822 (XXXI) Implementation of the treaty establishing the African Economic Community strengthening regional economic communities rationalization and harmonization of the activities of regional and subregional communities

There should be a dedicated space for issues of regional integration and the way ahead for regional economic communities.

(c) Providing advisory services to Member States, regional economic communities and subregional development operators

12. Recognizes the important role that African regional economic communities can play in the implementation of the New Partnership, and in this regard encourages African countries and the international community to give regional economic communities the necessary support to strengthen their capacity

12. Recognizes the important role that African regional economic communities can play in the implementation of the New Partnership, and in this regard encourages African countries and the international community to give regional economic communities the necessary support to strengthen their capacity

Support to regional economic communities in implementing the New Partnership for Africa's Development has to be revitalized

The subregional offices were concerned by weaknesses in coordination and by the insufficient correlation between the services of regional advisers and their own needs and those of regional economic communities.

20. Recalls that regional economic communities have a critical role to play in the implementation of the New Partnership, and encourages development partners to increase their support to enhance the capacities of these communities

OIOS observed, however, that the intensity and effectiveness of subregional office support varied considerably between offices and in regard to different regional economic communities.

These activities will be carried out in a partnership with the regional integration bodies, in particular the regional economic communities (CILSS, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), SADC, IDAG, the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CAEMC), and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)).

We will support efforts to enhance the capacity of the African Union and regional economic communities by providing programme support, in cooperation with other donors.

Nevertheless, achieving sufficient clarity on the needs of each regional economic community and on the division of labour with the NEPAD secretariat is essential to the definition of practical action plans for subregional office support to the regional economic communities in implementing NEPAD.

UNIDO is now gradually taking measures and actions together with Regional Economic Communities, Governments and the African private sector to streamline sectoral action plans and regional road maps within the sectoral priorities of NEPAD.

Based on that, subregional offices should develop practical medium term plans of action in providing support to regional economic communities (paragraph 40) (SP 04 002 009).

(i) Advisory services advisory services, upon request, to Member States and regional economic communities in relation to the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (10)

ECA and the Transport Programme were instrumental in the setting up of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) Transport Coordination Committee in February 2005 to ensure proper coordination.

For example, ECA undertook an assessment in 2004 of the regional consultations it organizes with sister agencies and in close cooperation with the African Union, the NEPAD secretariat and the Regional Economic Communities in support for NEPAD.

We recognized then, as we do today, that national Governments and regional economic communities have critical roles to play in the realization and implementation of the NEPAD initiative.

However, another and perhaps the most important attainment is the increase in the regional integration component, the building of regional economic communities and ultimately the consolidation of a holistic approach to development on the basis of national ownership.

13. Supports the ongoing efforts by the African Union to improve the coordination between the New Partnership secretariat, the African Union Commission, the regional economic communities and African States

13. Supports the ongoing efforts by the African Union to improve the coordination between the New Partnership secretariat, the African Union Commission, the regional economic communities and African States

At issue, especially in Africa, is also how countries can rationalize the composition and functions of the regional economic communities to ensure that they improve trade and investment opportunities.

Support will be provided to member States and the regional economic communities in translating the priorities and objectives of NEPAD into concrete projects and programmes at the country level.

And they provide needed economic support for rural communities.

Taking note that economic globalization frequently has negative effects on disadvantaged communities and in particular on indigenous communities,

The Programme will enhance integration of the regional economic communities for increased market access, remove barriers to trade, develop e business and help the beneficiary countries to diversify their export base.

In the area of infrastructure and capacity building, high priority projects have been approved by the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee to be implemented by regional economic communities.

(ii) Training courses, seminars and workshops regional seminar for 20 senior officials from major regional economic communities and the African Union, including the secretariat of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, on United Nations system wide support to the New Partnership for Africa's Development at the subregional and regional levels (1).

Recognizing that improving women's economic status also improves the economic status of their families and their communities,

11. Also welcomes the approval by the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee of the New Partnership of priority infrastructural and capacity building projects to be implemented by the regional economic communities

13. Encourages the further integration of the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership into the programmes of the regional economic communities of Africa and other subregional and regional structures and organizations, as well as programmes in favour of the African least developed countries

(d) Organizing regional forums for stakeholders to launch the knowledge management networks for rural communities

OIOS noted that currently subregional offices have insufficient capacity to provide the framework either for knowledge sharing between Member States in their subregions or disseminating best practices between different subregions and regional economic communities.

OIOS is aware that with their limited resources and given the varying mandates of different regional economic communities, subregional offices are not able to engage all of them in a thorough and effective manner.

The plans will focus on programmes to improve economic conditions in vulnerable communities.

Participation by regional economic integration organizations

(f) Provision of advisory services with respect to industrial policy development and analytical support of governmental and institutional structures in African countries, including support to the secretariats of NEPAD, the African Union and regional economic communities

The valuable help that subregional offices can provide is by acting as a filter and channel in facilitating access by their Member States, regional economic communities and other stakeholders to the most relevant communities of knowledge networks that address the priority areas in their regions and to databases with information relevant to subregions.

Speakers also noted the importance of creating networks among communities at the national, regional and international levels to help communities to support each other and learn from each other.

Participation by regional economic integration organizations (continued)

Inter Arab, regional and international economic developments

Noting the efforts to be undertaken by the African Union and its organs and regional economic communities and bodies in the area of economic integration, and the need to accelerate the process of the full establishment and consolidation of the African Union so as to achieve sustainable development,

Stresses the important contribution that the Economic Commission for Africa and its subregional offices are making towards supporting the efforts of the regional economic communities of Africa to implement the priorities and objectives of the New Partnership for Africa's Development, and recognizes the need to strengthen the subregional offices

Recognizing also that improving women's economic status also improves the economic status of their families and their communities and thereby creates a multiplier effect for economic growth,

Recognizing also that improving women's economic status also improves the economic status of their families and their communities and thereby creates a multiplier effect for economic growth,