Reform of the regional commissions: relationships between ECA, UN agencies, regional and subregional organizations in Africa: note by the secretariat

Abstract

This report has been prepared for the consideration of the Ministerial Follow up Committee of the Conference of Ministers of Economic and Social Development and Planning, to enable it make an input into the ECOSOC review of the regional commissions scheduled for July 1998. The ECOSOC review of the regional commissions is required by resolution 52/12B, on Renewing the United Nations: A Program of Reforms. In the resolution, the United Nations General Assembly invited the Economic and Social Council, in consultation with Member States and appropriate intergovernmental regional bodies, to conduct a general review of the core competencies of the regional Commissions vis-a-vis the global and other regional and subregional intergovernmental bodies in order to evaluate the most appropriate division of labour with regard to standard-setting and technical cooperation activities.This report examines the role ECA has played in Africa's development in the past through its work in the areas of standard setting and technical cooperation and capacity but also in advocacy and policy analysis; data and information dissemination; building consensus on Africa's development; and coordination.