Programme | Major Activities | Work Programme 2002-2003 | Advisory Services |
Outputs during the biennium 2004-2005

Programme

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 to and Cooperation with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

    (ii) Facilitating networking and information exhange among government, civil society and the private sector at the SRDC-SA level.

    (iii) Providing Coordinating services of the United Nations system, in collaboration with UNDP and Resident Coordinator system at the national level.

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

Work Programme 2002-2003

    The programme for the biennium 2002-2003 focuses on efficient management of the public sector and the economy; harmonization of macro-economic policies; promotion of trade and investment; integration of gender in all development programmes; integration of the nexus issues of population, food security ad environment in all development programmes; development of safe, efficient and integrated transport, communications and information technologies infrastructure and services; efficient exploitation of mineral, energy and water resources; and promotion of statistical development. Implementation of some on-going programmes such as the Road Safety Programme Development for Southern Africa will also continue.

    Implementation of Work Programme in 2002:

    (i) Meetings.

    • Inter-governmental Committee of Experts (ICE), Lusaka, April 2002

    (ii) Publications.
    • Report on Economic and Social Conditions in Southern Africa, 2002
    • Southern Africa Development Bulletin (December 2002)
    • Report of the Eighth Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) of the Subregional Development Centre for Southern Africa, 2002

    (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

ECA Regional Advisers are appointed under the United Nations Regular Programme of Technical Co-operation which is in support of, and complementary to ECA's own regular programme of work and priorities. The services of the advisers are available exclusively to member States of the Commision and their intergovernmental organizations upon request.

The main responsability of the Regional Advisers is the provision of advice on the development of flexible coherrent solutions to problems that affect member States of the Commision individually and collectively. Such solutions must provide policy-makers with comprehensive responses, incorporating all the technical, economic and managerial aspects of the problems addressed and taking into account the interdependence that exists between national, subregional and regional programmes strategies.

It is recognized that most problems need sustainable solution; that they are often complex in nature, and have multidimentional implications; and that, given the limited size and resources of many of Africa's countries, the co-operation of national sectors, neighboring countries and groupings is often a necessity. Working within these premises, and ond on the basis of the principle and programme thrust of the Commission as contained in the document "Serving Africa Better: New Directions for the Economic Commission for Africa", the Advisers:

    1. assist countries to translate regionally-agreed policies into practical strategies and programmes within the region;
    2. develop analysis of African countries' needs in priority areas and time-bound strategies for achieving the objectives contained in those priorities; and
    3. provide training for capacity building at the national and regional levels.

     

Requests received will be serviced at no additional cost. In order to adequately plan and co-ordinate the provision of the requested services, please send your request on time and give two to three months for the start of the requested services. The request should be directed to the appropriate contacts as indicated.

We look forward to receiving your request and towrads a high quality and high impact outcome.

Regional advisers are currently available for the following areas as detailed subsequently:

Outputs during the biennium 2004 - 2004

During the biennium 2004-2005, the following outputs will be delivered.

A. Servicing of intergovernmental expert bodies

1. Substantive servicing of meetings

Meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) (One session in 2004 and one in 2005).

2. Parliamentary documentation

i. Report on economic and social conditions in Southern Africa (one in 2004 and one in 2005);

ii. Report on progress and prospects in the implementation of NEPAD and the attainment of the MDGs, in Southern Africa (One report in 2005);

iii. Subregional report on the decade review of the implementation of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms (2004);

iv. Report on sustainable development in Southern Africa;

v. Report on the implementation of the 1993 System of Accounts in Southern Africa (one in 2004);

vi. Report on the status of information for development activities in Southern Africa.

3. Other services provided

Subregional meeting on the decade review of the implementation of the Dakar and Beijing Platforms (2004).

4. Ad hoc expert group meetings

i. Ad hoc expert group meeting on harmonization of mineral resources development policies, standards and regulatory framework in Southern Africa (2004);

ii. Ad hoc expert group meeting on sustainable energy, a framework for new and renewable energy in Southern Africa (2005);

iii. Ad hoc expert group meeting on status of governance in Southern Africa, review and validation of country reports.

B. Other substantive services

1. Recurrent publications

i. Economic Report on Africa - Report on economic and social conditions in Southern Africa (One in 2004 and one in 2005);

ii. Subregional Water Development Report (2004).

2. Non-recurrent publications

i. Technical publication on harmonization of mineral resources development policies, standards and regulatory framework in Southern Africa (2004);

ii. Technical publication on sustainable energy, a framework for new and renewable energy in Southern Africa (2005);

iii. Statistical estimation of average exit time measure of poverty in Southern Africa.

3. Special event

Southern Africa Development Forum (2005).

4. Technical material

Subregional Database of experts and networks on governance.

C. Technical cooperation

1. Advisory services

Eight Advisory services, upon request, to member States, RECs, IGOs on priority development issues including, mining, gender and development, HIV/AIDS, trade, population and development, economic policy, statistics, food security and ICT.

2. Group training (seminars/workshops)

i. Workshop on the impact of HIV/AIDS on selected Southern African economies with focus on smallholder agriculture in Southern Africa (2005); ESPD (reformulated);

ii. Workshop on implementation of existing transit transport agreements and their impact on cost reduction along transit corridors (2004);

iii. Training workshop on application of "Easy Reference Guide" to engender national accounts and budgets (2004);

iv. Training workshop on integrated resources planning and management (with focus on water, energy and mining);

v. Preparatory seminar on ADF V on labour markets and employment (2005);

vi. Workshop on economic and corporate governance and accountability in Southern Africa.

3. Field projects

i. Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique Growth Triangle (ZMM-GT);

ii. Support to the implementation of UN Action Plans for NEPAD in Southern Africa;

iii. Support to national statistics offices for the implementation of the 1993 System of National Account (SNA93) in Southern Africa.