DIRECTOR-GENERAL’S CONSULTATION FOR THE AFRICA REGION ON THE DRAFT BUDGET AND PROGRAMME FOR 2006-2007 (33 C/5)

(14-18 Mai 2004)

Hôtel Avenida

Maputo, Mozambique

  1. At the invitation of the Government of Mozambique, the Director-General’ s Consultation on the draft Programme and Budget for 2006-2007 (33 C/5) was held in Maputo from Friday 14 to Tuesday 18 May 2004, with the invaluable logistic support provided by the Mozambique National Commission for UNESCO and the UNESCO Office in Maputo.
  1. The main objectives of the Consultation were:
  • To invite comments and proposals from National Commissions on key principles, priorities and other issues related to the preparation of the Draft Programme and Budget for 2006-2007, based on a questionnaire prepared by the UNESCO Secretariat.
  • To hold thematic debates, as contribution to the elaboration of the Draft 33 C/5, on key issues of particular relevance to the Africa Region, especially the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
  1. Forty-three of the 46 National Commissions for UNESCO of the Africa Region attended the Consultation: they were represented by 58 participants. The Assistant Secretary-General of the Sudanese National Commission for UNESCO, the Vice-Chairperson of the Forum of African Parliamentarians for Education (FAPED), a Representative of the NEPAD Secretariat and the Chairperson of the UNESCO Committee for NEPAD, as well as representatives of other UN agencies and civil society organizations also attended as observers. Directors, Heads and Programme specialists of 14 UNESCO Field and Cluster Offices well as representatives of programme sectors and central services assisted the National Commissions in their debates (list of participants is annexed).

Opening Ceremony

  1. The Opening Ceremony took place in the Joaquim Chissano International Conference Center under the patronage of Her Excellency, Mrs Luísa Diogo, the Prime Minister of Mozambique, and in the presence of Mr Alcido Gwenha, Minister of Education, Mr. Louis Covane, Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Eneas Comiche, President of the Municipality of Maputo and Mr. Noureini Tidjani-Serpos, Assistant Director-General for the Africa region and Representative of the Director General. Members of the Government of Mozambique, as well as Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps and UN Agencies also attended the Ceremony.
  1. The Consultation was addressed by the Minister for Education and the President of the Municipality of Maputo, as well as by the Representative of the Director General of UNESCO. In his remarks, Mr. Tidjani-Serpos thanked the Government of Mozambique for hosting the Consultation for the National Commissions of the Africa region. He noted that the Director-General’s Regional Consultations, which were being held in the different regions of the world under the new Programming and Management cycle, were a landmark in the life of the Organization. He further noted that such face-to-face dialogues were a unique opportunity for Member States and Cluster Offices to jointly work out their priorities. The Assistant Director-General for Africa also gave an overview of UNESCO’s cooperation with Africa since NEPAD was launched as a Programme of the African Union.
  1. In her address, the Prime Minister extended a warm welcome to UNESCO’s Consultation in Maputo. She reiterated Mozambique’s continued support to the endeavours of the Organization and wished participants fruitful deliberations on the Draft Programme and Budget for 2006-2007. In particular, she emphasized the potential of Peace as a key factor in the development process.

Election of the Bureau

  1. Subsequent to the Opening Ceremony, the Rules of Procedure were adopted with minor amendments. The outgoing Chairperson, Mr. Assane Hane (Senegal) requested for candidatures for the Bureau and, further to a proposal of the Secretary-General of the South African National Commission, the following Bureau was elected by acclamation:

(i) Chairman : Mr.Januario Mutaquia (Mozambique)

(ii) Vice-Chairmen : Mr.Aboubakari Boina (Comoros) Mr. Assane Hane (Senegal)

(iii) Chief Rapporteur : Mr. H.B.Dansinghani(Mauritius)

(iv) Co-Rapporteurs : Mr Barthelemy Mvondo-Nyina(Cameroon)

Mr. Leonard C. J. Shuma (Tanzania)

Adoption of the Agenda

  1. The items of the Agenda were unanimously approved.

Part I

Thematic Debates

  1. Three themes figured on the agenda of the Consultation, namely, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), Towards an AIDS-Free Generation by 2015 and African Cities.

Thematic Day on NEPAD

  1. One of the key issues on the African agenda is the linkage that has to be consolidated between UNESCO and the NEPAD. Secretaries-General present for the Consultation were accordingly addressed by a number of speakers on this issue.
  1. M. Abdourahamane Merouane, from the NEPAD Secretariat, explained the ongoing process of integration of the NEPAD Secretariat into the structures of the Commission of the African Union. He summed up on the cooperation between UNESCO and the NEPAD Secretariat in the areas of education, culture, science and technology, environment, communication and information.
  1. He particularly stressed the excellent nature of the cooperation in the areas of education, culture and the sciences. In effect, UNESCO assists the NEPAD Secretariat in refining and finalizing its initial plan of action in education. The blueprint document on the education sector would be completed after taking on board the interests of the northern part of the continent and thereafter will be submitted to the Commission of the African Union. The NEPAD Secretariat hopes to encourage the initiation of an African inter-governmental process to scrutinize the document with the aim of taking it up at the highest possible level for its adoption prior to the Summit of the African Union scheduled to take place in Khartoum in 2005. The Summit will focus on Education and Culture.
  1. In the area of culture, the UNESCO’s assistance had been solicited to prepare an African regional consultation around the theme relating to the contribution of culture to development in the context of NEPAD. This was by way of enriching the reference document of October 2001. It is in this context that the Meeting of Experts was held in Abidjan in September 2003. The NEPAD Secretariat is now contemplating the submission of the results of that Meeting to the Commission of the African Union as a contribution to a global agenda on culture for the entire continent.
  1. As for science and technology, UNESCO helped in the organisation of the Ministerial Conference on Science and Technology for Development (Johannesburg, November 2003) which led to the creation of a Ministerial Council of Ministers of NEPAD on Science and Technology.
  1. Mr Merouane concluded his presentation by expatiating on the role that could be played by National Commissions. As per their constitution and their functions, they are in a pole position to help Africans internalise the principles and objectives of the African Union and NEPAD.
  1. Dr Bimbola Ogunkelu, Chairman of the UNESCO Committee for NEPAD, made a brief presentation of the Committee, notably its historical background, terms of reference and the recommendations of the last session of the Committee which had met from 5-6 April in Paris. He also stressed the role of National Commissions regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Ouagadougou Seminar ″UNESCO-NEPAD- from Vision to Action″ (March 2003).
  1. Mr Claude Vercoutere, the representative of the UNESCO- NGO Liaison Committee, referring to the above Seminar, insisted on the important role that can be played by NGOs. These would wish to work alongside National Commissions to popularize the objectives of NEPAD and contribute to the implementation of NEPAD in the domains of competence of UNESCO.
  1. Dr Elizabeth Amukugo, Vice Chairperson of the FAPED, made a presentation on the setting-up of that Forum, its objectives and its interface with NEPAD in the promotion of Education For All and therefore helping towards the poverty reduction drive.

Responses

Sensitisation

  1. The discussions that ensued clearly demonstrated the serious lack of information regarding NEPAD. Participants were thankful for the information that had been forwarded to them and the documents made available on NEPAD, the African Union and the activities of cooperation of the Organization in Africa.
  1. The wish was expressed that UNESCO’s programme on Communication and Information be so developed as to sensitise the public on the NEPAD agenda and the process leading to the African Union.

Continental approach

  1. Participants underlined the necessity of ensuring an all-inclusive continental programmatic cover of the Organization for the implementation of NEPAD. To this end, participants wished for the reinforcement of the Africa Department such that the Organization could take into consideration the priorities of Sub-Saharan Africa and North Africa.

Structure

  1. The necessity of associating educational institutions that have a regional calling (such as the Pan-African Institute of Education for Development, PIED), as well as other Intergovernmental institutions specialized in UNESCO’s domains of competence, to the process of the implementation of NEPAD was equally emphasised.

The role of National Commissions

  1. The issue of National Commissions as Focal Points for NEPAD was intensely debated. As was highlighted during the Quadrennial Meeting of Yaoundé in June 2003 on this subject, many countries have equipped themselves with governmental structures in charge of implementing NEPAD and, accordingly, it is not within the mandate of National Commissions to represent NEPAD at the national level. Nevertheless, participants were willing to cooperate with the government structures responsible for the implementation of NEPAD in the specific areas of competence of UNESCO. This would be in line with the decision taken at the Executive Board, at its 166th session, which endorsed the recommendations of the Ouagadougou Seminar (March 2003) designating “National Commissions for UNESCO as focal points at the national level for the implementation of NEPAD-UNESCO cooperation.”
  1. The national focal points for NEPAD could, it was recommended, be invited to participate in the Cluster consultations.
Interventions by the UNESCO Secretariat
  1. The ADG/Africa provided an overview of UNESCO’s strategy for the Continent. Two features were particularly stressed:
  • Programmatic integration within the Clusters and inter-sectoriality for the benefit of sub- regional integration; and
  • The post-conflict period

Programmatic integration within clusters and inter sectoriality for the benefit of sub- regional integration

  1. The African Union considers sub-regional organizations - like ECOWAS, CEMAC, CENSAD, COI, COMESA, EAC, ECCAS, IGAD, SADC, UEMOA, UMA - as pillars for the implementation of NEPAD and integration of the African Union. UNESCO has strong ties with these organisations. However, since many countries belong to a number of these sub regional organisations, National Commissions may wish to decide on priorities for cooperation with UNESCO. The issue that also arises is how best UNESCO can ensure a suitable coordination of this cooperation with the several organisations and consequently rationalise the allocation of the necessary resources for this cooperation. This question will be raised at the next session of the Forum of African Regional and Sub-regional Organisations for the support of cooperation between UNESCO and NEPAD (FOSRASUN) to be held in Paris in September 2004.
  1. Responses from participants covered these various aspects:
  • Multiple memberships are intermediary steps towards the process of regional integration.
  • The issue be best taken up by the African Union when the ADG/AFR would meet with Executive Directors in September 2004 during the meeting of the FOSRASUN and during the meeting of the Director-General with the Implementation Committee of Heads of Governments for the implementation of NEPAD in Addis Ababa.
  • The need to reinforce capacities in the training institutions and in Centres of Excellence was underscored, as was the necessity to promote harmonisation of the systems of education and the production of common pedagogical materials as privileged vectors of the process of regional and sub-regional integration.

Conflict affected countries

  1. Participants agreed with the need for preservation of educational, cultural, scientific and health institutions which are the sanctuaries of sustainable development. Social pacts need to be entered into at national levels to avoid the destruction of this heritage in times of conflict. Hence:
  • The role of education for peace and for life long learning as decisive factors in the preservation of social institutions and environment during armed conflicts was emphasised.
  • Satisfaction was expressed for the ongoing actions taken by UNESCO in conflict-affected countries as advocated notably by the Resolution of Côte d´Ivoire, Angola and the DRC and approved by the 32nd session of the General Conference. The Organisation is encouraged to ensure follow up on this action and develop a global strategy.
  • The wish was expressed for a specific budget line to be created in the 33/C5 to support the rehabilitation of the education, scientific and cultural systems, and that funds be decentralised to the Africa region and to field offices.

Presentation of sectoral actions concerning the incorporation of NEPAD into the 32C/5 Document (2004-2005)

  1. Following an introduction by the Director of the Bureau of Strategic Planning and the reminder that the General Assembly of the United Nations had not as yet adopted its resolution considering NEPAD as the framework for cooperation with Africa when the Regional Strategy was prepared, an overview of sectoral initiatives of a regional or sub-regional nature was given by Mrs Claudia Harvey, Director/Windhoek Office, Mr P. Vitta Director/Nairobi Office, Mr Kwame Boafo, Chief of the Executive Office, CI Sector, Mr John Nkinyangi,Chief of the Executive Office, Social Sciences Sector and Mr Lupwishi Mbuyamba, Director/Maputo Office. Their presentations were covered by the relevant documents distributed to participants.
  1. Participants opined that there is a need to carry out concrete activities as follow up to different consultation meetings already organized by UNESCO. In this context, a clear demarcation line has to be brought between those projects that are developed by Programme Sectors and those sub-regional and regional initiatives that focus on the NEPAD perspectives and that are flagship projects.
  1. Furthermore, it was deplored that there seems to be a dearth of intellectual debate at the present time in Africa, compared to preceding decades. This culture of silence was greatly deplored.
Thematic debate II
Towards an AIDS Free Generation by 2015
  1. Presentations on this thematic debate were made by Professor Juma Shabani, Director, and Ms Patricia Machawira, Project Officer of the Harare Cluster Office respectively, and Ms Zulmira Rodrigues, Programme specialist, UNESCO/Maputo.
  1. It was highlighted that, at the meeting of the Committee of Co-Sponsoring Organizations of UNAIDS held in Livingstone, Zambia, on 4 March 2004, at the initiative of the Director-General of UNESCO, the co-sponsors agreed to a Global and Collaborative program on preventive education aimed at scaling up preventive education initiatives in as many countries as possible with an emphasis on Sub-Saharan Africa. The high level meeting convened on HIV/AIDS in Southern Africa where Ministers of Finance, Health and Education from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Lesotho met together with nine UN system Executive Heads, had the objectives of identifying key challenges facing these countries in scaling up their national responses to HIV/AIDS and defining the role of the UN system in supporting national efforts.
  1. Follow-up actions to the HIV/AIDS Free Generation by 2015 initiative include:
  • An on-line on HIV/AIDS education of the Virtual Institute on Higher Education in Africa
  • A regional conference on the implementation of the Livingstone Recommendations to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe in June 2004
  • A donors’ conference on HIV/AIDS in Africa.
  1. The UNESCO Harare Cluster Office response is aimed at maximising the impact of education on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and minimising the impact of HIV/AIDS in the Education Sector through:
  • Strengthening the HIV/AIDS capacity for pre-service teachers
  • District Education Management Information Systems
  • HIV/AIDS and Education online database
  • HIV/AIDS in the work place program.
  1. The UNESCO Maputo office focuses on five sets of methodological tools recently developed by the office, designed to facilitate the application of the socio-cultural approach to HIV/AIDS prevention and care at various stages of the programme/project cycle. These sets include tools for:
  • Socio-cultural field research
  • Analysis of stake-holders involvement in HIV/AIDS interventions,
  • Diversifying HIV/AIDS interventions
  • Development of socio-cultural appropriate IECS and
  • Knowing and understanding the target group – YOUTH.
  1. Following these presentations, four participants, the UNICEF Representative and Chairperson of the UN Thematic Group on UNAIDS and the Director of the UNESCO Office in Abuja made comments and suggestions.
  1. The following recommendations were made:
  • To produce a French version of the CD-ROM and on-line course on Preventive Education of the Virtual Institute on Higher Education in Africa. In this respect, the Director of the Harare Office indicated that Portuguese and French version would be available by September 2004.
  • Collect available HIV/AIDS materials in the Africa Region for wider dissemination. Director, Harare pointed out that the HIV/AIDS and Education online database already contained more than 500 documents collected from the whole Sub-Region and developed with the support of the Brasilia and Maputo Offices and would be expanded further.
  1. The Assistant Director-General for Africa stressed the importance of wider sharing of this information with Permanent Delegations at Headquarters and of establishing links with the Africa Portal currently being developed in the UNESCO website.
Thematic Debate III

African Cities

A Multidisciplinary Perspective: Challenges and Prospects

  1. The Panel began with a projection of the film “The Island of Mozambique: Place of
    Encounters and Exchanges between Cultures and Civilisations” presented by Mr. Lupwishi Mbuyamba, Head of the UNESCO Office, as an illustration of cities as centers of civilization and cultural exchanges and since the Island is classified by UNESCO as a cultural heritage site to be preserved and protected. The Panel welcomed the President of the Municipal Council of Maputo, Mr. Eneas Comiche, and Mr. Gaetan Siew, Secretary General of the African Union of Architects and Vice President of the International Union of Architects, invited through the good offices of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the Division of Relations with National Commissions and New Partnerships.
  1. Subsequently, an introduction was made by Ms Carrie Marias, Regional Adviser for Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Dakar Office, noting the pertinence of the theme of African Cities and their multidisciplinary perspectives since cities and municipalities were gaining increasing importance as decentralization policies were being implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa. Mayors and local authorities were in touch with the people and community groups and could help meet their economic, social and cultural needs. In addition, cities worldwide and within Africa were uniting through networks such as Africities and the African Mayors Alliance against HIV/AIDS to exchange information on experiences, innovations and means for combating poverty and attaining socially and environmentally sustainable urban development. Also, cities and local authorities could be associated as partners with UNESCO in undertaking activities for local governance, cultural heritage, training in citizenship, human rights and other areas.
  1. The UNESCO Management of Social Transformations Programme (MOST) for Cities and Urban Development was sponsoring policy relevant multidisciplinary research on key themes, promoting training and networking with a focus on young urban planners to help generate new ideas, and undertaking advocacy programmes. Many of these activities were prepared and implemented in cooperation with the other UNESCO programmes in the natural sciences, culture, and world heritage.
  1. Urbanisation was increasing world wide and in Africa, with an alarming increase of shanty towns and informal settlements. Thus urban poverty was an issue to deal with.
  1. Mr. Siew placed an emphasis on the role of culture in urban development and on cultural and natural heritage. A training manual on cultural heritage was being developed for local authorities as one of the follow-ups to the workshop on African cities and cultural heritage organized by UNESCO during the third session of the Africities Summit held in Yaounde, Cameroon, 2-6 December 2003. He referred to the importance of urban ecology and protecting the urban environment, and mentioned the role of science and technology and urban engineering in urban development. He highlighted the role of the architect as an interdisciplinary expert who works in teams with other specialists and gave some concrete suggestions on how activities on cities could be continued and developed by UNESCO through its different programmes through an intersectoral and cross-cutting approach.
  1. The President of the Municipal Council of Maputo attended the meeting also in his capacity as Vice-President of the Council of Cities and Regions of Africa (CCRA), referred to the video film Island of Mozambique and expressed the hope that UNESCO would help mobilize extrabudgetary ressources for its preservation and rehabilitation. Further to a comment, he indicated that the one of the CCRA’s objectives was to promote an effective role for African local governments in NEPAD and that the Council had expressed a wish to become part of the African Union.
  1. The Assistant Director-General for Africa informed the meeting that as a follow up to the Summit of African Cities in Yaounde, the Director-General entrusted him with the responsibility of an Intersectoral Committee for cooperation with local authorities, particularly in Africa.
  1. Four Commissions and the Director of the UNESCO Office in Addis Ababa, took the floor. As a result of their comments, the following recommendations were endorsed by the Consultation:
  • The clusters of Dakar, Bamako and Accra should jointly produce a Project for the preservation of the Niger River Basin and its inscription on the World Heritage List, to be implemented in cooperation with ECOWAS and the Executive Committee of NEPAD.
  • A consultative framework involving Governments, local authorities, civil society and the private sector should be set up to work out a new definition of African Cities.
  • The recommendations made at the Summit of African Cities in Yaounde should be taken on board in the 33 C/5.

PART II