Report of the conference of African planners: second session

Abstract

The Second Session of the Conference of African Planners, convened in accordance with Resolution 105(VI) of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the recommendations of the First Session, was held at the ECA headquarters in Addis Ababa from December 4 to 15. Key discussions revolved around the establishment, organization, and methodologies of project identification services, as outlined in the working paper E/CN.14/CAP/26. Prof. Morris Asimow, a consultant to the Conference, presented insights from the experience of regional project identification, selection, and implementation in Northeast Brazil, highlighting its potential applicability to African contexts. The session emphasized the importance of introducing small-scale industries in regions with marginal agricultural land and subsistence farming, suggesting that regional industrialization could foster economic diversification and complementarity between agricultural and industrial activities.