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REPORT OF THE FIFTH MEETING OF THE ACC STEERING COMMITTEE
SPECIAL INITIATIVE ON AFRICA
20 SEPTEMBER 1996, UN HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
I. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
In his opening remarks, Mr. James Gustave Speth, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the UN System-wide Special Initiative on Africa (USISA), emphasized the importance of African ownership and leadership for the success of the UNSIA. While acknowledging earlier problems with respect to the US$25 billion resource target and issues of African ownership, he maintained that with effective outreach to Africa, to the international community and throughout the UN system, many of these problems will decrease in significance.
Mr. Speth suggested that a firm and substantial relationship should be established between UNSIA and UN-NADAF, which would enhance clarity of relationships, improve understanding in Africa and in the international community and contribute to greater progress in implementation. Similarly, UNSIA needs to be linked to the goals of major UN Conferences, the OECD/DAC "Shaping the 21st Century", TICAD and the World Food Summit.
The agenda which is attached in Annex I was adopted by the meeting.
II. REPORT OF THE FOURTH STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING
Several participants (ECA, ILO, ITU, UNEP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNIDO, WMO, World Bank) contributed to the discussion of this item. Questions were raised regarding the categorization and designation of lead and cooperating agencies for the priority components reflected in Annex I of the report. The consensus of the meeting was that the designation of coordinating agency(ies) should be substituted for lead agency (ies) and, as has been requested during the fourth Steering Committee meeting, the agencies in the various priority clusters should organize their method of collaboration and division of labour. The Secretariat was requested to consult members of the Steering Committee in order to reach agreement on arrangements for clustering of priority components. In this respect, population and gender issues should be reflected in the various activities, consistent with earlier decision on mainstreaming.
III. IMPLEMENTATION ARRANGEMENT REPORTS OF COORDINATING AGENCIES AND RESIDENT COORDINATORS
Written reports were received from ECA, IAEA, ILO, IMF, UNCTAD, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank, as well as from the Resident Coordinators of Ethiopia and Ghana.
Participants were encouraged to focus their remarks on the effectiveness of the UNSIA in bringing about coordination and synergy within the UN system, as well as coherence and harmonization their programmes. While it is yet too early to draw conclusions, many positive indications are becoming evident. In the future, the Secretariat will attempt to consolidate the various implementation reports, focusing on agreed elements to facilitate assessment of progress.
i) The report on water was presented by UNEP, one of the two coordinating agencies, the other being the World Bank. Information was provided on a number or important developments such as the WHO Africa 2000 meeting, the World Ban strategy for managing water resources for sub-Saharan Africa, the UNDP water conference on southern Africa and agreements within the Southers Africa Development Committee (SADC). UNEP pointed to the need for an overall resource mobilization strategy and indicated continuing difficulties in gathering data. WMO also commented on the resource mobilization problem, suggesting that the adoption of global strategies incorporating for example, river basin issues, should not be overlooked. The World Bank reminded the meeting that resource mobilization should focus on country specific activities within the context of Consultative Groups, Round Tables and the Special Programme of Assistance on Africa. An informal working group meeting on water is planned for October, at which time these problems will be addressed and a plan for assigning individual UN agency responsibilities within the UNSIA framework will be worked out.
ii) On food security, FAO reported on preparations for the November 1996 World Food Summit and the action plan that will be agreed upon for implementation in the Summit decisions. UNEP recommended that the action plan be presented to the African Ministerial Conference on Environment. UNIDO urged that the linkages between industry and agriculture not be overlooked as a factor for improved food security in Africa. It is expected that FAO will be in a position to report fully on food security in the context of the UNSIA at the next meeting of the Steering Committee.
iii) As coordinating agencies, UNDP and ECA reported on governance. UNDP briefed the meeting on the consultation process to prepare a governance framework covering leadership-building accountability, civil society empowerment, political transition, and peace and stability. While these components are not exhaustive, they provide a basis for further consultation. Information was also provided on the decision by the Governments of Senegal and Cameroon to adopt comprehensive governance strategies. Resources have been provided by the Government of Norway to establish a Trust Fund on governance. ECA informed the meeting of its intention to integrate governance within the institution's work programme. Attention was called to the need for the dialogue with Government and for improving performance in peace-building and conflict-prevention. The Government of Germany has expressed a willingness to contribute to this programme. UNIDO's recalled the historical value of traditional rulers (chieftaincy) in governance. The World Bank informed the meeting that a steering committee of African Directors has been considering a programme of governance for Africa which will be discussed with African Ministers of Finance during the Annual Fund and Bank meeting. It was agreed that ECA, UNDP and the World Bank need to consult and collaborate on governance programmes for Africa.
iv) ECA lead the discussion on harnessing information technology for development, indicating that the African Information Society Initiative (AISI), a regional private sector framework, will be presented to the African Ministers of Information for their endorsement at a meeting in October. OAU support will be sought. ITU pointed out that telecommunication has been downplayed in this component so far and ECA responded that this will be corrected during the October meeting, when a plan for a division of labour will be worked out. In the future, emphasis will be placed on national plans. Both UNESCO and WHO expressed interest in being active participants in this area and UNESCO indicated that it will submit a concept paper on communicating for peace.
v) ECA reported on south-south cooperation, describing the consultation process and plans for the future. Focus will continue to be on national, international and intre-Africa linkages, with full utilization of information technology. Work plans will be disseminated to cooperating agencies, lessons learned will be reviewed by ECA and the UNDP proposed multi-disciplinary network will be evaluated.
vi) The coordinating agencies for basic education for all African children, UNESCO and the World Bank, reported that progress was slow but steady. The role of African Education Ministers and the Association for Education in Africa (DAE) buttressed efforts to mobilize political support for UNSIA. African Education Ministers will be meeting in Geneva, in early November, to reach agreement on implementation structures in different countries, further reinforcing African ownership. In supporting this view, the World Bank emphasized the importance of ownership at the country level and the value of selecting countries which ar advanced in the preparation of sector investment programmes. A number o participants cautioned against selectivity which may be perceived as excluding other countries and urged that the UNSIA be available to all countries, regardless of their state of readiness for implementing sector programmes.
vi) WHO and the World Bank reported on a successful series of meetings on health sector reform, involving African Ministers of Health and UN system. Implementation strategies for this cluster have been finalized and widely circulated to African Heads of State and to the international community. Performance criteria have been agreed and the programmes have been endorsed by the African Health Ministers. While the criteria included readiness to implement UNSIA, it was also recognized that other countries requiring more assistance in planning health sector reform programmes should not be more assistance in planning health sector reform programmes should not be excluded. This position was supported by UNICEF and UNFPA, the former pointing to priority immunization programmes from which no country could be excluded and the latter, stressing the absence of clear references on gender. ITU brought to the attention of the meeting the importance of telemedicine. WHO sought agreement for the mobilization of resources for regional activities which could not be covered in country sector programmes.
viii) With respect to poverty reduction through the promotion of the informal sector and employment generating opportunities, ILO reaffirmed the importance of the informal sector for poverty reduction, indicating that consensus on this was clear in the tripartite mandate of the organization. An inter-agency task force has met twice and an action plan will be prepared within the framework of the UNSIA. The meeting was briefed on the ILO "Jobs for Africa", with the goal of employment promotion and a tripartite meeting of employment planners scheduled for January 1997.
ix) UNSO briefed the meeting on programmes for sustainable livelihoods in environmentally marginal areas, covering pastoral development, water management and livelihood systems to reduce pressure on land-based resources. Linkages with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification are reflected through priorities of the UNSIA, such as water and food security. Partnerships involving Government and NGOs are important for effective resource mobilization.
x) IMF reported to the meeting on debt, with specific reference to the initiative for the heavily indebted poor countries, jointly sponsored with the World Bank. This will be reviewed during the annual meeting of the Fund and Bank next month. The discussions which ensued focused on the need for more flexible eligibility criteria, particularly for countries with a good track record, commonly agreed strategies for all creditors, conditions beyond the Naples Terms, the IMF position on the sale of gold and the utilization of the proceeds to alleviate the debt overhang and improve sustainability. IMF informed the meeting that the ESAF mechanism will be extended until the year 2000, with resources pledged at the level of US$1 billion per year, after which it will become a permanent fund. With respect to countries experiencing special conditions resulting from conflict, the World Bank suggested that in the absence of immediate access to debt relief, consideration would be given to quick disbursing mechanisms.
xi) Reporting on trade, UNCTAD referred to major developments in advance of a meeting of cooperating agencies scheduled to take place before years' end; WTO, ITC and UNCTAD are developing a technical cooperation programme; ADB, ECA, the World Bank and UNCTAD plan to undertake consultation on investment issues; and UNDP is launching an inter-agency trade expansion programme involving UNCTAD, ITC and WTO, including a component to strengthen the capacity of African Governments, leading up to the WTO Ministerial meeting in Singapore. The World Bank welcomed these developments, pointing out that Africa can become attractive for foreign investment, although, at present, only US$ 5 billion, or 3% of FDI reaches Africa annually. Africa needs to be more competitive in the global economy, but difficulties of trade access, the decline in concessional aid and the debt overhang are major impediments, prompting one observation that Africa is caught in a "web of negative perceptions". Other viewpoints included the need for Africa to increase value-added from manufacturing (UNIDO) and the value of telecommunications in the establishment of "trade points" throughout the continent (ITU). Discussion of this item concluded with a charge to the Secretariat of the UNSIA to examine the regrouping of the priorities of trade, debt, and foreign investment, linking them to the UN Conference follow-up working group on the enabling environment.
IV POLITICAL MOBILIZATION STRATEGIES
The Steering Committee concluded that political mobilization through advocacy on three levels, internationally, continually and within countries, is a legitimate and reliable strategy for sustaining support to the UNSIA. Commitments by Ministers of Education, Health and Information demonstrate the validity of the UNSIA as a framework in the relevant priority sectors. Upcoming events, such as UNIDO's Alliance for Africa's Industrialization, 21-23 October in Cote d'Ivoire, the first WTO Ministerial meeting in Singapore in December, the next UNEP Governing Council and the annual meeting of the Fund and Bank in October, which provides an added opportunity for discussions of the SPA, all serve to strengthen advocacy on behalf of the UNSIA. The Steering Committee also recognized that increasing acceptability of UNSIA as the implementation mechanism for UN-NADAF, the latter being the inter-governmental political framework, enhanced political credibility of both. Strategic alliances with the Government of Japan on TICAD, with the Secretary-General's group of High-Level Personalities and with OECD/DAC's Strategies for the 21st Century, as well as through popularization at country level by NGOs and civil society organs, are important measures of success of the UNSIA.
V. RESOURCE MOBILIZATION STRATEGIES
The Steering Committee acknowledged that successful resource mobilization strategies depend on effective partnership throughout the system. Accordingly, in taking the lead in this area UNDP and the World Bank encouraged coordinating agencies of priority clusters to identify outstanding needs, such as regional activities alluded to by WHO and work out resource mobilization arrangements. It is at country level, however, that resources will be most effectively mobilized and ownership successfully demonstrated. The meeting was reminded of the need for early progress in implementation of sector strategies through CGs and RTs. The World Bank confirmed its intention to include discussion of sector investment programmes within the framework of the UNSIA during next SPA. In addition, debt reduction and increases in domestic resources, for example through revenue expansion, also contribute to the overall goal of resource mobilization. Several participants including ECA, IAEA, UNESCO, UNICEF and WHO recognized that resources were needed to start up activities of the UNSIA and these oftentime went beyond specific country requirements.
VI. CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF COUNTRIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF UNSIA
The emerging consensus of the meeting was that no country should be excluded from participating in the UNSIA. However, it was recognized that progress is more easily achieved in those countries which are in advanced stages of preparation of sector investment programs. A number of opinions were put forward on the criteria including, for example, selection by each coordinating agency after thorough consultation within the cluster versus emphasis on speedy and successful implementation. Others took the view that an all-inclusive approach would be more acceptable to African Governments. In concluding this discussion with the Chairman requested that the Secretariat consult the membership on acceptable criteria, taking account of the need for political sensitivity, differentiation among countries and transparency in the process.
VII. SECRETARIAT OF THE UNSIA
A brief was provided to the meeting on the shared responsibilities of the Secretariat
between ECA and UNDP. A work programme for the next twelve months is under preparation and
will incorporate issues arising from this meeting, according priority to country-specific
activities. The Secretariat will also consult with coordinating agencies in order to
facilitate consolidation or synthesis of their cluster implementation reports for future
meetings of the Steering Committee. This will be helpful for purposes of monitoring and
evaluation. Greater use will be made of E-Mail.
VIII. OTHER MATTERS
UNIDO made a presentation on the Alliance for Africa's Industrialization. This initiative is viewed as a means of building strategies and expanding industrial development potential in Africa and in crating partnerships and commitments to promote sustainable industrial growth. The Alliance evolved from a series of consultations starting with the General Conference in 1995, was endorsed by the OAU Summit in Yaounde, July 1996 and fully supported in the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Industry and African Business Round Tables in Addis Ababa 6-8 September 1996. The Alliance will be launched by the African Heads of State and Ministers of Industry at a meeting in Cote d'Ivoire, 21-23 October. UNIDO views this endeavor as integral to the effective implementation of UNSIA.
The Secretariat has been requested to circulate a proposal regarding timing of and participating at future meetings of the Steering Committee. Various suggestions were put forward including a two-tier system - a meeting of UN Heads of Organization in conjunction with ACC, or other meetings of designated officials - or in clusters immediately preceding the Steering Committee meeting. The next meeting is planed for March 1997, one year after the launch.
In this concluding remarks, Mr. K. Y. Amoako, Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, expressed the sense of the meeting as being substantive and realistic. He urged the membership to work towards developing a communication strategy for each UNSIA priority cluster and to plan on the basis of what will be achieved ink the next six, twelve and twenty-four months. Coordinating agencies were encouraged to develop benchmarks in order to evaluate progress in each sector of the UNSIA.
