Summary Discussions of The Sixth Regional Consultations of UN Agencies Working In Africa

Documents

Minutes of the 20th Steering Committee Meeting

4 September 2004 Sandton, Johannesburg

1. Introduction

The NEPAD Steering Committee held its 20th meeting in Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa, on 4 September. The meeting was preceded by a one-day workshop, whose aim was to prepare for the 3rd Africa Partnership Forum meeting scheduled for 3-4 October in Washington.

2. Presentation of the EDCTP by Dr. Mocumbi

Hon. Dr. Mocumbi made a presentation on the EDCTP initiative, which highlighted key aspects of the initiative, namely, knowledge and sustainability, and the fact that the initiative is focused at the country level.

The SC welcomed the presentation, and thanked Dr. Mocumbi for making efforts to present the initiative, and expressed hope that the Steering Committee would continue to work with him on this initiative, and accessing of additional resources. The Steering Committee emphasised the need to ensure participation of scientists from Africa in the initiative. The meeting was also informed that the NEPAD Health Advisor has been working with Dr. Mocumbi to ensure the alignment of the ECDTP initiative with NEPAD. The meeting agreed that the initiative could be communicated to the HSGIC, and that mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that all members had access to information on the initiative. The meeting also agreed that this initiative could be used as a model by other sectors to access resources from development partners, and as an example of South-South Cooperation.

3. Coordination of the African Countries Participation on the Second Phase of the World Summit of the Information Society (WSIS)

The Tunisian delegation, which had requested for the item to be included in the agenda, was not present.

4. Public-Private Partnerships

The SC welcomed the presentation made by representatives from the National Treasury of the South African Government. The meeting was informed that the presentation was being made at the request of the Tunisian Steering Committee members. There was consensus that the PPPs approach was innovative in raising resources, including skills that are required to build infrastructure projects, hence the need to popularise this approach, and bring it to the attention of relevant government departments in individual countries. The meeting proposed that this can be done simultaneously with the establishment of mechanisms to develop the private sector in Africa. Given South Africa’s growing experience in the area of PPPs, it was agreed that any country that needed assistance or further information on the PPPs could contact the South African Treasury directly.

5. Progress Report of the Chairperson

The Chairman of the NEPAD Steering Committee presented his progress report for the period July-August 2004. He highlighted the time well spent in building relations with the African Union (AU) Commission in the period leading up to the 3rd AU Assembly, and that NEPAD was well received in all forums in which the NEPAD team participated.

The meeting also recommended that, where appropriate, NEPAD should encourage other RECs to adopt the “4+1 approach” that has been adopted by SADC in dealing with NEPAD.

6. Agenda items for the next SC meeting

The SC agreed that the next meeting should focus on Infrastructure, including water, and ICT, with specific emphasis on the following projects: INGA, and gas pipe line in West Africa.

7. Preparations for the Extraordinary Summit on Poverty Alleviation and Labour.

The meeting was informed that A NEPAD delegation was attending the Summit in Ouagadougou. In addition, the meeting was informed that Mr. Merouane the Co-ordinator on Human Resource Development at the NEPAD Secretariat has been the key technical person supporting Commissioner Gawanas in preparation for the Summit.

8. African Governance Forum

The SC member from Rwanda gave an update on the planned Africa Governance Forum, which is aimed at sharing experiences, and encouraging other countries to join the APRM. After consultations with the UNDP, a decision was made to have the Forum in March 2005, when more countries are expected to have gone through significant national APRM processes, and also to mark the one-year anniversary of the launch of the APRM. Consideration may also be given to inviting some of the G8 partners to witness this event. The date will be communicated to SC, and the meeting was informed that the Forum is likely to be held in the 1st week of March. A small-scale Forum will still be held in November 2004 (?).

9. Outcomes of the SADC High Level Seminar on NEPAD

The meeting commended the outcomes of the SADC Officials meeting, and called for the same approach to be applied to all RECs, and to ensure continued engagement for effective harmonisation of RECs and NEPAD Frameworks. The meeting agreed that the model emerging from SADC should be communicated to all RECs.

10. Briefing on Science and Technology

After a brief presentation, and discussion on progress being made in this sector, it was agreed that the SC be kept abreast of developments, and that all matters pertaining to strategic African positions be brought to the SC for deliberation, and guidance.

11. MoU for Hosting NEPAD Events

The Draft MoU was adopted as a minimum requirement, with proviso that it be made compatible with the Constitutive Act of the AU, particularly with respect to use of AU Languages, and that all NEPAD events be tied to a budget of the NEPAD Secretariat.

12. Actions to Claim the 21st Century

The meeting was informed of a high level strategic document entitled “Actions Required For Africa to Claim the 21st Century” that had been written by the Chairman of the NEPAD Steering Committee, and communicated to the UK Commission for Africa, pointing to the challenges that needed to be addressed for Africa to meet its development objectives.

The meeting was further informed that members of the Commission and staff of the Secretariat of the Commission will be visiting all the RECs. All members were encouraged by the meeting to avail themselves to meet with the representatives of the Commission in order to better influence the Commission’s work.

The meeting emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Commission uses NEPAD as the basis of their interactions with Africa.

The meeting also noted the importance of giving more attention to wealth creation in Africa, instead of just focusing on aid.

13. NEPAD Advisory Panel

The meeting requested that the list of the NEPAD Advisory Panel be circulated to all SC Members.

14. Mutual Accountability

The meeting agreed that progress on the OECD-ECA report on mutual accountability will be obtained by the NEPAD Secretariat from relevant officers of the ECA.

15. Hosting of next SC and HSIC and the APR Forum by Algeria

The meeting agreed that a Steering Committee meeting is planned for the afternoon of 21 November 2004. The 22nd of November will be left open for SC members to brief their Heads of State or Government. The meeting also agreed that the agenda will be kept short, focusing on strategic issues; namely

Review of NEPAD, 3 years on, progress made, and how do to best move forward;
Integration of NEPAD into AU structures (The HSGIC is expected to make a decision on the matter);
The SC Chairman’s Report is to focus on the Inga Project; Gas pipeline; the submarine optic fibre project; the APF; and the outcomes of the NEPAD Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue, scheduled for 22-23 October to which President Obasanjo will open; and all SC members are invited. A brief on progress on programme implementation will also be expected.