What is the Committee on Human Development and Civil Society (CHDCS)

In 1997 the Conference of African Ministers responsible for economic and social development and planning introduced new subsidiary bodies to deal with emerging development issues facing the continent. Among these was the Committee on Human Development and Civil Society (CHDCS), which will meet once every two years. The Committee enables the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to strengthen its work programme in the areas of human and social development and popular participation as well as deepen its policy dialogue with member States. The Commission draws on the opinions of experts in the public and private sectors and civil society to review major trends and issues of regional interest regarding human development and the civil society.

The Terms of Reference of this Committee are as follows.

• Assist member States to promote measures to follow-up the implementation of the regional and globally agreed programmes of action in social and human development and popular participation;

• Provide advice to the Commission in formulating its work programmes in the area of human development and popular participation;

• Encourage the integration of social and human dimensions into development policies, plans and programmes at both macroeconomic and sectoral levels; and,

• Identify and highlight the major economic and social development issues and concerns with a view to promoting policies and strategies for human development and popular participation in development.