Justifying UNDP support to the ECA programme on regional cooperation and integration during the 5th programme cycle : report of a mission to UNDP/ RBA

Abstract

For many months, negotiations had been under way between UNDP and ECA on funding of EGA programmes during the 5th programming cycle. A number of meetings had been held between the two to agree on programme thrust and priorities. The financial constraints facing UNDP in the 5th cycle, made it necessary for the ECA programme to be restricted and highly focused. Therefore, at a meeting held between UNDP/RBA and ECA at Addis Ababa in April 1993 it was decided that UNDP would finance the ECA programme on regional co-operation and integration as well as the UN-NADAF A staff member from UNDP/RBA would be dispatched to ECA to assist in the finalization of the programme.

In, late May 1993' it became apparent that UNDP would be unable to field the mission to Addis Ababa to put the ECA programme together. A request was made that ECA send a staff member instead to do so at the RBA in New York. The Executive Secretary then designated Mr. Crispin Grey-Johnson, Senior Regional Adviser, to undertake the assignment. He was also required to begin his mission to the RBA by participating in a Senior Economists Seminar on Africa's new development challenges.