Beijing+10 Evaluation Process

Involving African Women NGOs

ECA is organizing through its African Center for Gender and Development a Regional Consultative Meeting for African NGOs on the evaluation process of the implementation of Beijing Platform for Action (Beijing+10). This two-day meeting (22-13 July 2004, Addis Ababa) is gathering over 60 participants who represent several sub-regional and regional NGOs and Observers from United Nations entities, African Union and other partners.

The Economic Commission for Africa has always been concerned about the mobilization and participation of African women to intergovernmental activities in the region. It is for this reason, that ECA has endeavored to incorporate women NGOs in its subsidiary organ entrusted with the follow up of issues related to Women and Development, the Committee of Women and Development. It is to be recalled that concerning the Beijing +10 review process, the Bureau of ECA's Committee on Women and Development, convened in September 2003, has requested the ECA to facilitate and support the participation of women’s NGOs in the review process. Thus, ECA through ACGD has decided to hold an NGOs forum on Beijing +10 in October 2004, in Addis Ababa along the 7th Regional Conference On Women for the decade review of the implementation of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms for Action.

It is in this context that ECA through its ACGD, has facilitated the organization of the NGOs Consultative Meeting which started this morning in Addis Ababa to discuss the preparatory process of the African Women’s NGOs Forum on Beijing + 10.

The specific objectives of this meeting are twofold:

* Plan the African Women’s NGOs Forum on Beijing + 10 to be held in Addis Ababa in October 2004.

* Mobilize partners to support the process

The Consultative meeting is expected to elect the NGOs Regional Organizing Committee, review the sub-regional evaluation reports, identify resources needed for the organization of the NGOs Forum on Beijing +10 and develop a strategy for resource mobilization.

The major outcome of the meeting will be the adoption of a Format and Draft Agenda for the NGOs Forum on Beijing +10, and the adoption of an Action Plan for the preparation of this Forum .