Strengthening Intra-UN Collaboration through the Sub- Regional Coordination Mechanism (SRCM) for Eastern and Southern Africa

Abstract

UN meets in Livingstone from 11 to 13 June to discuss strengthening Intra-UN collaboration through the Sub Regional coordination Mechanism (SRCM) for Eastern and Southern Africa under the theme, “Promoting Industrialization through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA): The Role of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Intergovernmental Organizations (IGOs) in Eastern and Southern Africa”. The meeting will bring together delegates from stakeholder organizations/institutions of the SRCM for Eastern and Southern Africa including the African Union (AU), RECs, IGOs and UN agencies for in the two sub-regions. The first session will focus on the intra-UN collaboration through SRCM and the second session will be meeting of SRCM Focal points of AUC, RECs and IGOs to map-out strategies to foster effective collaboration and coordination under the SRCM framework. The overall aim of the meeting is to promote dialogue and collaboration of the UN system in support of RECs and IGOs in facilitating the goal of industrialization, trade and the AfCFTA, through the SRCM. The meeting is expected to contribute to enhanced knowledge on the AfCFTA, including gender and the AfCFTA, and its role in promoting regional industrialization and women’s economic empowerment; commitment and collaborative approach of the UN system towards the industrialization agenda and priorities of the RECs and IGOs and AfCFTA initiative in Eastern and Southern Africa; and Strengthened SRCM as an effective and efficient collaboration mechanism in Eastern and Southern Africa.