43rd GC Meeting

IDEP's 43rd Governing Council Meeting

On 23 and 24 September 2003, IDEP hosted the 43rd meeting of its Governing Council which was held under the Institute's revised Statute. At its meeting held in Johannesburg in October 2002, the UNECA Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development approved the revised Statute of IDEP as well as its Medium Term Strategy and Indicative Programme of Work 2003-2006. The changes in the Statute relate to the composition of the Governing Council, which now includes representatives of ten African countries appointed by each of the five subregions. Also represented are key African development institutions such as ADB, AU and ECA as non-voting members. Civil Society Organizations and the Private Sector also serve on the Governing Council, with two non-voting representatives each. The UNDP and the host country complete the list of members, while the Executive Secretary of UNECA is the ex-officio Chairman. The changes also include the creation of an Executive Committee.

Being the first Council meeting held under the revised Statute, it brought together a mix of high-level representatives and experts from government, civil society, the private sector and academia. Council discussed the Institute's management report, programme of work and financial matters and approved the proposed programme and budget for the next biennium. It also approved proposals to transfer SISERA, formerly hosted by the IDRC Secretariat, to IDEP and adopted a resolution to that effect.

Council members expressed their satisfaction with the achievements of the Institute under the management of the new Director, and reiterated the need for continued support from Member States through the regular payment of their contributions.