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Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) 2016
The Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) is the annual meeting of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). It is held to define and monitor the implementation of the work programme of the ECA regional Offices and to discuss key issues and challenges pertaining to the economic and social development of the sub-regions, with the view to making appropriate recommendations to address them.
In addition, the ICE is a forum to cement partnerships and define modalities of cooperation between and among stakeholders aimed at sustaining regional integration and accelerating the pace of development in the sub-regions.
The schedule of the 2016 ICE regional meetings is outlined below.
20th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) – Eastern Africa
Institutions, Decentralization and Structural transformation in Eastern Africa
8-11 February 2016
Nairobi, Kenya
This meeting will discuss key issues and challenges pertaining to the economic and social development of the Eastern Africa region with the view to making appropriate recommendations to address them.
The 20th ICE will also examine the role of institutions in promoting equitable growth and structural transformation, defined as the reallocation of resources towards higher productivity sectors (manufacturing and modern services), in Eastern Africa.
This will include a review of mechanisms that ensure the formulation of shared visions, enshrine good governance, strengthen public participation in decision-making and build social capital and cohesive pacts for transformational change.
High-level representatives from 14 countries of Eastern Africa, representatives of Regional Economic Communities as well as of of the private sector, international institutions, civil society organisations, media, and other relevant stakeholders are expected to attend the Nairobi meeting.
Background documents
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20th ICE Eatern Africa | Draft Concept Note
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High-Level Panel: Institutions, Decentralization and Structural Transformation in Eastern Africa | Draft Concept Note
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Background Study on Institutions, Decentralisation and Structural Transformation in Eastern Africa | First draft, February 2016
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The Impact of Trade Regimes on Industrialisation | Ad-hoc Experts Group Meeting (AEGM) Concept Note
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The Impact of Trade Regimes on Industrialisation; Trade and Technological Diffusion in the East African Community | Working Paper
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Social and Economic Inequality in Eastern Africa | AEGM Concept Note
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Mapping Spatial Inequalities in Eastern Africa | Preliminary draft, January 2016
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From theory to practice: Unravelling sustainable development opportunities at county level in Kenya | AEGM Draft Concept Note
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Roundtable Discussion on The Followers and Leaders’ Pact: Towards New Horizons | Draft Concept Note
Intergovernmental Committee of Experts of Central Africa
Leveraging the agricultural potential of Central Africa for food Security and the Structural Transformation of the Sub-region
24-26 February 2016
Douala, Cameroon
During three days of the session, experts from Central African States as well as those from international organisations will lay emphasis on strategies that would allow countries of the sub-region to leverage their huge agricultural potential in order to speed up growth, whilst aiming to achieve the second of the global Sustainable Development Goals, which is: “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.”
The ideal of making good the agricultural potential of Central Africa for food security and the structural transformation of the sub-region would be examined in panel discussions on the following sub-topics: (i) opportunities to be exploited to create more added value in the value chain within the agricultural sector; (ii) the ways through which developing agro-industry can scale up the contribution of manufacturing to GDP; (iii) the degree to which climate change put a strain on agricultural resources; (iv) mechanisms to promote high agricultural yields especially via better access to appropriate technology.
19th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) for West Africa
The Country Profiles of the ECA: tools in the service of the structural transformation of West African countries
25-26 February 2016
Dakar, Senegal
The main objective of the 19th session of the ICE is to debate recent developments that could impact the economic and social development of West African countries, in order to identify the main challenges to be met and to make recommendations to accelerate the growth and the economic transformation of the sub-region.
With this in mind, the participants will examine the report prepared by the Office on the above-mentioned theme, which will serve as the main document for discussion. They will also examine the note on the economic and social conditions in 2015 and the outlook for 2016 in West Africa. In addition, they will analyse the recurrent report on the implementation of regional and international agendas, which this year place the emphasis on the transition between the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) achieved in 2015 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDD) adopted under the auspices of the United Nations in September 2015. Moreover, the Report on the Activities of the Office during 2015 and its Provisional Programme of Work for 2016 will be presented to them for their assessment and validation.
The theme chosen for debate this year is entitled, “The Country Profiles of the ECA: tools in the service of the structural transformation of West African countries”. The choice of this theme for the agenda of the 19th session of the ICE results from the wish by the Sub-Regional Office of the ECA for West Africa to edify the delegates of Member countries on the utility and the specific features of these country profiles by underlining what differentiates them from similar documents produced by other institutions.
In contrast to other profiles, the ECA country profiles aim rather at providing each African country with an objective analysis of its economic and social situation, supported by a certain number of global indicators, notably the African Social Development Index (ASDI), African Gender and Development Index (AGDI) and the Regional Integration Index (RII). They will also serve as sources of comparative data to respond to the needs of academics, civil society, investors and analysts.
Lastly, they will contribute to the development of African statistical systems by strengthening the availability of data from national sources, up-to-date, multi-sectoral, disaggregated and complying with international norms and standards.
Background documents
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Socioeconomic Profile of West Africa in 2015 and Prospects for 2016
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Activity Report of the ECA Sub-Regional Office for West Africa 2015 and Work Programme 2016
- Outcome document: Draft conclusions and recommendations | 19th ICE for West Africa
31st Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) – North Africa
Green economy to speed up industrialization in North Africa
1-4 March 2016
Rabat, Morocco
High-level officials, academics, private sector and civil society representatives from Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Sudan and Tunisia will take part in this international meeting. They will examine economic and social conditions in North Africa and make recommendations to achieve stronger economic development and integration in this sub-region as well as the African continent.
This meeting will build on a number of ECA studies on topics such as achieving sustained industrialization in Africa (2012 ICE meeting), optimizing the use of basic commodities and other natural resources (2013 ICE meeting), selecting policy and institutional frameworks (2014 ICE meeting) and speeding up industrialization processes through trade (2015 ICE meeting). In preparation for COP 22, scheduled to take place in Marrakech (Morocco) in November 2016, participants will also discuss the sub-region’s essential need to preserve its environment while industrializing.
One of the five regional commissions of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Economic Commission for Africa was set up in 1958. In North Africa, ECA’s sub-regional office aims to increase member states’ capacity to achieve socio-economic development, especially in areas such as integration – a regional priority. The Intergovernmental Committee of Experts (ICE) supervises the activities, action plans, program and strategic orientations of the ECA’s office in North Africa.
In addition to the ICE meeting, the ECA office in North Africa will hold a round table under the theme: “Industrialization through trade in North Africa in a multi-agreement context”, to identify the necessary conditions to industrialize Africa, facilitate the emergence of growth centers in strategic industrial sectors and build regional value chains including through intra-African trade.
Background documents
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31st Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts | Aide Memoire
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Industrialization through Trade in North Africa in the Context of the Continental Free Trade Area and Mega Trade Agreements | AEGM Concept Note
Intergovernmental Committee of Experts Meeting – Southern Africa
Financing the SADC Strategy and Roadmap on Industrialization
10-11 March 2016
Lilongwe, Malawi
Southern Africa is experiencing the toughest energy crisis yet and unless addressed, it threatens the region’s efforts to accelerate industrialization. The power crisis in southern Africa has been accumulated over decades of under investment in energy infrastructure. Hardly any country has been spared, including South Africa, the largest economy in Southern Africa. Hydro-power is the single most source of energy for much of the region, with several countries failing to meet their power needs due to antiquated and inefficient power infrastructure.
Investment in the energy sector has not matched the economy growth experienced by the region, and with it, increased energy demand.
The power crisis is happening at the time when the region is working to accelerate industrialization. On April 29, 2015, SADC Heads of State convened an extra ordinary summit and approved the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap, affirming the “importance of industrial development in poverty alleviation and the economic emancipation of the people of the region”
But, can the region industrialize among a crippling power crisis? Should SADC worry or take this as an opportunity to find a lasting solution?
The ICE will be preceded by an Ad-hoc Expert Group meeting (AEGM) to discuss the Energy Crisis in Southern Africa: Perspectives for the future from 7-8 March, 2016 also in Lilongwe, Malawi.
An issues paper ‘Financing the SADC Industrialization Strategy and Roadmap’ will form the main document for review and discussion. Recommendations from the meeting will be presented to the Conference of Ministers; an annual gathering of ministers responsible for finance and planning on the continent in March 2016, in Addis Ababa.
Both the ICE and AEGM, provide a forum for exchanging ideas and sharing lessons from a diverse pool of expertise and experiences through round-tables, presentations and open discussions.
