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4. FORTHCOMING CONFERENCES
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4.1 DEFINING PRIORITIES FOR REGIONAL INTEGRATION
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The third African Development Forum (ADF 2001) organized by the Economic Commission for
Africa (ECA), will take place from 9-13 December 2001 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, under the
theme "Defining Priorities for Regional Integration".
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This year's theme was chosen in light of the coming into force of the African Union (AU),
which represents a historic opportunity to accelerate regional integration. The Forum will
reflect on the experience in Africa as well as other regions with regional integration,
identify the priorities and policy options for accelerating regional integration in Africa
and elaborate the necessary steps for economic and monetary union in the African setting.
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ADF 2001 will bring together a wide spectrum of stakeholders — government, parliaments,
business, finance, labour, civil society, international organizations and the Diaspora —
to discuss these issues, refine options and seek consensus on the way ahead. Experts from
different parts of the world will also be invited to share their experiences in regional
integration.
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The Forum will reflect on Africa's historic initiatives for political and economic unity
and examine regional integration experiences from other regions; consolidate lessons
learned and identify best practices and define priorities and strategic actions needed to
accelerate regional integration. Drawing on the political impetus from the coming in to
force of the African Union, ADF 2001 will help galvanize a broad-based inclusive process
to harmonize and accelerate integration efforts in the continent and build consensus around
the key strategic actions that need to be taken.
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The Forum will be built around five thematic clusters: economic policies for accelerating
regional integration; physical integration through infrastructure development; regional
approaches to regional issues; institutional arrangements and capacity; and the peace and
security architecture.
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The conclusions and recommendations of ADF 2001 will be conveyed, through the OAU, to the
Summit of Heads of State and Government, due to be held in Pretoria, South Africa, in July
2002. Africa's leaders will be asked to consider the outcomes of ADF 2001 as a contribution
towards concretizing the African Union implementation agenda.
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Linking up: More information is available on the ADF website at
www.uneca.org/adf2001. For
details on how to participate, please contact Mr. Peter Robleh, coordinator, ADF 2001
Secretariat, Economic Commission for Africa at probleh@uneca.org.
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4.2 LABOUR MARKETS AND POVERTY
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The Development Policy Research Unit, based at the University of Cape Town, and the
Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), will host a two day workshop on this theme on the 15/16th
November in Johannesburg. The organisers are inviting abstracts on five thematic areas:
formal and informal employment dynamics; globalisation, labour markets and poverty;
economic growth, the macro-economy and the labour market; the economics of labour market
regulation and labour market dynamics and poverty outcomes. The deadline for submission of
abstracts is 15 August.
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Linking up: Contact mdaniels@hiddingh.uct.ac.za
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4.3 INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL TRADE AND RURAL LIVELIHOODS
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The Centre for Rural Legal Studies in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is hosting this conference
with the aim of building a common understanding of how international trade affects
agriculture and its impact on those people who depend on it for their livelihoods. The
organisers want to develop and debate strategies that have been, or may, be used to promote
viable rural livelihoods. They also want the conference participants to investigate the
scope for ethical and fair international trade. The conference takes place from 8-11 October
this year.
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Linking up: Contact the Centre for Rural Legal Studies at
http://www.crls.org.za
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