-holdership for the InformationSociety fromthe Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)andtheGeselleschaftfürTechnischeZusam-menarbeit (GTZ); and on land informationpolicies andothergeoinformation initiativesfromtheGovernmentsofKoreaandCanada.In addition, as part of the InteroperabilityTaskGroupoftheUnitedNationsGeograph-icInformationWorkingGroup(UNGIWG),ECAiscollaboratingwithUNEPtopilotaninnovative spatial data interoperability plat-form.

Promoting trade and regional integration

61. The overall objective of this subpro-grammeistoacceleratetheeffectiveintegrationofAfricaintotheglobaleconomyandstrengthenthe process of regional integration on the con-tinentthroughpromotingintraregionalandin-ternationaltradeaswellasphysical integration,withparticularemphasisonthetransportsector.

62. Theactivitiesundertakentowardsreal-izing the above objective canbe grouped intothreebroadareas,namely,tradepromotionandmultilateral tradenegotiations; facilitatingandenhancingtheprocessofregionaleconomicin-tegration;andtransportationinfrastructurede-velopment.Theeffortsundereachofthethreeareas were underpinned by enhanced supporttotheregionaleconomiccommunities(RECs),the building blocks for achieving the AfricanEconomicCommunity.

63. In the area of trade promotion andmultilateral trade negotiations, the two keyprocesses currently takingplace are theWorldTrade Organization (WTO) negotiations andeconomic partnership agreement (EPA) nego-tiationsbetweentheEuropeanUnionandAfri-cancountries.Duringtheperiodunderreview,Africancountrieswereengagedinpreparationsfor the sixthWTOMinisterialmeetingwhichwas held in Hong Kong in December. ECAworkedcloselywithotherpartnersinsupport-ingthememberStatesintheirpreparation.Inthisregard,ECA,incollaborationwiththeAfri-canUnion(AU)organizedameetingofAfricanMinistersofTradeinArusha,Tanzaniatoenablethemdefineand synchronize theirnegotiatingpositions.ECAmadetechnicalpresentationsatthemeeting,usingdetailedresearchandpolicyanalysesthatitundertook.ECAwasalsorepre-sentedat theHongKongMinisterialandmetdaily with the Africa Group of negotiators toanalyzedevelopmentsandproposenegotiationstrategies.

64. Despite the failureof theHongKongMinisterial to reach agreement on key issues,Africawasable to successfullydefend itsposi-tion, particularly on the key issues of agricul-ture, where there was agreement to eliminatevarious farm support measures by 2013. Asmany of the key decisions have been deferredtothenegotiatorsatGeneva,ECAissupport-ingtheAfricaGroupinGenevaonacontinu-ousbasis.InanothercollaborationwiththeAU,ECAorganizedapost-HongKongbrainstorm-ingmeeting forAfricannegotiators inGenevatoanalysetheHongKongMinisterialtextand

�5Annual Report 2006


developstrategiesforfuturenegotiations.ECAcontinuestomonitorthenegotiationsandsup-ports African countries on a daily basis withtechnicaladviceandassistance inmakingpro-posalsatthenegotiations.

65. As the Economic Partnership Agree-ments (EPAs) negotiations between the EUandACPcountriesenteredacrucialnewphasein2005,ECAincreaseditssupporttomemberStatesinbuildingacoherentstrategyforthene-gotiations.Although,theEPAsareexpectedtogenerate enormous benefits to ACP countries,their implementationwill pose enormous chal-lenges such as: managing the expected loss offiscal revenue; coping with more competitionexpectedasaresultofthereciprocityentailed;as-certainingnetbenefitsfromtheEPAs,especiallyforLDCs;andenhancingthelimitedcapacityfornegotiationsinmostAfricancountries.

66. In response to these challenges, ECAundertookacomprehensiveimpactassessmentofEPAs,onwhichAfricacanbuildaneffectivestrategy for negotiations with the EU. ECAorganized three subregional Expert GroupMeetings during the period under review (inWest Africa, East Africa and Southern Africa)toexaminethemainchallengesoftheongoingnegotiations and the potential implications oftheEPAsontherespectivesubregionalecono-mies.ECApresentedtheresultsofitstechnicalstudies,whichhighlightthepotentialimpactofconcludinganEPAasproposedbytheEU,andmaderecommendationsonhowAfrica shouldrespond.

67. Thesubregionalmeetingswerefollowedbyaregionalmeetingwherelessonsandexperi-encesfromthevariousregionsweresharedandthewayforwardonEPAsagreed.OneimportantoutcomeofthemeetingwasarequestforECAtoexaminehowAfricancountriescanmitigateagainstsomeofthepossibleimpactsofanEPAwiththeEU.Inresponsetotherequest,ECAconducted studies on African countries thathaveconcludedfreetradeagreementswiththeEU (Egypt, Morocco, South Africa andTuni-sia)anddistilledlessonsforotherAfricancoun-

tries.Inaddition,ECAiscurrentlyundertakingcountryspecificstudiesonthelikelyimpactofEPAs.So far, studieshavebeencompleted forDjibouti,Ethiopia,Gabon,Mali,Rwanda,Sen-egalandSeychelles.Forallthecountrystudies,ECAcooperateswithnationalgovernmentsandresearchinstitutionsinordertoensurethatna-tionalinstitutionsgaintheexperienceandskillsnecessarytoconductfuturestudies.

68. ECA’s work of building sustainabletradecapacitiesofAfricancountrieswasfurtherenhancedthroughthecapacity-buildingactivi-tiesoftheAfricanTradePolicyCentre(ATPC)which was established in 2004 with supportfromtheGovernmentofCanadatostrengthenECAcapacityon trade-related issues. Duringtheperiodunderreview,theCentrecontinuedto deliver on its mandate of providing advi-sory services and training toAfricancountrieson trade-related issues and regularly publishesanalyticalandpolicy-relevantresearchtoassistmemberStates indeveloping theirnegotiatingpositions. InFebruary2006, theCentrecon-ductedatrainingsessionforAfricanembassiesbased in Addis Ababa on international tradenegotiations. The workshop served to informtheembassies, and through themthememberStates,on thedetailsof theongoing tradene-gotiations in Geneva, and the role ECA con-tinues toplay.This information seminar is animportantobjectiveofECAastradeisnotthepreserveofthetradeministryalone,butpartofabroaderobjectivetomainstreamtradeinna-tionaldevelopmentplansofourmemberStates.The Centre is also conducting a far-reachingstudy on mainstreaming trade and its resultswillbepublishedinJunethisyear.

69. ECA,incollaborationwiththeAfricanUnioncompletedthesecondeditionofitsflag-shipreport,Assessing Regional Integration in Af-rica (ARIA II)duringtheperiodunderreview.One of the key recommendations of ARIA I,which was published in 2004 was that Africaneeded to rationalize the institutional settingforthepursuitoftheAfricanEconomicCom-munity. The issue of rationalization of RECswasthusthethemeofARIAII.SincetheAU



hasdesignatedtheRECsasbuildingblocksfortheAEC,ARIAIIisastudyonhowthesein-stitutions can be rationalized and made moreeffective.ECAvisitedallAfricanRECsandsev-eralmemberStatesinconductingthestudy.Thereportwillbe launchedat thenextAUHeadsofStateandGovernmentSummitscheduledtobeheldBanjul,theGambiainJuly2006.TheSummitwillbededicatedtorationalizationis-sues. The report examined the long-standingissueofproliferationofRECsandtheiroverlap-pingmandatesandmembershipsandthechal-lengethatthisposesforAfrica’sintegration,andpresentsseveraloptionsthatAfricanleaderscanpursue in order to rationalize and strengthentheRECs.

70. Manyof the impediments toeffectiveintegration in Africa come from the lack oftransport infrastructure. ECA’s work on tradefacilitation shows how inadequate infrastruc-tureandnon-physicaltransportbarriersarekeycontributors to high trading costs and supplyside constraints. Thus, an important objec-tiveofECA’sworkintheareaofinfrastructuredevelopment is to help establish an efficient,integrated and affordable transport and com-munications systemas abasis for thephysicalintegration of Africa and to facilitate nationalandinternationaltraffic.

71. ECAispartofthesub-SaharanAfricaTransportProgramme(SSATP),alongwiththeWorldBank,33AfricancountriesandAfricanRegional Economic Communities. In 2005,theSSATPpublishedareporttitled,Transport and the Millennium Development Goals.There-portoutlinestransporttargetsandcorrespond-ing indicators aimed at contributing to theachievementoftheMDGs.Thesetargetsandindicators were subsequently adopted by Afri-canMinistersofTransportandInfrastructureintheformofaDeclaration.

72. Intheareaofairtransportfacilitation,AfricanMinistersresponsibleforthesectorad-optedaresolutionontheimplementationoftheYamoussoukro Decision liberalizing air trans-portinAfrica.ECAisco-organizingahigh-level

meetingofAfricanairlineswiththeAUandtheAfrican Development Bank. This is part of aprocesstohelpAfricancountriesimplementtheYamoussoukroDecision,whichwasadoptedin2000.ECAalsoprovidedassistancetotheEastAfricanCommunity(EAC)andCommonMar-ketofEasternandSouthernAfrica(COMESA)toestablishairlinecompetitionrules,which isone of the areas delaying the adoption of theYamoussoukroDecision.

73. ECA as part of SSATP, co-organizedthemeetingofAfricanMinistersofTransport,which was attended by over 200 participantsincluding 18 Ministers responsible for Trans-portandInfrastructureinsub-SaharanAfricancountriesinBamako,MaliinNovember2005.The Ministers adopted a declaration in whichtheycommittedtointegratingregionalcorridortreatiesandrelevantinternationaltransportcon-ventions into national legislation, and removeallnon-physicalbarrierstotransport.Themain-streamingof gender in transportdevelopmentalso emerged as an important outcome of themeeting.Recommendationsmadeinthisregardincludedthecreationofawomen’snetworkandcapacity-buildingoffemalestakeholdersinthetransportsector.

74. ECAisundertakingastudyonthecur-rentstatusoftransportdevelopmentinAfrica.Findingsof this studywould feed intoa sym-posium on Financing Transport Infrastructure Development in AfricawhichwillbeorganizedjointlywithADBinMay2006inOuagadou-gou.Inaddition,ECAisundertakingprepara-toryactivitiesforthefourthAfricanRoadSafetyCongressthatitwillorganisein2007,aswellasforthefirstUnitedNationsGlobalRoadSafetyWeekalsoscheduledfor2007.

Promoting the advancement of women

75. The overall objective of this subpro-grammeistomainstreamgenderintodevelop-ment policies, programmes and structures ofECAmemberStates,inordertoensureparityin



thedistributionofresourcesandenablewomentoparticipateinstrategicdecisionswithrespecttoeconomicandsocialdevelopment.

76. Activitiesundertakenduringtheperiodunderreviewinsupportofthisobjectiveinclud-ed:(i)refiningandoperationalizingthevarioustools and instruments developed in the previ-ous biennium for gender mainstreaming andmonitoringprogresstowardsthegoalofgenderequality.These tools include theAfricanGen-derandDevelopmentIndex,theGuidebookonStatistics and theGenderAwareMicrosimula-tionModel;(ii)promotingtheimplementationof the Outcome and Way Forward documentthat was adopted by the seventh African Re-gionalConferenceonWomeninOctober2004(Beijing+10),toensureimplementationoftheDakar and Beijing Platforms for Action; (iii)strengthening the capacity of ECA Divisionsand SROs in mainstreaming gender in ECA’sactivitiesandoutputs.

77. During the period under review, theDuring the period under review, thesecretariatcompletedworkonthedevelopmentofthefollowingtoolsandinstrumentsforgen-dermainstreaming:the Easy Reference Guidebook on Mainstreaming Unpaid Work and Household Production in National Statistics, Policies and Programmes; the Gender Aware Macroeconomic Model and the African Gender and Development Index (AGDI), and assisted member States inoperationalizingtheirplansofaction.

78. To raise the awareness of memberStates on the importanceofunpaidwork andhouseholdproductioninAfricaneconomiesaswell as its implications for policy making, sixsubregionalworkshopswereorganizedforstat-isticians, planners and gender policy expertsduringtheperiodcoveredbythisreport. Themain objective of these workshops was to as-sistmemberStatesinoperationalizingtheEasyReference Guidebook and build their capaci-ties on the concepts, tools and methodologiesformainstreamingunpaidworkandhouseholdproductionintonationalstatistics,policiesandbudgetsthroughtheeffectiveuseoftheGuide-bookintheirrespectivecountries.Overall,123

participantsfrom39countriesweretrainedonhowtomainstreamunpaidworkintonationalplanninginstruments.

79. Member States are now aware of therationale of recognizing and valuing unpaidworkandhouseholdproductionaswellas thepolicy implications.As a result, they elaborat-ed action plans and requested more assistancefromECA to effectively apply theGuidebookatthenationallevel.Theworkshopevaluationsshowedthattherehadbeenincreasedawarenessamongsttheparticipantsofthepolicyimplica-tionsofgenderissuesineconomicpoliciesandthe need to use sex and gender disaggregateddata to inform economic policy formulation.Plans are underway to provide national levelsupport for the implementationof these toolsandguideeconomicandsocialpolicies.

80. As a complement to the Guidebook,ECAtooksteps to increase theuseof time-usesurveys to measure and integrate women’s un-paid work into national planning instrumentsasasteptowardspovertyreduction.Duringtheyear,ECAembarkedontheprocessofintroduc-inganewroundof regular time-use surveys insixcountries-Cameroon,Djibouti,Ghana,Mo-rocco, Uganda and Zambia – with the aim ofgeneratingnew,timelyandmoreaccurategenderdisaggregatedstatisticsthataddresstheMDGs.

81. ECA,continues todevelopand refinethegender-awaremodeltoevaluatetheimpactofpoliciesonpovertyreductionandimplemen-tationofMDGsinAfricancountries.Themod-elisastepfurtherinmakingnationalplanningandevaluationprocessesgenderresponsive.Tooperationalizethemodel,SouthAfricawasusedasapilotcountrytoevaluatetheimpactsoftheongoing trade liberalization in South Africa.The policy simulations of the South Africaneconomydemonstrated that impacts of policyshockssuchastradeliberalizationhavedifferen-tialimpactsonmenandwomen’smarketwork,unpaidwork,wage, incomeandwelfare. Theinitialsimulationsrevealedthatinordertore-ducetimeburdenonwomen,theGovernmentneeds to consider designing complementary



policiesthroughmeasuresthatsavetimeorim-proveproductivityoftimeusesuchaswomen’saccess to education, land, finance, informa-tionandtechnology.TheNationalTreasuryofSouthAfricaendorsedthemodelforuseinitseconomy-wide policy making and planned tocarryoutmoreevaluationusingthemodelondifferentpolicyvariablesofprioritytothecoun-try. The replication of the model has alreadybeguninDjiboutiwheretheprocessoftime-usesurveyhasalsocommenced.

82. To address the lack of a proper moni-Toaddressthe lackofapropermoni-toring mechanism to track progress towardsgender equality and women’s advancement,ECA developed the African Gender and De-velopment Index (AGDI). The tool combinesa quantitative assessment of gender inequalityin the social, economic and political sectors,and a qualitative measurement of the extentto which member States have effectively im-plementedtheconventionsongenderequalityandwomen’srightstheyhaveratifiedatregionalandinternationallevels.MinistersandexpertsendorsedtheAGDIduringtheseventhAfricanRegionalConferenceonWomen(Beijing+10).TheAGDIisalsorecognizedbyAfricanpolicymakersasatooltohelpstreamlinereportingonvarious regionaland internationalconventionsandprotocolsongenderandwomen’srights.

83. In2005,theresultsofthepilotstudiesoftheAGDIin12countries–Benin,BurkinaFaso,Cameroon,Ghana,Egypt,Ethiopia,Mad-agascar, Mozambique, South Africa,Tanzania,Tunisia,andUganda–wereproduced.The12countriescollectedgender-disaggregateddatainthesocial,economicandpoliticalareasandalsoreportedontheirachievementsinreducinggen-derdisparitiesandpromotingtheadvancementofwomen.ThefieldstudiesontheAGDIhaverevealedthatthesocialsectorhaswitnessedcrit-icalmilestonesingenderequality.Forinstance,in the area of education, major progress hasbeenmadeinschoolenrolmentatprimaryandsecondary levels.Ofthe12AGDIpilotcoun-tries,threehavealreadyachievedgenderparityinprimaryandsecondaryenrolment(SouthAf-rica,TunisiaandMadagascar)withafemaleto

maleratioofnetenrolmentratessuperiorto1.Fourothercountries(Cameroon,Egypt,Tanza-niaandUganda,)areclosetoreachingparityinprimaryenrolmentrateswithafemaletomaleratiosuperiorto0.9.Girls’schooldropoutinprimaryeducationhasalsosloweddownasevi-dencedineightofthe12AGDIcountriesstud-ied,whereschooldropoutratiosarehigherforboysthanforgirlsinprimaryeducation.How-How-ever, major gaps persist in tertiary educationwithsomecountriesachievingcompletegenderequality(TunisiaandSouthAfrica)whileothers(five countries) scored very lowon the femaletomaleratioofnetenrolment.TheresultsofthefieldtrialswillbepublishedintheAfricanWomen’sReport(AWR)whichiscurrentlybe-ingfinalized.

84. During the period under review, theDuring the period under review, thesubprogramme strengthened an institutionalculture, system and practice of gender main-streaming into its activities and outputs tomember States. Following a capacity-buildingneeds assessment exercise conducted in 2004,sixdivisionalgendermainstreamingworkshopstargeting professional staff of ECA’s substan-tivedivisionsandtheOfficeofPolicyandPro-grammeCoordination(OPC)wereundertakeninJanuaryandFebruary2006tosensitizethemon the importance of gender mainstreamingintoECA’sworkandoutputsaswellastheirim-pactsonthesocio-economicdevelopmentofitsmemberStates.

85. The capacity of ECA staff in gendermainstreaming was built through these work-shops. The workshops led to strengthening ofdivisional ownership of the process of gendermainstreamingintoECAoutputsandadvisoryservices tomemberStates. Asa resultof thetraining workshops, divisional staff membersaremorecognisantofthecriticalneedtomain-stream gender into their work and are betterequipped to address gender equality concernsin their outputs to member States. Each divi-sionhasdesignated a gender focalpersonandACGDhasalsoassignedfocalpersonstodivi-sionstoprovidemoresystematicbackstoppingongendermainstreaming.



Supporting subregional activities for development

86. The activities under this subprogrammewere implemented by ECA’s five SROs, locatedinKigali (EastAfrica),Lusaka(SouthernAfrica),Niamey(WestAfrica),Rabat (NorthAfrica)andYaounde(CentralAfrica).Theactivitieswerepri-marilyaimedatpromotingtheharmonizationofnationalpolicies in supportof integrationeffortsandatconsolidatingRECsintheoverallframeworkoftheAUaswellasfacilitatingtheattainmentofthegoalssetbyNEPADinthesubregions.

87. In providing a subregional dimensionto ECA’s analytical work in the articulationof development strategies and policies and inthe implementation of regionally and globallyagreed initiatives, the SROs not only serve asthe operational arms of the Commission, butalsoasfacilitatorsofsubregionaleconomicco-operationandintegrationandcentresforpolicydialogue, through workshops, training, datacollectionandknowledgesharingtostrengthenECA’soutreach.Inaddition,theSROscollabo-ratewithotherUNagenciesintheirrespectivesubregions within the context of the UnitedNationsResidentCoordinator systemand theCCA/UNDAFintheimplementationofopera-tionalactivitiesatthenationallevel.

88. A major priority in the work of theSROs during the period under review relatedtoprovidingsupporttomemberStatesandtheRECs in translating the priorities and objec-tivesofNEPADintoconcreteprojectsandpro-grammesatthecountryandsubregionallevels,particularlyintheareasoftrade,infrastructure,human capacity development, gender main-streaming,agriculture,foodsecurityandtheen-vironment.ThefollowingsectionhighlightsthemajorachievementsofeachoftheSROsduringtheperiodunderreview.

ECA-North Africa

89. Duringtheperiodunderreview,ECAOfficeforNorthAfrica(SRO-NA)focusedits

policy support to its member States and theirintergovernmental organizations on assessingtheeconomicperformanceandcompetitivenessofthesubregionintheglobaleconomy;prog-ress in thewater andenvironment sector; andtheconsolidationofregionalintegration.

90. As requested by the 20th meeting ofits Intergovernmental Committee of Experts(ICE)heldinApril2005(Tangiers,Morocco),theOfficeorganizedaRoundTableontheEvo-lution of North Africa Economic Structures.Themeetingdiscussed sevencountry studies,drewconclusionsandmaderecommendationsrelat-edtothemethodology,statisticaldatabaseandsectoralopportunitiesforfurthereconomicdi-versificationandincreasedregionalintegration.TherecommendationsmadetomemberStatesrequestedtofocusthedevelopmentstrategicap-proachontheeconomyofknowledge,namelybydeepeningtheuseofinformationandcom-munication technologies and by upgradingandadjustingeducationalsystems.Theexpertsstressed the importance of cross-cutting issuessuch as governance, gender equality, ICT andhumancapital.

91. The Office also organized an ad hocexpert group meeting on Designing �odes and Implementing Standards for �orporate Gover-nance.Themeeting,heldfrom5to7December2005inRabat,Morocco,focusedoncodesandnormsharmonization.Theparticipants identi-fiedmajorchallenges toadhering tocorporategovernanceandsuggestedasetofrecommenda-tions together with an Action Plan proposingactivitiesaimedatstrengtheningcorporategov-ernanceinthesubregion.

92. In assessingprogress in thewater andenvironment sector, the Office and the UN-WaterAfricagrouporganizedon17April2005inCairo,Egypt,ameetingofabout40expertsfromtheregiontoreviewthedraftnationalandregionalwaterdevelopmentreportspreparedaspartofthe2004-2005workprogrammeoftheOffice.Subsequently,thereportswerefinalizedandproducedasmajorpublicationsoftheOf-fice.Thesepublicationsaredesignedtoserveas



amechanismformonitoringprogressintheim-plementationoftheAfricanWaterVision2025andforprovidingdecisionmakerswithabasisformanagingNorthAfrica’swaterresources.

93. To follow-up on these publications,SRO-NA organized a three-day seminar from21to23February2006inTunis,todiscusspe-cificregionaldimensionsonwaterandenviron-mentalmanagementandtheirimpactondevel-opmentobjectivesofNorthernAfricacountries.Theseminar,whichwasorganizedincollabora-tionwithUN-Water-AfricaandtheObservato-ryofSaharaandSahel,broughttogethersome50 high level experts, practitioners and policymakers in thefieldofwater,environmentandremote sensing from member States, regionaland international organizations and institu-tions,academicsandcivilsociety.TheseminaradoptedelementsofaRegionalActionPlanon“Water,EnvironmentandDevelopment”whichisbeingfinalizedbyexpertswhoparticipatedinthe seminar. It is expected that the challengesidentified and the strategies recommended inthefinalActionPlanwillguideallstakeholdersintheireffortstoimplementsoundnationalandregionalpoliciesandprogrammesforasustain-ablemanagementofwaterandenvironment.

94. Monitoringprogressintheareaofsub-regional integration was constrained by manyfactors,includinginstitutionalweaknesses,lackof subregional indicators on integration andweaknetworkingamongstakeholders.Itwasinthe light of the foregoing, that the 2005 ICEmeeting of SRO-NA agreed to the setting upbySRO-NAofanObservatoryforregionalin-tegrationinNorthAfrica.Theoverallobjectiveof the Observatory is to create a knowledge-base network, which will make it possible tomonitorregionalintegrationprocessesfortheirreinforcement. The Observatory will collect,analyze, develop, anddisseminate informationrelatedtoregionalintegration.AfirstversionoftheObservatoryhasbeenpresentedtothe21stmeetingoftheintergovernmentalcommitteeofexpertsheldfrom4to6April2006inRabat,Morocco.

95. In the contextofNEPAD, theOfficeparticipatedintwosupportmissionstoAlgeriafollowing the accession of this country to theAfrican Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Aspart of the implementation of the self-assess-ment process, the first mission in July 2005allowed in-depth consultations with the gov-ernment, political parties, Members of Parlia-mentandrepresentativesoforganizationsofthecivilsociety.Mechanismsforcoordinationwereputinplaceandaprogrammeofworkforthepreparationofthenationalreportonself-assess-mentandtheActionPlanwasagreedupon.Thesecond mission contributed to furthering theprocessbyestablishingadialoguebetweentheexecutiveandmembersoftheNationalEvalu-ation Commission on ongoing policies, pro-grammesandprojectsinthevariousministrieswithin the framework of the implementationoftheinvestmentprogrammeforthemedium-term (2001-2004) and (2005-2009). The Na-tional Evaluation Commission is expected toalign these policies, programmes and projectswiththeActionPlanunderdevelopment.

96. SRO-NA has undertaken a numberofinitiativestoenhanceitscontributiontotheeconomicandsocialdevelopmentofitsmemberStatesandtheirIGOsandimproveitsvisibilityasastrategicpartnerinthesubregion,especiallyin viewof themeetingheld recentlywith theSecretary-GeneralofAMUwhodecidedtogivenewimpetustothecollaborationwithECA.TheOfficerelocationfromTangiertoRabat,madepossiblebythegovernmentofMoroccoduringthe last quarter of 2005 will, unquestionably,resultinincreasedsynergieswithNorthAfricangovernments,AMU,theUNsystemandotherpartneringorganizations.

ECA-West Africa

97. During the period under review, theECAOfficeforWestAfrica(SRO-WA)focuseditsworkonthecompletionofplannedactivitiesfor the biennium 2004-2005 and preparatorywork for the implementationofcoreactivitiesincluded in its approved programme budget



for the biennium 2006-2007. Emphasis wasgiven to technical cooperation with memberStates and major RECs of the subregion. Theclustersofactivitiesof theOffice included: (i)policy initiativesandprogrammedevelopmenttowardstheachievementoftheMDGsandtheimplementation of NEPAD; (ii) advocacy forpeace-building; (iii) strengthening of the op-erational capacityof theECOWASSecretariatandUEMOACommission;and(iv)provisionof advisory services to other IGOs, includingtheNigerBasinAuthority (NBA),Autorité du Liptako Gourma (ALG) and Inter-StatesCom-mitteeonFightAgainstDrought in theSahel(CILSS).

98. Core activities carried out by the Of-ficeservedasfollow-uppolicyadvocacytotheAfricanUnion’sActionPlanforPovertyReduc-tionthroughEmploymentGeneration(2004).Itisinthisrespectthatthethematicpartofthe2005reportoneconomicandsocialconditionsinWestAfricaassessedthesituationofemploy-mentandformulatedboldpolicyrecommenda-tionsontheexpansionofaproductivemiddleclass as a strategy for the consolidationof thedemocraticprocessandpeace-building.Inthesame vein, the 2006 report addressed the is-sueof thecreationofdecent jobs throughthefacilitation of the transition of the enterprisesnetwork from informal to formal.The twoadhocexpertgroupmeetingsorganizedduringtheperiod under review were devoted to the eco-nomicimplicationsofconflictsinthesubregionand on macroeconomic framework conducivetoemploymentgeneration.

99. In pursuance to the objective of en-hancingthecapacitiesoftheECOWASSecre-tariat,SRO-WAremainedakeypartneroftheECOWAS Secretariat, UEMOA Commission,aswell aswith anumberof international andregionaldevelopmentagenciesthatarealsosup-portingtheeconomicintegrationprocessinAf-rica.TheworkoftheOfficeaddressedanarrayof institutional issues that impinged theprog-ressof economic integrationof the subregion.Specifically, it concentrated on: (i) buildinginstitutional capacity for enhanced conceptu-

alization, planning and management of eco-nomicintegrationprogrammes,withparticularreferencetosubregionalinfrastructuredevelop-ment;(ii)facilitatingpolicydialogue,especiallyin macroeconomic policy harmonization andconvergence,tradeliberalizationandeconomicpartnershiparrangements(EPAs)andmonetarycooperation;(iii)advocatingforbestpracticesincross-cuttingareassuchasICTs,genderanden-vironmentsustainability;(iv)supportingpeace-buildingandpost conflict reconstruction; and(v)promotinggoodcorporategovernanceandinvestments.TheOffice alsopursued its assis-tanceinthere-launchingofeconomiccoopera-tionwithin the frameworkof theManoRiverUnionthroughthestrengtheningoftheMRUSecretariat.

100. SRO-WA enhanced its outreach capa-bilities and, as a result, significantly improvedcommunication with its major partners in thesubregion, including ECOWAS, UEMOA,CEN-SAD, universities and research institu-tions, government ministry departments, civilsocietyorganizationsandprivatesectororganiza-tions.Thesuccessoftheworkshopon�orporate GovernanceandthatoftheWest Africa Investment Forumbothheld inBamako,Mali inFebruary2006attestedtotheeffectivenessofthepartner-ship arrangements between the Office and keydevelopmentactorsinthesubregion.

101. Aspartofitsactiveinvolvementintheworkof theUNCountryTeam inNiger,un-der theUNResidentCoordinator system, theOfficeundertookanumberofjointoperationalactivities. Specifically, and in the context ofmonitoringtheimplementationofthepovertyreductionstrategyofitshostcountry,Niger,theOffice undertook in partnership with UNDPtodevelopa low-costmethodology for theas-sessmentandmonitoringofpovertyincidence,basedonaccesstobasicneeds,andtoconductthe field survey in Niger for the validation ofthemethodology. SRO-WAwasalsoactiveintheevaluationoftheUNDAFofNigerandpar-ticipatedasmajorcontributortotheUNjointprogrammeongendermainstreaming for thatcountry.



102. Amajorchallengeconfrontingthesub-region that will require special considerationduring thecurrentbiennium is the recurrenceofhumanitariancrisesinthesubregion,broughtaboutbydrought,conflictsandpossiblythebirdflu.ThissuggeststhattheOfficepaysspecialat-tention to the subregional dimension of theseissues.

ECA-Central Africa

103. Duringtheperiodunderreview,ECAOfficeforCentralAfrica(SRO-CA)focuseditspolicy interventions on supporting the imple-mentation of NEPAD in the subregion; fa-cilitating the operationalization of subregionalintegration and cooperation schemes; andstrengtheningcooperationwithmemberStates,especiallyintheareaofcapacity-building.Theseactivities complemented the Office survey oftheeconomicandsocialconditions inCentralAfrica. In addition, SRO-CA participated intheUNCoordinationSystemactivities,soastostrengthencooperationbetweentheUNsystemandCameroon,thehostcountry.

104. In the contextofNEPAD, the subre-gionalinstitutionsandtheSRO-CAhavebeenentrusted with the responsibility of managingthe implementation of the “Plan DirecteurConsensueldesTransports enAfriquecentrale(PDCT-AC)”-theOperationalframeworkforthe consensual transport plan for Central Af-rica–whichwasendorsedinJanuary2004bytheHeadsofStateandgovernmentoftheEco-nomic Community of Central African States(ECCAS). Following the recommendation ofthe�RNEPAD-A�–theSubregionalCommit-tee forCentralAfricaon theNEPAD–at itsmeeting of March 2005 in Libreville, Gabon,toconveneaPDCT-ACprojectsprioritizationmeeting, SRO-CA, in collaboration with the�ommunauté économique et monétaire des Etats de l’Afrique �entrale(CEMAC)andtheBanque de Développement des Etats de l’Afrique �entrale(BDEAC) organized a ministerial meeting, inLibreville in October 2005, preceded by theexpertsmeeting. In implementing theensuing

road map for the PDCT-AC, a sensitizationmission on PDCT-AC to donor institutionstookplaceinJanuary2006withaviewtomo-bilizingfinancialresourcesfollowedbythevisitsinFebruary2006ofaJointECCAS/CEMAC/BDEAC/SRO-CATeamtotheADB,inTunis,Tunisia,theEUinBrussels,BelgiumandtotheYaounde-basedWorldBankOffice.

105. Further support of SRO-CA in ad-vancingthe implementationofthePDCT-ACwastheorganizationofanadhocexpertgroupmeetingonregional infrastructureprogrammeand facilitation in transitcorridors.Themeet-ing,whichwasheldfrom17to18March2006inYaoundébroughtabout40expertstogetherfromthesub-regionandoutside,includingAn-gola,Burundi,DemocraticRepublicofCongoand Rwanda. The meeting recommended themergerofthevariousfacilitationinitiativesintoa single transport facilitation programme forthesubregion,andcalledforthesettingupofaFollow-upCommitteetocoordinate,withtheassistanceofSRO-CA,thepreparationofsuchprogramme.

106. In supporting regional integrationand cooperation in general and the RECsin particular, SRO-CA assisted ECCAS andCEMACintheireffortsto increaseefficiencyand effectiveness, especially by encouragingthemtoharmonizeseveralcompetingsectoralprogrammesandactivities.Inthisregard,theOfficedevelopedaconsultativeframeworkforthetwoRECsthrougharesult-boundMemo-randumofAgreement,whichwasadoptedandsignedbybothpartiesandextendedtoSRO-CA.TheMoUclearlyspellsoutSRO-CAsup-porttoensuringenhancedcoordinationintheimplementationofbothECCASandCEMACdecisions at the national level and identifypriorityareasforcooperation.TheOfficealsoorganized on 13 October 2005 in Libreville,Gabon, a meeting on coordination and har-monizationofprogrammes,whichresultedintheadoptionofamechanismoncooperationamong various stakeholders concerned withthe harmonization of selected sectoral pro-grammes.TheOfficeiscurrentlyassistingthe



twoRECs,workoutacooperationframeworkinthefieldofICTsfordevelopment,whichisamongthepriorityareas.

107. Still insupportofregionalintegrationand cooperation, SRO-CA initiated the or-ganizationofaForumonInvestment inCen-tralAfrica.TheoutcomeofthisForumwillbethe establishment of a subregional investmentguarantee mechanism, local savings mobiliza-tioninstrumentsaswellasmeasurestosupportinvestors.AninvestmentclimateassessmentinCentralAfricahasalreadybeencarriedoutforadvocacypurposesontheneedfortheestablish-mentoftheguaranteemechanism.

108. In strengthening cooperation withIn strengthening cooperation withmemberStates,especiallyintheareaofcapacity-building, theOfficeorganized threeworkshopsdrawingonsomeofthepolicyresearchworkun-dertakendifferentDivisionsofECA.Thesework-shopscoveredthefollowingareas:(i)atrainingworkshopontheapplicationof“EasyReferenceGuide”toengendernationalaccountsandbudg-ets in December 2005 in Douala, Cameroon.Itaimedat reinforcing thecapacityofmemberStatestoproducegenderdisaggregateddata;(ii)aworkshopongovernanceofmicro-financein-stitutions,heldinJanuary2006inDouala,Cam-eroon,withthemainobjectiveofenhancingthecapacityofCivilSocietyOrganizations (CSOs)inthesubregion;and(iii)aworkshoponSCAN-ICTon5January2006inYaoundé,Cameroon,toassistCameroonintrainingstafftocollectdataonICTenvironment.

109. Direct technical assistance was pro-vided to selected countries in the subregion.Inparticular,theOfficeassistedCongoforun-dertakingitspeerreview(intheframeworkofNEPAD)withanadvisorymissiontoassisttheteam in chargeof the assessmentprocess.An-otheradvisorymissioncontributedtostrength-encapacityattheMinistryinchargeofSocialAffairstodesignpovertyreductionprojectsforspecial groups. The Office is also finalizing astudy on the cost and benefits of regional in-tegrationforCongo.Duringtheperiodunderreview,theOfficehostedthroughitsinternship

programme four students fromUniversities inCameroon.TheseinternswerefromCameroon,theDemocraticRepublicofCongoandMali.

ECA-East Africa

110. During the period under review, theactivitiesofECAOfficeforEastAfricafocusedontheregionalintegrationprocess,supporttoNEPAD, gender mainstreaming and povertyreduction. These issues are indeed interrelatedinthattheirultimateobjectiveistherealizationof sustainable socio-economic development inthesubregion.TheOfficealsocontinuedtopro-videtechnicalsupporttoitsmemberStatesandmajorRECsonpolicyconvergenceforregionalintegration, infrastructure development, tradedevelopment and poverty reduction policiesandprogrammes.

111. As part of its contribution to conflictresolution and post-conflict reconstruction ef-forts in the subregion, SRO-EA launched theGreatLakesInitiative.ThisInitiative,whichre-volvesaroundthematicareas,wasarticulatedandsupportedby subregionalnetworksof experts.TheoutcomeoftheworkcarriedoutundertheInitiativeprovidedinputstoUN/AUsponsoredInternational Conference on the Great Lakesprocess. The Office prepared analytical docu-mentsandacompendiumofprogrammeactivi-ties fortransportandcommunications,energyandwaterinfrastructure,whichweresubmittedtotheConference.

112. SRO-EA carried out surveys of socialandeconomicconditionsinthesubregionandpreparedreportsonthesubjectaswellasreviewsofPovertyReductionPoliciesandProgrammes,analysis of regional cooperation processes andsupport programmes (financing). Review re-portshavealsobeencompletedonBeijing+10andmanualsongender-budgetingpreparedandtestedatspecialworkshopsheldincooperationwithEastAfricanGender-budgetingInitiative.

113. The Office provided advisory servicesto RECs within the context of Great Lakes



International Conference, International Con-ference ofTransport andTelecommunicationsInfrastructureDevelopmentforLDCs,North-ern Corridor Transit Transport arrangements,to which technical papers were presented anddiscussed.

114. Increasing awareness of the need forPRSPstoevolveintosecondgenerationonthebasisofMDGs.Variouscorridordevelopmentprogrammes including southern corridor haveemergedandcommunicationdevelopmentini-tiativessuchasESSAY,theestablishmentofreg-ulatoryagenciesandforumofhigh-levelpolicymakers. National information and communi-cation infrastructureplanshavebeenprepared(Rwanda, Kenya,Tanzania) and IT initiativeslaunchedbyCOMESAandEAC.

115. Proposals have been made to addresssoil fertility depletion and natural resourcesmanagement and subregional/regional insti-tutions working group established involvingICRAF,ASARECA,ARCTandRCMRD.

116. Gender-budgeting manuals have beencompletedandlandrightsforwomenarenowbeingrecognizedexamplesareEthiopia,Rwan-daandEritrea.

ECA-Southern Africa

117. Activities and concerns of SRO-SAduringthepastyearweretargetedatkeyactivi-tiesrelatedtoregionalprioritiesaimedatshap-ingtheintegrationprocessoftheSADCregion.Within this framework,anumberofactivitieswere undertaken. These activities include sur-vey of economic and social condition of theSouthern Africa region, which marked majoreconomicandsocialtrends,developmentsanddrawlessonsforthefuture.

118. Withrespecttoregionalpriorities,themain issues of concern for SRO-SA remainedtobeaddressing regionalpriority issues in theeconomic and social fields. SADC is a regionrich inenergyandstill experiences inadequate

capacity in water resources management. Theissueofwaterresourcesandtheiraugmentationand water legislation are being studied by theOffice.

119. Effortscontinuedtobemadeindevel-opingthetransportsystemsofSouthernAfricanmemberStatesinordertomeettheeconomic,social, and political objectives underlying theimplementation of NEPAD. SRO-SA leadagencyroleinthisareaiswellappreciatedanditscontributiontothepreparationofthetermsofreferenceofthefeasibilitystudyontheShire-Zambezi Waterway Project will result in theexploitation of the Shire-Zambezi waters fortransportation purposes between Malawi andtheMozambiqueChannelandaccruemultiplebenefits to the countries associated with theproject.Thisprojectisexpectedtoenhancethedevelopment of Malawi, Mozambique,Tanza-niaandZambiathroughtheintegrationofin-frastructure.Itisalsoexpectedtoreduceinputcostsforinvestmentinexportorientedagricul-ture,agro-processing,tourism,miningandin-dustrialdevelopmentandpromotecross-bordertradeingoodsandservicesamongCOMESA/SADC countries thereby deepening regionaleconomic integration.TheTORfor the studyhasbeensubmittedforfundingconsiderationsby ADB, the lead agency on NEPAD Infra-structureprojects,withaviewtoexecutingitasaPublic-Private-Partnershipproject.

120. It is a region very appreciative of thebenefitsofeconomicintegration,whichcannotbeachievedwithoutthecoordinationofvarioussectoralpoliciesandtheharmonizationofnorms,standards and legislative instruments. Hence,SRO-SA’sproposedregionalprogrammes,plansand policies in the areas of gender, transport,ICT,renewableenergyandminingcontributedtobuildingconsensusamongstthecountriesofthesubregion.

121. SRO-SA in addressing the issues onHIV and AIDS from the perspective of pov-erty alleviation generated a new perspective,increasedthesensitivityofpolicymakerstothebroaderdimensionsandontheneedtoprovide



interventionstomitigatethedevastatingeffectsofHIVandAIDSanditsimpactonbotheco-nomic and social developments. ApproachingHIV and AIDS from the broader dimensionshasalsoexpandedthescopeforpromotingin-creasedpartnershipbetweentheStateandinsti-tutionsofcivilsocietyinstudyingitseffectsonsmallholder agriculture; and assisting memberStatesindefininginterventionmeasures.

122. Anothermajoroutcomeintheareaofpolicy harmonization was the framework forharmonizing mining policies, standards, legaland regulatory frameworkspresented toanad hocmeetingofMinisters responsible forMin-ingintheSADCregionheldinAntananarivo,Madagascar, from 16 to 20 March 2006. Themeeting adopted the framework, highlightingmajor policy issues related to the operational-izationoftheframework.

123. Increasingly,thelinkagebetweensocio-economic progress and governance, especiallycorporate governance is quite apparent. Thispresentsamajorchallengetofindtherightbal-ancebetweencorporateprofitandprivate sec-torscontributiontooveralldevelopment.Oneof the key concerns is the negligible effect ofcorporate activities on the local communities.SRO-SA,inrespondingtothischallengetofindtherightbalance,engagedexpertsinaconsul-tative process on how to place corporate gov-ernanceattheheartofeconomicdevelopmentbeyond the financial and regulatory aspects.The overall objective of the consultation wasonstrikingtherightbalancebetweencorporateprofit motives, national economic and socialgoals,andindividualexpectations.Therecom-mendationtoapproachthepromotionofcor-porategovernanceaspartofthebroaderobjec-tivetospurfastereconomicgrowthandreducepoverty introduced the elements of corporatesocial responsibility and corporate citizenshipto important principles to ensure the privatesector’scontributiontowardsachievingMDGsinSouthernAfrica.

124. Partnership with cooperating partnerscontinued to be an important mechanism for

leveraging on the comparative advantages ofpartnerstoaddressissuesofconcerntothesub-region. The establishment of REC transportcoordinating committees (SADC, COMESA,SRO-SAandSSATP)has created a forum forestablishingobservatoriestoassessandquantifydelaysatbordercrossings,andthedevelopmentoftheonestopborderconceptatbordercross-ing points such as Chirundu between Zam-bia and Zimbabwe. Modalities for developingguidelines for implementing vehicle overloadcontrolarealsounderwayinSouthernAfricantransittransportcorridors.

125. Leveraging on partnership was alsoquite evident in activities promoting women’smovement, in addressing women’s access tolandandinaddressingjobcreationinSouthernAfrica. On the promotion of women’s move-ment, the operational collaboration with theOpenSocietyforSouthernAfrica(OSISA),inthepioneeringworkof“ReinvigoratingWom-en’s Movement in SADC Region” is ongoing.Vibrancy of the women’s movement is an es-sentialcatalyticdrivingforceinachievinggen-derequalityincludingjobcreationforwomen.TheinitiativeconceivedinJune2005involveda series of activities leading to conceptualiza-tion of the causes and effects of the vibrancyofthewomen’smovementinadefinedperiod.Thisinitiativehasreceivedtherecognitionandsupport of leading women activists and otherstakeholders in the subregion. To that end, aroundtablemeetingwasconvenedattheendofMarch2006which,buildingontheconceptualframework presented and interrogating on it,designedafully-fledgedactionableprogrammeto reinvigorate the women’s movement in theSADCregion.

126. Land being a vital production assetamongmostwomeninSouthernAfrica,SRO-SA initiated a process to facilitate addressingwomen’s land rights through a regional inte-grationapproach.PartnershipwiththeCenterforLand,EconomyandtheRightsofWomen(CLEAR)inEasternAfricawasquiteusefulinaddressing the various dimensions of genderconcerns.Tothisend,thePlatformforWomen



andWaterRights forSouthernAfricawasop-erationally linked with the Center for Land,EconomyandtheRightsofWomen(CLEAR)inEasternAfrica.

127. On the issueof job creation,partner-shipwithILO indefiningthejobcreationissuesand in facilitating the discussion at the meet-ingofthe12thICEcontributedtothequalityofthepolicytoolsandmeasuresrecommendedtoboostproductivityandacceleratetheexpansionofdecentemploymentopportunities.Thetwoinstitutions hope to build on this partnershipandarealreadyexploringfurthercollaborationfor implementing the recommendations fromtheICE.

Development planning and administration

128. The objective of this subprogramme,whichis implementedbytheAfricanInstitutefor Economic Development and Planning, isto enhance national capacity for the formu-lation and implementation of developmentpolicies and economic management throughtraining. To that end, during the period un-derreview,IDEPcontributedtostrengtheningthe technicalandanalytical skillsofexperts inthepublicandprivatesectorsofmemberStateswhoperformtheessentialfunctionsofstrategiceconomic planning and management througha range of activities which included training,seminars, workshops, conferences, library ac-quisition, documentation, networking, andpolicy-orientedresearch.

129. Duringtheperiodunderreviewatotalof105expertscomprisingmid-careerandseniorofficials from regional organizations as well asthepublicandprivatesectorsofmemberStatesweretrainedinthefieldsofeconomicpolicyandmanagement, regional economic integrationin Africa, applied econometrics for economicpolicy-making,debtmanagement andagricul-turalpolicies.Thesecourseswereorganizedincollaborationwithseveralregional,continentalandinternationalinstitutionsincludingtheAf-

ricanUnion(AU),theArabBankforEconom-ic Development in Africa (BADEA) and theGovernment of the Netherlands, the InstituteprovidedDuringtheperiodunderreview,fourshortcourses.Therewasanexceptionallywiderangeofparticipationinthesecourses,withalltheregionsofthecontinentrepresentedinclud-ing a high rate of female participation whichaccounted for 43 per cent of the total courseparticipants.

130. The Masters degree programme ineconomicpolicyandmanagementenrolled14trainees and 22 theses covering different areasof socio-economic interests. Areas coveredbythe theses included poverty alleviation, fiscalpolicy, budgetary adjustment, informal sector,economic growth, sources of growth, finan-cial liberalization, private investment, externaltrade,energyandinflation.Fortytrainingsemi-nars were organized internally for the secondyearMAtraineeswiththeaimofgettingfurtherinputsthatwillhelpimprovetheirresearchout-puts.TheInstitutehostedseveninternsaspartof itsgeneral internshipprogramme. Inaddi-tion,aspartofitscollaborativeeffortswithotheracademicinstitutions,IDEPplayedhosttotworenownedeconomistsasvisitingscholars:Profes-sorMikeI.ObadanoftheUniversityofBenin,Nigeria, and Former Director-General of theNational Centre for Economic ManagementandAdministration(NCEMA),Ibadan,Nige-ria;andProfessorFrancisKernoftheUniversityofStrasburg,France.Thetwovisiting scholarsparticipatedactively inall theInstitute’s train-ing and research activities including teachingcoursesintheMAprogramme.

131. Intheperiodunderreview,IDEPstaffmembersundertooksixresearchstudiesonvari-ouspolicy related issueswhichwerepresentedat various international conferences; and thetrainees produced 44 theses and graduate re-search papers. Four conferences/workshopswere organized during the reporting period:a methodological workshop on the Impact of Higher Education,anIDEP-AAUcollaborativeresearcheffort,aconferenceonAfrica’s Growth and DevelopmentheldinCairoincollaboration



with the Egyptian Institute of National Plan-ning, a conference on NEPAD and the Future of Economic Policy in Africa, andatrainingpro-grammeondebtmanagementforofficialsfromthe Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).TheseeffortshaveledtoincreasedcollaborationbetweenIDEPandotherECADivisionsaswellasinstitutionsliketheAAUandIDRC.

132. Withregardtolibraryacquisitionanddocumentation, the library stock increased to1,644itemsduringthereportingperiod.About722newbookswereacquired,anincreaseof53fromthepreviousperiod.Inaddition,30newperiodicaltitleswereaddedinthesameperiodwith140issuesreceived.ThenumberofCD-ROMswas30,whileabout300periodicaltitlesand600recordswereacquiredthroughthegiftsandexchangeprogramme.Duringthereport-ingperiod,twoissuesofIDEP e-Newsletterwerepublishedanddistributedworldwide.

133. IDEP activities during the past year hasIDEPactivitiesduringthepastyearhascontributedtostrengtheningthecapacityofAf-ricancountriesfortheformulationandadoptionofsoundeconomicpoliciesandprogrammesasreflectedinthepositivefeedbackreceivedfromtraineesandsponsoringinstitutions.

Technical Cooperation

134. Technical cooperation activities com-plement the regularworkof theCommission,promote economic and social development,andfosterregionalcooperationandintegrationthrough national capacity-building. Such ac-tivitiesareclassifiedaccordingtotheirfundingsourcesunderthefollowingheadings:

a. The Regular Programme ofTechnicalCooperation(RPTC)

b. TheDevelopmentAccount

135. Inordertostrengthendeliveryoftech-nicalcooperationandbetterrespondtorequestfrommemberStates,ECAis intheprocessofdevelopinganewstrategythatwouldallowfor

greaterflexibilityandeffectivenessinaddressingmanyof the region’s emergingchallenges; andinaddressingmeasuresforimprovedprogram-ming, oversight, reporting and performanceevaluationoftechnicalcooperationactivitiesaspart of the ongoing reforms in the UN. Im-provedprogrammaticcollaborationwithotherpartners will also be pursued for achievinggreater impact in the delivery of technical as-sistance.

Regular Programme of Technical Cooperation

136. The Regular Programme of TechnicalCooperation, funded by the United Nationsregularbudget,isanimportantsupportingin-strumentforimplementingtheECAcorepro-grammeactivitiesdescribedintheprevioussec-tionofthisreport.RPTC,whichtakestheformofon-demandregionaladvisoryservices,train-ingworkshops, seminars, fellowshipsandfieldprojectsareaimedatbuildingandstrengthen-ing the capacities of ECA member States andtheir institutions in addressing clearly definedpolicyandtechnicalchallengesindifferentsec-torswithparticularfocusonachievingMDGsandotherregionalpriorities.

137. Aspartof itsefforttopromotepolicychange and strengthen institutional capacities,ECAorganized20workshopsandseminarsin-volvingover500participantsandprovidedad-visoryservicesto22countriesrelatedtointerna-tionallyrecognizedstandardsandbestpracticesinselectedsectorsduringtheperiodunderre-view. Theseactivitiescontributedtostrength-ening the capacityofmemberStates inpolicyformulation; implementation and programmemonitoringwithparticularfocusonsuchareasassocialpolicy,povertyreductionandachievingMDGs;developmentofstatisticalcapacitiesfortracking progress towards development goals;integrated water resources management andsustainable development; harnessing informa-tion and communication technologies for de-velopment;regionalintegrationandtradewithemphasis on WTO-related issues; and gender



mainstreamingintonationaldevelopmentpoli-ciesandprogrammes.

138. Duringtheperiodunderreview,RPTCactivities in the area of social policy and pov-ertyreductionwereaimedatstrengtheningthecapacityofmemberStatesinthedesign,imple-mentationandmonitoringofpro-poorandgen-dersensitivepoliciesandprogrammesconsistentwithMDGsandtheprioritiesofNEPAD,withparticularemphasisonissuesthatarecentraltothesuccessfuldesignandimplementationofthePoverty Reduction Strategies (PRSs). In thisregard,technicaladvisorymissionswereunder-taken to Mozambique, Ghana, Ethiopia andLiberia;andalso,inputshavebeenprovidedtoaworkshopon poverty measurement and moni-povertymeasurementandmoni-toring in Kenya. These countries have started toinKenya.Thesecountrieshavestartedtoput in place comprehensive poverty reductionpoliciesandstrategiesthatincorporatesocialis-suesandMDGsasaresultoftheseactivities.

139. Tomeetthegrowingdemandforrobust,reliable and comprehensive data from memberStates,mucheffortwasdevotedduring thepe-riod under review to promoting the adoptionandimplementationofTheReferenceRegionalStrategic Framework for Statistical CapacityBuilding in Africa (RRSF), which will serve asthereferencedocumentforallAfricancountriesandtheirdevelopmentpartnersintheformula-tionandimplementationofNationalStrategiesfor theDevelopmentofStatistics (NSDS). AllAfricancountriesarerequiredtoadoptNSDSsin2006andbeginimplementingthemby2007.InInthis context,ECAprovided technical assistanceto several National Statistical Offices (NSOs),StatisticalTrainingCentres(STCs)andRegionalEconomicCommunities(RECs)intheelabora-tionof their strategicplans for statisticaldevel-opment.Burundi,Chad,Cameroon,Comoros,Congo,DRCongo,Gabon,Niger,Senegal,andTogowereamongbeneficiariesofsuchassistance.In addition, a group-training workshop on or-ganizationandmanagementofstatisticalsystemswasorganizedinFebruary2006forstudentsofthe Dakar-based Regional Statistical TrainingCenter(ENEA-DSD).Theseactivitiescontrib-utedtotheincreaseinthenumberofcountries

adoptingNSDSsandstrengthenedcapacity forthe implementationofcomparablenationalac-counts.

140. InsupportofAfrica’ssustainabledevel-opmentneedsandinresponsetotheneedsofnearly300millionAfricanswholackaccesstosafewater,ECAcontinuestoassistitsmemberStates, river basin organizations and RECs todevelopintegratedwatermanagementstrategiesandplansthatconcentrateonirrigation,domes-ticwatersupplyandsanitation,andinnovativefinancingmechanisms.Italsoadvisescountriesondevelopingtreatiesandprotocolsonsharedwater, which will address such issues as waterqualityandutilization,hydropowergeneration,flood management, and conflict resolution. Amajorachievementinthisareaduringtheperi-odunderreviewwasthepublicationandlaunchofthefinaleditionoftheAfricanWaterDevel-opmentReport(AWDR)toserveasamonitor-ing mechanism for measuring progress madein achieving the targets of the African WaterVision2025andotherwater-relatedtargetsofMDGsandNEPAD.Thiswasbasedonreportsfrom25countriesandtwosubregionalreports.The report was launched at the fourth WorldWater Forum held in Mexico City, Mexico,inMarch2006.TheperiodunderreviewalsosawtheoperationalizationoftheAfricanWaterInformation Clearing House (AWICH) as aninstrumentforaccessinginformationonwaterresourcesinAfrica.

141. AdvisoryservicesprovidedtomemberStates and River Basin Organizations (RBO)contributedtostrengtheningtheircapacityforeffective policy formulation and programmedevelopment including equitable managementand utilization of shared water resources as akeytosustainabledevelopment.Inthisregard,ECAorganizedaworkshopinCairo,Egypt,inOctober 2005, which drew participants fromsevencountriesoftheNorthAfricansubregion:Egypt,theSudan,Tunisia,Libya,Algeria,Mo-roccoandMauritaniatodiscussandmakerec-ommendationsoncross-cuttingwaterresourcesrelatedissuessuchaswaterallocationsontrans-boundarywatercourses,managementoftrans-



boundary aquifers, rainfall variability in thesubregion,virtualwatertrade,wastewaterreuse,cost-benefitanalysisofwaterprojects,inter-ba-sinwatertransfer,watereconomyanddemandmanagement, sustainability and groundwatermining. In a similarway,ECAalsoprovidedassistancetotheLakeChadBasinCommission(LCBC)inreviewingprojectsinitsmasterplanforthedevelopmentofenvironmentallysoundmanagement of the Lake Chad Basin, whichwas presented at a donors conference held inAbuja,Nigeria,during2005.

142. RPTC activities in the area of harness-RPTCactivitiesintheareaofharness-inginformationandcommunicationtechnolo-gies (ICTs) for development continued to beaimed at strengthening capacities for the for-mulationand implementationofNational In-formation and Communication Infrastructure(NICI) plans and strategies, with particularfocuson theapplicationof ICTs inkey socialandeconomicsectorssuchashealth,education,governance,andagriculture.Serviceswereren-deredtoseveralmemberStatesinthisarea.Asacomplementtoactivitiesatthenationallevel,assistance was also provided to a number ofRECs(COMESA,EAC,ECOWAS,SADCandWAMU)inthedevelopmentandimplementa-tion of regional information and communica-tion plans which articulates policy, infrastruc-ture, content and application strategies at thesubregional level, includingtheharmonizationofnationalandsubregionalpolicyandregula-toryframeworks.

143. Other capacity-building activities un-Other capacity-building activities un-dertaken in the area of ICTs for developmentincludedtheorganizationofseminarsandwork-shopswhichaddressedthefollowingissues:de-velopmentanduseofopensourcesoftware,e-government,e-strategies,andcapacity-buildingforresearchanddevelopmentinAfricanuniver-sitiesthroughaninitiativeknownasVarsityNet,whichissupportedbytheFordFoundation.Inaddition,theECAsecretariatorganizedorpar-ticipatedinawiderangeofactivitiesaimedatpreparing member States for participation inthe second phase ofWSIS which was held inTunis,Tunisia,inNovember2005.

144. In the area of promoting the advance-Intheareaofpromotingtheadvance-mentofwomen,advisoryserviceswerefocusedontwomainareas:promotingwomen’shumanand legal rights and strengthening economic empowermentofwomen.Within the contextWithinthecontextofpromotingwomen’slegalandhumanrights,the Secretariat organized several national andregional workshops to assist member States,IGOs, and NGOs in the implementation oftheirNationalActionPlansonpromoting thelegal status of women, and enhancing aware-nessofinternationalandnationalhumanrightsinstruments. Theseworkshops contributed tostrengtheningnational capacities in theuseoftoolsand instruments formonitoringprogressin the implementation of the Convention ontheEliminationofallFormsofDiscriminationAgainstWomen(CEDAW).

145. Withtheaimofincreasingthecapacityof policymakers tomainstreama genderper-spective in national policies and programmes,and reduce gender inequalities, the RegionalAdviseronpromotingeconomicempowermentofwomenorganizedaseriesofgendertrainingworkshopsduringtheperiodunderreview,anddeveloped a national gender training manual.Assistance in these areaswere providedon re-questtotheGovernmentsofSouthAfrica,Na-mibiaandSeychelles.Theseactivitieshavecon-tributed to increased awareness, amongpolicymakers anddevelopmentplanners,of the linkbetween gender equality and achievement ofnational development goals including MDGs.ThishasinturnenhancedmemberStatecapac-ityforgendermainstreaming,animportantpre-requisiteforgenderplanningandforprogress-ing towards thepromotionof gender equalityandempowermentofwomen,itselfanimpor-tantobjectiveofMDGs.

146. In the area of promoting trade andregional integration, advisory services focusedmainlyonthefollowing:analyzingtheimpactontradeliberalizationoftheEconomicPartner-ship Agreements currently under negotiationbetweenEUandAfricancountries,impactsoftheEUCommonAgriculturalPolicyorsubsi-diesandhealthstandardregulationsoftheEU



onthetrade inagriculturewithAfricancoun-triesaswellasimplicationsoftheEPAsonre-gionalintegration.RPTCactivitiesintheareaof trade also contributed to strengthening thecapacity of national policy makers and tradenegotiators for effective trade negotiations byhelpingthemunderstandtheemergingissuesofrelevancetoAfricainthecontextoftheWTOagreementsandothertrade-relatedmultilateralinitiatives.Threeregionaleconomiccommuni-ties(RECs):COMESA,EACandIGADalsoreceived assistance in designing their strategicplans forenhancingeconomic integrationanddevelopment as well as in promoting a betterunderstandingoftheimplicationsoftheEPAstotheregionalintegrationprocess.

Development Account

147. ThedevelopmentaccountconstitutesasecondfundingwindowforECAtechnicalco-operationactivities.TheUnderSecretary-Gen-eralfortheDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairsactsasProgrammeManagerof theAc-count.Overallguidanceonitsuseisprovidedby the General Assembly. Projects submittedforfundingmustadheretocriteriaestablishedbytheGeneralAssemblyandbeinconformitywithathemeproposedforthespecifictranche.

148. ECAhas steadily increased itspartici-pationinprojectsfundedundertheDA.Dur-ingtheperiodunderreview,ECApreparedandsubmittedtwoprojectsforapproval:Strength-eningthecapacityofAfricanstatisticalsystemstogenerategender-disaggregateddatatosupportpoliciestopromotegenderequalityandempow-ermentofwomen,andSustainablemoderniza-tionofagricultureandruraltransformationinAfrica.Bothprojectshavebeenapprovedunderthefifthtrancheforimplementationduringthe2006-2007programmecycle.

149. The first project is intended to helpAfricanGovernmentstoimprovegenderpolicyformulation, programme targeting, includingpublicexpenditureprogrammes,andmonitor-ing progress towards gender equality and em-

powermentofwomen.Theprojectwillbeim-plementedjointlywiththeUNDepartmentofEconomicandSocialAffairs (UN-DESA)andtheEconomicandSocialCommissionforAsiaand thePacific (ESCAP). The secondprojectispartofECAefforts toenhance thecapacityof member States in the design of sustainablemodernizationofagricultureandruraltransfor-mation(SMART)tohelpAfricamovetowardsself-sufficiencyinfood,reductionofhungeranderadication of poverty. SMART componentsinclude technology, infrastructure, institutionsandpolicies(TIIP).Theprojectwillbeimple-mented jointlywithESCAP,ECLACandES-CWA.

150. Duringtheperiodunderreview,ECAwasalsoinvolvedinthreeongoingDAprojects,whichaddressneedsinkeyareassuchascapac-itybuildingfor thepromotionofcapitalmar-ketinAfrica,knowledgesharingtosupportthepoverty reductionprocess andknowledgenet-workingandsharinginaSouth-Southpartner-shipframework.Thestatusofimplementationoftheseprojectscanbesummarizedasfollows:

151. Project on capacity-building for thepromotion of capital market in Africa: Themain objective of this project financed underthethirdtrancheistopromotecapitalmarketsdevelopmentinAfricaatnationalandregionallevels,includingsupporttobuildingcapacityofmemberStatesrelatedtotheadoptionofpoli-ciesandestablishmentofthenecessaryregulato-ryframeworkandinstitutionsforsustainedde-velopmentofcapitalmarkets.Nationaltrainingworkshopsorganizedaspartoftheprojecthaveprovided stock exchange operators and policymakers in several countries with additionalskills for developing national stock exchangesandmobilizingresourcestofightpoverty.Theprojectwasreformulatedin2005andactivitiesunder the reformulated project have alreadycommencedwiththecompletionofatrainingmanualonstockexchanges. Atrainingwork-shopforstockexchangepractitionersinAnglo-phoneWestAfricawasalsoheld inDecember2005inAbuja,Nigeria,with21traineesfromNigeria,Ghana,Gambia,SierraLeoneandLi-



beria. A similarworkshop for stock exchangepractitionersinFrancophoneCentralandWestAfricaisplannedformidof2006.Theprojectwill culminate in a regional forum on capitalmarketdevelopment.

152. ProjectonenhancingknowledgesharingtosupportthepovertyreductionprocessinAf-rica:TheprojectisdesignedtocomplementtheactivitiesoftheECA-initiatedAfricanLearningGrouponthePovertyReductionStrategyPapers(PRSP-LG)throughvirtualandinteractiveinter-actionandpeer learning amongPRSPcountryteams.TheprojectwillnurtureAfricanperspec-tivetoensuretherelevanceofthePRSPstoAf-rica.ConsistentwiththePRSP-LG,theareasofthefocusfortheprojectincludethepolicycon-tentofnationalstrategiesforgrowthandpovertyreduction, the financing issues associated withthesestrategies,thedepthandprocessofowner-shipandparticipation,andthenatureandtypeof partner support.While the Learning Groupwill continue to meet periodically, the Knowl-edgeSharingProjectwillofferamechanismforelectronicallyenhancedcontinuousengagementamongPRScountryteamsaroundissuesrelatedtoPRSsandtheMDGs.

153. Preparatory activities are now com-pletedtolaunchtheelectronicdiscussionsthisyearsoastobuildstronglinkagesbetweenPRScountryteamsandin-countryaswellasregionalandresearchinstitutionsandnetworkstowardsmore demand-driven research on poverty re-duction.Thethemestobecoveredinthesedis-cussionsinclude:ownership,leadershipandac-countability;growth,povertyreductionandtheimplementationof theMDGs; capacityneedsforachievingtheMDGs;andtheemergingaidarchitectureimplicationsforAfrica.Theprojecthasidentified75participantsin20countriestoberegisteredfortheelectronicdiscussions.Thisis a closed discussion involving persons withdirect involvement in national strategies forgrowth,povertyreduction,andtheimplemen-tationoftheMDGs.

154. Projectonknowledgenetworkingandsharing in a South-South partnership frame-

work:Thisproject,whichhasnotstartedasyet,willbe implemented incollaborationwiththeEconomicCommissionforLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean(ECLAC). Itaimsat strength-ening policy-making processes, content andoutcomes in Africa by bridging policy mak-ers’ information and knowledge gaps drawingon demand driven research output by Africa’sknowledgeorganizationsandbestpracticecasesintheresearchandpolicycommunityofLatinAmericaandtheCaribbean(LAC).Theprojectwill allow selected research institutions,policyinstitutes,civilsocietyorganizationsandprivatesectorentitiesinAfricatoshareinformationandknowledgeresourceswiththeircounterpartsinLACandgenerate researchoutput focusedonaddressing key development policy challengessoastoenablepolicymakerstomakeinformedpolicy choices. The substantive thematic areasinwhichcapacitydevelopmenteffortistofocusare:macroeconomicmanagementandgrowth;tradeandregionalintegration;employmentandpoverty;andenhancingprovisionofinfrastruc-tureservices.

Other Programme

United Nations support to NEPAD

155. As the implementationofNEPADgath-AstheimplementationofNEPADgath-ersmomentum,theUNsystemhasemergedasoneofthemajorpillarsofinternationalsupportfortheinitiative.Thenatureandscopeofthatsupport has broadened in the past year. ThesupportoftheUNsystemencompassesavarietyof activities, including technical assistance forinstitutional development, capacity building,projectdevelopment,resourcemobilizationandadvocacy.TheregionalconsultationmeetingofUN agencies working in Africa, convened byECA, is themechanism forproviding supportattheregionallevel.Theregionalconsultationhas established seven thematic clusters aroundwhich UN support for NEPAD is organized.Theseclusters,whichbroadlycorrespondtothepolicypriorities and strategiesofNEPADare:infrastructure development; governance, peace



andsecurity;agriculture, tradeandmarketac-cess;environment,populationandurbanisation;human resources development, employmentand human immunodeficiency virus/acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome(HIV/AIDS);sci-enceandtechnology;andcommunication,ad-vocacyandoutreach.

156. Atthegloballevel,theUNHeadquar-ters-basedOfficeoftheSpecialAdviseronAfri-ca(OSAA)engagedinmanyinformation-shar-ingactivitiestoenablethevariousstakeholderstounderstandthecomplexinterdependencyofthedifferentaspectsoftheNEPADagenda.Forexample,theOfficehasbeensuccessfulinrais-ingtheawarenessofthelinkbetweenpeaceanddevelopment in Africa and encouraging widersupportofNEPADthroughtheglobalcommu-nityasindicatedbytheveryhighnumberofrec-ommendationsoftheSecretary-General’s2005consolidated report on NEPAD, which wassupportedbymemberStatesinGAresolutions.Furthermore, a series of formal and informalbriefingsandmeetingsontheSecretary-Gener-al’sreporthavehelpedtoincreaseinternationalunderstandingandsupportfortheobjectivesofNEPAD,andcontributed tobuildingconsen-susonthekeyactionsneededtosupportAfrica’sdevelopmentinareassuchasdebtreliefforleastdevelopedcountries,cuttingagriculturalsubsi-dies, and opening markets to African exports.Also,bymaintaininganinformative,up-to-datewebsite, the Office endeavours to inform thewidercommunity, thosewhoarenot involvedin intergovernmental or national machineries,ofthekeyaspectsanddevelopmentspertainingtoNEPAD.

157. A recent poll of the two largest websites that post Africa Renewal (AR) materialpublished by DPI, namely, Afrik.com (whichreceivesabout700,000hitseachmonthandisreprintedin20Francophonedailypapers)andallAfrica.com (which in November 2005 had14.5millionpageviews) consideredAR tobeanexceptionalsourceofinformationthatwouldbedifficulttoobtainelsewhere.Asthematerialislessdatedthanothersources,itcanbepostedforlongerperiodsoftimetherebyallowingac-

cess to a larger number of people and greateravailabilitytopolicymakers,academicinstitu-tions,themediaandactivists.

158. Ontheregionalfront,theUNjointac-tionthroughregionalconsultationsismeanttoenhancecoherence,coordinationandcoopera-tionamongitsagencies,throughincreasedjointactivities and programmes. Consistent withitsmandatetocoordinateUNactivitiesat theregional level inAfrica,ECAhasconvenedsixsessionsoftheannualconsultationstodateandachieved considerable progress in agreeing ona work programme and collaborative arrange-mentsthroughtheseventhematicclustersestab-lishedforthatpurpose.Anassessmentcarriedoutoverthepastyearhasshownthatsignificantprogresshadbeenmadeby all seven thematicclusters,rangingfromidentifyingareasofcom-monconcernintheirworktodrawingupplansof action, mobilizing resources, working withAfricanregionalandsubregionalorganizationsas well as the NEPAD Secretariat, and actualimplementationofprojectsandactivities.

159. Inspiteoftheprogressmade,theUnit-edNationssystemfacesanumberofchallengesand constraints in supporting NEPAD at theregionallevel.First,increasedfinancialcommit-mentbytheUnitedNationssystemforNEPADprogrammeswillmuchdependonwhethertheagencies receive additional resources for theseprogrammes. Second, a closely related prob-lemisthat,whiletheorganizationsoftheUNsystemarecurrentlyworkingtogetherinmanyareas,thelackofadditionalfinancialresourceslimits the scope andflexibility inundertakinganyadditionaljointactivities.Third,iffurtherprogress is tobemade,theentitiesoftheUNwould need to deepen their collaboration toachieve greater operational coherence in theirvariousprogrammesinsupportofNEPADus-ingexistingcoordinationmechanismsatthere-gionallevel.

160. InadditiontothecollectiveactivitiesundertakenbyUNentitiesinsupportofNE-PAD,specificassistancewasofferedbyindivid-ualentitiestoadvancetheworkinthevarious



thematicclusters.Forexample,ECAactivelysupports the implementation of the AfricanPeer Review Mechanism. It helped developsomeoftheMechanismcodesandstandards,provides country economic and governancedatatotheMechanismsecretariatandhaspar-ticipated in the support missions fielded bythe Mechanism secretariat to nine countries:Ghana, Rwanda, Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda,Nigeria,Algeria,SouthAfricaandBenin. Inadditiontoparticipatinginthecountryreviewmissions,ECAalsosupportedtheAPRprocessinreviewingAPRM-relateddocuments(coun-tryself-assessmentreports,countryprogramofaction)andincontributingtothepreparationof documents (country profiles, backgroundpapers,issuespapers,andfinalreviewreport).ECAhasalsocollaboratedcloselywithUnitedNations system agencies and other partners,inparticularADBandtheregionaleconomiccommunities, in supporting NEPAD infra-structuredevelopment.

161. Harnessing Information Technol-Harnessing Information Technol-ogy for Africa’s Development is another areain which the Commission has made notableprogress.WiththeAfricanInformationSocietyInitiative(AISI)asitscoreframework,mostofECAactivitieshavebeeninformedbytherec-ommendations and decisions of the NEPAD

Short-term Action Plan (STAP) section on“ProgrammetoEnhanceAfrica’sParticipationintheGlobalICTPolicyandDecision-makingForums”and theWSISPlanofAction.ECAsupportintheseareasincludedgrouptrainingactivitiessuchascapacity-buildingworkshopsand seminars, convening and facilitating sev-eralmeetingsoftheUNsub-clusteronICTs,supporting the RECs in the development ofsubregional e-strategies and e-governmentstrategies,etc.

162. ECAhassupportedNEPADinanum-berofotherways.InresponsetoNEPADem-phasisonpartnerships,ECAcontinueditsworkwiththeOECDSecretariatinthedevelopmentof a framework formutual accountability andpolicycoherence,whichwillformthebasisforanewrelationshipbetweenAfricancountriesandtheirdevelopmentpartners.Thiseffortwillpo-tentiallyyielddividendintheformofincreasedaideffectiveness.

163. Inaddition,ECAsupports the imple-mentationofNEPADpriorities,mostofwhichareatthecoreofitsmandate,throughitsana-lyticalworkandtechnicalassistanceinvariousareas,whicharealsoconsistentwiththeobjec-tivesofNEPADandtheMDGs.


164. This chapter contains a summary ofoutcomes of those policy-making organs andsubsidiarybodies,whichheldmeetingssincethelastsessionoftheCommissioninMay2005.

165. The intergovernmental machinery oftheCommission iscomposedof thefollowingorgans:

Organs dealing with overall development issues

(i) TheConferenceofAfricanMinistersof Finance, Planning and EconomicDevelopment: The Conference meetsannually inaccordancewith thedeci-sion of its thirty-fourth session heldin Algiers, Algeria, in May 2001. ACommittee of Experts meets prior totheConferenceandprovidestechnicalsupporttotheConference.

(ii) Intergovernmental Committee ofExperts(ICEs):ICEsofthefiveECAsubregional officesmeet annually andreporttotheCommissionthroughtheConferenceCommitteeofExperts.

Subsidiary/Sectoral bodies

Thesecomprise:

(i) TheCommitteeonRegionalCoopera-tionandIntegration;

(ii) The Committee on Women, GenderandDevelopment;

(iii) The Committee on Development In-formation;

(iv) TheCommittee onHumanDevelop-mentandCivilSociety;

(v) TheCommitteeonSustainableDevel-opment;

(vi) The Committee on Industry and Pri-vateSector.

166. Theabove sectoralbodiesmeet inor-dinary session once every two years with theexception of the Committee on Industry andPrivateSectorCommittee.SincethelastsessionoftheCommissioninMay2005,thefollowingmeetings of ICEs and subsidiary bodies havebeen held. The discussions, decisions, resolu-tionsandmajor recommendationsadoptedbythesemeetingsaresummarizedbelow.

The Twenty-fourth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) for Central Africa

167. The twenty-fourth ICE meeting fortheSubregionalOfficeinCentralAfrica(SRO-CA) was held from 20 to 21 March 2006 inYaoundé,Cameroon.TheCommitteediscussedtheeconomicandsocialdevelopmentinCentralAfrica,particularlyinrelationtopromotingpri-vate investment, the linksbetweenpoverty re-ductionpoliciesandgendermainstreaming,andthe harmonization of integration programmesandactivitiesinthesubregion.TheCommitteealsoreviewedtworeportsfromECAheadquar-tersontherationalizationofregionaleconomiccommunities and United Nations support totheimplementationofNEPAD.

168. In respect of poverty reduction ef-fortsinthesubregion,theCommitteeunder-scoredtheneedtoanchorpoliciesandstrate-giesonMDGs.To this end, theCommittee

CHAPTER III Meetings of Subsidiary Bodies, Including the ICEs of ECA Offices in the Subregions (SROs)


Meetings of Subsidiary Bodies, Including the I�Es of E�A Offices in the Subregions (SROs)

reached consensus on the need to develop asubregional framework for developing pov-erty reduction strategies. This would ensuregreaterpolicyharmonizationandprogrammecoherence.ThesubregionalPRSs,shouldem-phasis greater public andprivate investmentinto employment generating sectors, goodpolitical and economic governance coupledwithanequitableredistributionofrevenues,gender mainstreaming and a greater utiliza-tion of labour intensive technologies. TheCommittee called for the establishmentof asubregional investment guarantee scheme toboostresourcemobilizationandjobcreationinthesubregion.Inordertogainabetterun-derstandingof themagnitude anddynamicsofpovertyinthesub-region,theCommitteefurthercalledonthememberStatestodevel-opreliablepovertyrelateddatabasestoguidedecision-making.

169. Inviewoftherenewedcommitmentmade by the Heads of State and Govern-mentoftheEconomicandMonetaryUnionofCentralAfrica(CEMAC)SummitheldinMarch2006inBata,EquatorialGuinea,theCommittee requested the SRO-CA to assistCEMAC member States, whenever calledupon,indevelopingandimplementinginsti-tutionalandstructuralreforminstrumentstofurther integration efforts in the subregion.The Committee further requested assistancefrom the SRO-CA in building capacities ofnationaladministrationsinmanagingregion-alcooperationmechanismsandinstruments,especially within the context of accelerat-ing the implementation of the ECCAS freetradearea.Aspartofeffortstooperationalisethe tripartite MoU signed between ECA,CEMAC and the Economic Community ofCentral African States (ECCAS), the Com-mittee encouraged the SRO-CA to extendits support for subregional initiatives to allmembercountriesthatarementionedintheECA/CEMACannualcollaborativereportonCentralAfricaneconomies.

The Ninth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) for East Africa

170. The ninth ICE meeting for the Sub-The ninth ICE meeting for the Sub-regional Office in East Africa (SRO-EA) tookplaceinKigali,Rwandafrom14to18March2005underthetheme“Accelerating poverty re-duction and creating better socio-economic condi-tions in Eastern Africa”. TheCommitteereviewedthe social and economic conditions prevailingwithinthesubregion,withspecialreferencetoissuesrelatingtoagricultureandfoodsecurity,and youth employment. The Committee alsodiscussed cross-cutting issues such as gender,HIV/AIDS,outcomesof international confer-encesontheGreatLakesandinter-relationshipsbetween the various development cooperationprogrammesinthesubregion.

171. On the subregional socio-economicconditions,theCommitteerecommendedthatthe macroeconomic definition of the PovertyReduction Strategies (PRSs) be brought intolinewiththeMDGs,andthatthepreparationofthePRSscontinuetobeparticipatoryandin-clusiveofallthedifferentsectionsofthepopula-tion.TheCommitteeexpressedconcernonthenegative impact of conflicts and the resultingpopulationdisplacement.Itrecommendedthatissues relating to good (political) governanceandconflictpreventionbeintegratedintopov-ertyreductionstrategies.

172. With respect to agricultural develop-With respect to agricultural develop-mentandfoodsecurity,theCommitteestressedthe need to integrate science and indigenousknowledgeintotheAfricaGreenRevolution.Inthisregard,ECAwasrequestedtoassistmem-berStatesacquiretechnicalskillsandresourcestoprepareMDGbusinessplansforscalingupexisting agricultural and agro-processing tech-nologies.ECAwas further requested to estab-lishforumsforsharinginformationandknowl-



edgeonnaturalresourcemanagementandfoodsecurity,bestpracticesinextensionservicesandtechnologiesthatreducepostharvestlosses.

173. A major recommendation on youthemployment was that ECA should formallyconvene a working group on youth employ-mentandpovertyalleviationalongsidethean-nualICEmeetingoftheSRO-EA.

The Twenty-first Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) for North Africa

174. The twenty-first Meeting of the Inter-Thetwenty-firstMeetingof theInter-governmentalCommitteeofExpertsforNorthAfricawasheldinRabat,Morocco,from4to6April2006.TheCommitteereviewedtheeco-nomicandsocialconditionsinthecountriesofthesubregion,inadditiontotrade,water,envi-ronmentandsustainabledevelopment.

175. Inreviewingthesocialandeconomicconditions in North Africa, the Committeenoted thatdespite thenegative impactof theclimaticconditionsandtheincreasedpricesofoilonsomecountriesofthesubregiontheeco-nomicgrowthratewasmaintainedatfivepercent.Whiletakingnoteofthehighunemploy-ment rates in the subregion, the Committeealsotooknoteofthefastergrowththathasbeenachievedinforeigntradecomparedtointra-re-gionaltrade.Toredresssomeofthesechalleng-es the Committee recommended establishingnationalstabilizationfundsbymemberStatesto mitigate the effects of exogenous shocksandtoextendthembeyondtheenergysectorto include the strategic products; integratingthe social aspects including employment, intheeconomicprogramsandannualassessmentofcountries’performances;andimplementingsystemsthatfosterjobcreationfortheyoungandforwomen.

176. Havingreviewedtradeandassessedtheregionalintegrationpotentialinthesubregion,the Committee reaffirmed the importance oftradeasaninstrumentforenhancingeconomic

growthandasapillarforregionalintegration.Tospeedupregional integration in thesubre-gion,theCommitteerecommendedtoreinforceuniversities’ capacities and research centres tocarryoutworksonregional integration; speeduptheimplementationofaregionalinfrastruc-tureprojectbasedonpublic-privatepartnershipwithin NEPAD. Furthermore, after reviewingthe potential of e-commerce, the Committeestressedthate-commerceoffersthecountriesofthesubregiongenuineopportunitiestoimprovetheircompetitivenessandtofightpoverty.TheCommittee recommended promoting, at thenational level, ICT use in trade transactions,governmentandbanks.TheCommitteeagreedthat the 2006 Secretariat’s activities will geararoundtheissueoftradeandrecommendedtoorganizearegionalforumontrade.Theissueofmigrationwasalsoaddressed.

177. TheCommitteetooknoteoftheactivi-tiescarriedoutbytheSRO-NAasafollow-upand assessment of the implementation by thecountriesoftheAfricanVisionofwater2005.The Committee recommended developing re-gional cooperation toaddress all issues relatedtocross-borderwater resources; inaddition toimplementing a regional actionplanonwaterand environment in order to ensure an opti-mumuseofresources.

Ninth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) for West Africa

178. The ninth ICE meeting for the Subre-TheninthICEmeetingfortheSubre-gionalOffice forWestAfrica (SRO-WA) tookplacefrom27to29March2006inLome,Re-publicofTogo,underthethemeof“Macroeco-nomicFrameworkforEmploymentGenerationfor Youth and Women in West Africa”. TheCommittee reviewed the economic and socialconditionsinWestAfricain2005,withspecialreferencetoissuesrelatedtogrowth,macroeco-nomicconvergencepoliciesandgreaterutilisa-tion of information technologies in develop-ment activities. The Committee also reviewedthefutureorientationoftheworkprogramme



ofECAandSROs in response toongoing re-formsandanevolvingNEPAD.

179. Thereviewofeconomicandsocialcon-ditions and growth performance revealed thatthe macroeconomic framework adopted bycountrieshelpedtostabilizethemacroeconom-icenvironmentandstimulategrowth.However,growthwasnotsustainedasthesectoraldistri-butionwasmainlydrivenbylowlabourabsorp-tion and services sectors largelydominatedbyinformal activities. Most importantly, it wasshown that agriculture has been sidelined intermsofthebenefitsoftheeconomicstrategiesadopted.Theconsequencesofthesehavebeenthe rise in unemployment and underemploy-mentlevels.Inviewofthesituation,theCom-mitteerecommendedthatnecessaryactionsbetakentofullytransformagricultureforittobetheengineofgrowthandemploymentcreation.TheCommitteefurtherurgedpolicymakerstoformulate and implement appropriate sustain-ableruraldevelopmentstrategiesasthemajorityoftheworkforcelivesinruralareas.TheCom-mitteerecognizedtheimportanceoftheinfor-malsectorasarealprovideroflivingtomajorityofpopulation;butrecommendedthatnecessaryactionsbetakenfor it torapidlyevolve intoamore productive sector in order to harvest itsemploymentgenerationpotential.

180. After a critical examination of mac-roeconomic performance in West Africa, theCommitteenotedthattheeconomicpolicies,which were modeled on the Structural Ad-justment Programmes, form the bases of thePRSandtheconvergencemechanisms inourcountriestoday.Italsonoticedthatthosepoli-ciesfailedtocurbthegrowingunemployment,which they for the most part generated. Thecommittee therefore made recommendationsfor countries to adopt macroeconomic strat-egies with better fiscal incentives, and whichcan favour the creation of a more sustainedemployment generation. The Committeeexplored different monetary integration ap-proachesinWestAfricaandprogressmadeintheapplicationofmacroeconomicconvergencecriteria in relation to the creation of a single

monetary zone in the subregion. Althoughprogresshasbeenmadeinsomecountries,theCommitteenotedthattheoverallperformanceinconvergencefallsshortofexpectations.TheCommitteetooknoteofprogressmadeontheimplementation of the African InformationSociety Initiative (AISI) within West Africaover thepastdecade, includingnational ICTpoliciesandstrategies.Tothisend,itexpressedconcernsontheneedtoharmonizeregulatoryframeworksatsubregionallevel.

181. TheCommittee tooknoteof theUNsystem to support NEPAD as well as the on-going UN reforms, which could influenceprogrammes and implementation modalities.WhilerecognizingthesoundnessofECAwork,the Committee recommended that the designofitsmediumandlong-termstrategicplansbedoneinclosecollaborationwiththeRECsandtheJointADB/ECASecretariat.

Twelfth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) for Southern Africa

182. The twelfth ICE meeting for the Sub-ThetwelfthICEmeetingfortheSub-regional Office for Southern Africa (SRO-SA)tookplacefrom10to12April2006inMan-zini,Swaziland.Themeetingwasconvenedun-derthetheme “JobCreationforPovertyReduc-tion”. In formulatingworkable and integratedregionalstrategiesaimedataddressingjobcre-ationforpovertyreductionintheSouthernAf-ricaregion,themeetingtookintoreferencethe2004 Ouagadougou Declaration on employ-mentandpovertyalleviationinAfrica,adoptedat theExtraordinarySummitofAUHeadsofStatesandGovernments.

183. Ontheparticularissueofjobcreationfor poverty reduction, the meeting noted theneed to place emphasis on cross-cutting the-matic issues toensureamultidimensionalandcomprehensiveapproach.Theharmonizationofpoliciesaddressingjobcreationshouldencom-pass issues of HIV/AIDS pandemic, gender,youth,domesticandforeigninvestment,infor-



mationandcorporategovernance.Furthermore,job creation programmes should be cognizantoftheimpactofglobalization.

184. Building on the ongoing country ini-Building on the ongoing country ini-tiativesandtakingintoaccountthediversityofthe challenges, the meeting recommended anall-encompassing and integrated strategy thataddresseseducationandskills forcareerdevel-opmentandrespondstotheneedsofthelabourmarket; improvesaccess toresourcesandmar-kets;providessupportivepolicyenvironmenttobusiness. These strategies shouldbe anchoredon sectors such as agriculture with its back-ward and forward linkages to value additionand manufacturing, services, tourism, miningandotherswithapotentialtodrivejobcreationfromthesupplyanddemandsides.Theprocessforformulatingtheregionalpolicyandstrategyshouldbeparticipatoryandinclusivetoensureownershipbyallkeystakeholdersinparticularthe private sector, labour unions, central andlocal governments, rural communities and thebroadcivicsociety.

185. Onthewayforward,themeetingsug-gested a number of actions to be undertakenwithintwotofiveyears.Theseactionsincludepriority setting of development issues to con-stitutethepolicyframework;preparationofanintegrated,holisticandcomprehensivejobcre-ationpolicyframework,thatisinlinewithNE-PAD;andcreationofadatabaseandindicatorsformonitoringandevaluationof jobcreation.Themeetingstressestheimportantfactoroftheratification of regional agreements and com-mitment to the implementation of the policyframework.

186. ThemeetingurgedGovernmentstobecreativeandinnovativeinprovidingasupport-ingandenablingenvironmenttoSMEsdevel-opmentandgraduationof the informal sectorintotheformalsector.Furthermore,themeet-ingcalledonECAandILOaswellasotherco-operatingpartnerssuchasUNDP,UNIDOandotherUNagencies;WorldBank;IMF;WTO;bilateral agencies and so on to support mem-berStates,SADCandCOMESAinthiseffort

thatseekstodevelopandimplementaregionalframeworkforemploymentcreationandpover-tyreductionandtodocumentanddisseminatebestpractices/modelsinthisarea.

The Committee on Sustainable Development (CSD)

187. ThefourthmeetingoftheCommitteeonSustainableDevelopment(theAfricaCom-mission on Sustainable Development (CSD-4)) was held from 24 to 28 October 2005 inAddis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting adoptedthe theme “Managing Land-based ResourcesforSustainableDevelopment,”inlinewiththethematicissuesfortheglobalCSD16-17cycle,whichwill focusonagriculture,ruraldevelop-ment,land,drought,desertificationandAfrica.Thethemealso took intoaccountAfrica’spri-oritiesforsustainabledevelopmentasreflectedin theSirteDeclaration,on theChallengesofImplementing Integrated and Sustainable De-velopmentonAgriculture andWater, adoptedatthe2ndExtraordinarySummitoftheAfricanUnionandtheAU/NEPADprogrammes,par-ticularly CAADP, Infrastructure and Environ-ment.Themeetingwasattendedby33AfricancountriesaswellasrepresentativesfromUNEP,UNIDO,UN-DESA,ESCAP,theWorldBank,the African Union, ECOWAS, and the Euro-peanUnion.ThemeetingalsoservedastheRe-gionalImplementationMeeting(RIM)forthefourteenth sessionof theUNCommissiononSustainableDevelopment(CSD-14)tobeheldinNewYorkin2006.

188. The Committee reviewed the imple-mentationofECAprogrammeofworkforthe2004-2005biennium,withinthecontextofitsrecommendationsfromCSD-3.TheCommit-tee further reviewed the implementation andfollow-upoftheoutcomesoftheWorldSum-mitonSustainableDevelopment,anddiscussedthechallengesofmanagingland-basedresourcesforsustainabledevelopmentinAfrica,aswellasemerging issuesonscienceandtechnology forsustainable development. The meeting furtherconsidered ECA programme for promoting



biotechnologyintheregionandtheSustainableDevelopmentReportonAfrica.

189. Regarding the work programme andthe implementation of CSD-3 recommenda-tions,theCommitteerecommendedthatECAprovidestechnicalassistancetomemberStates,through interagency groups like UN EnergyAfrica,toexploittheregion’ssignificanthydroelectric potential.To enhance the capacity ofmember Stets to implement WSSD and theJPOI,aswellasrecommendationsfromotherinternationalconferences,theCommitteerec-ommended that ECA works closely with themember States to build capacities as well asidentify focal points to provide for continu-ityatthememberStatelevel.TheCommitteefurther recommendedthatECAassistsmem-ber States develop sustainable developmentmonitoring tools and indices. In relation tomanaginglandbasedresourcesforsustainabledevelopment, the Committee recommendedthata thoroughanalysisofcostsandbenefitsofalternativelandrightsbeundertakenbeforeembarkingonlandreforms.

190. The Committee expressed concern attheroleofmultinationalcompaniesinnaturalresources management. It recommended thatECA reviews this and recommend appropri-atepolicyactions.Tothisend,theCommitteeemphasisedtheparticipationofstakeholdersinnatural resources management with a view toan equitable sharing of benefits. In respect ofscience and technology, the Committee calledfor increasedapplied researchand theneed tostrengthen science, technologyand innovationinoveralldevelopmentpoliciesandinPRSPs.

191. With respect to the regional imple-mentation meeting (RIM), an overall reviewofprogresswasundertakenbytheCommittee,including the identification of opportunities,challengesandimplementationconstraintsthatAfrican countries face. While the Committeenotedsomeprogress,italsohighlightedthein-abilityofsomeAfricancountriestomeettheirgoals and targets in sustainable development.The Committee adopted an African position

on the cluster of issues to be discussed at thefourteenth sessionof theUNCommissiononSustainableDevelopment.Theseareenergyforsustainable development, industrial develop-ment, air/atmosphere pollution and climatechange.Withrespect toenergyforsustainabledevelopment, the Committee noted the needfor institutional capacity building in energyplanning,analysisandmodellingtoinformde-cision-making.Itemphasisedtheneedforpoli-cies,strategies,legalandregulatoryframeworksthat includeruralareasandprovide incentivesforinvestmentintotheenergysector.ItfurthercalledforregionalintegrationofenergyprojectsandprogrammesandemphasisedthecentralityofNEPADEnergyActionPlanandthepartici-pationofRegionalEconomicCommunitiesinenergydevelopment.

192. In respect of industrial development,theAfricanpositioncalledforabroaderadop-tionbyindustryofvaluesconsistentwithcor-porate socialandenvironmental responsibility,suchasthoseembodiedintheGlobalCompact.Therewasalsoneedtopromotecleanerproduc-tiontechnologiesintheregion.Withregardtoair/atmospherepollution,thepositioncalledforanincreaseintherolesplayedbygovernmentsandindustryinadoptingpoliciestoreduceairandatmosphericpollution.Tothisend,thereisneedtoscaleupdatacollectionandbestprac-ticeswhileresearchcapacityneedstobebuilt-up in Africa. With regard to climate-change,thepositionunderscoredtheneedto incorpo-rateclimate-changemitigationindevelopmentpolicyandPRSPs.Thereisalsoneedtoincreaseaccess of African countries to funds from theKyotoMechanisms,whileatthenationallevel,incentivesshouldbeintroducedfortheprivatesector to invest in climate-change mitigationprogrammes.

193. TheAfricanpositionalsoreaffirmedthecommitmentofAfricancountriestoachievingsustainable development through implement-ing Agenda 21, the Millennium Declaration,the JPOI and recommendations from otherinternational conferences. It also reaffirmedNEPADasthesustainabledevelopmentframe-



work for Africa and expressed appreciation oftheroleplayedbytheUNfamilyandotherde-velopmentpartnersinmobilisingresourcesandbuildingcapacitiesforsustainabledevelopment.TheCommitteeendorsedthepositionofRIMforpresentationtothefourteenthsessionoftheCommission for Sustainable Development tobeheldinMayinNewYork.

The Committee on Women in Development (CWD)

194. The tenth meeting of the CommitteeofWomenandDevelopment(CWD)washeldfrom13to14October2005inDakar,Senegal,attheinvitationoftheGovernmentoftheRe-publicofSenegal.Itwasattendedbyrepresenta-tivesfrom37AfricanmemberStates,Intergov-ernmentalOrganizations,UNagenciesaswellasNGOs.

195. TheCommittee revieweda report en-titled, Follow-up Strategy for the Implementation of the Outcome and Way Forward, whichwasad-optedbytheSeventhAfricanRegionalConfer-enceonWomenontheDecadeReviewoftheImplementationoftheDakarandBeijingPlat-formsforAction(Beijing+10).TheCommitteefurther reviewedmodalities for stayingabreast

ofthestatusofgenderissuesinthesubregions.ItalsodiscussedandendorsedECAworkpro-grammeandprioritiesintheareaofpromotinggenderequalityforthe2006-2007biennium,aswellasmodalitiesformakingitsinputsintotheprogramme.

196. With regard to the Follow-up Strategy for the Implementation of the Outcome and Way Forward, theCommitteewelcomedtherecom-mended follow-up actions to the Decade Re-viewofBPFAandtheresolvetoremainaction-orientedandfocusedonthenationalprioritiesofeachcountry.Itemphasizedtheimportanceofpreparingdecisionmakersineachcountrytounderstand their responsibility in integratinggenderintotheirministerialsectorsasastrategyfor promoting sustainable development. TheCommittee endorsed the planned subregionalworkshops aimed at assisting member StatestodefineandoperationaliseplansofactiontoimplementtheStrategy for the Implementation of the Outcome and Way Forward.

197. TheCommitteeisstronglycommittedto supporting ACGD in its work and furtherurgedECAtostrengthencollaborationwiththeGenderDirectorateofAU.


198. This section presents a picture of theThis section presents a picture of thecurrentstatusofandfuturechallengesinman-agingprogrammesforresultsat theEconomicCommission forAfrica (ECA).While the sec-tiondiscusses the steps thathavealreadybeentakeninlinewiththedecisionsoftheMay2004session of the Commission/Conference of Af-ricanMinistersofFinance,PlanningandEco-nomic Development, it also presents plannedfuture action to further enhance results man-agement as recommended to the Secretary-GeneralbytheCommitteeforProgrammeandCoordination(CPC) inparagraphs20and22ofE/AC.51/2004/L.5/Add.2 as follows: “…tocontinueimprovingtheimplementationofre-sults-basedbudgetingandmanagementofpro-grammes with increased emphasis on results”and“thatfuturereportingonprogrammeper-formancereportsbemorecloselyalignedwiththe objectives, expected accomplishments andindicatorsofachievement”.

Steps taken to improve the implementation of results-based management

199. First,increasedeffortsarebeingmadeatthesubprogrammeleveltocollectinformationon results as gauged by indicators of achieve-ment throughout the period of programmeimplementation, including through self-assess-ments/evaluations.Thisshould:

• Facilitate drafting well-substantiatedstatementsofaccomplishments/resultsat theendof thebienniumfor inclu-sionintothePPR;

• Put programme managers in a betterpositiontoassessperformanceoftheirprogrammes at the time they will beasked to prepare the strategic frame-workforthebiennium2008-2009;

• Assistprogrammemanagersinpropos-ingadjustmentsinprogramme’sdesignbased on the most recent evidence;and

• Provideabasis foradjustments intheimplementationprocessduringthebi-ennium.

200. A major step taken consisted of anexercise which included the ECA ProgrammePerformanceReviewof thefirst18monthsofthebiennium2004-2005ataretreatofallpro-grammemanagersandPPRfocalpoints. Theretreat tookplace from12 to15 July2005attheECAheadquartersundertheChairmanshipoftheActingDeputyExecutiveSecretary.Theformer Executive Secretary chaired the dailywrap-upsessionsandprovidedguidanceonthewayforward.

201. The main objective of the review wastoundertakethemandatorypreliminaryassess-mentofprogrammeperformance.Thelessonslearnt from the critical review of the resultsachieved would be taken into account in pre-paring ECA comprehensive evaluation of itsprogramme results for 2004-2005 and wouldalsocontributetotheformulationofthedraftStrategicFramework/BiennialProgrammePlanfortheperiod2008-2009.

202. In order to consolidate the outcomeofthereview,ECAinvitedcolleaguesfromthe

CHAPTER IV Managing for Results: Building a Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation System at ECA


Managing for Results: Building a Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation System at E�A

Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS),NewYork,toprovidetrainingtoECADirectorsandkeystaffon“TheAssessmentofProgrammePerformance in Results-based Management(RBM)”.

203. In-housetrainingworkshopswerealsocarriedout forPPR focalpoints andkey staffwith the view to improving the implementa-tionofresults-basedmanagement.Allpartici-pantswereurgedtobefullyinvolvedinRBM,and ensure that their respective organizationalunitsmanagetheiractivitiesanddeliveroutputsin order to achieve the expected accomplish-mentsthathavebeenarticulatedinthesubpro-grammes.

204. Asaresult,allunitshavebeenabletoestablish baseline data and to collect data ac-cordingtoanagreedscheduleforthemeasure-mentoftheirresultsforthejustcompletedbien-nium2004-2005.MostprogrammemanagersandstaffnowrecognizedtheneedtoapplytheRBMlogicalframeworkforthepreparationoffuturereportsonassessmentofprogrammere-sults.Inthisconnection,programmemanagersand staffhavenowrecognized the importanceof clear linkages between objectives, expectedaccomplishments, outputs and indicators ofachievementandprogrammeresults.

205. The planned future action is now toenhance ECA monitoring and evaluation sys-temtosupporttheimplementationofRBMinensuringthatmanagersofeachsubprogrammeandtheirstaffarecommittedtoafullyresults-oriented Commission in accordance with theSecretary-General’sprogrammeofreform.

Building a Results-based Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) System at ECA

206. As part of his agenda for furtherchange,11theSecretary-Generalemphasizedtheneed for a strengthened system of evaluation

1seeA/57/387

andmonitoringtobettermeasuretheimpactoftheOrganization’sworkandtoensurethatpro-grammeperformanceandevaluationwillhaveapracticaleffectonfutureplansandresourceallo-cation.EffortswithintheSecretariattoreformevaluationandmonitoringhavebeenguidedbyGeneralAssemblyresolutions57/300,inwhichtheAssemblywelcomedtheSecretary-General’seffort to strengthen the system of monitoringandevaluation;and58/269,inwhichiturgedthe Secretary-General to improve the formatand timing of programme performance andevaluationreports.

207. In accordance with this request, theSecretary-Generaldecidedthatthefirstperfor-manceassessmentatthesubprogrammelevelbeundertakenforthebiennium2004-2005.Thisassessmentisnowbeingfinalized.Furthermore,theSecretary-GeneralinhisReport,“InvestingintheUnitedNations,”issuedinMarch2006,underhisProposal18,recommends,intheareaofperformanceevaluationandreportingthat:

• UnitedNationsactivitiesintheareasofperformancemeasurementbegivenin-creasedresourcesbutalsorationalized;

• Monitoringandevaluationtoolsbere-formedandsynchronizedsothattheirresultscanbeevaluated inthe forma-tionofthesubsequentbudget;

• The budget and planning process beexplicitly linked to the results of per-formanceandworkplanninginorderto ensure the effective stewardship ofresourcesprovidedbymemberStates;and

• A new annual report be introducedalong with other steps to consolidateandsimplifyfinancialreporting.

208. Furthermore, as demands for greateraccountability and real results have increased,thereisaneedforenhancedresults-basedmoni-toring and evaluation (M&E) of ECA pro-grammes and subprogrammes. Results-based



M&Ediffersfromtraditionalimplementation-focusedM&Einthatitmovesbeyondanem-phasisoninputsandoutputstoagreaterfocuson results and impact. Building and sustain-ingaresults-basedM&Esystemisnoteasy.Itrequires continuous commitment, time, effortandresources.Itisimportanttorecognizethata results-based M&E system is a continuousworkinprogress.

Results-based Monitoring: Lessons Learnt

209. Laudable efforts have been made byECAinthelasttwoyearstostrengthenitsre-sults-basedmonitoringfunction.Results-basedmonitoringisacontinuousprocessofcollectingandanalyzinginformationtocomparehowwellasubprogrammeisbeingimplementedagainstexpectedaccomplishments.Inthisconnection,ECA did carry out self-assessment of perfor-manceatthesubprogrammelevel.

210. Results-based monitoring was evidentthroughouttheimplementationphaseofECAsubprogrammes. Indeed, monitoring with itscontinuing streams of data and feed-back hasaddedvalueateverystagefromdesignthroughimplementation.Itshouldalsobenotedthatafunctioningmonitoringsystemprovidesacon-tinuousflowofinformationthatisusefulbothinternally and externally. The internal usescomeintoplayastheinformationfrommoni-toringisusedasacrucialmanagementtoolforprogrammemanagersinachievingresultsandmeetingspecifictargets.Informationonprog-ress,problemsandperformanceareallkeytoaprogrammemanagerstrivingtoachieveresults.Likewise, the information fromamonitoringsystemisimportanttothoseoutsideECAwhoareexpectingresults,wantingdemonstrableim-pactfromECAinterventions.

211. Thisnotwithstanding,ECAmust stepup its efforts to strengthen its results-basedmonitoringfunctionthroughthelessonslearnt.

Itisimportanttoreportonkeyresultsthrough-out thebiennium. Bettermonitoring,perfor-mance assessment and reporting are achievedwhenpropermechanisms are established earlyinthebiennium.Effectivemethodsandmech-anisms to track progress, collect informationandrecorditshouldbecurrently inplace. Inthelastbiennium,thedivisionsthatmonitoredtheirprogrammeperformancehaphazardlyandbelatedlyhadlessconvincingresultsstatementsanddataonimplementationofoutputs.

212. Experience in producing the PPR2004-2005has shown that thedraftingof in-formative,substantiatedandconvincingresultsstatementsattheendofthebienniumwasmademucheasierbyformulatingmeaningfulexpect-edaccomplishmentsandindicators.Toachievethat,indicatorsneedtobemorecloselyrelatedto the expected accomplishments; evidence ofachievementsmustbeconsistentandsupport-ing information must be available to showachievements.

213. ThosesubprogrammesthatformulatedfewbutwelldefinedexpectedaccomplishmentsandSMART(specific,measurable, achievable,realistic,andtimely)indicatorsofachievementduring the budget preparation or refined bymeansofthe“asevidencedby”approachavail-ableinthelastbiennium,generallypresentedamore informative statement of results. Thosethat had formulated numerous and vaguelyexpected accomplishments and indicators ofachievementhadmoredifficultiesatthereport-ingtime.Inmostofthosecasesthestatementsof results tended to list outputs or claimedachievements in general terms without beingabletosubstantiatethemby“hard”evidence.

214. As ECA progresses to a more profes-sional results-based monitoring and perfor-mance reporting, conscientious efforts shouldbe made by all towards eliminating such un-substantiatedclaimsofachievementfromECAperformancereporting.



Developing ECA Results-based Evaluation Framework

215. Inordertoprovidetechnicalguidancefor a comprehensive system of performancemanagementandpolicydevelopment,theCom-missionseeks to strengthen its functionofor-ganizationaloversightandlearningbeyondtheorganizationinordertosupportmemberStatesasmandatedinGAresolutionA/RES/59/250.To this end, ECA is putting in place funda-mentalevaluationframeworkinordertogaugemoreobjectivelytherelevance,effectiveness,ef-ficiency,impactandsustainabilityofitsworkinrelationtoprogrammaticobjectivesandaccom-plishments,asapprovedbymemberStates.

216. Inthisquest,ECAlearnedfromtheex-periencesofotherentitiesoftheUNsystemasthe organization is moving towards creating acommonplatformforsystemicevaluation.ThiswillbeachievedthroughtheworkoftheUnitedNations Evaluation Group (UNEG), whichbringstogetherprofessionalunitsandindividu-alsresponsibleforevaluationintheUNsystem,includingitsSpecializedAgencies,Funds,Pro-grammes, Regional Commissions, OIOS andotherglobalentitiesoftheSecretariat,todiscussand adopt shared views anddevelop commonstandardsonevaluation.

217. During the reportingperiodECAhasbecomeafullmemberofUNEG.ThemissionofUNEGistostrengthentheobjectivity,effec-tivenessandvisibilityoftheevaluationfunctionacross the system; to advocate the importanceofevaluationforlearning,decision-makingandaccountability,includingitsuseininter-govern-mentalandinter-agencyprocesses;andtofacili-tatepartnershipsbeyondtheUNsystemwhereappropriate.ItisexpectedthatECAmember-shipwillenableittoadapttheUNEGevalua-tionstrategiestosuititsprogrammaticcontext,and enhance its technical competence to con-ductself-evaluations.

218. UNEG strategic approach includesadoption and application of a common set of

normsandstandardsforevaluation,supportingcommonpositionsonobjectivityandintegrityofevaluation,andontheroleandfunctionofevaluation, strengthening the professional andtechnicalcompetenceofevaluators,facilitatingmutual support and learning through the ex-changeofknowledgeanddiscussionofthestateofartinevaluation,promotinginnovationandjointinitiativestostrengthenevaluationintheUNsystem,andfacilitatingsupporttomemberStatesinbuildingevaluationcapacityatnation-al level to better equip them to evaluate theirownprogrammes.

219. Current status: UNEG has embarkedon a series of undertakings to professionalizeandharmonizeevaluationintheUNsystem.AkeymilestonewasUNEGendorsementin2005of theNormsandStandards forEvaluation inthe UN system, aimed at ensuring commonguiding principles and values in evaluation intheUN system. UNEGalso established fourinter-agencytaskforcestofast-tracktheimple-mentationofitsworkprogrammeasfollows:

i. TaskForceon“QualityStamp”facili-tates self-diagnosis by each agency ofitscompliancewiththeUNEGNormsandStandards, enhancespotential forimprovement through “learning bycomparing”, builds a common per-spectivetocontributetomoreconver-gentpracticesandteststhepracticalityofthestandardsinpreparationforthenextroundofimprovements;

ii. Task Force on Evaluation CapacityDevelopmentexaminestheissuescon-cerning evaluation capacity develop-ment. Having recognized that someUNEGmemberorganizationsdonotyethavea strongevaluationfunction,theTask Force undertook to developcapacitiesofindividualsandevaluationunitsasamatterofurgency.Someofthedeliverablesof theTaskForcewillincludepreparingUNevaluatorscom-petencyprofile,anddevelopingacoretraining programme for evaluators,



aimed at promoting professionalismandcredibilityofUNevaluators.ECAisamemberofthisTaskForce;

iii. Task Force on Country-level Evalu-ations. TheTaskForcehas identifiedpossibleprogrammecountriesinwhichjointevaluationscanbeconducted in2006;and

iv. Task Force on Evaluation and Re-sults-based Management. It is aimedatgeneratingabodyofknowledgeforUNEGconcerningthepresentroleofevaluation in RBM both within theUNsystem,andalsowithinthebilat-eraldonorcommunityandmultilateraldevelopment banks, so as to identifybestpracticesandfuturechallengesforthe role of evaluation in RBM. TheTask Force developed a web-basedquestionnaire in preparation for thesurveyitwillconducttoascertaintherole of evaluation in RBM in variousinternationalorganizations.

The Way Forward

220. In order to support the oversight re-sponsibilityofourmemberStates,ECAisem-barkingondevelopinganevaluationframeworkthatwillguideevaluationworkintheCommis-

sion, based on the established UNEG NormsandStandards.Theframeworkwillencompassprogramme design, implementation and re-sultssoastogeneratecredibleinformation,andhighlight lessons learnt for incorporation intoboth executive and legislativedecision-makingprocesses, for overall performance improve-ment.Themajorcomponentsoftheframeworkwillinclude(1)PreparationofECAevaluationpolicystatementandcodeofconduct;(2)In-stitutional framework including allocation ofhumanresources,leveloffinancialexpendituresonevaluation,andreportingarrangements;(3)Managementoftheevaluationframeworkandevaluationcompetencies,includingqualityandcontent of the Commission’s evaluation planand opportunities for evaluation skills acqui-sition; (4) Conduct of evaluations, includingstakeholderconsultationsinfollow-upofevalu-ations;(5)evaluationreportsandfollow-up,in-cludingqualitycontrolofreports.


Selected Publications

COMMISSION

- AnnualReport2005

E/ECA/CM.38/2

Economic and Social Policy Division - (May 2005 – March 2006)- EconomicReportonAfrica2005,MeetingtheChallengesofUnemploymentandPovertyin

Africa ISBN92-1-125100-5

- ImplementationoftheAfricanPeerReviewMechanisminGhana ESPD/NRP/01/05

- TheGlobalizationofLabourMarkets:Challenges,AdjustmentandPolicyResponsefortheInformalSectorinAfrica,December2005http:/www.uneca.org/eca-programmes/policy_analysis/publications/Globalizaton_of_la

- Youth,Education,SkillsandEmploymenthttp://www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/policy_analysis/publications/youth_educ-skills-

- CapitalFlowsandCurrentAccountSustainabilityinAfricaESPD/NRP/05/05

- TheUseofGeographicInformationSysteminNationalStatisticalOfficesforDataCollec-tionandPovertyMappinghttp:/www.uneca.org/espd/statostocs/dpcs/gis/GISinNSOs.pd

- AfricanSocioeconomicIndicators2005AfricanSocioeconomicIndicators2005

- CompendiumofIntra-AfricanandRelatedForeignTradeStatistics2005Edition

- PovertyProfiles:AMethodologicalNoteonMeasuringPovertyhttp:/www.uneca.org/espd/publications/Poverty_Profiles_a_methodological_noteon

ANNEX

50 Annual Report 2006

Annex

- EnhancingHealthSystems:Malaria’sNegativeImpactinAfricahttp:/www.uneca.org/eca_programmes/policy_analysis/publicationsNationalCommit-

ments_to_tackle

Fostering Sustainable Development - (May 2005 – June 2006)

- ReviewoftheApplicationofEnvironmentalImpactAssessmentinSelectedAfricanCountriesECA/SDD/NRP/04/06

- StudyonEmergingIssuesinScienceandTechnology:Principles,MethodologyandStrategyforPromotingtheAfricanGreenRevolutionECA/SDD/04/03

- Africa’sSustainableDevelopmentBulletinECA/SDD/05/16

- AfricanWaterDevelopmentReportECA/SDD/05/17

- SubregionalStrategiesforPreventingandManagingDisaster-relatedFoodCrisis:Compre-hensiveLong-termDroughtImpact-reductionStrategyECA/SDD/05/16

Development Policy and Management Division

- DevelopmentManagementNewsletter:PolicyBriefECA/DPMD/GOV/PB-issue#1

- AfricanGovernanceReport(1),2005ISBN92-1-125098-6

- Assessing Public Financial Management and Accountability in the Context of BudgetTransparencyECA/DPMD/TP/05/2

- BestPracticesinParticipatoryDevelopment:EnhancingCSORoleinPromotingCorporateAccountabilityECA/DPMD/TP/05/1

- BestpracticesandEmergingIssuesonEconomicandCorporateGovernanceECA/DPMD/TP/05/3

- PartnershipModalitiesforEnhancingGoodGovernanceECA/DPMD/TP/05/4

- InstitutionalArrangements forGoodGovernancewithSpecialReference toTransparencyandAccountabilityECA/DPMD/TP/04/7

5�Annual Report 2006

Annex

African Centre For Gender and Development

- TheRoleofJusticeintheAdvancementandProtectionofWomen’sRights.July2005(E/ECA/ACGD/RC.VII/04/13)

- MeasuringandIntegratingTime-useDatainNationalAccountsandNationalBudgets(UN-ECA,Unpbl.),2005(ECA/ACGD/MI.TUD/NANB.NRP/05)

- TechnicalReportonaGender-awareMacroeconomicModelforEvaluatingImpactsofPoli-ciesonPovertyReductioninAfrica:TheCaseforSouthAfrica.PartI:BuildingofanEx-tendedGender-awareSocialAccountingMatrix,(Unpbl.)2005.ECA/ACGD/GAMM.PD/04/1)

- TechnicalReportonaGender-awareMicrosimulationModelforEvaluatingImpactsofPoli-ciesonPovertyReductioninAfrica:TheCaseforSouthAfrica.PartII:ConstructionoftheModelandPolicySimulationResult,(Unpbl.)2005.(ECA/ACGD/GAMM.PD/04/2)

- AProceduralManualonConstructionandUseofGender-awareMacroeconomicandMi-cro-simulationModelsforPolicyAnalysis:TheCaseofSouthAfrica,(Unpbl)2005.ECA/ACGD/PB.GASAM.TM/05)

Development Information Services Division

- ICTforDevelopment:StateofTelecommunicationPoliciesandRegulationsinAfricaE/ECA/CODI/4/CRP/4

- TheInternetGovernanceSpace:ExploringtheCoreIssuesfromAfrica’sPerspectiveE/ECA/CODI/4/27

- GeographicalDataasNationalAsset:BenefitsofNationalSitusAddressingSystemforAf-

ricaE/ECA/CODI/4/CRP/7

- TheGeoinformationIndustryinAfrica:ProspectsandPotentialsE/ECA/CODI/4/51

- iConnectAfricaVolume2,Number1(August2005)Volume2,Number2(September2005)http://www.uneca.org/aisi/iconnectafrica/in-

dex.htm

- PartnershipforICTsinAfrica(PICTA)BulletinJanuary–February2005(No38–47)http://www.uneca.org/aisi/picta/pictabulletin/

5� Annual Report 2006

Annex

- Development and Utilization of Information and Knowledge Resources in Africa: Chal-lengesandOpportunities:SCANSynthesisReportE/ECA/CODI/4/12

- AISIPolicyBriefs(November2005)http://www.uneca.org/aisi/briefingpapers.htmTheInformationSocietyandtheRoleofAcademiaBuildinganInformationSociety:TheCaseofRwandaDemocratizingAccess:InitiativesinEthiopiae-CommerceChallengesinAfrica:Issues,Constraints,Opportunitiese-Government:TheCaseoftheGambiaTheCasefore-StrategiesinAfricaLibrariesandtheInformationSocietyinAfricae-StrategiesforPovertyReductionandtheMillenniumDevelopmentGoalsMeasuringtheInformationSocietyforDevelopment:SCAN-ICTUsingGeoinformationforPolicyFormulation

Trade and Regional Integration Division

- AssessmentofRegionalIntegrationinAfricaII(May/June2006)ARIAII

- TradePoliciesandNationalDevelopmentPlans:BestPractices(May2006)ECA/TRID/01/06

- MainstreamingTradeintoNationalDevelopmentStrategies:CaseStudyforSelectedEastAsianCountries(May/June2006)ECA/TRID/02/06

- MainstreamingTradeintoNationalDevelopmentStrategies:CaseStudyforSelectedAfricanCountries(May/June2006)ECA/TRID/03/06

Africa Trade Policy Center (ATPC) Publications

- AssessingtheConsequencesoftheEconomicPartnershipAgreementontheRwandanEcon-omy:No.13(May2005)

- DohaRoundentrePromesses,DésillusionsetRésignationsNo.14(May2005)

- Evaluationdel’impactdel’accorddepartenariatéconomiqueentrelespaysdelaCEMACetl’Unioneuropéenne:No.15(May2005)

- PEUT-ONMETTRELAGLOBALISATIONAUSERVICEDUDEVELOPPEMENT?No.16(September2005)

5�Annual Report 2006

Annex

- COMMENTSAUVERLETEXTILEMAGHREBIN?No.17(September2005)

- Non-agriculturalMarketAccessNo.18(September2005)

- Facilitationducommerceintra-africain:Démantelerlesbarrièrespourlecommerceintra-africainNo.19(September2005)

- Pourquoil’Afriques’estellemarginaliséedanslecommerceinternational?No.20(September2005)

- ForeignDirectInvestmentinAfrica:Performance,ChallengesandResponsibilitiesNo.21(September2005)

- Effetsdes accordsdepartenariat économiqueentre l’UEet l’Afrique sur l’économie et lebien-êtreNo.22(September2005)

- Evaluationdel’impactdel’accorddepartenariatéconomiqueentrelespaysdelaCOMESAetl’UnioneuropéenneNo.23(September2005)

- Evaluationdel’accorddepartenariatéconomiqueentrel’UnioneuropéenneetleMaliNo.24(September2005)

- Non-tariffBarriers:TheirPrevalenceandRelevanceforAfricanCountriesNo.25(October2005)

- L’Accèsauxmarchéspeut-ilaiderl’agricultureafricaine?No.26(November2005)

- L’Afriqueetlespréférencescommerciales–EtatdeslieuxetenjeuxNo.27(November2005)

Subregional Office – North Africa

- ReportonEconomicandSocialConditionsinNorthAfricaCEA-AN/TNG/PUB/01/04andECA-SRO-NA/PD/2005-1

- SubregionalWaterDevelopmentReportCEA-AN/TNG/PUB/EAU/DZ/05

- ImpactofHIV/AIDSonSelectedNorthAfricanEconomiesECA-SRO-NA/NRP/2005-3

5� Annual Report 2006

Annex

- EconomicandSocialConditionsinNorthAfrica:AMid-decade(2000-2004)AssessmentECA-NA/PUB/06/01

- StudyonIntra-regionalTradeinNorthAfrica:RulesofOriginCEA-AN/PUB/06/02

- ReportonEconomicandSocialConditionsinNorthAfricaECA-NA/RABAT/ICE/XXI/2

- TradeinNorthAfrica:AssessingtheRegionalIntegrationPotentialECA-NA/RABAT/ICE/XXI/3/I

- TradeinNorthAfrica:RulesofOriginECA-NA/RABAT/ICE/XXI/3/II

- EvolutionoftheEconomicStructuresinNorthAfricaECA-NA/RABAT/ICE/XXI/4

- Water,EnvironmentandSustainableDevelopmentinNorthAfricaECA-NA/RABAT/ICE/XXI/5

- ReportonInternationalandRegionalAgendasECA-NA/RABAT/ICE/XXI/6

Subregional Office – Central Africa

- ReportonEconomicandSocialConditionsinCentralAfrica,2005ECA/SRC-CA/ESC/05

Subregional Office – Western Africa

- ReportontheEconomicandSocialConditions inWestAfrica in2005andOutlookfor2006ECA-WA/2005/Rec.Pub.02

- StatisticalEstimationofAverageExitTimeMeasureofPovertyinWestAfricaECA-WA/NRPub04/2005

- ProgressReportontheImplementationofMDGsandNEPADinWestAfricaECA-WA/ICE.8/2005/4

- MacroeconomicFramework forEmploymentCreationwithEmphasis on theYouth andWomeninWestAfricaECA-WA/ADHOC/2006/1

- ReportonPolicyConvergenceCriteriaandSysteminWestAfricaECA-WA/ICE.9/2006/5

55Annual Report 2006

Annex

Subregional Office – Southern Africa

- ReportonEconomicandSocialConditionsinSouthernAfricaECA-SA/RP.ESC/04

Documents

Annual Report 2006 · munity has reaffirmed,in the context of several major conferences and summits, its determina-tion to support these efforts.As a result, there is now consensus