It has been identified by the NEPAD Heads of State and Governance Implementation Committee (HSGIC) that there needs to be greater integration of NEPAD into national developmental plans, a greater awareness of NEPAD must be developed as well as the need for capacity development on the continent.

With these aims in mind NEPAD has structured the engagement to draw lessons from all sectors of NEPAD focus on the continent. Thus participants in the conference will include representatives from civil society, government structures within SADC countries and NGO partners. The South African Department of Foreign Affairs will host the engagement, in its capacity as the current president of SADC. It is hoped that the engagement will serve to plot a best way forward as to the implementation of NEPAD at a national level; this will involve understanding the challenges and achievements from existing implementation strategies as well as learning from past engagements with non-governmental actors in the region.

Sessions of particular interest will include reports on capacity development programs by academic and research institutions as well as a discussion on the experience of the private sector in SADC countries in dealing with NEPAD. A press briefing will be held on the morning of day one and another at the end of day two to inform media and the public of the progress of the engagement. The envisaged outcome of the engagement is a policy brief report that will serve to inform future regional engagements and serve as a building platform for future implementation strategies across Africa.

[4 Dec 2008 10:20]

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