The programme of the Centre will focus on developing policies, methods and strategies for the general improvement of the social and economic well-being of the people of the subregion. It will be driven by subregional priorities and will clearly reflect specific subregional concerns. Regular consultations will be conducted in the countries in order to accurately define the priority areas, since relevance comes from knowing the client.

An interactive process is envisaged in the programme formulation: joint programming with the regional economic communities; and collaboration with these organizations in providing advisory services to the member States. Expertise available at the national and regional centres of excellence and organizations will be tapped for implementation of specific activities through targeted short-term assignments.

The following areas have been identified in consultation with the RECs and member States to be of the highest priority in the short term:

(i) Trade and investment

(ii) Transport and communications

(iii) Food security, population and environment for sustainable development - the nexus

(iv) Minerals and energy

(v) Human resources development

(vi) Gender issues

(vii) Information technology

Major Activities

Range of Services:

(i) Providing technical support and advisory services.

(ii) Organizing fora for policy dialogue and facilitating networking and information exchange

(iii) Facilitating integration activities of the United Nations system and specialized agencies at the national levels in the subregion.

(iv) Strengthening ECA's outreach in Southern Africa.

Implementation of Work Programmen in 1997:

(i) Meetings.

• Inter-governmental Committee of Experts (ICE), Pretoria, March 1997
• Food Security: Recipe for Survival, Pretoria, March 1997

(ii) Publications.

(a) Social and Economic Conditions in Eastern and Southern Africa, 1994-1995

(b) Southern Africa Development Bulletin (2 Issues)

(c) Information Brief of SRDC/SA (4 Issues)

(iii) International Cooperation.

(a) UN Agencies : United Nations Country Team (UNCT) in Zambia

(b) Regional Economic Communities (REC) : COMESA, SADC

(iv) Technical Cooperation.

(a) Advisory services and technical support:

- Advisory services to Malawi, South Africa and Zambia

- Technical support to SATCC and ESAMI in running workshops in road sector management.

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