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

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

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

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

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

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

Notwithstanding the positive development in the regional and international economic situation establishment of economic communities, unprecedented opening up of trade economic and social disparities between North and South were growing.

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.

The plan of action stresses the role of the regional economic communities such as ECOWAS in west Africa and SADC in southern Africa.

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.

The African Union also commended and encouraged UNCTAD's assistance to African regional economic communities, which were seen as the building blocks of the AU.

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.

We recognize, however, that the capacities of the NEPAD secretariat and the regional economic communities, which act as its supporting bodies, need to be strengthened.

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).

And they provide needed economic support for rural communities.

(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.

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

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.

Lessons learned from experiences of regional economic communities such as the Southern African Development Coordination (SADC) and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) were also examined.

Between 19 July and 21 August 1997, a mission of the joint secretariat visited most regional economic communities to hold consultations on the implementation of the work plan.

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.

6. Regional economic cooperation

Regional Economic Integration Organizations

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.

UNCTAD, WTO, WIPO, regional commissions, regional economic cooperation groupings

26. Currently, the Programme on Promotion of Africa s Economic Cooperation and Integration through the establishment of AEC ( 2,151,322) has the objective of strengthening the regional economic communities and finalizing protocols as provided for in the treaty establishing AEC.

Subprogramme 1 Regional economic cooperation

Subprogramme 15.1 Regional economic cooperation

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

(c) Providing support to regional economic communities to strengthen their information capabilities in order to facilitate policy harmonization with regard to information and communication technology in their respective subregions and supporting regional cooperation frameworks such as the African Union and NEPAD

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.

The findings of the mission were discussed at the second ministerial session of the Economic and Social Commission of AEC (Cairo, 23 and 24 April 1998) and areas where AEC would strengthen its cooperation with the regional economic communities were identified.

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

Participation by regional economic integration organizations