E C A - S A About the Office The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Southern Africa Office (UN) is one of the five UNECA sub regional offices (SROs) serving as vital links between policy-oriented analytical work generated at headquarters and policymaking at the sub regional level. The sub regional office is the first port of call for the regional economic communities (RECs) in Southern Africa namely the SADC and COMESA as well as member States. The UN continues to direct its energies and technical support for its clients based on established sub regional priorities and initiatives. As an implementing arm of the Commission, it channels its assistance through structured multi-year programmes of collaboration (MYPs) based on UNECA s two interrelated pillars of promoting regional integration in support of the African Union vision and NEPAD; and helping Africa to meet its special needs including MDGs. As a think tank, the Office generates numerous knowledge products in order to build and enhance capacity of various stakeholders both at sub regional and national levels for better policy formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. Using its convening power, UN leverages its comparative advantage by creating space for member States, experts and other stakeholders to meet, discuss and exchange ideas and best practices on development imperatives in the sub region. The Office also serves as a sub regional hub for the dissemination of UNECA s policy analytical work by using extensive public information and outreach activities including publication of a quarterly newsletter. Economic Commission for Africa Issue 16, March 2011 I N S I D E THIS ISSUE Status and Prospects for Economic Diversification in Southern Africa Experts discuss New Trends in South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Southern Africa Seminar on Enhancing Effectiveness of FSIS in Southern Africa AEGM on Challenges of Macroeconomic Convergence in SADC region ECA appoints Liaison Officer to SADC Secretariat Mission Statement To Leverage on our multidisplinary analytical skills, convening power and consensus building strength to facilitate the harmonisation of policies and strategies for harnessing regional resources to meet the development priorities of the Southern Africa Subregion The Office serves the following SADC countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
INSIGHT 2 Issue 16, March 2011 Status and Prospects for Economic Diversification in Southern Africa The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa s Sub Regional Office for Southern Africa () in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Namibia successfully hosted the 17th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) for Southern Africa held at the Safari Hotel in Windhoek, Namibia from 17-18 March 2011. The theme of the Meeting was Status and Prospects for Economic Diversification in Southern Africa. The ICE is a space that provides member States with the opportunity to exchange views on development issues affecting the sub region and to make recommendations for policy coordination and harmonisation at the level of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). Office in Namibia, UNDP (Unit for South-South Cooperation based in South Africa) and Eduardo Mondlane University from Mozambique. There were 58 participants in total. The Meeting considered three reports submitted by the namely (i) Programme Performance of the ECA Southern Africa Office; (ii) Progress Report on the Implementation of Regional and International Agendas, Including NEPAD and Other Special Initiatives in the Sub region: A Water and Sanitation Perspective; and (iii) Economic and Social Conditions in Southern Africa and Prospects for 2011. Some participants at the ICE meeting A view of the high table at the ICE meeting The 2011 meeting drew participants from member States, Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), academics from Namibian institutions as well as non-state actors. Member States represented at the meetings were: Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Other organisations and institutions in attendance were the UNDP Country The ECA further briefed the Meeting on (i) on-going work with regard to the Regional Coordination Mechanism in Africa; (ii) the on-going initiative between and the Eduardo Mondlane University of Mozambique on mainstreaming regional integration in national development policies; (iii) resource mobilisation initiatives for programme implementation by ECA; (iv) ECA s programme of work for the 2012-2013 biennium and the ECA Conference of Ministers which was slated for 28-29 March 2011 in Addis Ababa; (v) the African Climate Policy Centre (ACPC); and (vi) current initiatives at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). There was also a thematic presentation of the study on The Status and Prospects of Economic Diversification in Southern Africa which was the main report at the meetings. The ICE was also enriched by a panel discussion on the Africa-China relations specifically focusing on the opportunities, challenges and implications for Southern Africa.
INSIGHT 3 Issue 16, March 2011 Some participants at the ICE meeting Recommendations After two days of intense deliberations by experts, the Meeting generated a number of key recommendations which were summarised in an outcome statement for consideration by member States, national policymakers, cooperating partners and the UNECA Secretariat. Member States Governments were urged to put in place various incentives, including relevant legislation, to encourage and safeguard private sector investments in the provision of water and sanitation infrastructure and services; Governments were encouraged to take advantage of infrastructure for natural resources contracts with China to include explicit commitments on labour, local content, skills transfer, environmental and quality standards. These contracts should also be used as a vehicle to achieve a strategic opening up of Chinese markets for export products; Member States are encouraged to systematically provide preparatory briefings for Heads of State and Governments in readiness for strategic engagement with China at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) ; Policymakers were urged to ensure that single commodity countries make export diversification part of their development agenda to avoid the tendency towards economic concentration. There is need to measure and monitor diversification when evaluating policy success; Policymakers should encourage the export of a wide range of high value products to a wide range of destinations given that export diversification lowers volatility; Policymakers should put direct investments into sectors where there is comparative advantage in order to enhance productivity and competitiveness in non-dominant sectors; Policymakers should enhance human capital development with a special focus on tertiary education and skills development. The sub region There is need for the sub region to promote the development of regional infrastructure;
INSIGHT 4 Issue 16, March 2011 Countries of the sub region should work towards consolidating regional integration through the removal of non tariff barriers within SADC; There should be inter-linkages between sub regional and national programmes and also ensure provision of support to national institutional capacity building and skills development programme. Implications for donors Cooperating partners were called upon to strengthen triangular cooperation within the framework of China Africa cooperation, India- Africa Forum, Korea Initiative for Africa s Development, among others; They were urged to intensify triangular cooperation involving traditional donors and new cooperating partners such as China, Brazil and India; Cooperating partners should also provide support in building negotiating skills in international trade for better economic outcomes for African countries. UN UN was urged to consider preparing a fullyfledged paper and organising a dedicated workshop on China-Africa engagement; UN should work with the Government of the Republic of Namibia in its capacity as Chair of SADC, to submit a proposed framework on mainstreaming regional integration in national development policies for endorsement by SADC; UN should work through the sub regional coordinating mechanism (SRCM) and other sub regional and national coordination bodies to provide technical assistance and facilitate resource mobilisation for the implementation of the proposed framework for mainstreaming regional integration to interested member States. Intergovernmental Committee of Experts for Southern Africa (ICE) meeting participants group picture
Recent Events INSIGHT 1. Experts discuss New Trends in South-South and Triangular Cooperation: Implications for Southern African Countries The in collaboration with the government of the Republic of Namibia organized the Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting (AEGM) in Windhoek, Namibia from 15-16 March, 2011. Acting Permanent Secretary of the National Planning Commission of Namibia, Mr. Sylvester Mbangu (r), delivering his opening statement The objective of the meeting was to review the background report of the study on South-South and Triangular Cooperation : Implications for Southern Africa Countries with a view to recommending key revisions to form the basis for finalising the study. The meeting brought together 45 experts, practitioners and policy makers in the fields of international cooperation for development, multilateral finance and aid facilitation. The participants were drawn from the following member States: Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Other organizations that were represented were UNDP, AU, and COMESA. Private sector participants were drawn from the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), the Polytechnic of Namibia, Standard Bank Namibia and European Centre for Development Policy Management (ECDPM). Participants generated a number of recommendations emphasising the need to enhance global partnerships and build stronger South-South Institutions. The need to clearly define, manage and complement the frameworks of cooperation was also deliberated. Participants recommended that regional capacity building initiatives, like the Regional Multidisciplinary Centre of Excellence in Mauritius, should be promoted. The meeting further encouraged promotion of policy and long term strategies that emphasize consultations with national institutions including parliaments, broad based stakeholders, the private sector and the general citizenry to ensure national ownership of South-South and Triangular Cooperation processes. They recommended that progress on research and discussions on aid effectiveness, like the forthcoming High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be held in Busan, South Korea later this year should be closely monitored. An outcome statement summarising the major recommendations of the meeting was prepared and circulated among participants and other key stakeholders as part of the information dissemination strategy of. INSIGHT 5 Issue 16, March 2011 Some participants at the AEGM meeting during the break away session Participants at the AEGM meeting
INSIGHT 6 Issue 16, March 2011 AEGM partipants group picture Culture groups during the AEGM
Upcoming Events INSIGHT 7 Issue 16, March 2011 1. Ad-hoc Expert Group Meeting on Addrressing the Challenges of the Challenges of Macroeconomic Policy Convergence in the SADC Region The Sub regional Office for Southern Africa is organizing an Ad hoc Expert Group Meeting (AEGM) on Addressing the Challenges of Macroeconomic Policy Convergence in the SADC Region. This Ad-Hoc Expert Group Meeting is in line with the objective of the Sub-regional Office of ECA which is to enhance capacity of member States, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and other intergovernmental organizations to formulate and implement harmonized macroeconomic and sectoral policies and programmes to address key sub regional integration priorities. The meeting will be held in Mauritius. The objective is to review progress made in macroeconomic convergence since the SADC Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Macroeconomic Convergence came into force. Specifically, the meeting will critically review the convergence criteria, scope and institutional mechanisms, as well as extent of their implementation, the challenges and constraints encountered, and the way forward. Macroeconomic convergence is crucial for SADC to achieve monetary unification and eventual creation of a single central bank. According to the SADC MoU on Macroeconomic Convergence, the underlying principle of macroeconomic convergence is to achieve and maintain macroeconomic stability by converging on stability-orientated economic policies implemented through a sound institutional structure and framework. The key macroeconomic indicators for achieving convergence include the rate of inflation, the ratio of the budget deficit to GDP, the ratio of public and publicly-guaranteed debt to GDP, and the structure of the current account. The initial criteria set for 2008 required all countries to attain single digit inflation, a budget deficit of at most 5% of GDP, government debt of less than 60% of GDP, foreign reserves of at least three months import cover, central bank credit to government of less than 10% of previous year s tax income, and a GDP Growth rate of at least 7%.When the MoU came into force, most countries were already within the 2008 target or were making progress towards achieving the target. These are concerns however that progress is slow with some member States still facing challenges in meeting 2008 convergence criteria, let alone the 2012 targets. It is becoming increasingly unlikely that targets set for 2012 will be realized. If the status quo is not addressed, SADC S drive towards a fully integrated monetary union by 2018 may not materialize. Therefore, based on the progress achieved so far, the AEGM aims to provide a new impetus for the implementation of the macroeconomic convergence programme in Southern Africa in line with the SADC requirements. 2. Seminar on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Food Security Information Systems (FSIS) in Southern Africa will organise a seminar on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Food Security Information Systems in the SADC Subregion. The seminar, which is part of the Multi-Year Programme with SADC, will review issues and challenges faced by member States and other stakeholders in developing FSIS and make recommendations to strengthen the production, delivery and consumption of quality agricultural and food security information in the SADC region. The recurrence and magnitude of food crises in Southern Africa underscore the need to improve prevention and response mechanisms to address the determinants and dynamic nature of food insecurity, at both national and regional levels. The strong upward trends and increased variability in global food prices over the past two years have led to concern about the lack of sufficient information to gauge the likely effects of global food crises on SADC countries and to identify, design, and implement policy actions to best avoid risks and take advantage of opportunities. The SADC Food Security Summit held in Dar es Salaam in 2004 emphasised the need to strengthen national early warning systems; enhance vulnerability monitoring capabilities; and develop a Regional Integrated Agricultural Information System to enhance agricultural development and sustainable food security in the subregion. Food security information is provided through a myriad of sources operated by governments, donors, multilaterals and NGOs in Southern Africa. Designers and implementers of FSIS need to enhance the credibility of the information through a process of consultation and
coordination. Clear communication strategy and capacity building will allow policy makers understand how the information is derived and analysis undertaken. While mainly focusing on food supply, FSIS in the SADC region lack information about underlying livelihoods and assets, longer-term vulnerability analysis and poverty monitoring. They are still weak in terms of collecting, packaging and disseminating information about people s ability to gain access to food, as well as the availability of food. There are concerns about the accuracy and reliability of some data. Linkages of FSIS to trade policy and private sector decision-makers are poor. This limits the potential for private sector mitigation activities and response to disasters. The paucity of data on costs of FSIS and their various components constitutes a severe constraint on financial planning and sustainability. The lack of coordination has led to duplication/wastage, lack of standardisation of information and confusion for decision makers. The Food Security Early Warning Systems (FEWS), as a major component of FSIS in SADC, are heavily dependent on external resources and orientated to climatic shocks. They are almost always aimed at monitoring rural populations despite rapidly increasing urban poverty and vulnerability. INSIGHT 8 Issue 16, March 2011 Using the findings of the issues paper on Enhancing the Effectiveness of Food Security Information Systems in the SADC Subregion, the seminar will identify methodological, institutional, technological and political issues to consider in defining a strategy to improve the technical quality and scope of analysis provided by the FSIS and evaluate the impact of their interventions. Seminar participants will include agriculture and food security information experts from government institutions and ministries, the private sector, SADC institutions, academia, civil society organisations and others development partners. In organising the seminar, will collaborate with the SADC Secretariat, member States and the Food Security and Sustainable Development Division (FSSDD) at ECA Headquarters and other stakeholders. The seminar is scheduled to take place in May 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique.
Staff News INSIGHT ECA Appoints Liaison Officer to SADC Secretariat Ms. Susan Mokonyana has been appointed ECA Liaison Officer to SADC Secretariat, in Gaborone, Botswana. In this capacity, she will assist in developing and maintaining a close working relationship between the SRO-SA and SADC Secretariat, and through SRO-SA, contribute to strengthening and monitoring ECA/SADC Secretariat joint programming and implementation in the context of the Multiyear Programme. The appointment of the Liaison Officer to SADC Secretariat is predicated upon the need to deepen the on-going ECA s efforts to support the implementation of AU/NEPAD p r o g r a m m e s through the RECs and the SADC New Partnership F r a m e w o r k outlined in the Windhoek Declaration, in particular. Further impetus emanates from the Secretary- General s report to the General Assembly on enhancing the role of Subregional Offices of the E c o n o m i c Commission for Africa (GA Doc.: A/16/xxx of 27 September 2006). The Liaison Officer will operate within the umbrella of the United Nations System Resident Coordinator s Office in Gaborone, Botswana, and is currently housed in the UN Building in the Government Enclave. Contact details for the Liaison Officer are : ECA Liaison Officer to SADC Secretariat, United Nations Place, 22 Khama Crescent, P.O. Box 54, Gaborone, Botswana. Telephone: +(267) 3633-792, Fax: +(267) 395-6093 Email: smokonyana@uneca.org UN Resident Coordinator in Botswana, Ms. Khin-Sandi Lwin signing the Memorandum of Understanding for Use of Common Services as UNECA Liaison Officer to SADC Ms. Susan Mokonyana looks on INSIGHT 9 Issue 16, March 2011 The Economic Commission for Africa, Southern Africa Office () quarterly newsletter connects ideas and information to its constituencies. We sincerely hope you find the information useful and relevant to your work. We encourage you to please contact us for any further information regarding For this and other publications, please visit the following address www.uneca.org/eca-sa or contact: United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Southern Africa Office P.O. Box 30647 Lusaka, Zambia Tel.: +260-211-228502/5 Fax : +260-211-236949/234757 E-mail: srdcsa.uneca@un.org Web: www.uneca.org/eca-sa