ECA technical cooperation report 2010

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I ECA Technical Cooperation Report

2010

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(~l Economic Commission for Africa

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ECA Technical Cooperation Report 2010

April 2011

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£01 Tuhn;cll/ Coopnmion &port- 2010

Abbreviations and acronyms

ACABM ACBF ACCS ACGSO ACPC ACS ADF AEO

AFREF AlDB AIT AGDI AGR AGOA AICMO AIDS AISI ALG ALPFG AMCEN AMI AMR AMV ANOI APRM

ARIA

ASO AS) ASKIA ASN ASSD ASTIEF ASYB ATPC AVC AWR AWRO

CAADP

CEAO CEDAW CEMAC CIOA

Advisory Comminee on Administrative and Budgetary Maners African Capacity-Building Foundation

African Centre for Civil·Sociery

African Centre for Gender and Social Development African Climate Policy Centre

Africa Centre for Statistics African Development Forum African Economic Outlook African Reference Frame African Development Bank Aid for T",de

African Gender and Development Index African Governance Report

African Growth and Opportunity Act African Integrated Censw Micro Data Acquired Immune Deficiency Virus African Information Society Initiative African learning Group

African Regional Land Policy Framework and Guidelines Africa Ministerial Conference on Environment

African Ministers of Industry Annual Ministerial Review Arab Maghreb Union

African network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation African Peer Review Mechanism

Assessing Regional Imegration in Africa African Statistical Day

African statistical Journal

Access to Scientific Knowledge in Africa African Statistical Newslener

Africa Symposium on Statistical Development

African Science. Technology and Innovation Endowment Fund African Statistical Yearbook

African Tcade Policy and Research Centre African Union Commission

African Women's Report

African Women's Rights Observatory

Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme West African Economic Community

Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Economic and Monetary Union of Central Africa

Canadian International Development Agency

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£Ql Ttchnical Coopmttion Report- 2010

ClimDev CODA CODESRIA CODI CODIST COES COMESA COP CSD CSO CRVS CWD DFID

EAC ECA ECCAS ECE ECLAC ECOSOC ECOPOST ECOWAS EPA Epol ner

ERA ERELA ES ESCAP ESCWA ESI EU FAO GAlT GCA GDP GEE21 GEM GIS GNP HLC-3A HSGOC ICPD ICPD+15 ICPDPOA ICS

ICT

Climate Information for Development Coalition for Dialogue on Africa

Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa Committee on Development Information

Committee on Development Information, Science& Technology Cabinet Office of the Executive Secretary of ECA

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Communities ofPraetice

Commission on Sustainable Development Civil-Society Organization

Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Committee on Women and Development

Deparunent for International Development (UK) East African Community

Economic Commission for Africa

Economic Community ofCentral African States Economic Commission for Europe

Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean Economic and Social Council of the United auons

ECOWAS Policy on Science and Technology Economic Community of West African States Economic Partnership Agreement

Global e-Policy Resource Network Economic Report on Africa

Electronic Rural Schools in African Languages Execurive Secretary of ECA

Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia Economic Sustainabiliry Index

European Union

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Geo-information Applications Inventory Tool

Global Coalition for Africa Gross Domestic Product

Global Energy Efficiency 21 Project Gender Empowerment Measures Geographic Information Systems Gross National Product

High-Level Conference on Agribusiness and Agro-Industries Heads of State and Government Orientation Comminee International Conference on Population and Development

15-year review of the International Conference on Population and Development International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action Information and Communication Service

Information and Communication Technology

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IDA IFAD IFDC IGAD IGO ILO ILRJ INSTRAW IOC 10M ISG ISTD ITCA ITU JFA JPOI

KMI

KNACT

LDC LPI MDGs MHEDREC MOU MRDE NACALCO NAMA NDP NEPAD NGO NICI NPOA NPRAP NSDI NSDS NTB OATU OECD OPEC OPM OSSREA POA PAAERD PAMAESA PARJS21

ECA T«hn;calCoopnmion&p0rf-2010 International Development Association

Inrernarional Fund for Agriculrural Development

International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agriculture Development Intergovernmental Authority on Development

Intergovernmental Organization International Labour Organizarion International Livestock Research Insrjrute

United Nations International Research and Training InstitU[e for the Advancement of Women

Indian Ocean Commission

International Organization for Migration International Study Group

lerScience and Technology Division ofECA Information Technology Centre for Africa International Telecommunication Union Joint Financing Arrangement

Johannesburg Plan oflmplementuion Knowledge Management Initiative

Knowledge Nerwork of African Community Telecentres Least Developed Countries

Land Policy Initiative

Millennium Development Goals

Mobile Health and Demographic Data Reporting and Communication System Memorandum of Understanding

Mutual review of Development Effectiveness

National Association of Cameroonian Languages Committee Non-Agricultural Marketing Access

National Development Plan

New Partnership for Aftican Development Non-governmental organization

National Information and Communication Infrastructure (Plan) National Plan of Action

National Poverty Reduction Action Plan National Spatial Data Infrastructure

National Strategies for Development of Statistics Non-Tariff Barriers

Organization of African Trade Union

Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries

Office of Strategic Planning and Programme Management of ECA Organization for Social Science Re5(:aIch in Eastern and Southern Africa Programme of Action

Programme of Action for African Economic Recovery and Development PortS Management Association of Eastern and Southern Mrica Countries Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 21st Century

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PEDA PFP

PHC

PIP PFIA2I PPA PPP PRS PRSP PRSP-LG PTA

RASCOM RB

RBB RCM RCMRD RECs RlM RPHC R&D SADC SALB SCP

SDRA SOl

SHaSA SIDA SMART SME SNA

SPA

SRO SRCM SSA SSATP STI

SWA

SWlCH TF ToT TUS TYCBP

U CSD U CTAD UNDAF

Population, Environment, Agriculture nexus Pool Fund Partners

Population and Housing Census Programme Implementation Plan

Programme for Funher Implementation of Agenda 21 Participatory Poverty Assessment

Public-Private Partnership Poverty Reduction Strategy Poverty Reduction Strategic Plan

African Learning Group on Poverty Reduction Strategy Preferential Trade Area of Eastern and Southern African States Regional African Satellite Communication System

Regular Budger

Results-Based Budgering

Regional Consultation Mechanism

Regional Centre for Mapping and Resources Regional Economic Communities

Regional Implementation Meeting

Round of Population and Housing Census Research and Developmem

Southern African Development Community Second Administrative LevelBoundaries Sustainable Consumption and Production Sustainable Development Report on Africa Spatial Data Infrastructure

Strategy for the Harmonization of Statistics in Africa Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency

Sustainable Modernization of Agriculture and Rural Transformation Small and Medium-scale Enterprise

System of National Accounts Strategic Partnership for Africa Subregional Office

Subregional Coordination Mechanism Sub-Saharan Africa

Sub-Saharan African Transport Policy Programme Science and Technology Initiatives

Science with Africa

Southern Sudan Water Information Cleaning Ho~

Trust Funds

Training ofTrainers

lime-Use Household Survey

Ten-Year Capacity-Building Programme

United ations Conference on Sustainable~dopment

United adom Conference on Trade and Development United ations Development Assistance Framework

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UNDP UNEP UNFPA UNICEF UNIDO UNHCR UNIFEM UNRlSD UNTFAD VAWC

YEA

WE WFP WHO ASRG WSSD

wro

XB

ECA T«hnicill CoopaarionRrport - 20/0

United Nations Development Programme United ations Environment Programme United Nations Population Fund

United Nations Children's Fund

United Nations Indusrrial Development Organization

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees United Nations Development Fund for Women

United Nations Research InsritU[e for Social Development United Nations Trust Fund for Africa Development Violence Against Women and Children

Volta Basin Authority World Bank

World Food Programme World Health Organization Warer Sector RegionaJ Group

World Summit on Sustainable Development World Trade Organization

Extrabudgetary resources

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ECA T«hnical CMp"'ltion &port - 2010

Foreword

ECA's work over the last four years has been significandy scaled up mainly as a result of the increased support it has rea:ived through irs first Business Plan 2007-2009 and irs current Business Plan 2010- 20 12 launched in December 2009. The current three·year plan presented a framework and a vehicle for addressing Africa's developmem challenges and mobilizing the requisite resources to implement the key thematic programme activities and initiatives of the Commission. The 2010 ECA Technical Cooperation Repon is therefore the firsr of the plan period on the status of implementation of the Plan.

The reporr oudines the key achievements and results of ECA Technical Cooperation Trusr Fund (TF) activities during 2010 and also presents the state of funding support received from ECA's partners during the period. Itfurther provides information on the new initiatives being undertaken, aimed at strengthening internal capacity in TF management, increasing efficiency at all levels, and promoring greater accountability and transparency in TF operarions.

The repon is divided into four parrs. The first part provides the highlights of ECA technical cooperation activities, achievemenrs, resulrs achieved and irs impact. Pan two outlines the new initiatives undertaken by the Commission towards strengthening the partnership process; and part three provides the financial overview of exrrabudgetary resources in terms of contributions received and expenditure incurred, and irs rrend analysis during the period. Pan four highlighrs the importance of extrabudgetary resources for the work programme of ECA and funds received from irs partners toadequately respond tothe emerging priorities and demands of irs member States.

The impact of extrabudegerary resources on the overall ECA work programme cannot be overemphasized. As has been reported ^to parmers and stakeholders in our meetings, the ability of ECA to effectively carry our its priority activities depends critica.lly on irs extrabudgetary resources.

Furthermore, during 2010, ECA strengthened its ongoing partnership with bilateral partners.

Accountability for partners' funds has been enhanced through increased transparency, timely reporting, regular review meetings with partners regarding ongoing collaborations and developing a web-based application ^tofacilitateeasyaccess by partners^to ECA's TF activities, especially partners related relevant information.

Regular consultations, with panners and stakeholders were very critical for the continued engagemem and effective implementation of ECA work programme and the delivery of expected results. In addition to specific project support in several key areas, the JFA Partners comprising Denmark, orway, Sweden and the United Kingdom successfully negotiated and signed a second Joint Financial Arrangement UFA-lI) to provide programmatic support ^to the ECA Business Plan 2010-2012. thus providing the Commission with greater flexibility to quicldy respond to emerging development challenges and urgent requests for assistance from member States.

This joint financial arrangement has been further enhanced through regular meetings and dialogues, including regular six-monthly joint project implementation reviews. The outcomes of these meetings

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and dialogues have enhanced programme implememation and delivery, srrengthened partners' confidence and promoted grearer accountabiliry and transparency in the Commission's Trusr Funds operations.

ECA wirnessed remarkable improvement in its partner relations during [he reporting period. Thanks

to the constructive engagemem and experience sharing we have instituted. The Commission is encouraged and inclined ^to broadening rhe membership of its partnership forum ^to include new partners.

As we look forward to the continued partnership and support of all our partners, I rake this opportuniry^tothank all those who have supported ECA inth~ past years and encourage others^to participare in the joinr financial arrangemem. Together, we will consolidate our achievements and further improve our performance^to realize Mrica's development agenda.

Abdoulie Janneh

United Nations Under-Secretary-General and

Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Mrica

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Part I

EO! T«hniclll Coop«llrionRrport - 2010

Key achievements by thematic areas

I. In the implementation of irs planned programme in 2010, the Commission continued to focus on a significant number of activities and resulrs, anchored within irs three main modaliries:

(a) undertaking policy research and advocacy; (b) sharing knowledge and strengthening capacity; and (c) setting the agenda and fostering dialogue. In line with its strategic direcrions, the Commission also put greater emphasis on providing srrong support to the Mrican Union Commission (AUe), within irs twO major pillars of promoting regional integration in support of the AU vision and priorities; and meeting Mrica's special needs and emerging global challenges. Critical activities were executed in 2010, with norable achievements. These key activities and achievements are highlighted in the subsequent sections of this report.

A. Economic development and NEPAD

2. During 2010, ECA implemented various types ofactivities in the area offinance, industry and investment with continued focus on assisring member States in addressing the impact of the global financial and economic crises and enhancing their capacity to develop and implement industrial policies to enhance the continent's international competitiveness. In particular, ECA continued

to provide technical support ^to African countries in their participation in various international forums designed ^toaddress the impact of the financial crisis, such as the G20 Summit held in Seoul, South Korea. ECA also contributed to the formulation of Mrica's common position on the ongoing reforms of the international financial architecture. To consolidate this, ECA convened an ad hoc experts group meeting^todiscuss technical research papers on the reforms, which resulted in a set of policy recommendations that is expected to inform Mrica's common position.

3. ECA continued its efforts in strengthening the capacity of member States to formulate policies and programmes for poverty reduction, delivering equitable social services and integrating social dimensions in the development process in line with the internationally-agreed development goals, including the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This was achieved through the statutory annual regional review of progress towards the MDGs, which was presented at the joint ECA-AUC Conference of Ministers of Finance Session in Malawi, in March 2010. The endorsement at the subsequent Executive Council at the African Union Heads of State and Government meeting in Kampala, Uganda in July 2010 and itS presentation at the General Assembly Special Session further reinforced the advocacy role of the report.

4. Aware of the importance of the annual regional review MDGs report, ECA received a formal request from the Embassy of Belgium to use the ECA-AUC-AfDB-UNDP report as a comprehensive monitor of progress towards the MDGs in the continent. In addition, ECA achieved itS goal to increase the number of countries who base their development policies and programmes on poverty reduction straregies from 20 ro 30. The targetS of the MDGs were also fulfilled through the African Preparatory Regional Review on progress towards the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) Brussels Programme of Action (2001-2010). This regional review resulted in an Outcome

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Document that was endorsed by the Conference of Ministers, providing funher poli£ical imperus ^[Q the recommendations therein.

5. In response to the continuous financial and economic crisis being faced by member States, ECA through research and technical assistance, enhancw the capacity of member States^to develop and implement development finance and industrial policies to promote international competitiveness.

In particular. the commission provided support to African countries prior ^[Q G20 Summits and undertook rigorous analysis on the implications of the financial crisis on African economies.

Substantive analysis of the main industrial development challenges facing Africa was undertaken.

with policy recommendations^[Q address them.

6. To gain bener understanding as well as^[Q know the tools ^toadequately analyse and rake into consideration the linkages between domestic policy design and r~ionalconvergence objectives. the Commission has trained the policymakers ofthe member States. Thiswas made possible by preparing four policy studies on macroeconomic policy and convergence in Central Africa. East Africa, orth Africa and West Africa. These studies were used along with other training materials ^toorganize two major capacity-building workshops on macroeconomic convergence for West and Central Africa in Burkina Faso :lOd for orth and East Africa in Egypt. In addition to the above, these policy studies also helped researchers, investors and other stakeholders in one country to learn from the experiences of other countries and acquire greater insight into country-specific development issues.

7. ECA was instrumental in making an important tool for the thematic analysis of the region's most critical current economic challenges and for unique country analysis available ^to African countries. The Commission also contributedto the 20 I0 edition of the African Economic Outlook (AEO) by preparing four country notes/chapters. The Commission contribution covered the areas of political economy and corporate governance. regional integration and trade. The African Economic Outlook is a joint annual publication of African Development Bank (AfDB) , Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and ECA.

8. Furthermore, ECA assisted policymakers on how to design and implement strategies and policies to accelerate and sustain growth for poverty reduction through employment generation by producing the Economic Report on Africa 2010 (ERA 2010), an annual flagship publication of ECA and AUC, which was launched at the joint AU and ECA Conference of Ministers in Lilongwe. Malawi in March 2010. The report contained extensive review of recent economic and social developments on the continent, as well as an analysis of current and emerging developments issues. The 20 I0 edition of the report focused on the link between growth and employment in Africa. The report provided a basis for dialogue as well as a reference to policymakers, researchers, investors and other stakeholders. The report has generated strong interest and intense discussions at the annual AUC-ECA Conference of Ministers and beyond. ERA 2010 has been well received as evidenced by media reportS and invitations received byECA to present it at high-level meetings and discussion panels.

9. As part of its continuing efforts to foster the implementation of ew Partnership for Africa's Development ( EPAD) infrastructure iniriarives, ECA provided support in mainstreaming EPAO at the nationallevd through organizing and acrively participating in CapaCity-Building workshops.

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EGA Ttchnical Coop"ation Rrport - 2010 The Commission also provided technical supporr ro the NEPAD Secretariat, within the framework of the ECAfNEPAD Secretariat (now Agency) MOV. The Commission further assisted in preparing policy documentS and analyz.ing NEPAD related issues, as well as organizing and parricipating in NEPAD activities and meetings. In addition to the above, me Commission organized training for officials from me NEPAD Secretariat, Regional Economic Commissions (RECs) and other implementing organs. On monitoring and evaluating NEPAD implementation, ECA has taken a num~r of steps in conducting comprehensive assessment of the NEPAD programme since its inception. A framework for the evaluation has been developed. ECA has also produced some key reports as pan of me moniroring and evaluation efforts.

10. The Commission was also able to strengthen the United ations system-wide supporr for the implementation ofNEPAD at the regional and subregional levels. This was achieved by conducting an extensive review of the Ten-Year Capaciry.Building Programme (TYCBP) for AU. The exetcises consisted of conducting desk studies, face-to-face interviews and analyzing the questionnaires administered to all Regional Consultation Mechanism (RCM-Africa) stakeholders. The main aim was to evaluate the progress and gaps in implementation ofthe TYCBP. ECA made recommendations through a report presented at the Eleventh Session ofRCM-Africa. Based on the ECA report, RCM- Africa made recommendations which indeed should accelerate the implementation of me TYCBP through joint programmes of UN family. ECA, through its Subregional Offices (SROs), also led engagements with UN agencies operating at the subregional level with the view to establishing Subregional Coordination Mechanisms (SRCMs) for UN system supportto RECs.

II. In view of the recent financial and economic crises, as well as me slow progress of me region towards the targets of me MDGs, ECA underrook an initiative to explore innovative ways to reduce continental poverry and accelerate progress in Africatoachieve the M DGs. The aim of the study was to strengthen poverty reduction strategies (PRSs) as an ongoing project. Under this project, ECA has commissioned case studies on social protection. Ten African countries have been selected for this project. These are: AJgeria, Cape Verde, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somh Africa and Tunisia. Six of these studies are finalized, and four drafts are expected by early 2011. These studies will contribute to bridging the knowledge gap as well as propose policies for consideration and adoption by member States on the design of social safety nets and protection schemes. ECA also plans to hold workshops tothis effect.

12. To initiate further follow-up as regards the social protection policies and improving human welfare by member States, ECA convened the fifth meeting of the African Learning Group (ALG) on PRSs and the MDGs (PRSs/MDGs - LG) in Lusaka, Zambia inOCtobe,2010, knowing fully well that tht: Learning Group will provide a very good opporcuniry for member States that are lagging bt:hind to lam from those who have achieved remarkable progress. The main objective of the meeting wastocontributetothe strengthening of social pro[ection schemes in Mrica through peer- learning and knowledge exchange. The other goal was to intensify effortS across Africa toaccelerate progress to attain the targets. ECA welcomed the fact that African govt:rnments were placing grater emphasis on social protection policiestoaid growth and improve human welfare including achieving the MDGs. To consolidate the progress achieved, ECA provided another forum for the exploration of the possibilities for harnessing knowledge to achieve the Millennium Development Goals in

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ECA T«hnical Coop"ationRrpurt - 2010

Africa, by organizing an Experts Group Meeting on Harnessing Knowledge ro Achieve the MDGS in Africa. Its main purpose wastoemphasize the MDGs·based planning among the member States.

13. Funhermore, through research and technical assistance, ECA enhanced the capacity of member States ro develop and implement development finance and industrial policies to promote international competitiveness. The Commission provided policy options for industrial policy strategies in African countries, based on their endowments, geographical location and size of population by organizing a joint ECNAUaUnited Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Experts Group Meeting on the reform of the international financial architecture ro highlight the main industrial policy challenges facing Africa. The outcome of the meeting resuhed in a research paper providing policy recommendations on Africa's perspectives. The research paper undertook quite a substantive analysis of the main industrial development challenges facing Africa and the industrial policies for structural transformation of African economies.

14. The Commission also scaled up its support to African countries ro identify challenges being faced by member States with the outbreak of the global financial crisis by providing rigorous analysis on the implications of the crisis for African countries wd how best ro respond ro it. It is in this context that a position paper tided "UNECA Perspectives on the G20 London and Pittsburgh Summits ro the Copenhagen Climate Conference" was produced, which served as background paper for the Meeting of the Comminee of Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (Cape Town, South Africa 21 February 2010).

15. Overall, ECA undertook multiple activities to assisr the African countries in addressing the impact of the global financial and economic crises, as well as enhancing the capacity of member States ^(Q develop and implement industrial policies ro improve the continent's international competitiveness. In particular, ECA continued to provide technical SUppOH ^to Aftican countties in their participarion in various forums designed to address the impacr of the financial crisis. These include the G20 Summit held in Seoul, South Korea in November 2010. As a contribution ^to rhe formulation of Africa's common position, a technical research paper on rhe ongoing reforms of the international financial architecrure was prepared and discussed at the ad hoc expert group meeting convened in Gaborone, Botswana in June 2010. This resulted in a set of policy recommendations that is expected ⁽⁰ inform Africa's common position.

16. As a follow~up ro the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development, ECA prepared and submitted a progress report ^[0 the Fourth Session of the joint AUC-ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development held in Lilongwe, Malawi in April 2010. Among other things, the report reviewed progress [Owards meeting the commitments made by both African governments and their devdopment partners along the key areas of finwcing for developmem. It identifies future priority actions that should be considered to improve the mobilizarion of both domestic and external financial resources for Africa's development. In addition, a policy brief was also prepared to assess the challenges and opportunities facing African counnies in the implementation of the Basel Agreemenrs on Banking wd Financial Srandards. The jointAUC-ECA Conference ofAfrican Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development has always been a forum for exchange of ideas to share knowledge. as

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£CA Ttchnical Coopn-ation&port - 2010

well as an opportuniry for policymakers to access latest research findings on economic issues, thus improving economic policymaking in Africa.

17. ECA jointly organized me Mrican Economic Conference 2010 with AIDB on me theme:

"Seuing the Agenda for Africa's Economic Recovery and Long Term Growth". The conference, which was held from 27⁽⁰29 October 2010 in Tunis, Tunisia. also provided a forum where ideas on knowledge sharing andcapaciry~buildingamong researchers, economists and policymakers could be discussed. At the same conference, ECA senior staff members briefed both local and international media on development challenges, including the impacts of the global economic crisis on Africa.

B. Food security and sustainable development

18. The Commission continued its efforts by undertaking multiple activities towards strengthening the capacity of member States to formulate and implement policies and programmes for achieving food security and sustainable development. In this regard, climate change has become one of the defining challenges of rhe current era. Therefore, ECA has placed this matter at the forefront of irs supporr ^to its member States. Several activities were carried out in 2010 in suppOrt of these objectives.

19. In order to bring the effect of climate change in Africa to the anention of Mrican countries and the international communiry, ECA successful1y organized me 7th edition of the African Development Forum (ADF-VII) specially focwing the Ten-Year Capaciry-Building Programme (TYCBP) on me meme "Acting on Climate Change for Swtainable Developmenr in Africa," in October 2010, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The event, which was jointly organized wim AUC and AIDB, brought together more than 1000 participantS from African governments, private sector, civil-society, research and academia and development partners to discws and build consensus on how Mrica could effectively tackle the climate change challenge and leverage on the opportunities it presents. The consensus statement that was adopted at the end of the forum highlighted some key challenges and opporrunities in the areas of economics; peace and security; governance and leadership; inregration; agricultural development and food security; infrastructure development;

social and human development; climate change; science and technology (S&D innovation and capacity-building. It states, for example, that climate change could severely undermine progress towards swrainable development, including the auainmenr of targetS set our in the MDGs. Based on the evidence and impact of climate change, itwas agreed by the various stakeholders mat large emiuing countries should make deep cuts and that me international community should support Mrica to promote broad-based, equitable, resource-efficient and environmentally- sustainable growth.

20. By organizing the ADF-VII, ECA was successful in strengthening Africa's participation in international climate change negotiations and was able to inform the Continent's common position at the COP-16 in Cancun, Mexico. The Forum was instrumental in raising awareness and building consensus among stakeholders on Africa's concerns and priorities in a post-2012 international climate change regime. These recommendations also formed me basis for the preparation of an African Action Plan on Climate Change that AIDB, ECA, and AUe will implement jointly

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EOf uchmcalCoopmuionR~porr- 20/0

in collaboration with other stakeholders and partners. The technical support provided by ECA contributed significanrly and led tothe elaboration and adoption of a common African negotiating position on climate change.

21. ECA, jointly with AUC, U EP and UNIDO, provided substantive technical support to

African member Slates through facilitation of African regional discussions and participating in the mematic discussions. Africa effectively articulated its concerns and priorities relative to me thematic cluster of issues. To further consolidate the resuhs related to sustainable development and environment, ECA jointly participated with AVe, U EP and UNIDO in the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-18), whichwas held in New York in May 20 I

o.

CSD-18 reviewed progress in the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for Further Implementation of Agenda 21 (PFIA21) and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation OPal) commitmems focusing on the thematic duster of issues comprising transport, chemicals, waste management, mining and a Ten-Year Framework of Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production (Sep).

22. In accordance with its role of coordinating regional preparatory processes for major global conferences and summits on sustainable development, ECA embarked on a series of activities during the year to facilitate Africa's participation in the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) also referredtoas "Rio+20ⁿ to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in January 2012. ECA provided a platform to raise awareness and mobilize the necessary support to ensure Africa's effective preparation for the Rio+20 Conference.

23. To increase awareness, knowledge and understanding and build the capacity of policymakers

to formulate and implement mutually-supportive trade and environment policies, enhance cooperation in this area, and recognizing the linkages berween trade, environment and sustainable development, ECA organized a training workshop in collaboration with UNEP for policymakers of the ECOWAS Commission and its member States. The Commission also assessed the best practices for selected African agricultural strategic commodities with respect to ensuring food security through agricultural and rural economic transformation in the west, southern and ceorral subregions of Africa. The Commission further ensured that lessons learned in one subregion were shared with stakeholders in the other subregions.

24. ECA and FAO developed an analyticaJ framework on agribusiness and agro-industrics in Africa, as a follow-up to me 20 I0 Ahuja High-level Conference to assess the national developmenr conrext, trends and policies influencing the relevance of and need for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in agribusiness and draw lessons on challenges and specific issues that need tobeconsidered in the development of agribusiness PPPs. The Commission, along with irs other partners organized the_High~UvelConference on African Agribusiness and Agro-Industries (HLC-3A) in March 2010 in Abuja, Nigeriato highlight me high risks of doing business in the agricuJrural sector and me scale of investments required. The declaration of the conference called for concerted efforts by member States to accelerate agribusiness development.

25. ECA further strengthened its collaboration with the AVC, FAa and U 100 mrough the implementation of a joint programme on regionally integrated vaJue chains of strategic food and agricultural commodities in me Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and

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EO! uch"ical Cooprrarion_R~port- 2010

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) subregions. A project focusing on the development and promotion of regional strategic food and agricultural commodities value chains in Africa was extensively reviewed. The project entails a pilot initiative in the COMESA and ECOWAS subregions focusing on three strategic food and agricultural commodities - livestock, maize and rice. ECAwassuccessful in setting up a multi-institutional task force comprising ofECA, AUe, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), me United ations Development Programme (UNDP), UNIDO, COMESA, ECO\VAS, me International Livestock Research Institute (lLRI), me International Centre for Soil Fertility and Agriculture Development (IFDe), Africa Rice, the privateseaor and farmers' groups with the aim to take mis major agenda forward.

26. To ensure the formulation and implementation of comprehensive land policies which would ensure economic efficiency, social equity and environmental protection, ECA provided technical leadership in disseminating the Land Policy Framework and Guidelines document, a joint initiative of me AUe, ECA and AIDB and popularized me same through a number of key events at the regional and subregional levels. These eventS included the African Presidential Round Table on Land, held in Dar-es-Salaam, United Republic ofTanzania in August 20 I0 and me official launch of the implementation phase of the Declaration of African Heads of State and Government on Land.

27. ECA responded to several requests for assistance from member States and meir national institutions for urgent policy-related advice in the area of water resources development and management. The Commission also provided assistance in the substantive servicing of the following meetings: the Regional Forum on "Agricultural Water", organized by the Volta Basin Authority (YBA) in May 20 lOin Accra, Ghana; the Zambezi coordination meeting and 21 St Southern African Development Community (SADC) Water Sector Regional Group (WSRG) Meeting in Gaborone, Botswana in June 2010 and the Joint Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Climate Change Workshop in Nairobi, Kenya in March 2010. In addition, the ECA secretariat co-organized and hosted the 6th Regular Meeting of the UN-Water!Africa Grollp of Agencies and Partners in January 2011 and the 3rd Africa Water Week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in November 20 IO.

C. Promoting good governance and public administration

28. African countries continue ^to reaffirm their commitment to improving governance in the continent, including through increased popular participation. To this end, they need information on the status of governance in the continent, and ECA supports this process through irs regular African Governance ReportS (AGR). The AGR and the accompanying coumry reports have improved the stock of knowledge and understanding on good governance in Africa, opening-up governance dialogue on the continent, and assisting member Stares in formulating appropriate policies to address their capacity challenges and improve the capacity of national research institutions ro conduct governance research and analyses. Furthermore, the national country teportS constitute major background material for member States undertaking the Mrican Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. The AGR remains the most comprehensive report on governance in Africa, and is used by scholars, policymakers, policy intellectuals, civil-society organizations (CSOs). regional and national institutions, and the international development community in gauging the progress in

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EUt He/mical CtJOptMtion Rtporl - 20/0

governance within the continent. ECA undertook a wide range of activities in support of promoting good governance in Africa, with parricular focus on strengthening public administration and public sector management for effective service delivery; promoting private sector development; enhancing the role and capacity of civil-society; and providing supporr to the APRM process to 5[rengthen governance practices in Africa.

29. ECA continued its wotk on enhancing the capacity of mem~rStates to promote good governance practices to achieve major development objectives. including the MDGs and the priorities of EPAD by preparing analytical studies in support of good governance. The preparatory work for the 3rd edition of the African Governance Report (AGR III) was completed in 2010 and the project is now in its implementation phase. ECA also organized a technical workshop on AGR III in early December 2010 to bring together selected national research institutions for briefing on the background, modalities. processes. management and production of the national country reports forAGR Ill.

30. In order to enhance the capacity of member States in conducting elections more effectively as instruments for managing diversity. while also retaining the democratic ideals of credibility.

transparency and fairness. ECA has published AGR-III. with the theme "Elections and the Management of Diversity in Africa". It covers 40 to 45 countries. and ECA has worked in close partnership with UNOP on the project, particularly in facilitating the preparation of the national country reports. It is envisaged that this should assist in cunailing violent and contentious elections, while promoting inclusive governance in Africa. ECA now feels that besides the thematic approach to the biennial AGR report, there should be a report produced every six years to monitor the progress African countries are makjng in governance.

31. To establish mutual accountability mechanisms for monitoring and assessing the delivery of commitments made by both African countries and their development partners relative^tothe African economic development agenda. the Commission. jointly with OECD. produced and launched an important report on MUlllal Review of Development Effectiveness (MRDE). The main highlights of this 2010 repon were presented by the ECA Executive Secretary to the 23^rd Summit ofNEPAD Heads of Srate and Government Orientation Committee (NEPAD HSGOC) held in July 2010 in Kampala, Uganda and which called on ECA and GECD ^tocontinue the review process. The report was formally launched by the Executive Secretary of ECA and the Secretary-General ofGEeD in September 2010 at a side event during the United Nations MDG Review Summit in New York.

The reporr was also discussed at the Africa Partnership Forum in Malawi in October 2010. Itwill be widely disseminated among the member States to support their monitoring process.

32. To support anti-corruption moves in Africa. ECA undertook a number of activities with their main thrust on srrengthening the capacity of anri-corruption institutions. improving the capacity of African parliaments. pubHc administration. public sector management and effective service delivery. promoting bener public financial management and domestic resource mobilization in Africa. Activities undenaken on anti-corruption included: (a) a training workshop for national anti- corruption institutions in Central Africa in October 20 lOin Yaounde. Cameroon, in partnership with UNDP and the ECA-SRO Central Africa. Countries represented at the workshop included Cameroon, Chad. the Democratic RepubHc ofthe Congo, Equatorial Guinea. Gabon. and Sao Tome

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EOtTtch"ical Coopn-ationR~por1-2010

and Principe. The training workshop identified the specific needs and challenges of anti-corruption institurions in the region and drew up an action plan to assist them. (b) Training workshop on anti-corruption for 15 member States through the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa based in Dakar, Senegal.

33. To improve the capacity of African parliaments, ECA directed the Institute on the theme:

Corruption, Accountability and Democratic Governance in Africa, which brought together scholars, policymakers, praetirioners, and activists on ami-corruption from 15 African countries to discuss the theme of the institute. Furthermore,toassess the capacity and efficiency of national parliaments in Africa, a publication on the role of parliaments in promoting best practices in governance was produced to assess their operational modalities, the level of autonomy they enjoy, funding, their relationship with the executive arm of government and the judiciary. As a contribution toimproving public financial management and domestic resource mobilization, a study on "Improving Public Financial Management with a View to Enhancing Domestic Resource Mobilization in Africa" was undertaken. The report was presented to an ad hoc expert group meeting in November 2010, in Banjul, the Gambia and is in the process of being published for circulation to member States.

34. To sensitize African countries on the issue of illicit financial Rows from Africa and its effect on the continent's development, ECA organized a side event during the Joint Annual Meetings of the Aue and ECA Conference of Ministers held in Lilongwe, Malawi in March, 2010. During this side event experts from several organizations, including some from large private sector organizations were brought together todiscuss and propose measures for addressing the problem of illicit capital Rows, particularly in light of the recent global economic and financial crisis, where external resources for development are fast drying up. A major outcome of the discussions held during the side event was a proposal to establish a High-Level Panel in 2011 to be housed at ECA that would be tasked with coordinating international, regional and national efforts toaddress the negative effects of illicit financial outAows on Africa's development.

35. As one of the strategic partners supporting the implementation of the APRM, ECA made significant contributions towards the successful implementation of the process by mounting country support missions, country review missions, technical assistance in drafting country reports and the National Programme of Action (NPoA) and organiz.ing training workshops to build the capacity of stakeholders in the process.

36. To enhance the role and effective participation of parliamentarians in the APRM process, ECA undertook a support missiontoSierra Leone in September 20 I0 and held a training workshop in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in May 2010 for French and POrtuguese-s~ngAPRM countries. The workshop brought together 60 participants from 16 French and POrtuguese African countries that have already acceded to the APR process, representatives of RECs and the APRM Continental Secretariat.

37. ECA also provided additional technical suppOrt to the APRM process by undertaking activities such as organizing technical meetings on the streamlining of the APRM questionnaire and methodology in Addis Ababa in April 20 I0; an ad hoc Expert Group Meeting on deepening APRM best practices and lessons learned for the APRM book publicarion in Addis Ababa in April 2010

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ECA uchnicI11 Coopmllion /Upon - 2010

and an ad hoc Expert Croup Meeting on the harmonization of the APRM-National Programme of Action PoAs) and other national plans into a common Medium-term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the MDGs for APRM-completed countries, jointly with U DP in Kampala, Uganda, in September, 2010.

38. \Vith a view to promoting, deepening and enriching the intellectual exploration of the APRM process in the COntext of the long-term historical evolution of political and economic thought on the Mrican continent, ECA further commissioned several studies. One such study focused on "Diversiry Management in Mrica: Findings from me African Peer Review Mechanism and a Framework for Analysis and Policymakingⁿ^• Simplified guidelines were prepared for integrating and harmonizing the APRM-NPoA and the existing national development programmes and MTEF. The commission also organized a workshop in September 2010 at Kampala, Uganda to review and validate the synthesis document produced based on the challenges and experience of four countries selected by ECA and UNDP (Ghana, Benin, Rwanda, and Uganda) on APRM-NPoA. The Commission assisted the member Stares in building and maintaining a darabase of information by providing access to data sources and sharing of information and experiences; organizing advocacy and sensitization workshops ^to deepen the understanding of different stakeholders of their respective roles in the APRM process. In particular, ECA assisted Mrican esOs and networks of non-governmental organizations ( COs) in srrengthening their participation in the APRM process. Furthermore, it underlined the importance of their involvement in enhancing democratic governance and socioeconomic development in Africa.

39. To facilitateeffons to achieve the MDGs, ECA has placed increasing emphasis on strengmening its relationship with esOs ro facilitate their involvement in policymaking. The year under review saw further improvement in civil-sociery participation in ECA work, largely due to the resuscitation of the Mrican Centre for Civil-Sociery (ACCS), which helped ^to define a structured process of engagement between ECA and CSOs. The Centre also serves as a repository of relevant and timely information on issues related ^to civil-sociery in development and governance and facilitates effective and programme-based linkages between African CSOs and the international development communiry.

40. To further strengthen the role of civil-society in Mrica's development as well as ^to provide correct information on issues perraining to CSOs, ECA developed a website for the ACes which was launched in May 2010. the ACCS portal offers various directories of interest and includes over 1,000 registered Mrican NGOs, national networks and regional NGOs. In addition, the Commission also organized a training workshop in Mauritius on the role of esOs in conflict mediation and peaCt building. Other activities organized included an expert group meeting on strengthening popuJar participation and good governance; and me African eso Assembly meeting on the Brussels Plan of Action in preparation for the Fourth United ations Conference on the Least Devdoped Countries (LDC-IV) ^totake place from 9 ^to 13 May in Istanbul, Turkey.

41. The Commission was abletobroaden private sector participation in key strategic sectors such as infrastructure, including energy and provision of public service delivery. This was achieved by undertaking various activities in the area of private sector development which have been designed

to enhance the investment dimate, as well as economic and corporate governance for a favourable

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EG1 Ttrhnical Coopnrttion&port-2010

business environment in Africa; promote private sector participation in key sectors through PPPs;

and building capacity for the development of small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs).

42. To bring together a number of senior policymakers and leading businesses from within and outside Mrica to discuss opportunities for investments in Mrica, with particular focus on selected pipeline projects both at the country and subregional level ECA joinrly organized the Pan-Mrican Investment Forum (PAlF) with the Energy Ministers Conference of Ave and All Mrica Energy Week of AfDB in ovember 2010, in Mapum, Mozambique. The PAIF was a major event, which provided amuch~needed vehicle for synergy of activities between all stakeholders. It also successfully established a continental-level platform^{Opromote private sector panicipation in key infrastructures, including the energy sector through PPPs and policy dialogue.

D. ICT and science and technology for development

43. Information and Communication Technology (lCT), Science and Technology continue to

play an increasingly irnponanr role in both national and regional development, and member States are increasingly seeking the support of ECA to develop and fine rune national policies and improve their use of ICT applications in governance, education, health, finance and trade. The

ler

and S&T-related work of ECA focuses on improving the capacity of Mrican countries to formulate, implement and evaluate national and sectoral information, communication and science, technology and innovation (STI) policies and geo-information strategies for development.

44. In suppon of its core objective of supporting the preparation of national and sectoral information and communication policies and plans in keysectors, several activities were undenaken and completed by ECA during 2010. ECA supported national and sectoral policy formulation processes in six member States. These include Burkina Faso (e~government, e-Health, e-commerce, e-education, and e-services for rural developmenr strategies), Cote d'Ivoire (spatial dam infrastructure strategy), Ethiopia (e-commerce law), the Gambia

OCT

for development policy), Mali (e-commerce and e-Agcieulture strategies), and the Niger (e-Health strategy) and the SADC subregion with the e-SAOC strategy. The policy formulation is also complemented by pilot projects such as the teleinnoV3tion programme to better reach out to rural communities in Rwanda and Ghana, the development of an onlinee~commerce platform for leather exporters in Ethiopia to better access international markers and an m-health project in the Burajera district of Ethiopia to enhance health information management systems in semi-urban and rural areas.

45. Concrete outcomes of ECA support in the policy formulation process were captured in an external evaluation undertaken in Rwanda. The ational Information and Communication Infrastructure ( ICI) 2010 plan review shows that OUt of the 133 NICI II projects, a third were classified as operational with measurable outcomes for beneficiaries such as schoolchildren, citizens in rural areas and small businesses, fourteen projects were evaluated as operational bur not yet available for targeted beneficiaries, thirry-nine were underdeveloped while 22 per cent of the projects were yet ^to be implemented. Successful projects undertaken under the NICI 2010 plan include an online labour market information system, a national agricultural information system.

a human resources management/planning information system for the health sector, setting up of

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EO!Trrhnka/ Ceopaation &pon - 2010

multipurpose community telecentres, as well as special programmes and initiatives to facilitate the active involvement of women in leTs.

46. ECA has undertaken several activitiestofurther achievements and progress made in harmonizing nationallCf policies and plans and the creation of subregional frameworks for regional economic integration. The harmonization of the ICf legal framework, which starred with ECOWAS and UEMOA, has now been extended to the other REG. This will enhance security and confidence in the knowledge economy in Africa. In a similar vein and at the request of African ministers in charge ofcommunication and information technologies who met in Abuja, igeria in August 2010, ECA in collaboration with AU, is finalizing the Draft Convention on Cyber Legislation in order to suppOrt its implemenration in member States by 2012.

47. 10strengthen the Commission's initiative on capacity-building for the measurement of access and usage oflCT by households and enterprises in 201 0, a number oftraining workshops were jointly organized by ECA, ITU and U CfAD. The initiative has contributed significantly to building the capacities of the National Statistics Offices ( 50s) from both Anglophone and Francophone Africa. Thiswasalso complemented by the development of a core list of ICf socioeconomic impact indicators, an initiative currently being implemented in Tunisia. The development of e-government indicators in the framework of [he international Partnership on Measuring fCf for Development was another important achievement during the period.

48. With its focus on empowering poor and disadvantaged commUOlrles through the transformation of existing ICT access points in selected countries around the world into hubs of global knowledge networks, and with particular focus on women, another major achievement was registered by ECA. In 2010, the Knowledge erwork ofAfrican Community Telecentres (KNACf) was established with over 18 community relecentres and eight national tdecenrre networks from Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, United Republic ofTanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The regional knowledge network initiative was part of a United Nations Development Account project involving all the five United Nations Regional Commissions led by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA).

49. Again in20I0ECA provided support to a numberofinnovative ICf initiatives for learning and teaching of local languages using ICfs. This enabled children toaccess online educarional resources.

As parr of the Electronic Rural Schools in African Languages (ERELA) initiative, a prototype is currently operational and being used in primary schools in Cameroon. ECA also provided support in the development of the ICT Master Plan for the national parliaments of Zambia, Swaziland and Botswana and has set up an e-employmenr project for unemployed youth in the Congo and Gabon that is contributingtoyouth employment in these countries. ECA, through the Information Technology Centre for Africa (ITCA) conducted training courses on

Icr

essentials for government leaders and African parliamentarians in Swaziland and SADC diplomats in Gaborone, Botswana.

The online versions (www.un«:a.orgfelearnafric:a) of the courses have been launched.

50. To suppOrt the development and implementation of spatial data infrastructures as the appropriate mechanism for the production, management, dissemination and use of spatial data and information products at both regional and national levels, ECA provided technical assistance in

I

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I

EGA T«hnical Coopn-ation Rrport - 2010

developing the necessary mols for member States^toexploit Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for socio-economic development and achievement ofthe M DGs. In implementing iu geoinformation programme. ECA has developed the following applications and data bases: the Geoinformation Applications InventoryTool (GAIT), the Metadata Clearinghouse, the Second Level Administrative Boundaries (SALB) database, the Public-Private-Partnership Projects Database, the Health and Emergency Management Systems for Ethiopia, the Africa Gazetteer on GeoNyms Application and the African fiber optic connectivity database. In cooperation with the African Union, ECA pursued its efforr ^to develop, through the African Reference Frame (AFREF) Project, a unified geodetic reference frame for Africa, as the foundation for accurate geospatial information, so that maps and other geoinformation produet5 can be represented on the same datum. As a result, several African countries have started developing sectoral strategies for mainstreaming GIS to spatially enable ICf application in various sectors. COte d'lvoire has developed its National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) Strategy and the Sudan has developed the Somhern Sudan Water Information Clearing House (SWICH). A number of activities have also httn carried out in Ethiopia, South Africa, Senegal and Swaziland for the promotion of spatially enabled policies and applications, including the development of a central Spatial Data Infrastructure (SOl); use of web 2.0 for the prommion of Panicipatory GIS and the adoption of a programme of activities for the Regional Centre for Mapping of Resources for Development (RCMRD) for East and Southern African countries. ECA also provided suppOrt to the Government of Ghana to develop the national street addressing and numbering system, including capacity-building, advocacy activities and provision of very high resolution geo-referenced satellite imagery covering Greater Accra.

51. With the aim of providing a platform for industrial leaders, researchers and policymakers

to discuss innovative ways of improving the efficiency of technology development. transfer and commercialization in Africa, ECA collaborated with AUe and other partners to organitt the second Science with Africa Conference (SWA II) in June 2010 on the theme Scimu. lnnot'fltion and Enmprrnnmhip (www,uocc.a,org!si<:ncCWi,ba(tica). The conference explored policies, measures and mechanisms for promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in areas such as agriculture, ICTs, healrh, infrastructure, intellectual property and technology transfer, green science and climate change. A major outcome of the conference was the launch of the African Science, Technology and Innovation Endowment Fund (ASTIEF). The ASTIF - the first of its kind - is designed to support individuals and research and development (R&D) institutions alike ^to bring their research OUlpurs to the marker. The conference also launched the first African Technology Development and Transfer et\vork, which aims at generating economic and social vaJue from ~arch and development outputs by facilitating technology adaptation, diffusion. commercialization and encouraging investment in R&D. Among its key activities, the network will embark on training programmes and awareness workshops on intellectual property protection and management. as well as technology commercialization and exhibitions. In addition, it will offer online platforms, databases and knowledge resources for managers and technology transfer officers, as well as support technology transfer initiatives within firms and SMEs. The conference also featured a number of forums and workshops such as the Innovation Investment Forum, Women and Innovation Roundtable, Science Innovation and Communication Workshop, Patent Fair and the presentation of the Wa(er Quality Report. Recognition and support was given to young scientists through a partnership with the US- based Research Triangle Institute to build their capacity in commercializing theit research findings through a study grant.

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, "

ECA T«hnical CoopmJlion !Uport - 2010

52. To strengthen policy development initiative under the African Innovation Framework (AlF) process, ECA successfully launched three national Science and Technology Initiatives ($TIs), in Benin, Mali and &nega1. Five other member States, namely Burkina-Faro, Cine d'Ivoire, the Gambia, the Niger and Togo havealso requested assinance in the formulation and implementation of their STI policies. At the subregional level, ECA is working with ECOWAS in the development of the ECOWAS policyon Science and Technology (ECOrOST).

53. ECA has continued tohost and support the Access to Scientific Knowledge in Africa (ASKlA)

to promote access to scientific knowledge by African scientists, decision-makers, students and researchers under its outreach and advocacy activity. There are also several activities that fall within the African Innovation Centre initiative, which are currently being developed for business in Africa.

ECA also supports and hosts the secretariat of the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (AND!). ANDI was conceived by the World Health Organization (WHO) and seeks to

promote and sustain an African-led health prodUCt innovation platform that addresses African public health needs. ANDI will establish a regional network of centres of excellence and regional hubs, fund collaborative regional projects, and build capacity to support R&D and commercialization in health. ANDI will also benefit from and support some of the key STI activities of ECA.

54. In 2010, ECA launched an electronic publishing system for collecting, managing and preserving information about its work. This was an institutional repositOry related to library development (hrrp;/lrepository.untta.orgl). The repository offers unique knowledge and information not available elsewhere pertaining to economic and social development in Africa, including reports of ECA meetings and conferences. The repository is a collaborative effort between ECA divisions.

E. Regional integration, infrastructure and trade

55. Strengthened regional cooperation and integration has been a key strategy ofECA for achieving robust and self-sustaining economic recovery and growth by member States, bearing in mind the fact that this is also a path for becoming an imponant and effective player in the global economy.

Hence, ECA continued to support Africa's regional imegration efforts in all relevant areas, including trade facilitation and intra-African trade, suengthening policies and institudonal mechanisms for regional integration, and infrasrrucwre and natural resources development in line, with the vision of AU. In this regard ECA played an instcumemal role in strengthening the process of regional integradon in Africa through enhanced inrra~Africantrade and physical integration.

56. In May 2004, ECA published and launched me first "Assessing Regional Integration in Africa"

report (ARIA I). The Ragship ECA publication provided a comprehensive and holistic assessment of the SUtw of regional integration inAfrica. ARIA II, released in May 2006, examined the issue of the rationalization of the multiplicity of integration groupings and their arrendam overlapping memberships. Published in 2008, ARIA III tackJed the issue of macroeconomic policy convergence, and deepening of financial and monetary integration in Africa. The Commission successfully published and launched ARIA IV,which focused on the theme "Enhancing intra-African trade". It was launched in May 20 lOin Abidjan, COte d'Ivoire on the margins of the Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank. Its findings and conclusions led the Conference of African Ministers

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EO!T«hnirlll Coopnruion &port - 2010

of Trade^to adopt a resolution ro fast track the establishment of an African Continental Free Trade Area. ARIA has helped to identify constraints and other factors affecting the integration process and came up with recommendations to assist member countries in overcoming the challenges and speeding up the process. The Commission undertook a comprehensive empirical analysis of the reasons why intra-African trade has rt'mained low over the past decades. ARIA IV provides concrete policy recommendations to reverse the situation so that African countries can reap the benefits of improved intra-regional trade. The lack of diversification and competitiveness of African economies were cited as major impediments. Other major obstacles to intraregional trade addressed in the report include the poor state of trade-related infrastructure, the lack of macroeconomic coordination in general, as well as the multiplicity and non-convertibility of currencies. ARIA IV, like all the other ARIAs, has been extensively disseminated to policymakers and stakeholders, including the RECs.

57. As part of the measures taken to help boost intra-African trade, ECA organized three regional workshops and study rours on trade facilitation and intra-African trade in Dar-Es-Salaam, Accra and Mombassa during 2010. These were primarily ^to enable stakeholders to share and learn from experiences and best practices in trade facilitation, port operations and corridor management across Africa. The workshops helped in enhancing the knowledge of about 200 stakeholders representing port authorities, corridor management institutions, transport and shipping companies, ministries of trade, shippers' councils, immigration and cuswms authorities and RECs on various trade facilitation issues. As a direct follow-up to these workshops, the West African subregion has embarked on a programme to harmonize and liberalize cross-border transportation of goods in the subregion to

hdp improve intra-West African trade.

58. ECA organized a workshop in April 2010, in Nairobi, Kenya on issues related ^to the non- agricultural market access (NAMA) negotiations and on-Tariff Barriers ( TBs) within the World Trade Organization (WTO). If focused on strengthening the capacity of member States for effective participation in various international trade negotiations and arrangements within the context of the multilateral trading system, with particular emphasis on the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), Aid for Trade (Arr) and the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), as well providing a platform for African trade negotiators, representatives from AU and RECs, and trade officials ^to forge a consensus and a common African position on non-tariff barriers (NTBs) issues.As a result of the workshop, the African Group in Geneva has been more actively engaged in negotiations on AMA and TBs.

59. In partnership with AUC, ECAdeveioped a setofproposalsand policy options for consideration by African countries when the current AGOA preferences officially come to an end ⁱⁿ 2015. The options were discussed and endorsed by the Sixth Ordinary Session of the African Union Ministers ofTradein Kigali, Rwanda in November 2010. This led the ministers toadopt a declaration on the

"Strategic Framework for Strengthening US-Africa Trade Relations 2010 and Beyond", which will inform the engagement of African countries with the United. States Government.

60. ECA also supported AVC in ^its role of coordinating the ongoing negotiations between the RECs and the European Union (EU) by providing technical inputs ^to ^tWO coordination meetings held in 2010. The coordination meetings resulted in the AUC·RECs Position Paper on EPAs, which