Expertise for Central Africa

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E-CA — CRE-AC International Conference
Congo: State, Peace, Economy & Well-being

Dates: Thursday 21 & Friday 22 February 2008
Place: Egmont Palace, Brussels

E-CA — CRE-AC
E-CA — CRE-AC’s aim is to promote improved access and dissemination of knowledge about central Africa. This is crucial for efficient mobilization of the expertise needed by central Africa for its development. The Centre is a policy-oriented development tool and a catalyst for networking. It is mandated to provide a better understanding of the region by promoting dialogue and the exchange of information between the scientific and academic spheres, NGOs, government and the private sector. E-CA — CRE-AC reinforces the tradition of partnership between Belgium and central Africa.

Aims of the Conference
To launch E-CA — CRE-AC, the Centre is preparing an international conference which tackles the challenges of the reconstruction of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The conference has three main overlapping objectives:

  • Identify priorities for the rehabilitisation of the Congolese State;
  • Identify the different parties with expertise regarding DRC and which could be mobilised for its development;
  • Establish an overview of political, economic, social and security priorities for DRC.

Themes of the Conference
The key theme throughout the conference will be 'the impact of the international community’s interventions on the economic, political and social domain.' The conference will allow us to examine the results of what has been done during the transition period, which in turn will allow us to direct future initiatives and support in a more efficient way. The exercise doesn’t expect to address every single topic regarding the rehabilitisation of the State; its obvious complexity requires a limited selection of priorities. The proposed themes include:

The State

  • Economic and administrative decentralisation;
  • Reform of public enterprises of the State;
  • Rehabilitisation of the infrastructure;
  • Reform of public services;

Peace

  • Elections;
  • Security;

Economy

  • Formulating economic strategies;
  • Productive sectors;
  • National and international trade;
  • Role of DRC in trans-national economic organisations of the sub-region;

Well-being

  • Health;
  • Education.

Programme of the Conference
The conference takes place during two days. The first day and the morning of the second day will be dedicated to thematic presentations. The conclusions and recommendations of the conference will be presented during the afternoon of the second day.

Information
available from Theodore Trefon or Leen Nevens