Transcript Comparative advantage of DESA

Economic and Social Council
United Nations
ECOSOC involvement in
Postconflict Countries
 According to Article 65 of the UN Charter, “The Economic and Social
Council may furnish information to the Security Council and shall
assist the Security Council upon its request”
 2001: ECOSOC adopted its Ministerial Declaration on the role of the
United Nations in support of the efforts of African countries to reach
peace and sustainable development
 2002: ECOSOC in its resolution 2002/1 created a framework for
advisory group(s) on African countries emerging from conflict. Since
then, two ad hoc advisory groups (Guinea-Bissau and Burundi) were
created.
 2003: ECOSOC in its resolution 2003/50 decided to undertake an
assessment of lessons learned from the Ad Hoc Advisory Groups.
 2004: The Council in its resolution 2004/L.53 commended the Groups
for their innovative and constructive work in support of the countries
concerned.
ECOSOC Advisory Group(s) on African
Countries Emerging from Conflicts
The Mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group(s), as decided
by ECOSOC in its resolution 2002/1 of 15 July 2002, is to:
 Examine the humanitarian and economic needs of the
country concerned
 Review relevant assistance programmes
 Prepare recommendations for a long-term programme of
support that begins with the integration of relief into
development
 Provide advice on how to ensure that the support from the
international community is adequate, coherent, well
co-ordinated and effective and promote synergy
Why Focus on Postconflict Situation
on Africa?
 Research indicated that about 50% of all agreements
to end civil war collapse within five years of signature
 80% of the world’s twenty poorest countries have
suffered a major civil war in the past 15 years

1990-2002: There were 126 armed conflicts causing 7-8
million deaths (75% of them non-combatants)
 The Ad Hoc Advisory Groups are driven through
national ownership by African countries, and are
linked with regional initiatives such as NEPAD
and the African Union
Postconflict Situation of Guinea-Bissau
Socio-Economic Indicators
According to the UNDP Human
Development Report 2004, Guinea-Bissau
ranks 172 out of 177 countries
The prevalent rate of HIV is 8 to 10 per
cent among adults
Adult literacy is 38.5 per cent compared
to 61.5 per cent for sub-Saharan Africa
Combined primary, secondary and
tertiary schools gross enrolment ratio is
37%
48.7% of population live below the
national poverty line
In 2001, GDP grew by only 0.2%, and in
2002, real GDP estimated to have fallen
by 7%
Postconflict Situation of Burundi
Socio-Economic Indicators
According to the UNDP Human
Development Report 2004, Burundi ranks
173 out of 177 countries
58.4% of population live below 1$ a day
Combined primary, secondary and
tertiary schools gross enrolment ratio is
33%
More than 600,000 of children are
orphans of war
 Infant mortality has reached the
alarming rate of 114 per thousand births
According to UNAIDS, 8.3 per cent of
those aged between 15 and 49 years live
with HIV/AIDS
The Chairman of the Ad Hoc Advisory
Groups on Guinea-Bissau and Burundi
H.E. Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, Permanent Representative
of South Africa to the United Nations
Highlight of the Assessment for the Ad
Hoc Advisory Groups: The Working
Methods
The importance of national ownership by relevant
national authorities
Partnership approach between the relevant national
authorities and the international community
Participants in these Ad Hoc Advisory groups are
African countries, donors, and a representative of the Ad
Hoc Working Group of the Security Council on Conflict
Prevention and Resolution in Africa
Highlight of the Assessment for the Ad Hoc
Advisory Groups: Fostering International
Partnership
The groups have advocated enhanced relationships between the
countries concerned and the international community through a
partnership approach in:
Creating the Economic Emergency Management Fund for GuineaBissau
Participating at the Forum of Development Partners for Burundi,
Brussels, January 2004 (Promoting direct budgetary support)
 Advocating for financial assistance for the integration of relief,
rehabilitation, reconstruction and development, through a
comprehensive approach to peace and stability
Highlight of the Assessment for the Ad
Hoc Advisory Groups: Coordination
The Groups succeeded in making a contribution to
promoting coherence and coordination to international
support to Guinea-Bissau and Burundi through the:
Coordination within the United Nations system
(Departments, funds, programmes, agencies)
Collaboration between the United Nations and the
Bretton Woods Institutions
Increased interaction between the Security Council and
the Economic and Social Council (Joint mission to
Guinea-Bissau)
Further information on the Ad Hoc
Advisory Groups on African Countries
Emerging from Conflicts at the Economic
and Social Council
Website:
http://www.un.org/esa/coordination/ecosoc/
Email:
[email protected]