HIGHLIGHTS

February 27-28,2003- Addis Adaba, Ethiopia

This report presents the discussions and outcomes of the final meeting to present the draft maps from the project “Effective Strategies to Realize the NEPAD” (hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, for the Centre for Global Studies, University of Victoria, Canada)

Purpose and Participants

The Addis Ababa Meeting, hosted by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, took place on Feb 27 – 28, 2003. The meeting was well attended and included representatives from several UN agencies (UNFPA, UNDP, UNHCR, UNICEF, and UNESCO, in addition to UNECA). Representatives from the African Development Bank, and the African Union also attended. Members of the NEPAD Secretariat had to cancel at the last minute; they have been continually supportive, and have asked for a copy of this report and the five project proposals presented in Addis. Other participants included the President of the OECD Development Center, IDRC, officials of the Nigerian and Mauritian governments, a member of the French G8 team and diplomats from the Canadian and UK governments. In addition, participants representing interests from the African business and finance community and NGOs ensured the discussions were well rounded and focused on the diverse needs and goals of African societies.

The meeting structure involved five sessions devoted to each of the initiatives in support of NEPAD goals, for which draft “maps” were presented. These initiatives targeted five sectors of the NEPAD (identified in parentheses after the title of each initiative), specifically:

· Establishment of an African Tertiary Institutions HIV/AIDS Consortium (Health)
· Resource Plunder Database (Peace and Security Initiative)
· An African Code of Electoral Norms and Standards (Democracy and Political Governance Initiative)
· Microfund pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest (Capital Flows Initiative)
· Creation of an Enabling Agency for the Expansion of Multifunctional Platforms in Rural West Africa (Poverty Reduction and Energy Initiatives)
At each session, the mapper’s presentation of the substantive content of their NEPAD support initiative was described, as well as their “map” of the elements to generate the decision to implement the initiative. Each presentation was followed by an exchange of constructive criticism, coaching, and brainstorming to improve the content as well as discussions regarding the methods and processes by which to secure implementation (i.e., to bring them from proposal to project phase — to achieve these NEPAD goals).

Discussion and Outcomes for the Proposed Initiatives

1. Resource Plunder Database

This initiative focused on influencing an administrative decision by the UN Security Council or, as a fallback, the UN Deputy Secretary General for Political Affairs. To connect with the NEPAD principle of being African-led, it was proposed that Angola would introduce the idea during its Security Council presidency in November and that the UN, not the AU, has the mechanism to effect action. Notwithstanding these points, it was suggested to the mapper to explore the means of getting AU, specifically the Conference for Stability, Security, Development and Co-operation in Africa (CSSDCA), and NEPAD Secretariat endorsement of the Database. The risk, as pointed out, may be that any AU endorsement would have to come from the Secretary-General of the AU, or from the political leaders, and this may not be possible to get, at least not within a timely fashion. The mapper, however, concluded that a NEPAD Steering Committee (the five originating countries) statement of support would be feasible within the G8 context.

Other points of discussion included the wisdom and timing regarding possible engagement with NGOs (OXFAM and the International Peace Academy) and African institutions. The mapper’s conclusion was that, tactically, it is better to bring them in after going to the Security Council (and they will undoubtedly be happy to be included then). This conclusion was based on the judgment that Security Council endorsement will not depend on NGO support.

Concern was also expressed about the mechanism to be used to screen the information in the Database for reliability. What protocol will be used? Similarly, there was concern about the need to ensure the accuracy of the Database. Several participants noted that the sensitive nature of this project meant that safety and security issues should be clearly acknowledged and that methods to ensure the safety of the individuals compiling and maintaining the Database must be included.

2. Micro finance Fund for West Africa (Microfund pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest)

The discussion focused on the need to balance on the one hand, the worries of the conservative financial sector regarding sustainability given the desirability of developing commercial bank linkages, versus, on the other hand, the requirement for service standards to meet the needs of poor entrepreneurs and women. There was concern about the prudential dimension. The discussion highlighted the need to effectively communicate the MFI experience of credit worthiness.

There was concern about meeting the needs of the poor. The desire is to provide the grassroots poor with access to commercial bank credit. The concern about costs and consequences of the involvement of commercial enterprises will be answered by the provision of good, cheap Management Information Systems and ratings packages. There were questions as to further steps in the future such as plans to mobilize savings, and the timetable for going Africa wide. Smart card potential was raised. There was a question as to ownership and governance in three to five years, and the exit strategy?

3. Creation of an Enabling Agency for the Expansion of Multifunctional Platforms in Rural West Africa

The majority of questions concerned requests for supporting data to be included in the final proposal. In particular, data that provided statistical information related to cost-benefit analyses, figures to verify income generation (changes in household income before and after the MFP), real and relative costs of the MFP, possible financing opportunities, and a breakdown of the entrepreneurial activities that men and women using the platform have undertaken (including a success/failure breakdown of these).

Other questions focused on the terms and conditions by which a village may qualify for an MFP; the nature of training, support, and maintenance of the MFP after “delivery”; the cost-benefits of diesel fuel (social, economic, foreign exchange, environmental, availability and agricultural fuel substitutes), and the national policies needed to support the MFP initiative. Given the patriarchal cultural reality, there was discussion of the strategies to ensure women’s effective participation, to enable women to manage the whole enterprise, including maintenance and repair? Minimum educational requirements were touched on as was the scope for private sector partnership.

4. Establishment of an African Tertiary Institutions HIV/AIDS Consortium

Much of the discussion about this initiative revolved around criticisms that the expense to maintain an HIV/AIDS Consortium among African Tertiary Institutions might not provide sufficient benefits. Participants noted, for example:

o There was a risk, given the large number of universities, of becoming a bureaucratic hierarchy that would be costly and cumbersome.
o Research to date regarding the benefits of targeting a university age youth cohort was inconclusive, and that most studies suggest youth 10-16 benefited most from prevention programmes. Others suggested the 15-18 age group.
o University facilities are inadequate and starved for funds in the first place.
o University administrations are not open to outside dialogue.
o There was a worry that what works in South Africa may not work in other countries — that diversity required differential prevention, treatment and care programs (concerted “national” strategies are required).

An alternative of a “network” of HIV/AIDS treatment and support centres at Africa universities was suggested, given the concern for bureaucratic structures.

Much of the discussion did not focus on the actual initiative, but on the general status, concerns, and needs generated by HIV/AIDS in Africa. It was noted that HIV/AIDS priorities are the weakest part of the NEPAD, which relegates it as a “health” issue. The UN was trying to put the issue in a larger context — ideally on the agenda of Ministers of Finance. The six part research program of the UNECA’s Commission on AIDS and Governance was described. The comment was made that perhaps there is a need for an African HIV/AIDS research consortium – (its tasks should include research on prevention and treatment). There was a consensus that youth was a key group, disenfranchised, little known, discouraged, and “going underground.”

The observation was made that Universities were nodes for the spread of the disease; that students were selecting shorter study programs because of the danger (this redoubles the argument for more effective methods at the university for prevention).

The mapper was cautioned that while it was appropriate to focus on the niche of tertiary institutions, she should focus on sub regional groups like SADC. The advice was to consider starting a regional network, with an ultimate goal of creating a continent wide one, but only after some success stories. It was noted that universities could access the Global AIDS Fund only through their national governments, and not directly — the implication being that funding for the Consortium or Network should be sought through one or two governments.

It was agreed that the survey by the mapper currently underway (not complete for the Addis presentation) on HIV/AIDS activities within African universities would provide much needed and critical input. Other suggestions to include the HIV/AIDS related activities of the Association of Vice Chancellors of Universities were made, noting that their effort should be taken as a departure point (reference was made to a recent effort by the University of Namibia and to a dedicated session at the March 17 Meeting in Mauritius of the African Association of Universities). The SADC education sector plan was identified as a potential platform for endorsement.

5. An African Code of Electoral Norms and Standards

This initiative is more advanced than the other five presented, and the mapper spoke at length about the recent activity to move it forward. It has thus moved from “proposal” to “project” phase. The essential point is that the map for the African Code of Electoral Norms and Standards is well advanced in timing. The “train has left the station and the mapper is on the train”, having been invited to participate in the official drafting group of the CSSDCA. The African Union is starting the process of working with civil society organizations. The mapper was advised to solicit comment on the work from other civil society actors and become an AU focal point for this topic?

Given the enormous ambition of the task, the mapper was advised to perhaps select some crucial modules for quick wins — such as an Independent Electoral Commissions. Reference, which it was noted, could be drafted with specific political, economic, and socio-cultural African content. Applying African context to relevant “off the shelf” products, like those of the OSCE Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, may illustrate both commitment to democratic principles and to a sincere desire within the AU to adopt and adhere to them. This is a key component of G8 support.

Participants listed several priorities that should be included in the “Code,” including rules for financing political parties, the role of public opinion surveys, and the need for constructive political engagement of youth. Others raised the role of media, and especially radio facilities (the need for rules?), and the problem of rural application, where observers do not visit. The need for a menu of observation options was raised, as well as the desirability of emphasis on voter rolls. Many questions evolved out of this presentation; participants asked that the mapper consider such things as:

o Should there be an Election Assistance Fund?
o Should there be a dedicated unit for election assistance in the UN? Or in the African Union?
o Should provision of voter education materials be a priority?
o Should there be a more explicit link to peer review that could establish another source of support for the Code?
o Should there be specific provisions to promote gender equity?

General Impressions

The Decision Mapping process was characterized as an interesting process with a good methodology. The challenge was to apply the methodology under two constraints — the difficult culture of management and the urgent need to act. These challenges are exacerbated in the African context, where implementers on the front line, who would appreciate constructive criticism, feel isolated.

A donor representative reminded that we must not forget timing, irrespective of the quality of the “idea,” and that the Millennium Development Goals and those of the G8 Action Plan must be clearly embedded in the ideas. He advised that the short term proposals should also be put into a longer term context, to envision how to get there and to pose an exit strategy for the funder. He was concerned about issues of scaling up and sustainability. He pointed to the need for a longer term communication strategy. He queried the plan for a communication plan for the results, advising a common strategy not only for advocacy reasons, but to buttress NEPAD credibility in terms of its need for success stories.

In finalizing the five initiatives and their maps, there was counsel to exploit the interest in both peer review and public private partnerships. Any idea will be more marketable if it contributes to the creation and application of peer review mechanisms. Any idea will be easier to finance if it has a private sector partner.

Next Steps

We will elicit formal endorsement by the NEPAD Secretariat, the African Union, and the UNECA, for all five initiatives, modified and improved as suggested by coaching at Addis Ababa Meeting. Final reports will be available April 15, 2003.

Establishment of an African Tertiary Institutions HIV/AIDS Consortium:

o completion of the survey of activities at tertiary institutions;
o approach the African Association of University Vice Chancellors;
o meeting in Johannesburg in April of experts on African University HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs.
Resource Plunder Database:
o consultations with Canadian Ambassador Fowler regarding his championing the approach to the G8;
o Consultations with the relevant UN Security Council decision makers.
An African Code of Electoral Norms and Standards:
o Submission to donors for emergency funding;
o Presentation to May meeting cosponsored by World Bank and OECD Development CenterMicrofund pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest:
o Presentation to May meeting co sponsored by World Bank and OECD Development Center.

Creation of an Enabling Agency for the Expansion of Multifunctional Platforms in Rural West Africa:

o Expression of support to UNDP management to ensure continued operation;
o Mid March to April awareness campaign aimed at the European Commission and at the European Bank of Investments.
o On the margins of the April 14 -15 G8 personal representatives meeting with the NEPAD Steering Committee in Bamako, to arrange a visit to a platform 30 minutes distance.
o Meetings with Senegal government and G 8 officials to elicit support for highlight demonstration at the G8 Summit in Evian, France.
o End of April Regional Conference of MFI’ s and donors in Dakar, Senegal.