MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE
AFRICAN MINISTERS COUNCIL ON WATER (AMCOW), ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA,
29 JUNE 2005
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Agenda Items:
The meeting accorded particular attention
to the Agenda items relating to the triennial work programme and
trust fund of AMCOW, the African Water Facility, and strengthening
AMCOW work at the country and sub-regional level, relation between
AMCOW and AU, relations with regional economic communities as
well as river and lake basin organisations. In addition, the implementation
of the EU Water Initiative for Africa was reviewed.
Consideration was given to the hosting agreement proposed by the
government of Nigeria with respect to AMCOW Secretariat. Furthermore,
the AMCOW’s contribution to the 2005 World Summit on the
five-year review of the millennium declaration as well as the
forthcoming G8 Summit were discussed. In this regard, the implications
for AMCOW of the outcomes of the 13th Session of Commission on
Sustainable Development were considered including the needed follow
up in the region. The role of Private Public Partnership in Water
Supply was also reviewed. Announcements were also made on forthcoming
international conferences and Workshops in Kenya, South Africa
and Uganda.
Proposals for enhancing coordination and
communication between and among the members of AMCOW were discussed.
The role of AMCOW in the 2006 4th World Water Forum was also given
due consideration by the Executive Committee.
2. Outcomes and Recommendations:
2.1 Appreciation of the Hosting Arrangements
for the AMCOW meetings
(Addis Ababa, 27-30 June 2005)
The Executive Committee (EXCO) expressed
profound gratitude to the Government of Ethiopia and its Ministry
of Water Resources for hosting the meeting and for the solid support
and hospitality extended to AMCOW.
The Executive Committee also expressed
AMCOW’s gratitude to the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic
for Africa, the UN Water Africa, UNEP and German Technical Cooperation
Agency (GTZ) for providing excellent arrangements and facilities
which facilitated the smooth conduct of the meetings.
2.2 Work Programme:
The Executive Committee was briefed on
the progress report on the EU Water Facility of the funding proposal
submitted by AMCOW. The purpose of the proposal was to secure
funding support for the implementation of the triennial work programme
of AMCOW. A response from the EU acknowledging receipt of the
proposal was obtained. A communication on the status of consideration
is expected in September 2005.
(a) The President, in brief remarks, informed
EXCO members of the establishment of the office of the AMCOW President
with the support of the World Bank (WSP) and the GTZ to facilitate
the day-to-day running of the affairs of AMCOW activities.
(b) EXCO members endorsed the submission.
2.3. Trust Fund:
In line with the decisions of the fifth
session of AMCOW (Uganda, November 2004), an AMCOW Trust Fund
was to be formally established and UNEP to be requested to manage
it. The participants noted the measures taken by the President
of AMCOW culminating in the establishment of the Fund. It was
also noted that UNEP Executive Director announced a contribution
of One hundred Thousand Dollars from the Organisation. It was
also recalled that the President of AMCOW had undertaken a number
of bilateral consultations with development cooperation partners
with a view to mobilising contributions to the Trust Fund. In
consideration of the above, the EXCO:
i) Expressed appreciation to the Government
of Nigeria for its gracious allocation of: (i) US$449,500 (ii)
additional allocation of N95,000,000.00, amounting to approximately
US$730,000.00 towards operational and related costs of the office
secretariat;
ii) Expressed appreciation to the President
of AMCOW and the Executive Director of UNEP for the step taken
culminating in the establishment of the AMCOW Trust Fund and for
UNEP’s contribution of US$100,000. The Executive Committee
also requested the Executive Director to continue his resource
mobilization efforts for the Trust Fund.
iii) Requested the President of AMCOW to
convene a meeting with the development cooperation Ministers of
Germany, Denmark, Canada, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands, Representatives
of the African Union and the European Union on support to AMCOW
Trust Fund.
iv) Requested the President of AMCOW to
invite selected dignitaries to serve as Patrons of AMCOW for the
period 2005-2006 who can assist in advocacy in support of AMCOW’s
work. In this regard, the participants, in an indicative manner
mentioned H.E. Mr. Macky Sall, Prime Minister of Senegal (a founding
member of AMCOW), H.E. Mr. Joachim Chisano, former President of
Mozambique (currently the UN Secretary General’s Special
envoy), H.E. Ambassador Salim Ahmed Salim, former Secretary General
of the then Organisation of African Unity and currently Ambassador
for Water), Mr. K.Y. Amaoko, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic
for Africa and a member of the Commission for Africa). The Executive
Committee (i) recommended the inclusion of eminent female candidate
in the final list. In this regard, Professor Wangari (2005) Nobel
Peace Prize Laureate and Vice Minister for the Environment of
Kenya) and Dr. Annan Tibaijuka, United Nations Under Secretary
General and Executive Director of UN-Habitat, (ii) requested that
the above persons be contacted to ascertain their interest and
availability.
v) Mandated the President of AMCOW to formally
request all African countries to make a minimum contribution of
US$10,000 annually. This will underscore ownership and commitment
and therefore can encourage positive donor support.
vi) Requested the President of AMCOW to
develop an effective resource mobilisation strategy of AMCOW and
to this end may commission a study with a view to presenting recommendations
to the 6th Ordinary Session (AMCOW) for the adoption of a medium
and long-term strategy for the sustainable financing of the work
programme and related activities.
vii) Requested the President of AMCOW to
initiate consultations with the ADB on the possibilities of financial
support from the ADB Water Partnership Programme.
viii) Expressed appreciation to the Government
of Germany and its Technical Cooperation Agency for the support
extended to AMCOW’s effort for the mobilisation of resources
for the implementation of the AMCOW work programme and its commitment
2.4 African Water Facility:
EXCO expressed appreciation to the ADB
for the arrangement made for the management and operation of the
African Water Facility and welcome the appointment of Mr. Bedoumra
Kordje, the Director and the other staff.
The AMCOW EXCO noted the progress made
in the establishment of the African Water Facility, including
arrangement for the convening of the inaugural meeting of the
Governing Council in Tunis, Tunisia on 8th July 2005. In this
regard, all AMCOW representatives on the governing council of
AWF were urged to attend this important meeting.
2.5 The EU Water Initiative for Africa:
EXCO noted the assessment of the progress
made in the implementation of the EU Water Initiative for Africa
notably the activities of the five Thematic Working Groups (Water
Supply and Sanitation; Integrated Water Resources Management;
Finance; Research and Development; Monitoring and Evaluation).
EXCO directed AMCOW –TAC to make
a comprehensive assessment of the strengths and weaknesses in
the implementation of the terms of reference for the thematic
groups in consultation with the EU on the modalities for a mid-term
review.
2.6 AMCOW relationship with the AU:
EXCO expressed appreciation to the African
Union and its Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture for
the ongoing consultations on AMCOW’s relationship with the
African Union. It further welcomed Sirte declaration which requested
the Chairperson of the African Union Commission to adopt the mandate,
structures and activities of AMCOW, the African Ministerial Conference
on Environment, and the African Ministers Conference on Agriculture
in order to integrate them into the activities of the AU Commission
and its specialised technical committees.
EXCO appreciated the briefing provided
by the African Union on the constitutive act as it relates to
the specialised technical committees and further requested the
Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture to integrate into
her reports to the Executive Council of the AU the following AMCOW
proposals:
a) the establishment, at the policy level,
of a separate Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Water Resources
Management in order to take account of the magnitude of the water
agenda on the continent and the need for its focussed handling;
b) maintenance, at the operational level,
of existing organisational and financial arrangement of AMCOW,
pending the adoption, by AU, of the final arrangements relating
to relations with African Ministerial bodies. In this regard,
the ongoing contacts between the AU Commission and AMCOW should
be stepped up to work the modalities for enhanced coordination
and harmonisation;
c) AMCOW’s Executive Committee noted
the fact that the AU Commission is in the process of concluding
a comprehensive study on the structures and activities of the
Scientific and Technical Committees (STC). The study, to which
AMCOW can contribute its perspectives, is aimed at analyzing all
integration issues and modalities in accordance with the decisions
of Heads of State and Government of Sirte1.
d) Pending the adoption, by AU, of the
final arrangements relating to relations with African Ministerial
bodies, AMCOW recommends that it maintain present arrangements.
AMCOW and the AU will strengthen the ongoing coordination and
cooperation.
2.7 Strengthening Coordination with Regional
Communities, River and Lake Basins and other relevant institutions:
EXCO resolved to take necessary measures
to strengthen AMCOW’s cooperation with the regional economic
communities, river and lake basin organisations and other relevant
institutions as well as civil society groups in the work of AMCOW.
2.8 Strengthening AMCOW’s Sub-regional
Presence
EXCO requested the AMCOW Vice Presidents
of the Sub-Region to:
(a) explore the possibilities to institutionalise
regular sub-regional ministerial consultations with a view to
monitoring progress in the implementation of AMCOW decisions and
to develop;
(b) promote closer involvement of the regional
economic communities and relevant inter-governmental bodies in
furtherance of the goals of AMCOW;
(c) encourage the full participation of
AMCOW National focal point in the implementation of AMCOW decisions;
(d) work out modalities for supporting
the work of AMCOW in the sub-regions including through special
partnership arrangements;
(e) directed each sub-region to come up with its master plan of
activities.
2.9 Recommendations of the Commission for
Africa on the Establishment of NEPAD’s Centres of Excellence
for Water Sciences Technologies
EXCO welcomed the recommendations of the
Commission for Africa and the follow up measures identified by
the NEPAD Workshop (Nairobi, May 2005) and Sirte Declaration.
In this regard, EXCO endorsed the proposal for the convening,
in Abuja Nigeria, in the second half of 2005 of a joint meeting
of the NEPAD Ministers of Science and Technologies and the AMCOW
Ministers to consider the implementation of the recommendations
of the Workshop.
EXCO directed AMCOW-TAC to work closely
with the relevant NEPAD institutions in the preparation and convening
of the joint Ministerial meeting.
2.10 2005 World Summit
EXCO called on AMCOW Ministers to carefully
review the draft outcome document of the Summit which was distributed
by the General Assembly on 3 June 2005 for review by Government
and other concerned parties with a view to ensuring that Africa’s
water related concern are duly addressed as water supply and sanitation
did not feature in the report.
EXCO requested members to ask our Government
to make the issue of water supply and sanitation important in
the Millennium Summit. EXCO further directed AMCOW-TAC to submit
a report on the recommendations by 30th June 2005.
2.11 G8 Summit
EXCO welcomed the attention accorded to
AMCOW and Africa’s water policy challenges in the report
of the Commission for Africa. EXCO requested the G8 Summit to
adopt measures for the strengthening of AMCOW’s coordinating
role in the region and commended the G8 Group for debt cancellation.
2.12 4th World Water Forum:
EXCO directed AMCOW TAC to assess the impact of the statement
made in Kyoto and to participate in the preparation for the 4th
Water Forum to be held in Mexico in 2006 with a view to ensuring
active AMCOW presence;
It further directed AMCOW TAC to closely
collaborate with the relevant African institutions including ADB
and other partners of AMCOW (UN Water Africa, Development cooperation
partners, African Civil Society groups) in developing AMCOW’s
input and contribution in the 4th WWF.
EXCO endorsed the request by AMCOW TAC
and established:
(a) Steering committee to be chaired by
AMCOW EXCO member from Namibia to provide overall guidance. The
membership of the Committee should include representative of the
AMCOW EXCO, AU, ADB, UN Water Africa and NEPAD,
(b) Technical committee to be co-chaired
by AMCOW TAC member from Burkina Faso and ADB to give technical
guidance. The membership should include AMCOW TAC, ADB, UN Water
Africa, GWP, ANEW, World Water Council (WWC) and other relevant
bodies.
(c) EXCO mandated the President of AMCOW
to request the ADB play the role of beacon and support AMCOW in
coordinating Africa’s contribution and ensuring Africa’s
participation in the 4WWF.
(d) EXCO urged for the participation of
private sector at the 4WWF and noted the sponsorship by the UN
Water Africa.
5.13 Gender and Water Resources Management
in Africa:
EXCO reaffirmed the commitment by AMCOW
at the Pan-African Implementation and Partnership Conference (PANAFCON),
Addis Ababa, December 2003 to gender and water resources management
and sanitation in Africa.
EXCO welcomed all initiatives on gender
mainstreaming and further noted with appreciation the progress
made in the development of the Action Plan on mainstreaming gender
in the Africa water policies programmes and projects and directed
AMCOW TAC to collaborate with all concerned parties in the development
of the implementation proposal. EXCO requested ECA, UN-HABITAT,
ANEW, NGOs and the support staff in the AMCOW President’s
office in charge of water supply and sanitation under the leadership
of AMCOW EXCO South Africa for gender mainstreaming in water supply
and sanitation development in Africa.
2.14 Monitoring the implementation, in
Africa, of Water Related Regional and Global Goals and Targets:
EXCO noted the implementation in Africa,
of the internally agreed goals and commitments and mandated the
President of AMCOW to develop proposals for the systematic monitoring
of the:
a) Africa’s Water Vision
b) Millennium declaration,
c) outcomes of World Summit on Sustainable Development
d) Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) - water cycle (12th
and 13th Session of the CSD) and
e) regional initiatives follow up by AMCOW member countries.
EXCO directed AMCOW TAC, with the assistance
of ADB, ECA and UN Water Africa to study the status of the implementation
of the above mentioned (sub items a-e) and report on progress.
In deciding on appropriate monitoring arrangements, consideration
should be given to the fact that the African Water Facility can
be requested to develop and establish national, sub-regional and
regional monitoring mechanism.
2.15 AMCOW’s Communication and Information
Strategy:
EXCO commended the President of AMCOW for
the steps taken to develop communication and information strategy
and noted with satisfaction the progress made in this regard.
The necessary measures should be taken to complete the process
and request development cooperation partners, ADB, UNEP, GTZ and
UN Water Africa to fully support the ongoing measures or the development
of a full-fledged AMCOW information and communication strategy.
EXCO noted the importance of having an
effective information and communication strategy to enhance coordination
and cooperation between and among all parties concerned.
EXCO directed AMCOW Secretariat to work
closely with AfDB and NEPAD in the development of a data bank.
2.16 Report of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation
Initiative
EXCO commended AfDB and French Government
for hosting the international conference on achieving the millennium
development goals in water supply and sanitation within the framework
of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Initiative and directed
AMCOW members to implement the commitments taken at the conference
by the African Ministers and called for the support of all partners.
2.17 Hosting Agreement and Arrangement
for the AMCOW Secretariat:
i. AMCOW EXCO expressed appreciation and
accepted the offer of the Nigerian Government to:
a) host the Secretariat;
b) appreciates the initial contribution
of US$449,500 and the additional contribution of approximately
US$730,000 which cumulatively brings the total allocation, of
the Nigerian Government, to approximately US$1,180,000.
ii. EXCO directed that the use of legal
process under the African Union be adopted for the draft agreement.
iii. EXCO directed that the revised draft
be presented to the Government of Nigeria for consideration.
iv. EXCO mandated the President of AMCOW
to sign the agreement on its behalf the offer of the Government
of Nigeria. It is hoped that the Secretariat will become functional
by January 2006.
2.18 Any Other Business
a. Logo: A member observed the appearance
of a new logo as against the existing one and demanded explanations.
After deliberations, EXCO directed TAC to bring up proposal during
the next meeting for consideration. In the interim, however, the
President requested EXCO to allow the usage of the new logo pending
approval.
b. Sanitation Week: EXCO recalled the decision
taken during the meeting of Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative
Council (WSSCC) that Sanitation Week should precede the Water
Week and reminded AMCOW to implement the decision.
c. Finance: The Government of Nigeria,
in furtherance to its commitment to host AMCOW Secretariat, pledged
additional sum of N95,000,000.00 for the take off of the Secretariat.
EXCO observed with appreciation, the commitment of the Nigerian
Government and urged members to emulate same.
