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 Background
The Strategy and Policy Group (SPG), the SWAC's Governing Board, guides and approves the SWAC Secretariat's Work Programme and Budget. The SPG is comprised of representatives from OECD contributing countries with the participation of West African Embassies as well as the main West African regional partner organisations (ECOWAS, UEMOA and the CILSS). > learn more
Objectives
Key Outcomes
Following the SWAC's presentations by Mr. Normand Lauzon, SWAC Director, and his team on 2008 work results, SPG members discussed and approved the proposed 2009 Work Programme. The following issues and recommendations emerged from the discussions:
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Quality of SWAC Products & Improved Communications: the SPG members acknowledged the quality of SWAC documents that were produced in 2008, the progress made in communications and the SWAC's services provided to its members. Within the framework of the SWAC’s Secretariat reorganisation, the SWAC has developed a series of flagship publications and products that it will continue to produce on a regular basis in 2009. The SWAC's visibility has thereby been greatly improved within and outside the OECD. The SWAC Secretariat should now focus on further developing its dissemination network in West Africa and OECD countries and developing tools to assess the impact of its products.
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Promoting the Regional Approach: SPG members notes with satisfaction that the regional approach guides all SWAC activities. The SWAC shall continue to promote and facilitate the implementation of regional approaches and policies by providing support to its West African partner organisations (ECOWAS, UEMOA and the CILSS). Donors still often face difficulties in implementing regional policies within their own technical co-operation agencies. The SWAC could provide stronger support by providing regional analysis and information on regional aid spending (mapping of regional aid).
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Contributions to International Policy Debates: SWAC work should feed into international debates and conferences. Instead of multiplying events, the SWAC Secretariat should focus on the main development events of the international agenda.
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Focus on Socio-professional Actors and Civil Society: SPG members would like the SWAC Secretariat to stronger focus on socio-professional associations and civil society actors who largely contribute to the development within their respective countries. The ECOWAS/SWAC's West Africa Information Gateway could help respond to this request by collecting data on socio-professional associations (Contact Directory) and promoting West African initiatives within the Information Gateway.
>> For more information on key outcomes of the SPG meeting, please read the full summary record
2009 Work Programme
The SWAC 2009 Work Programme is set out around two functions:
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Monitoring and Structural Analysis: the monitoring of the various forms of vulnerability and current issues on one hand (economy, food security, governance, security, socio-political evolutions, etc.), analysis of the regional structural dynamics and the medium- and long-term perspectives on the other, provide information for political and government officials of the North and South, socio-professional organisations and West African civil society, the media as well as a wider public eager to understand West African realities. By producing and disseminating this information, the SWAC Secretariat will contribute to constantly update the analysis of West Africa which is essential to political dialogue, to the formulation of regional strategies, aid effectiveness and greater policy coherence.
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Supporting the Formulation and Implementation of Regional Policies and Strategies: the joint work with West African partners on agriculture, livestock rearing, land issues, child labour on cocoa plantations, migration, cross-border co-operation, governance, conflict prevention and the management of post-conflict situations will contribute to the implementation of co-ordinated actions among countries of the region. In order to support these strategies, the SWAC Secretariat aims to promote innovative and operational regional development support tools for West Africa.
Participants
The SPG meeting was opened by Mr. Charles Goerens, SWAC President, Mr. Mario Amano, OECD Deputy Secretary-General and Mr. Normand Lauzon, SWAC Director. With the exception of Canada (excused), all SWAC contributing countries attended this SPG meeting. Representatives from Paris-based West African Embassies as well as the UEMOA Commission also participated during the first day. The second day was reserved to the SWAC's financial partners, with the participation of Mr. Eric Burgeat, CCNM Director and Supervisor of the SWAC's administrative and budgetary management.
Relevant Documents
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