The Fifth Africa Governance Forum (AGF V), scheduled for 23-25 May 2002, will be held this year in Maputo, Mozambique. The Forum will focus on the theme "local governance for poverty reduction". The choice of this theme was agreed during AGF IV in Uganda in 2001. It is in accord with the declaration of the Summit of the OAU Heads of State and Government (2000) that identified local governance as an integral dimension of human development and an important means of reinforcing poverty reduction policies and programmes.

The Forum will facilitate the exchange of information on country-specific strategies that have been most successful in contributing to poverty reduction through empowerment and participatory local governance. Fifteen countries have been invited to present at the Forum the results of national consultations processes they have set up. These are Botswana, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Wide stakeholder participation is expected, including central and local Government officials, non-governmental community representation, private sector, media, donors and the UN system. Working group discussions in Maputo will focus on the following topics:

• Political leadership and participation;
• Social service delivery for increased access and equity;
• Fiscal decentralization and financial management;
• Linkages and integration;

The choice of this theme (“local governance for poverty reduction”) took into account the declining levels of social welfare on the African continent and the limited involvement of local communities in the processes that are meant to address their plight. Although economic growth has been recorded in some countries, the lives and livelihoods of many Africans remain unchanged. Access to jobs, education, health services, housing and water supply remain scarce for the majority. It is now widely acknowledged that significant changes can only be achieved through greater empowerment of the populations, more effective participation in decision making at the level of the community and dedicated local government /civil society/private sector partnerships.

This meeting is jointly organised and supported by the Government of Mozambique and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with relevant UN partners such as UNECA, UNCDF and UNDESA.

Two workshops on related themes are going to take place in Maputo, preceding the AGF. The first one, on May 21, on the Africa Governance Inventory (AGI), a database initiative to collect information on ongoing governance programmes or projects in African countries. The second one, on May 22, on cross-border co-operation among local governments, based on case studies of the Maputo Development Corridor and of the Lake Victoria Association of Municipalities, including Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania.

The Africa Governance Forum (AGF V) expected results are as follows:

· Reinforced African ownership and leadership of the AGF process through national consultation, participatory stakeholder dialogue, integration within overall governance programmes and mechanisms for more effective resource mobilization and coordination.

· On the basis of national consultations and country reports on the major challenges and successes in enhancing local governance for poverty reduction, information and knowledge will be exchanged on best practices among African countries, civil society and their external partners at the international meeting.

· Endorsement of successful strategies in utilizing local governance for poverty reduction as agreed during the Forum with commitments to follow-up with national policies and programmes, identifying indicators for timely assessment of progress.

· Strengthening of national and regional networking.

· Preliminary agreement on the theme and venue for AGF VI.

For further information, please contact Mr. Nelson Xavier, UNDP Public Information Officer (Mobile phone : 082-314060).

Maputo, 14th May 2002

ACRONOMYS:

UNDP – United Nations Development Programme

OAU – Organization of African Unity

UNECA – United Nations Economic Commission for Africa

UNCDF – United Nations Capital Development Fund

UNDESA – United Nations Department for Economic and Social Affairs

AFRICA GOVERNANCE FORUM

From 1ST to 5th edition

AFRICA GOVERNANCE FORUM - I

Place: Ethiopia, July 1997

Theme: Governance

AFRICA GOVERNANCE FORUM - II

Place: Ghana, June 1998

Theme: Accountability and Transparency

AFRICA GOVERNANCE FORUM - III

Place: Mali, June 1999

Theme: Good Governance and Conflict Management

AFRICA GOVERNANCE FORUM - IV

Place: Uganda, September 2000

Theme: Parliamentary Processes

AFRICA GOVERNANCE FORUM - V

Place: Mozambique, May 2002

Theme: Local Governance for Poverty Reduction