J-U.ii Cxi a LIMITED
January 1980
Originals R33LTSH
(XMMIS3ICM FOR AFRICA
African Institute for Higher Technical Training and Research
Governing Council, 2nd.Session Nairobi, 1. 19 ida^ i-9'JO
BTXMERAIj AND illLTmflERfili TEO&ilCSL COOPERATION AnPSHGEtffiWTS IN SUPPOSE OF THE B'ETTFUTE
Itote by the Secretariat
In accepting the pri-nciple and strategy of collective self-reliance as
elaborated in* the ECA Conference of Minis tec? resolution 332 (XIV), adopted in
Rabat in I5arch 1979, the Monrovia Strategy for the Economic Development of Africa and the Monrovia Declaration of Cccmitment, adopted by African Heads of State and Government in. July 1979P (ai/Hes.722(XXXIII)), marker States were determinecl to work together and pool their resources in developing and utilizing
training and research infrastructure for human resources development. 13113 is the basic principle underlying the establishment of the African Institute for Higher Technical Training and Research which is designed to help African States build up their technical and technological manpower. The establishment of the Institute is in accord with resolution Ko.2 of the United nations
Conference on Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries, adopted in E-jemos Aires,-.which, inter-alia, urged all developing countries to cooperate in strengthening their existing research r-nr* graining institutions with multinational potentials as well as in establishing new multinational
institutions: for training axil research in arose; of priority manpower and
technology development, llius in establishing the Institute African States are deterrainad to help themselves through cooperation and collective self-reliance.
They are therefore *■?: !M.ir>g to make th^ necessary sacrifice in providing increasing finanaia.1 support for the Institute through menter States annual contributions to the cost of running 'the Institute and operating its prograrane of activities.
Operative paragraphs 2 and 3 of the sane Dugtos Aires resolution on TCDC, also called upon the developed oounfxies as well as international organizations and bilateral agencies to provide financial ana technical support to training and research institution building and strengthening in developing countries with the aim of enabling ths latter countries to achieve increasing self-reliance in manpower, and tBchnologicaL resources. It is in the spirit of this resolution that African States expect the industrially developed countries to appreciate the efforts African States are risking to help themselves, and accordingly
further expect governments and donor organizations in industrialized countries as well as multinational organizations to give substantial material support to the newly established Institute.
Type and Level of Assistance Required
Any technological training and research institution anywhere in the world is an expensive undertaking, A conyiiZarable amount of investment has
to be made to gc'-. the Institute establi: ,ed and effective! operating. In an effort to lainiirdse costs azxi to get stolid ^ soui as practicable, it has been decided that the ne,v Institute should associate with existing training
institutions in Kenya and make use of their facilities during the initial period while building up its own facilities. 1*=*; buildings, equiprent, tools
and machinery of operational excellence and diversity are needed; experts, consultants ard instructors as well as technical reference books are also needed. The greatest outlay which requires financial input much beyond the resources of the region will take place during the first 5 to 7 years of the Institute. Two major items of investment which particularly call for external support ares (i) buildings and related fixtures arri furniture; and(ii) equipnsnt, tools and machinery for the Institute's workshops, classrooms
and "teaching factory". It is in respect of these major long-term investments that African States .re collectively urging i ritGrriational organizations and the industrialized countries to come to their aid and provide financial support to the Institute in a meaningful maircer.The full report of the technical feasil ■ -ty studies is being awaited with consicierable interest. The studies will provide data and guidelines for determining the design of the Institute, its structure, programme orientation, staffing and requirement of physical facilities. It is only when the full report is available that the Gave-**'rig Council can consider and approve what is required of capital and recurrent expenditures over the next five years and beyond. As regards capital investment praliminary estimates for buildings, equipment, tools and itachinery are of the order of US$35-4O million dollars for the main building -ihase,- 1S8CKL935. Eiess estitaates will be refined by the technical feasibility studies mentioned '
In the light of the heavy long-term cr:>it:J.. investment required by the Institute as wel."_ as the very substantial annual running costs that member States must meet, it is reasonable to expect '.iV-i; :::"^ernal financial support in the form of outright grants and very soft loans would be forthcoming to ensure that resources will be available to provide the Institute the buildings and other physical facilities that it needs.
Manner in which financial support is required
African States would welcane both bilateral and multilateral grants to the Institute's capital investment programs„ They are willing to discuss such assistance with any group or consortium • of friends of Africa in the field of education and development, taxrdingly, requests, for technical assistance to the Institute will be made to both bilateral and multilateral organizations as well as to interested consortia of donors.
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Assistance in kind in the form of office, laboratory and workshop equipment, tools and production and demonstration machinery would also be welcome. However, in order to relate the use of aid closely to the most
pressing needs of the Institute the bulk of the assistance that may be offered from any quarters should be in the fouri of cash grants and very soft loans.
Proposals
The Gover. ing Council is invited o consider the ree \iirements of the Institute for technical assistance in the form cf financial grants and very soft loans in support of its capital investment programmes? and to?
(i) Mandate ECft to cooperate with the Institute in ascertaining the
dispositions of developed countries to collaborate as indicated above, and in formulating an appropriate project document for technical
cooperation, supported with the report of the technical feasibility studies, with the aim of seeking external financial support for the Institute.
(ii) Request the Chairman of the Governing Council, accompanied by representatives of the EGA, the C&U and the Institute to undertake at the expense of the Institute a fund-raising mission to collaborating developed countries on the basis of the technical cooperation project document mentioned in the preceding paragraph,
(iii) Request the European Economic Ccranunity to favourably consider making a very substantial grant of about US$40 ndlli.^x towards the
Institute's capital investment progranme ovts. a four-year period.
(iv) Call upon other international organizations, and multinational and bilateral donor agencies to contribute rnsaningfully to the Institute's capital investment programme.
(v) Direct the Executive Committee at the appropriate tine to give due consideration to the possibility of raising loans for the purchase of workshop equipment and demonstration/production machinery for the Institute under the XtorId Bank/ink Education Lending Programme.
(vi) Direct the Director-General of the Institute to submit to the Governing Council an annual report on the status of external technical cooperation support for the Institute's capital investment programme.
