UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA GOVERNANACE AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION DIVISION Briefing to African Diplomatic Mission on the Second Meeting of the Committee on Governance and Popular Participation (CGPP II) United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 3 March 2011 Report [Type text] Page 1
I. Background 1. The Governance and Public Administration Division (GPAD) of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) organized a briefing to the African Diplomatic Mission on the preparations of the Second meeting of the Committee on Governance and Popular Participation (CGPP II) at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, held on 3 March 2011. II. Attendance 2. The meeting was attended by 24 Delegates of the African Diplomatic Mission and members of the Governance and Public Administration Division. The list of participants is attached. III. Welcoming remarks and background of the CGPP 3. Mr. Abdalla Hamdok, Director of the Governance and Public Administration Division of UNECA opened the meeting and welcomed Delegates of the African Diplomatic Mission to the meeting. Mr. Hamdok underscored the centrality of good governance in managing development, as highlighted by recent developments in North Africa. Mr. Hamdok proceeded with a short introduction on CGPP II and emphasized that it is one of the statutory bodies of the ECA which guides the work and operations of GPAD. The Committee is unique as it is composed of three constituents, respectively government, private sector and civil society. Finally, Mr. Hamdok underscored the importance of the participation of member states and the African Diplomatic Mission based in Addis Ababa for the preparations of the upcoming CGPP II. The latter would be organized in Addis Ababa from 9 10 March 2011. 4. Mr. Kojo Busia, Chief of the APRM support section also warmly welcomed all Delegates to the meeting. Mr. Busia emphasized the importance of this meeting for the biannual work plan of GPAD. Furthermore, Mr. Busia explained that the Second Committee on Governance and Popular Participation was the result of the restructuring and repositioning of the Commission to strategically realign its program priorities with the priorities of the African Union as contained in the New Partnership for Africa s Development framework. IV. Status of the preparations and role of the Focal points/embassies (sensitization) 5. Mr. Busia underscored the activities that have been undertaken in the preparation of CGPP II as follows: The Statutes of the CGPP were sent to all Embassies; Embassies were requested to nominate the CGPP s National Focal Points; [Type text] Page 2
Invitation letters were sent out to embassies and to nominated National Focal Points; and Parliamentary documents (4) were sent to Embassies and National Focal Points. It was underscored that the preparatory activities have also been challenging at times. Particularly, only 11 countries have nominated their National Focal Points. Furthermore, only two countries have confirmed their participation at the CGPP meeting. Mr. Busia highlighted the need for the embassies to support the Division by nominating Focal Points for governance and popular participation in their respective countries. V. Discussions 6. The Delegates of the African Diplomatic Mission were highly appreciative of the meeting. The following questions and issues were raised during the discussion: Increasing the role of the Embassies in the preparations of CGPP Improving communication with the Embassies based in Addis Ababa Delay of receiving required documents, such as parliamentary documents The exact nature and definition of a parliamentary document The importance of incorporating recent events in North Africa into the agenda of CGPP II The status of CGPP participants 7. Mr. Hamdok was appreciative of all comments and suggestions made by the participants. He was enthusiastic about the cooperation with Embassies and apologized that the parliamentary documents had not reached the embassies, despite of best efforts of the Division. Mr. Hamdock further explained that the term parliamentary document simply referred to the four documents that would be discussed during the CGPP meeting. 8. He embraced the idea of discussing the recent events in North Africa during the meeting. In this regard, he suggested allocating the morning of the second day to this aspect. Further, he suggested to possibly creating a panel of experts that could lead and inform the discussion. 9. Mr. Busia explained that the governments of respective countries nominated the participants that would attend the meeting and this information was not communicated to the Division. VI. GPAD Focus areas and main activities 10. Mr. Hamdok preceded the meeting with a short introduction on the activities of GPAD. GPAD is composed of four sections: Public Administration, African Peer Review Mechanism support, Private Sector and Enterprise Development and Civil Society and Post Conflict. Furthermore, the Division provides technical support and assistance to [Type text] Page 3
member states. Flagship publications of the Division are the African Governance Report and the Mutual Review of Development Effectiveness. The latter is produced in collaboration with the OECD. VII. Closing Session 11. Mr. Hamdok closed the meeting by thanking all Ambassadors for their attendance and critical inputs for the upcoming CGPP II meeting. He emphasized the dedication of the division to improve the communication with the embassies and to meet on a more regular basis as well to extend the cooperation beyond the preparatory activities of the CGPP. [Type text] Page 4
List of participants 1. Mr. Lebbaz Abdelettah L Ambassade de la République Algérienne Démocratique et Populaire Tel: +25 (0) 113719666 Tel: +25 (0) 913637109 Email: lebbn379@yahoo.com 2. Mr. David Amutenya The Embassy of the Republic of Namibia Tel: +25 (0) 910371548 Email: davidamutenya@yahoo.com 3. Mr. Christopher Bockarie Second Secretary The Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone Tel: +25 (0) 920724199 Email: christopherbockarie@yahoo.co.uk 4. Mrs. Charlotte Chinyama The Embassy of the Republic of Malawi Tel: + 25 (0) 116620295 Tel: +25 (0) 9 11360334 Email: charchinyama@yahoo.com 5. Ambassador Mr. Charlton Dlamini The Embassy of the Kingdom of Swaziland P.O. Box 416, Coderso Tel: +25 (0) 116262125 Tel: +25 (0) 116262152 6. Mrs. Juliana Fallah The Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone Tel: +25 (0) 911686002 Email: julianalake2007@yahoo.com 7. Mr. El Alem Ould Hamza Second Counsellor L Ambassade de la République Islamique de Mauritanie 8. Mr. Oriss Isbayene 9. Ambassador Mr. Moura Juma [Type text] Page 5
The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya Tel: +25 (0) 911202569 10. Ambassador Mrs. Juliet Kalema Deputy Head of mission The Embassy of the Republic of Uganda Tel: +25 (0) 115513088 Email: ugandaembassy@gmail.com 11. Mr. Dieu-Donne Kdumba Counsellor in charge of ECA L Ambassade de la République Gabonaise P.O Box 1256 Addis Ababa Tel : +25 (0) 912090950 Email : dieudonne.kdumba@yahoo.fr 12. Ambassador Mr. Gerard Mapango Kemishanga L Ambassade de la République Démocratique du Congo Tel: +25 (0) 911453738 Email: gerryke40@yahoo.com 13. Mr. Abate Madebo African Union Tel: +25 (0) 913814092 14. Mr. Peter Matsiko L Ambassade de la République du Rwanda Tel: 25 (0) 116610300 Tel: 25 (0) 912090184 15. Mr. Eulgence Misago L Ambassade de la République du Burundi Tel: +25 (0) 910975711 16. Ambassador Mr. Kabel Msahawu 17. Ambassador Mrs. Kakena Nangula The Embassy of the Republic of Namibia Tel: +25 (0) 11661100 18. Mr. Sherief Sharky Diplomat The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt Tel: +25 (0) 912283970 [Type text] Page 6
19. Mr. Moussa Sidibe L Ambassade de la République de Guinée Tel: +25 (0) 911760167 Email: sidibe3moussa@yahoo.com 20. Mr. Amadou Sonrhai Counsellor L Ambassade de la République du Niger P.O Box 5791Addis Ababa Tel: +25 (0) 913255107 Email: amadou_sonrhai@yahoo.fr 21. Mr. Manneh Sulayman Deputy Head The Embassy of the Republic of the Gambia Tel: +25 (0) 911457590 22. Mr. Toussant Taro Second Counsellor L Ambassade du Burkina Faso Tel: + 25 (0) 116615863/64 Tel: +25 (0) 921785062 Email: waminitaro@yahoo.fr 23. Mr. Khjaled Youssef Deputy Chief of mission The Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt 24. Mr. Zied Zaidi L Ambassade de la République Tunisienne Tel: + 25 (0) 912190118 Email: zaidizied@yahoo.com [Type text] Page 7