Senior ECA staff participate in OECD/DAC Peer Review of Canada

As a member of the OECD's Development Assistance Committee (OECD/DAC), Canada periodically submits its development assistance programme to a review by its peers. Canada is the first country in the history of the OECD/DAC to invite outside observers to join the DAC Peer Review Team. The ECA observers were Mr. Hakim Ben Hammouda (Director, ECA Office in Yaounde) and Mr. Patrick Asea (Director--ESPD). In conducting its work the peer review team travelled to Senegal ( a development assistance recipient country nominated by Canada for review) and Canada. On these missions the peer review team consulted with a wide range of stakeholders ---- the executive branch of government, parliamentarians, civil society, NGOs, multilateral and bilateral donors. It is envisaged that this experience will help ECA as it works with NEPAD to establish and implement the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The NEPAD African Peer Review Mechanism is anticipated to start in April 2003 after some decisions are taken at the next NEPAD Heads of State Implementation Commitee Meeting scheduled to be held in February 2003.