Roundtables CAR and Niger Brussels, October 2007 IASC weekly 31 October 2007 OCHA/GCMS, Ute Kollies

Niger Round Table

Niger Roundtable The How PRSP developed in a participatory manner PRSP developed in a participatory manner NGOs and civil society played a major role NGOs and civil society played a major role About 60 partners in the roundtable About 60 partners in the roundtable Prime Minister introduced PRSP Prime Minister introduced PRSP The What Intensification of rural production Food security measures Improving competitiveness of local products

Niger roundtable The What (ctd.) Infrastructure investment Infrastructure investment Human resource development (women, education,health) Human resource development (women, education,health) Access to justice system Access to justice system The What (ctd) Solidarity system for the poor (social security) Decentralisation Risk reduction related to the economic environment

Niger Roundtable Goals: Regional integration Regional integration Diversified and competitive economy Diversified and competitive economy Access to basic social services for the poor Access to basic social services for the poor Consolidation of Peace Consolidation of Peace Poverty reduction Poverty reduction Reaching the MDGs Reaching the MDGs

Niger roundtable - challenges Demographic challenges Demographic challenges Insecurity in the North Insecurity in the North Weak absorption capacity Weak absorption capacity Natural disasters: Natural disasters: locusts, floods, droughts Lack of formal employment Lack of formal employment

CAR - roundtable Civil society absent from the roundtable Civil society absent from the roundtable 14 donors present 14 donors present Banks represented Banks represented President opened the roundtable President opened the roundtable Ministers supplemented on PRSP concept Ministers supplemented on PRSP concept Challenges: Absorption capacity for funding requested Insecurity in the North Lack of inclusive political dialogue Dafurisation Lack of transparency Demographic challenges Lack of formal employment

CAR Roundtable 1. Restoration of security, consolidation of peace and prevention of conflict 2. Promotion of good governance and rule of law 3. Diversification of the economy 4. Development of human capital by promoting education, employment, access to health and the fight against HIV/AIDs

CAR Roundtable 1. EC dedicates under the 10 th EDF 137 million Euros for (increase of 35%) 2. Other minimal pledges 3. Donors not very forthcoming – reasons diverse but include: lack of Human Rights adherence

Humanitarian linkages? Transition issue = one way to address the conceptual void? Transition issue = one way to address the conceptual void? Sustainability = from short term to medium term and longer term: the CAP/UNDAF/PRSP connection Sustainability = from short term to medium term and longer term: the CAP/UNDAF/PRSP connection Independence= dependency syndrome or independent self conscience? Independence= dependency syndrome or independent self conscience?