Information note for Participants
18-21 November 2002
Welcome to the Second Meeting of the African Learning Group on the PRSPs sponsored by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) which will take place in Brussels, Belgium from 18 to 19 November 2002. The ECA thanks you for accepting the invitation to participate in this meeting. This Meeting is being held back-to-back with the Technical Group meeting of the Strategic Partnership with Africa (SPA-TG), which begins on the 20th November and ends on the 21st. The venue of the meeting is:
Centre de Conferences Albert Borschette(CCAB)
Rue Froissart 36
B-1049 Brussels
Tel : +32-2-295-8700
Please find below pertinent general information on logistics and meeting arrangements to assist you in your travel plans.
Travel and Accommodation:
Immigration requirements
Belgium is a member of the European Union. Appropriate entry visa may be required. Participants are urged to find out if they need a visa to enter the country Participants are responsible for obtaining their own visas. In countries where Belgium does not have a Diplomatic Mission, participants are urged to process their visa through the proper channel (perhaps the Interest Section at some other Embassy in their country) well in advance of their departure date.
Airline Tickets
ECA will provide all its sponsored participants an economy class roundtrip air ticket from their country of residence to Brussels. They can collect their flight tickets from the UNDP Office in their home country.
Participants are required to reconfirm their return flight, as soon as possible, upon arrival in Brussels. The courtesy desk at the hotel may be able to assist you.
Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA)
ECA-sponsored participants/consultants will receive DSA (a per diem) along with their flight tickets from the UNDP office in their country of residence. The per diem is intended to cover all incidental expenses associated with participation at the meeting, including transport to and from the airport in the country of residence, incidental expenses during travel, local transport in Brussels and meals not provided.
Claim Upon completion of travel
Upon their return to their country of residence, each Consultant must submit a Travel Claim (F-10 claim form) to the UNDP office in their country. This form will be enclosed in the information folder that will be distributed during the meeting. Participants are urged to attach to the form the following evidentiary documents:
This is very important to allow the UNDP Office in their country of residence to finalize their travel claims.
Arrival and Departure
All participants as well as resource persons are scheduled to arrive Brussels on Sunday 17 November. Travel bookings have been made for participants to depart latest by Friday 22 November 2002. Kindly note that any extension of stay beyond this date will be at participant's own expense.
Hotel Accommodation
Please note that the ECA has made a block booking at single rate at the Hotel Vendome, Brussels. The address of the hotel is as below:
Hotel Vendome
Boulevard A. Max 98, Centre
(Near Metro (Underground/Subway) Station Rogier)
1000 Brussels
Tel: +32-2-227-0303
Fax: +32-2-218-0683
Participants are advised to contact ECA (Ms. Limia Mohammed at 251-1-44-53-27 or by email at lmohammed@uneca.org) directly to confirm their arrival dates. They should also copy this correspondence to the hotel. Participants are also requested to please promptly notify the secretariat of the meeting of any changes to their travel plans in good time.
The reservation will be held until 19:00 hours on the day of arrival. It will be cancelled after that. Participants arriving later should notify the hotel, to guarantee the reservation.
Checkout time is normally 12 noon on the last day of stay.
For ECA-sponsored participants, the Economic Commission will cover the cost of a single room only. Participants are responsible for all other additional costs - for example, telephone, Internet/fax, room service, mini-bar, laundry - and must pay these directly to the hotel at checkout. To this end, please note that the hotel will keep two completely separate accounts (i.e., single room cost and extra costs).
Transportation in Brussels
The Hotel Vendome is located on Boulevard Adolphe Max, right in the center of the city, a few meters from the Rogier sub-way (train) station. It is fairly easy to get around the city by public transport. The Hotel is located at about 10-15 minutes by metro (subway/underground) from the venue of the meeting. Participants will need to buy a metro ticket. Bus, train and tram route maps can be obtained from the hotel.
Weather
Europe at this time of the year is cold. Participants are advised to please bring warm clothing with them.
Currency: Euro
Meeting hours
The official programme of the meeting starts on Monday 18 November at 8:30a.m. with registration of participants. The official opening will be at 9:00a.m. The programme will end on Thursday 21 November at 13:00 p.m.
Registration
Participants may register and pick up their badge and documentation from the Conference assistants at the hotel front desk as follows:
Sunday 17 November: 16:00p.m. - 18:00p.m.
Monday 18 November: 07:00a.m. - 9:30a.m.
Plenary sessions
· All sessions are plenary
Special Event
Reception: Participants are invited to a reception on Wednesday 20 November 6:30-8:30 p.m. The venue will be announced at the meeting.
Additional Information
Up-to-date information on the programme of the Second Meeting of the Africa PRSP-LG, on logistical arrangements and the venue can be found on www.uneca.org/prsp
Any inquiries regarding the meeting should be directed to:
Mr. Kasirim Nwuke
Senior Economic Affairs Officer,
Economic and Social Policy Division
Economic Commission for Africa
Tel: (251-1) 443375
Fax: (251-1) 510389
e-mail: knwuke@uneca.org
We wish you a safe and pleasant flight to Brussels.
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