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Africa: UNECA Governance Forum
Africa: UNECA Governance Forum
Date distributed (ymd): 970720
Document reposted by APIC
This posting contains two documents related to the First Annual African
Governance Forum. For more information on the Governance Forum, the UN
Special Initiative on Africa, or any other aspects of work at UNECA, contact:
Peter K. A. da Costa
Cabinet Office of the Executive Secretary
UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
Tel: +251-1 51 58 26 (direct)
or +251-1-51 72 00 Ext 35486
Fax: +251-1 51 22 33
E-Mail: [email protected]
Web: http://www.un.org/Depts/eca
ECA Press Release No. 24
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GOOD GOVERNANCE THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR AFRICA'S
FUTURE, SAYS UN SECRETARY-GENERAL AS ECA/UNDP FORUM OPENS
Addis Ababa, 11 July 1997 -- There is no single issue of greater importance
to the economic and political future of Africa than good governance, and
it must command the "full and lasting attention" of Africans,
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan declared here today.
In a videotaped statement delivered to the First African Governance
Forum which began this morning at the Economic Commission for Africa headquarters,
Mr. Annan told delegates from 14 African countries, UN agencies, donor
and NGO representatives that good governance was a key condition for sustainable
development.
"[Good governance]", Mr. Annan said, "promotes the most
salient features of a free and prosperous society: social justice, transparency,
accountability in the management of public affairs".
Mr. Annan said he believed Africa was entering a "new wave of progress",
based on peace, democracy, human rights, and sustainable development. These
four pillars, he added, formed the "pillars of good governance".
In his opening remarks, the forum's host, UN Under Secretary-General
and ECA Executive Secretary, K.Y. Amoako, told delegates the meeting sought
to "establish a dialogue on governance issues among Africans and their
partners in the international community, to facilitate sharing of experiences,
and to foster consensus around best practices of governance".
Stressing that Africa's post-Cold War economic crisis was the result
of "an insufficiency of peace, security and policy stability",
Mr. Amoako argued that, with the current phenomenon of democratization,
Africa must concentrate on capacity building.
"Only in this way can we assure that the process of economic reforms
and political liberalization remains irreversible", the ECA head asserted.
ECA and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are co-sponsoring
the Forum as part of the UN System-Wide Special Initiative on Africa (UNSIA)
-- a 10-year plan launched by the UN in March 1996 to co-ordinate, leverage
and consolidate the work of UN agencies, including the World Bank and the
International Monetary Fund, in Africa.
The UNSIA is focused on United Nations System collaboration at country
level in key development areas, including Education, Health, Water, Governance,
Harnessing Information Technology for Development, and Promoting Food Security
and Sustainable Livelihood.
Mr. Amoako and UNDP Administrator James Gustave Speth -- who is also
in attendance here -- are co-chairs of the UNSIA Administrative Co-ordinating
Committee.
Salim Ahmed Salim, Secretary-General of the Organization of African
Unity (OAU), told the Forum that there were "no ready-made recipes
for democracy and governance" and as such "each society should
generate its home-grown modalities for forging ahead in democracy".
"...While the fundamental principles of democracy and good governance
are universal," Mr. Salim added, "their application varies from
country to country". African countries were, therefore, "entitled
to determine the application of democratic government on the basis of the
socio-cultural values, taking into account their specific realities".
Mr. Salim listed four specific factors in good governance in Africa:
the strengthening of the quality of leadership in Africa; sound management
of economies; a strong judicial system; and independent and responsible
media.
Norway, one of 18 donor countries invited to participate in the Forum,
stressed the importance of education -- alongside participation, rule of
law and transparency -- in the building of good governance.
"Investment in social capital represents a way out of poverty",
said Kari Nordheim-Larsen, Norway's Minister of Development Co-operation,
in a statement read on her behalf by Norway's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Sven
A. Holmsen.
Ms. Nordheim-Larsen told the forum that governance was central to Norwegian
aid policy. Norway, she reported, had established a trust fund in Africa
on governance with UNDP in December 1995, and was encouraged to see that
governance was an important component of the UNSIA.
Referring to the country reports prepared for the forum, Ms. Larsen
added: "We are even more encouraged by the documentation before us,
which clearly shows that progress is being made at the country level, and
that the approach to the issue of governance is discussed and tailored
to the country specific situation. I foresee... a continued strong Norwegian
support for the issue of governance in Africa in the coming years."
Turning to the issue of the UN reforms, Ms. Nordheim-Larsen said the
principle of good governance was also important for international organizations.
Encouraging the UN Secretary-general to present "broad and comprehensive"
reforms in his second track of proposals due 16 July, Ms. Nordheim-Larsen
concluded: "In order for the UN system to have a greater impact at
country level, we need a system which works in a much more integrated way
than at present. I encourage and expect all UN agencies to participate
in good faith in the reform process. Turf battles among different agencies
can no longer be permitted."
Also making statements at the opening ceremony were Dawit Yohannes,
Speaker of Ethiopia's House of Representatives, and Anathassios Theodorakis,
Deputy Director-General of the European Commission.
Some 14 African countries are participating in the two-day forum, with
Prime Minister Kwassi Klutse heading the Togolese delegation. The full
list of participants is: Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Senegal, Uganda, Mozambique and Swaziland. Nigeria
is participating as an observer.
Participating African countries will articulate their positions on the
following themes:
- Decentralization;
- Constitutional and Judicial Reform and Human Rights;
- Electoral and Parliamentary Reforms;
- Socio-economic Management and Public Administration; and
- Empowerment and Participation.
Three NGO umbrellas -- MWENGO, Forum of Women in Development, and FAVDO
-- have also been invited to participate, following an NGOs Consultation
that took place in Addis Ababa last May as part of the Africa Governance
Forum process.
In addition to ECA and UNDP, several other UN system organizations and
agencies are represented at the forum: ILO, IMF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF,
UN Centre for Human Rights, UN/DPA, UN/DDSMS, UNOPS, UNAVEM III, and the
World Bank.
Observers include the Inter-Parliamentary Union, European Centre for
Development Policy Management, Institute of Social Studies, African Institute
for Economic and Social Studies, Institution of African Democracy, Friedrich
Ebert Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency, International
Peace Academy, and the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral
Assistance, among others.
Representatives from the European Union, the Commonwealth Secretariat
and the Secretariat of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) Assistance Committee are also present.
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE ECA/UNDP JOINT SECRETARIAT OF THE UN
SPECIAL INITIATIVE ON AFRICA AT THE END OF THE FIRST ANNUAL AFRICAN
GOVERNANCE FORUM.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 12 July 1997
Addis Ababa, 12 July 1997 -- The first annual African Governance Forum
was hosted by ECA and UNDP on 11-12 July 1997. The Forum was convened in
the context of the UN System-Wide Special Initiative on Africa, under which
UNDP and ECA share responsibility to improve coordination and collaboration
in the implementation of programmes, as well as in assisting in the mobilization
of resources at regional and country levels.
African governments, civil society organizations, and partners with
substantial governance experience on the African continent such as, UN
cooperating agencies, bilateral development agencies and international
organizations used the Forum as a unique opportunity to engage in an open
dialogue on the state of governance on the continent, geared to building
consensus, improving coordination and helping to mobilize resources on
a more predictable basis.
Through the articulation of successes and constraints, the Forum participants
were able to identify the critical elements needed to advance the culture
of good governance in Africa. All the programmes presented have emanated
from prior consultations at a national level. The dialogue throughout was
candid, demonstrating ownership and the homegrown nature of African governance
programmes.
The agenda focused on: Constitutional and Judicial Reform and Human
Rights; Local Government and Decentralization; Electoral and Parliamentary
Assistance; Socio-economic Management, Public Administration, Accountability
and Efficiency; and Empowerment, Civil Society, Civic Education, and Media
Capacity Building. Many interesting and important issues were fully discussed,
including gender equity and the efficacy of the opposition, the urgent
need for constitutional safeguards that guarantee human rights and civil
liberties, power-sharing between local and central authorities encouraging
an active as well as independent and transparent electoral mechanisms.
OAU Secretary General Salim A. Salim drew attention, during the opening
ceremony, to the diversity of African historical experiences. This was
reinforced in the discussions, as the importance of tradition and culture
in Africa's governance experience was frequently mentioned.
A clear consensus emerged on the essential practices of good governance
as including:
- Leadership building;
- Transparency and accountability;
- Civil society empowerment;
- Gender mainstreaming and the advancement of women;
- Political transition (support to parliamentary processes, independent
judiciary, and electoral authorities);
- Peace and stability;
- The rule of law;
- Constitutional guarantees; and
- Free and responsible media and press
In the final analysis, the real test of the importance of the Forum
is whether it reflects an agreement and commitment of African governments,
and civil society, to build and promote good governance and a democratic
culture, together.
Fourteen African governments were represented at the ministerial level
and 14 others participated as observers. Eighteen donor institutions and
six UN organizations as well as the Bretton Woods institutions were also
represented. Agreement was reached to pursue collaborative and coordinated
programmes in support of good governance. There was also consensus that
the objectives of the Forum were largely met, and that there is a legitimate
basis for it to be repeated annually.
This material is being reposted for wider distribution by the Africa
Policy Information Center (APIC), the educational affiliate of the Washington
Office on Africa. APIC's primary objective is to widen the policy debate
in the United States around African issues and the U.S. role in Africa,
by concentrating on providing accessible policy-relevant information and
analysis usable by a wide range of groups and individuals.
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