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Africa: African Development Forum III
Africa: African Development Forum III
Date distributed (ymd): 020219
Document reposted by Africa Action
Africa Policy Electronic Distribution List: an information
service provided by AFRICA ACTION (incorporating the Africa
Policy Information Center, The Africa Fund, and the American
Committee on Africa). Find more information for action for
Africa at http://www.africaaction.org
+++++++++++++++++++++Document Profile+++++++++++++++++++++
Region: Continent-Wide
Issue Areas: +political/rights+ +economy/development+
+security/peace+
SUMMARY CONTENTS:
The Economic Commission for Africa is convening its third African
Development Forum, from March 3-8, 2002, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The theme is Defining Priorities for Regional Integration. This
posting contains brief excerpts from the planned programme.
Additional information, and some background documents, are
available on-line on the ECA website at:
http://www.uneca.org/adfiii/
Allafrica.com has a special ADF page including background
documents, commentaries, and opportunities for readers to
contribute to debates, in both English and French. Initial
commentators include Akwasi Aidoo, John Githongo, Julius
Nyang'oro, Jabulani Sikhakhane, and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. The
page is at: http://allafrica.com/specials/adf
The first day of the forum is dedicated to a special symposium on
the African Union. Three short issue papers prepared for this
symposium are available for downloading (in PDF or Word formats)
on the ECA site. They are also available for viewing on the web
at http://www.africaaction.org/featdocs/adf3.htm
+++++++++++++++++end profile++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
African Development Forum III - Defining Priorities for Regional
Integration
Narrative Programme
[Excerpts only: for full programme go to:
http://www.uneca.org/adfiii/programme-narrative.htm]
Introduction
The imperative of accelerated African regional economic
integration is reflected in:
- The move towards transforming the Organization of African Unity
(OAU) into the African Union (AU); andN
- Such leading initiatives for economic development as the New
Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).
The third African Development Forum (ADF III) builds upon its
established track record of cutting-edge debate and wide
stakeholder participation. It is a critical coming together of
representatives of African governments, the private sector,
technical experts, international organizations and other
stakeholders, to seek consensus and ownership of regional
integration.
The African Union
African Heads of State have committed themselves to establishment
of the AU. The AU has ambitious structures that will require
considerable skill and capacity to function effectively. A
carefully phased and prioritized process will enable these
institutions and structures to be set up incrementally and to
maximum effect. ADF III will:
- Bring together vital stakeholders and experts;
- Broaden substantive inputs into the process of establishing the
AU; and
- Widen African ownership of the process.
This forum will provide the OAU with a unique opportunity to
discuss the challenges of moving towards the African Union and
regional economic integration, benefit from expert analyses and
obtain input from key stakeholders. Up to now, the AU process has
been government-driven. It is necessarily a sovereign process,
but experience from other parts of the world indicates that
success depends on broadening ownership of the process, so as to
engage all concerned fully. Public dialogue on formation of the
AU was initiated at the June 2001 OAU meeting for civil society
organizations (CSOs), during presentations and a
question-and-answer session led by the former OAU
Secretary-General and senior staff members. At Syrte in 2000, and
subsequently at the 2001 Lusaka Summit, Africa's Heads of State
and Government agreed that broader consultation was necessary.
ADF III is designed to tap such broadened and deepened
consultation on regional integration.
ADF III takes place in the middle of the period of transition of
the OAU to the AU. The Constitutive Act of the AU invites
parliamentarians, CSOs and others to take on a pivotal role in
the architecture of the Union. ADF III will be a crucial
opportunity to examine how best to promote the components of the
AU process. It will provide the AU with the opportunity for
reflection and for incorporation of inputs from a range of
participants, with the aim of making the process an inclusive
one.
Regional Integration and Economic Development
There is a powerful Africa-wide consensus on the prerequisites
for economic development and poverty reduction. One component of
this consensus is good governance for building a capable and
effective State, with political representation of all social
groups, effective institutions, good macroeconomic management and
corporate governance. ECA's concept of `enhanced partnership'
envisages a compact between African governments and their
peoples. Leaders undertake to provide good governance, and to
manage the affairs of the State fairly and effectively in pursuit
of development. Good governance also enables high-quality
development partnerships for poverty reduction, and facilitates
private sector investment and economic growth.
A second key component is regional economic integration, to
overcome the handicaps imposed by small and fragmented national
markets, to obtain economies of scale in key infrastructural
developments, and to maximize the efficient use of capital and
labour in the context of globalization.
Africa's major development initiatives, such as NEPAD, include
regional cooperation and integration as a central component.
Economic integration is vital if Africa is to optimize the use of
its resources and attract inward investment. At Abuja in 1980,
African governments committed themselves to move towards a common
market, and the need to implement those commitments has never
been greater.
The success of development partnership initiatives and regional
integration and poverty reduction strategies depend on the full
engagement of a wider range of stakeholders, including the
private sector and civil society. ADF III is a tremendous
opportunity for stakeholders and experts to provide inputs into
Africa's strategies for economic development, with a special
focus on regional issues.
African leaders today are determined to chart a new political and
economic course for the continent. There is consensus on the
pivotal role that regional political and economic integration can
play in this regard. ADF III provides an exceptional and
well-timed opportunity for the AU and emergent development
partnership initiatives to engage with a wide array of
stakeholders.
Annotated Agenda
African Union Symposium
Issues to be examined
Issues for discussion at the Symposium are grouped into three
areas, namely, economic integration, peace and security, and
institutional architecture and capacities.
- Economic integration. How can the AU accelerate economic and
political integration? How will the envisaged AU structure
facilitate integration? How does it relate to the 1980 Abuja
Treaty and other economic initiatives at regional and subregional
levels? How will the AU relate to the private sector, both
African and international? What is its relevance to key civil
society concerns such as democracy, citizenship and human rights?
- Peace, security, humanitarianism and human rights. How will
the AU be linked to existing peace, security and
conflict-management systems? How is the Conference on Stability,
Security, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA)
envisaged as a conflict management mechanism within the framework
of the AU? Given that there is no single comprehensive peace and
security system, will the AU bring coherence to the existing
subregional peace and security or will ad hoc management remain
the order of the day? Can transitional arrangements harmonize
initiatives until a new comprehensive peace and security system
develops, based on African experience and international
responsibilities? How will measures and mechanisms for approving
and implementing humanitarian interventions be established and
coordinated subregionally? How will the regional peace and
security agenda be linked to the UN Security Council and other
international initiatives? In light of the human rights
provisions in the Constitutive Act of the AU, what monitoring and
enforcement mechanisms can be established? How will the AU seek
to position Africa with respect to shifting global security
concerns, especially since the 11 September 2001 crisis?
- Institutional architecture and capacity. Given the background
of weak linkages in the past between the OAU and subregional
organizations (SROs) such as Southern African Development
Community (SADC), Economic Community of West African States
(ECOWAS), East African Cooperation (EAC), Inter-Governmental
Authority for Development (IGAD), Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) etc.,
how is the AU process rectifying this weakness? What kind of
structural relationships are envisaged to integrate SROs and
regional economic communities (RECs) into the AU? How does the AU
model specifically reflect African experiences and aspirations?
How are people to be engaged, sensitized and activated in the
process of building the Union? What is the timing and sequencing
of the establishment of the institutions? What are the resource
requirements for the AU Commission and other institutions? Where
will the resources come from? If they are to be primarily
membership dues, will AU suffer from chronic lack of resources,
as has been the case with OAU's funding record? What kind of
technical assistance is needed in building the envisaged African
institutions? What are the human resource requirements for the
AU? How will it seek to leverage a collaborative and meaningful
association with relevant research institutes, foundations, CSOs,
universities, and other independent institutions? What interface
does the AU anticipate with the UN?
ADF III Opening Session
Chair: K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary, ECA
Speakers: Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister, Ethiopia
Amara Essy, Secretary-General, OAU
Omar Kabbaj, President, African Development Bank (ADB)
Wole Soyinka, African writer and intellectual, Nobel Laureate
Plenary Session 2: The History and Prospects for Regional
Integration
Chair: Prof. Abdoulaye Bathily, Vice-President National Assembly
(Senegal)
Presenter: Adebayo Adedeji, former Executive Secretary, ECA
Discussant: Emmanuel Mushega, Secretary-General of East African
Cooperation
Plenary Session 3: Assessing Economic Integration in Africa:
Launching the ARIA
Chair: Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, Executive Secretary, Global
Coalition for Africa -GCA
Presentation: Launch of the first Annual Report on Integration in
Africa (ARIA), ECA Regional Cooperation and Integration Division
(RCID)
Discussants: Jean Louis Sarbib Vice President, Middle-East &
North Africa Region, The World Bank
Plenary Session 4: Integration in Other Regions: Lessons for the
AU
Chair: Zepherin Diabre, Associate Administrator, United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP)
Presenters: Bernard Petit European Union representative
Inter-American Development Bank representative
Plenary Session 5: Physical Integration through Infrastructural
Development
Chair: Egyptian Minister of Transport, Chair of Transport
Ministers Conference
Presenters: Cyril Enweze, Vice President, ADB
Alan Gelb,Chief Economist and Director, TheWorld Bank
Discussants: Kenneth Button,George Mason University
Alhaji Bamanga Mohamed Tukur, leading African entrepreneur
Plenary Session 6: Economic Policies for Accelerating Regional
Integration
Chair: Linah K.Mohohlo, Central Bank Governor, Botswana
Presenter: Konan Banny, Banque Centrale des tats de l'Afrique de
l'Ouest (BCEAO)
Discussant: Delphin Rwegasira, Exe cutive Director African Economic
Research Consortium
Plenary Session 7: Peace and Security Architecture
Chair: Kamel Morjane, Assistant High Commissioner, UNHCR
Presenter: Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary-General, OAU
Discussants: Lansana Kouyate, Economic Community of West African
States (ECOWAS)
Ibrahim Gambari, UN Assistant Secretary-General
Plenary Session 8: Building an Effective African Union
Chair: Simba Makoni, Minister of Finance, Zimbabwe
Presenter: Said Djinnit, Assistant Secretary-General for
Political Affairs, OAU
Discussants: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Senior Advisor, Modern Africa
Fund Managers
Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem, General Secretary, Pan-African Movement
Plenary Session 9: Heads of State Presentations
Chair: Amara Essy, Secretary-General, OAU
Presenters: Heads of State and Government
This session will be an opportunity for the invited Heads of
State and Government to present their vision and plans for
regional economic and political integration.
Parallel Closed Session: Priorities for Implementation
Co-chairs: Lalla Ben Barka, Deputy Executive Secretary, ECA
Said Djinnit, Assistant Secretary-General, OAU
This will be a closed session in which selected representatives
of the Focus Groups, regional organizations, RECs, selected
governments and experts will discuss the key findings from the
Forum, and prepare and approve a final declaration for ADF III.
This session will be conducted in parallel with plenary session
9.
Plenary Session 10: Heads of State Forum
Chair/moderator: K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary, ECA
Panels: Heads of State and Government
Representatives of seven stakeholder Focus Groups
Closing Session: The Way Forward
Co-chairs: K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary, ECA
Amara Essy, Secretary-General, OAU
The final session will consist of a presentation of the final
Declaration and Plan of Action from ADF III, and discussion of
recommendations for the June 2002 Summit to inaugurate the
African Union in Pretoria South Africa.
Stakeholder Focus Groups
Focus Groups have a more integrated role in ADF III than in the
previous forums. Each Focus Group will convene a breakout session
to present itself, its analysis and aims, and to receive inputs
from other conference participants and experts. This is designed
to maximize their interaction with the main conference and to
ensure the best possible output.
Each Focus Group will be tasked with preparing its
recommendations for presentation in plenary session 10 (the Heads
of State Forum). This will take the form of a written statement
that can be tabled and specific questions in the Heads of State
Forum.
List of Focus Groups
The following Focus Groups will convene during ADF III:
1. Private sector
This is a stakeholder group of businessmen, including both
Africans and non-Africans who invest in Africa. This group will
identify the private sector's priorities for regional
integration, and evaluate current efforts against these
priorities.
Convenor: Africa Business Roundtable
2. Civil society
This is a stakeholder group drawn from a wide range of CSOs
concerned with development issues, including poverty reduction,
social service provision, human rights, etc. It will identify the
role to be played by civil society in promoting and influencing
regional integration.
Convenor: Jalal Abdel Latif, InterAfrica Group.
3. Youth
Young people are stakeholders in the future. The United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) will help convene a group of African
youth to participate and make their voices heard in ADF III. The
group will advocate the interests of young people.
Convenor: Nankali Maksoud, UNICEF.
4. Parliamentarians
This stakeholder group of elected representatives will be drawn
from across Africa. It will focus on the future development of a
Pan-African Parliament, the relationships between democratization
and regional integration and how the two can be utilized to
strengthen one another.
Convenor: Ibrahim Fall, Inter-African Parliamentary Union.
5. Information and communications technologies (ICTs)
This is a stakeholder/expert group formed by Partnership for
Information and Communication Technologies in Africa, i.e. the
existing working group on ICTs. This group will examine and
promote the role of ICTs in all aspects of regional integration.
Convenor: Karima Bounemra, Development Information Services
Division (DSID) - ECA.
6. HIV/AIDS
This is a group of stakeholders that comprises persons living
with HIV/AIDS and persons engaged in HIV/AIDS programmes and
activities, and experts concerned with HIV/AIDS. It will seek to
ensure that response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic remains at the
forefront of the development and integration agenda.
Convenor: Ugandan PLWA
7. Human rights and the law
The protection and realization of human rights is one of the
fundamentals for achieving development, democracy and stability.
Africa faces the challenge of cementing its regional human rights
mechanism. This includes encouraging more governments to sign and
ratify human rights conventions and to establish mechanisms for
ensuring conformity to the requirements. As Africa heads towards
integration, national legislation should be in conformity with
international standards of human rights, and national judicial
procedures should be consonant with the procedures of regional
and international bodies. Special attention needs to be paid to
the African Commission on Human and People's Rights and to the
proposed African Court on Human and People's Rights. Are existing
procedures adequate for protecting citizens' rights? What extra
capacity do national and regional bodies need? How should African
institutions fit in with their international counterparts? Or
should the priority be realization of human rights at the local
and national level?
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by
Africa Action (incorporating the Africa Policy Information
Center, The Africa Fund, and the American Committee on Africa).
Africa Action's information services provide accessible
information and analysis in order to promote U.S. and
international policies toward Africa that advance economic,
political and social justice and the full spectrum of human
rights.
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