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Back The Africa Knowledge Networks Forum (AKNF) 2001/African Development Forum (ADF) 2001 Technical Advisory Committee Meeting Three-
Day Programme, Addis
Ababa Background: 1. Introduction:The Africa Knowledge Networks Forum (AKNF) was conceived as a programme and process of knowledge networking for Africa's development, focussing on "knowledge-sharing for enriched research, training, and policy decision-making". The AKNF's objectives, expected impact and process were conceived following recommendations of studies and consultations with a broad spectrum of Africa's development stakeholders, including a specially targeted constituency of African experts in the Diaspora. The consultations culminated into the Preparatory and Launch Workshop for the network which took place August 17- 18, 2000. The Workshop focussed on refining the concept and giving guidelines for the preparation of business plan for AKNF, among other things. The report of the Workshop was distributed to participants and is posted on the AKNF web-site: http://www.uneca.org/aknf. It captures as accurately as possible the messages from the discussion in terms of the role of AKNF, the value- added services the network could provide and how the network can be managed. It points to some grey areas that remain, as well as the possible pitfalls to watch out for, which, as was advised, should be flagged for further discussions as we move forward. The recommendations of the Workshop guided the activities that were started last year and constitute the framework for the agenda presented below. 2. The Forum Format: The objective of the Forum format is to have a fully participatory process in which the discussions take place. The Forum is designed to provide as much room for interactive dialogue as possible. There will be plenary sessions and break- out sessions where participants will have more in- depth discussion of the issues. The key task for each stakeholder group will be to evaluate and critique the main options in specific areas, to energize regional integration in Africa. Groups might also wish to pose options of their own, and will be asked to add their views on issues under discussion. These stakeholder groupings will include officials charged with promoting sub-regional and regional cooperation, academics and experts in physical integration. 3. Post-Forum actions: These actions will focus on implementing the AKNF Work Program to be presented at the meeting. But this year's AKNF is special. As the technical Advisory Committee of ADF 2001, the conclusions and recommendations of AKNF 2001 will form an integral input in the finalisation of the papers and agenda for the ADF 2001, whose recommendations will be conveyed, through the OAU, to the Summit of Heads of State and Government. The Summit is due to be held in Pretoria, South Africa, in July 2002. Africa's leaders will be asked to consider the outcomes of ADF 2001 as a contribution towards concretizing the African Union implementation agenda. 4. The outcome of AKNF 2001 will also be a vital building block towards the launching in the year 2002, ECA new Annual Report on Regional Integration in Africa to systematically monitor the continent's progress towards integration. This annual publication will also help maintain the momentum on the policy dialogue and political commitment required for integration in Africa to be achieved. Three-day Programme Day One: Wednesday 17 October 2001 09:00 - 10:00:
Opening Plenary Opening Remarks by: Samba Jack, OIC, ECA Highlights and conclusions of the Report of the AKNF Preparatory Workshop:
Presenter: George Alibaruho, ECA Discussions: Discussions on the issues presented will be held to gather comments, suggestions. Feedback will be particularly sought from participants at the August 17-18 2000 launch workshop to ensure that the key elements of the recommendations highlighted in the presentation are accurate, as they constitute the framework the work programme that has been designed.. 10:00 - 10:15; Coffee break 10:30 - 13:00: Accomplishments and the way forward Status reports on activities undertaken in 2000/2001 Presenter: Makane Faye
Discussants: Allemayehu Molla and Peter da Costa, The way forward: knowledge management strategies for networking of organisations
Presenter: Lishan Adam Discussants: Andrew Barendse and Chukwu-Emeka Chikezie Discussions: Discussions on the issues presented will be held to gather comments, suggestions, and feedback from the participants. We particularly like to get feedback on the state of connectivity at AKNF-affiliated organisations as we begin a phase of needs assessment and connection of the ITCA portal to institutions and organisations in a sequenced manner.
Discussion: The discussion will focus on the relationship of the proposed strategy, work program priorities for 2001/2002 and their consistency with identified priorities of affiliated network organisations; review and finalisation of AKNF governance and operational structure. Review of consistency of the proposed operational modalities with the recommendations of the AKNF Preparatory Workshop. The discussion will also look at the implementability of the programme with respect to resources and the operational modalities proposed. 5.30 - 6.30: Informal presentations Fundraising skills and experience by network managers: sharing happy moments, frustrations, and how to better prepare Presenters: H. Ben Hamouda and D. Seck Brief Informational Statements from representatives of organisations of networked institutions Many organisations have already exchanged intormation on their website, others are bringing brochures per my request, so we will allow little time for any additional information needed to be passed around by network managers who did not present papers on their organisations. Presenters:
Day Two-Thursday October 18, 2001
1. ARIA
Steering Committee Meeting.(Only for Members of the ARIA Steering
Committee) 2. Presentation and discussion of papers written on some of the sub- themes of ADF- 2001 Moderator: Jan van Heerden 2.30 - 4.00: Economic Policies for Accelerating Regional Integration:
Discussion: This discussion will focus on cooperation and convergence in key macroeconomic policies-- monetary, fiscal, trade and exchange -- including consistency of national and integration targets and supporting policies at the national level. Towards this goal, it will identify the key strategic policy actions that will need to be taken at the regional, sub-regional and national levels. The discussion will also address the issue of losers and winners in the process of forging convergence and how to address it in practical terms; 4.00 - 4.20: Coffee Break 4.20 - 5.45: Regional Approaches to regional Issues: Infrastructure Development and the Peace and Security Architecture Moderator:
Discussion on Infrastructure: This discussion will focus on priorities for infrastructure development as a means to step up the pace of regional integration. It will consider the appropriate regulatory framework for regional projects, financing of such projects, and services to be delivered by supra-national institutions. The discussion will look at modalities for agreeing, designing and implementing regional infrastructure projects, and for attracting and servicing investment in these sectors. It will also look at modalities for taking advantage of improved regional infrastructure to promote strategic lines of industry, or enterprises that can operate in regional markets and enhance their competitiveness in the global economy; Discussion on Peace and Security Architecture: The discussion will take as its point of departure the clear link between peace, good governance and development, and will focus on the successes and failures of the peace and security architecture on the continent. A key question will be how the peace and security architecture can address post-conflict transformation issues, and bridge the gap between conflict and normative development. The discussion will also looked at the link between liberal citizenship and residency frameworks that make national borders legally porous to migration, and avoidance of conflict and promotion of peace. Overall, the discussion will examine and identify priorities for rationalizing and harmonizing the peace and security architecture to ensure the necessary conditions for an accelerated African Union. 5.30 - 6.15: Closing and way forward
Day 3 Friday 19, 2001 Meeting of the Steering Committee of ADF 2001 (only for members of that Committee-they know who they are) |
