Cooperation among African countries in human resources development:the expanded fellowships and training programme for Africa

6 L > (.

UNITED NATIONS

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL

Distr.

GENERAL

F/ECA/AAU/ED/85/13 Z2 January 1985 Original: ENGLISH

ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

Second ECA/AAU Conference of Vice-Chancellors Presidents and Rectors of Institutions of Higher Learning in Africa

febatane (Svflziland), 18-22 February 1985

CO-OPERATION AMONG AFRICAN COUNTRIES If-! HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT;

THE EXPAMDEO FELLO''S!;IPS AHD TRAINING

FOP AFRICA

* 1. Background

The first Conference of Ministers responsible for hurran resources planning, development and utilizations held, during rw October 1981s urged wenber States to step ud their contributions in supporting ^CA's expenaecl training and fellowship programme both materially and financially. In addition,, an appeal was made to the existing institutions in nemter States to ccpsrunicate to FXA9 en regular basis, infornation on their training capabilities arid fields in which fellowships could be nade available to nationals of other African countries. EC", was again mandated to serve as co-ordinator of, :nd a clearing-house for infornation on training facilities and vns urged to intensity its efforts in mobilising resources and fellowships to support the

Ffforts to implement these decisions have been constrained by a number cf problems, including the lack of adequate financing and fellowship offers. Despite these, none progress ms made. However9 vith a little more commitment and active participation on the part of member States, The objectives of achieving greater self-reliance in the field of'training could be greatly enhanced. The objective of this naper is to review the prop ra me content9 i3rogress3 achievements and constraints and to suggest, for appropriate consideration, the action that is required if the Conference decisions, and indeed the objectives of the Lagos Plan of Actions are to be implemented more effectively.

2. Programme .Design and Objectives

In response to the decisions of the Conferences a broader Programme was designed to specifically:

(a) Develop and operate substantially enlaneo training and fellowship activities directly related to the critical manpower requirements of member States in priority development sectors and projects;

(b) Maximize the use of existina post-secondary and other specialized

educational, and trairn'no facilities in the region by fostering technical .co-operation anxmo African States in Enanpower training;

(c) Strengthen existing African institutions through staff development and co-operation in developing specialized courses-,

(d) Promote the establishment of multinational training.and research programmes and institutions in disciplines and skill areas in which the region lacks arfeotate local training facilities;

(e) Provide seed money fron the United :iations Trust Fund for African Development for the purpose of mobilizing additional resources from African and non-African sources for financing training; and

(f) Use non-African traim'nc aw: fellowship opportunities for specialized advanced training of Africans in priority skill areas.

In addition to specifying the above orjectives, several areas of manpower

development, needs in member States were identified as priority areas. Included

in these are the following:

(a) Manpower for the basic industries and agriculture;

(b) Eradiate trailing in specialized disciplines;

(c) Training in science, fincineerinc; and technology;

(d) Trainino of teachers and instructors-

(e) Group traininq of African technical and managerial executives:

(f) Training in budget and financial management and tax acministration;

fo) In-plant or practical trainino in the management of public enterprises

"" and development projects for nationals of the least developed and newly

independent African countries; and

(h) Trainino in solar energy 3. Action initiated by EC'I

ECA has initiated and executed the fbllowinci activities in relation to the

fellowship and training programme:

(a) Formal communications were sent, to al- member States to bring the nrograwe to their attention i seek their active support for it as donors anri users" ami to request that they should indicate their

specific training needs irs relation to the priority training

fields outlined in the accompanying oroject document. Member States were also requested to provide concrete support to the programme in the forr* of both cash grants and fellowship offers;

(b) Formal invitations vere issued to several non-African Governments,

bilateral organizations urd foundations in both developed and

developing countries to Darticipatc in the programme and promote African collective self-reliance throws manpower training;

(r) Three field missions ained st explaining the programmG, identifying changing critical rranpower needs and soliciting support for the

implementation of the programs were undertaken;

(d) Soecific project proposals were developed *m sent to potential

donors for consideration 2nd action.

-3-

4; Action initiated by neuter States

Threp activities ran be singled out as major contributions initiated by member States in addition to the on-goir.* national efforts. These are:

(i) The new commitment towards the programme by the francophone

member states in the last two years. A staff Development Officers workshop hosted by the Recutlic of Benin vas held wvcn Zaire,

Toqo, tebon, Algeria and Congo participating;. Also9<a training ^

workshoo on rranayement antf accountancy was held in the Congo involving

7.sires "Algeria and the host country.

(11) Fgynt. Morocco and Libya offered a number of fellowship for"the training of African rations in their institutions. Other national institutions

have expressed their will ingress to do likewise.

(iii) Thr willinqness of sore member States to participate in a joint fellowship Droqramme which allows for national governments to

bear the travel cost; of national recipients of awarded fellowships.

5. -Surarary of achievement

n-snite raior constraints, the Drogramme has made some podest accomplishments

in cons1deJ?n?these it'wul<i te appropriate to review then, under two programme

categories:

(a) Funded Pro^ranmes

It is to be acknowledged in this note that the Secretariat has received and ranged sone amounts of funded arrangements - the Netherlands

grants,"the U?:7FAD9 and some amounts offered by two countries, one

t;nnn outside Africa.

(t) y!on-Furided Fellowships

This asnect of thr fellowship program*? is the older of the two.

t c-ns-ists of fellowships in kind. Country "A" offers a number

if nlaces throunh ^CA to African countries. While for the fundeo

r-roqranmps the Secretariat -vets as Onager, tor this itenMt acts

i i th progranries receiving

r-roqranmps the Secretariat -vets as Onage,

as a ^learinq-housf9 iy announcinn the progranries, receiving

aDolinitions"' ■■.creenino them sending then to appropriate donors

and coimunicating the outco-e to the applicants and/or their sponsors.

Under the two programmes„ an avorage of about 200 persons have been trained annually both in groups and individually. The current Donor List is composed of 21 countries of v:hich only 3 are African,

Pronosal for Action

Hitherto all requests for fellowships nave been forwarded to Governments and offers for the intra-African programme have *n been made by them. The proposals contained in this note are intended to test the willingness of the institutions themselves to show proof of their readiness to co-operate in

intra-African human resources developments to assist in easing demands on each

other's overstretched resources: ^nS to extend a wiping hand"to the needy Africans.

The following are bainn proposed:

1• Fellowships

(i) Vice-Chancellors9 rresidents and Rectors may wish to secure resources from their governments or elsewhere durinc the bier-rum 1S85-19879 to provide fellowships ^or the education and training of Africans in their respective institutions for a total of at least 500 students from all over the continent. Priority fields of study ere;

(a) Enoipeerinn Mechanical Electrical Agricultural

Clectro-mechanical

(b) Agriculture A-aronoiiiy Horticulture Aniiml husbandry Veterinary Tisdic (c) Science

Physical fh tun 1 Biological

(d) Administration and mtnaoenient

(ii) The awards should be for at least one academic year and should cover full tuition, rO3rd3 lodginn and stipend. Transportation costs will be met by the recipient of the

(iii) ECA will provide administrative bickstopping3 act as the focal

point for receiving offers,, identifying candidates, iTonitoring placements "-valuating zrd reporting results to the next Conference of Vice-Chancellors5 Presidents and Sectors of Institutions of

Higher Learning.

Student Exchange

(1) Institutions my wish to consider modalities intensifying the intra-African

student exchancie programs, here again9 ECA will act as the clearing

house for the procranne, receiving requests and arranging placement

(ii) Sendinp institutions will be responsive for all travel costs whilst

receiving institutions will meet the cost of tuition9 board, losing and stipend

(iii) ECA will monitor the programme and evaluate results for reporting to

the next Conference.

Staff Exchange

(i) A staff exchange programme rcpiv be launched9 znd operated on lines similar

to the student exchange proaranme. Sending institutions will tike

responsibility for transportation costs of the staff menber while

receiving institutions will pay salaries, --rovide local transportation,

?,ccorr^odation: etc.

(ii) ECA will provide administrative suoport5 monitor the programme and

report to the next Conference.