Provisional Annotated Agenda

Opening of the Meeting (agenda item 1)

1. The first meeting of the Committee on Human Development and Civil Society will be held from 21 to 23 June 1999 at 9.00 a.m. at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The meeting will be formally opened by a representative of the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, preceded by a statement by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the ECA, Mrs. Lalla Ben Barka.

Organizational Matters (agenda item 2)

2. The meeting will appoint, among the representatives of member States, private sector and civil society organizations, a chairperson, a vice-chairperson and a rapporteur to guide the sessions of the meeting. The meeting will examine and adopt the provisional agenda and programme of work.

Theme of the Meeting: (agenda item 3)

3. The theme: Popular Participation for Sustainable Social and Human Development in Africa. This theme will be discussed at plenary under two sub-themes as follows:

 

Plenary session 1:

Sub-theme: The Copenhagen Declaration: Issues from the Sub-regional Follow-up Conferences.

4. The session will begin with a presentation of the report on the outcome of the just concluded Sub-regional Follow-up Conferences to the World Social Summit. The report will highlight important issues as well as the necessary actions to accelerate the implementation of critical areas in social and human development identified by the World Social Summit. Participants, drawing from the outcome of the Sub-regional Follow-up Conferences, will examine these issues and provide their views and guidance covering:

• How to tackle the critical concerns related to the problems of human and social development focussing on actions to ensure progress in poverty alleviation, enhancing productive employment, reducing unemployment, social integration, and governance.

• The role of civil society including the private section in implementing the provisions of the Copenhagen Declaration

• Modalities to enhance the implementation process including ECA’s contribution.

1. ECA in the framework of promoting popular participation in development and governance, in 1997 set in motion the process to establish a Centre that is fully dedicated to African Civil Society. This process, which, included continuous dialogue to conceptualize the idea and a study to examine the various institutional and governance options of the Centre, has taken final shape with inputs from a cross section of CSOs reflecting geographic distribution, gender balance and sectoral diversity. The April 5-6 meeting of UNECA and CSO to consult on the Operation and Management of the African Centre for Civil Society adopted a number of strategic proposals covering: the establishment of the Centre, the institutional options and governance arrangements, all requiring the endorsement of the Committee on Human and Civil Society. The Committee will examine these proposals and take appropriate action on them including their endorsement through the adoption of a resolution. The Committee may constitute a small drafting group to prepare a resolution outlining its decision on the African Centre for Civil Society. These will be forwarded to the Conference of African Ministers Responsible for Economic and Social Development and Planning for its subsequent approval.

Plenary session 3:

Report on: Activities of the ECA on Human and Social Development as well as Civil Society (agenda item 4)

2. The meeting will be presented with a report on activities of the ECA in the above mentioned areas. Particular emphasis will be placed on the thrust and objectives of the

 

activities including the nature and scope of work. Experts will then review and discuss these to enable it advise the secretariat on how to proceed with the implementation of the activities proposed for the biennium 2000-2001.

Any Other Business (agenda item 5)

3. Under this agenda item, the Committee will consider modalities for future meetings and consultation mechanisms as well as any other matters of interest and concern to participants.

Adoption of the report and Closure of the Meeting (agenda item 6)

4. Under this agenda item, the meeting will examine and adopt its report and resolution on the African Centre for Civil Society.

Guest Lecture on: Promoting Public/Private Partnership for Enhanced and Sustained Economic, Social and Human Development in Africa

5. The special event, which will take the form of a lecture to be given by a guest speaker, will provide opportunity for open and stimulative discussions on the promotion of public/private partnership for enhanced and sustained economic, social and human development in Africa. The discussions are expected to bring out practical ideas and suggestions on how to promote public/private partnership for development.