This section reviews activities of ongoing special projects.

The projects covered are : 

• The United Nations Online Network in Public Administration and Finance (UNPAN), which serves as a portal in public administration and finance throughout the world.  IDEP is a member of UNPAN.

• The UNESCO-sponsored project on Cultural Dimensions of Development (AICCD Project), 

• The UNDP-funded project on African Futures (Node IV) Network on NLTPS; 

• The Carnegie Corporation-funded project on Science and Technology Policy Dialogue in Africa.

UNPAN PROJECT

The United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN) is a project being implemented by IDEP in  collaboration with the United Nations Department of Economics and Social Affairs (DESA), Division of Public Economics and Public Administration. It is an on-line Information Network on Public Policy and Public Administration and Finance, with the primary aim of providing IDEP member States with first-hand and up-to-date information on Public Sector Management. This is in order to create an efficient and high performing public sector, and at the same time stimulating the sharing of experiences.  The network generates information resources focusing on public economic policies, governance and institutional development, civil service and public sector reform, management innovation and development, and public finance.

Apart from connecting major Public Administration institutions in Asia, North America, Europe and Latin America, the web-based Network  now includes some of IDEP’s member States in the Central, Eastern, Southern, Northern and West Africa subregions.

African Itinerant College for Culture and Development (AICCD)

The activities of the project on the Itinerant College on the Cultural Dimensions of Development in Africa (AICCD) had two phases during the 1998/99 academic year. The first involved planning towards the sustainability and viability of the College over the medium and long term horizon and took the form of two interrelated activities: a briefing session for the diplomatic community and the media, and a donors' meeting. The second phase involved implementation of a set of programmed activities for 1999 that had been endorsed at a donors' conference and workshops such as:

• Subregional Workshop on the Cultural Approach to HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care for Sustainable Development in Africa, 24-28 May 1999, Banket, Zimbabwe

• Regional Workshop on Socio-Cultural Impact of Demographic Behaviour on Population Policies and Programmes in Africa, 26-30 July 1999, Douala, Cameroon.

• International Conference on the Cultural Approach to Development in Africa, 10-14 December 2001, Dakar - Senegal.

African Futures Node IV Network on Long-term Perspective Studies (NLTPS)

Perspective Studies and NLTPS Operationalization (1-2 weeks).

IDEP in collaboration with African Futures will conduct training in the implementation of National Long Term Perspective Studies (NLTPS). The workshop will be linked with the M.A. Programme on Strategic Management and NLTPS. This workshop will be targeted at the following categories of senior-level personnel: Government officials, the private sector, NGOs and parastatal organizations.

Within the framework of the UNDP-funded African Futures (Phase II) Project on Long-term Perspective Studies, IDEP is the lead node among 10 other institutions in the Node IV network responsible for training and capacity building on NLTPS in Africa. Three other networks exist which take responsibility for research (Node I), information management (Node II), and advisory services (Node III).

Recent activities in which IDEP has actively participated include:

(a) organization of the training of trainers (TOT) workshop in Akosombo, Ghana;

(b) an advisory services mission to Namibia; and

(c) preparation and completion of the Revised Strategic Plan for Node IV.

The TOT Workshop in Akosombo, Ghana, 12-16 April 1999

Preparation & Submission of Node IV Revised Strategic Plan.