Experts to discuss how diversification and south-south cooperation can unlock economic potential of Southern Africa
ECA Press Release No. 08/2011
Addis Ababa, 04 February 2011(ECA) – At the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Namibia, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Southern Africa Office (ECA-SA), will convene the 17th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) of Southern Africa from 17-18 March 2011 in Windhoek, Namibia to examine how diversification can unlock development in the subregion.
The ICE session will focus on “Status and Prospects of Economic Diversification in Southern Africa”, building on the recommendation of the 16th ICE meeting held in March 2010 in Lilongwe, Malawi that called for the intensification of economic diversification efforts in order to reduce vulnerability against external shocks, particularly commodity price volatility. Participants will also consider various statutory reports prepared by the ECA-SA and get briefing on recent major initiatives of ECA and co-operating partners.
The ICE gathering will be preceded by an ad hoc expert group meeting on “South South and Triangular Cooperation: Implications in Southern Africa”, from 15-16 March 2011.
The ad hoc meeting will review new trends in south-south and triangular cooperation in southern Africa with a view to identifying best practices on aid effectiveness and the economic development of countries in the sub-region.
It will emphasize the role of pivotal countries in the sub region and the extent to which they facilitate the channeling of international assistance to other southern African nations. Delegates will also review how countries in the sub-region have benefited from trilateral cooperation.
The Intergovernmental Committee of Experts is established by the United Nations General Assembly as a subsidiary organ of the Conference of African Ministers of Planning and Development in each of the five sub regions of Africa.
The Committee meets annually to deliberate on current and emerging development issues at the sub-regional level and makes recommendations for policy harmonization and coordination among Member States. The Committee also reviews the progress achieved and prospects for future work in the implementation of the ECA-SA programmes so as to bring sub-regional perspectives to bear on overall ECA programming.
Issued by:
ECA Information and Communication Service P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251-11-551 03 65 E-mail: ecainfo@uneca.org Web: www.uneca.org
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