AFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMICAFRICAN INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT AND PLANNINGDEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING

(IDEP)(IDEP)

MEDIUM TERM STRATEGY MEDIUM TERM STRATEGY AND INDICATIVEAND INDICATIVE

WORK PROGRAM 2003 – 2006WORK PROGRAM 2003 – 2006

  

The backgroundThe background

CREATION by UN General Assembly in 1962

LOCATION: Dakar, Senegal

MISSION- Train mid-level and senior policymakers

of African countries- Conduct policy-relevant economic research- Advise Afr. Govts and Reg. Organizations.

Defining IDEP’s strategic Defining IDEP’s strategic goalsgoals

GOAL # 1GOAL # 1

Organize training in order to equip African policymakers and other stakeholders with the latest skills that will enable them to respond to emerging

policy challenges and development issues

GOAL # 2GOAL # 2

Act as an interface between the research and policymaking communities

GOAL # 3GOAL # 3

Promote original thinking and research on Africa’s policy issues

GOAL # 4GOAL # 4

Become an internationally recognized center of excellence with full intellectual freedom

that will lead the debate on African development issues and uphold the economic

independence of African countries

Where does IDEP stand Where does IDEP stand today?today?

IDEP’s strengthsIDEP’s strengths

Only Pan-African institute of higher learning 40 years of experience Unparalleled responsibility re: Africa economic

agenda Support from UN General Assembly, ECA, AU Support from African member states Actually serves all Africa and in 5 languages

More IDEP strengthsMore IDEP strengths

Outreach network: alumni in key positionsHistorical intellectual leadership roleNatural venue for policy debatesOne key area of IDEP’s focus in increasing

demand: role of Govt e.g. planning, programming and institutional economics

UN rules and strong African governance

And its weaknessesAnd its weaknesses

Modest financial resourcesLimited research and training staffThus little research and advisory servicesWeak involvement of governancePoor visibility and unimposing scientific

credibility

But there are opportunities …But there are opportunities … Africa’s new emphasis on regional approach to

development. African Union NEPAD Common currency for West Africa, COMESA, EAC, etc.

Africans want to design their own strategies thus a new policy debate on:

Regional integration WTO negotiations Africa’s growth strategy

Donors see more value in training policymakers than hiring foreign consultants thus a bigger role for IDEP

And threatsAnd threats

Lower visibility may cause misled perception of coverage : French-only or West Africa only.

Intellectual independence at risk if excessive reliance on project (vs core) support

Effectiveness at risk if funding sources not diversified

Selecting IDEP’s strategic Selecting IDEP’s strategic prioritiespriorities

A. Coverage

B. Leverage

CoverageCoverage

TARGET GROUPS: Policymakers, Civil society, Private sector, etc

APPROACH: Capture synergies in research, training and policy

RESPONSIVE TO:

- African regional organizations agenda - National governments priorities

Thematic coverageThematic coverage Regional integration including issues on

convergence, harmonization of policies and legislation, policy formulation at the regional level, regional infrastructure building, economics of peace building, etc…

Trade policy and trade negotiations under the WTO including formulation of trade-related incentive policies, competitiveness-enhancing policies, generic and commodity-based WTO negotiations, etc…

And ….

Economic growth and development including growth strategies, macroeconomic management, finance, human capital, HIV/AIDS, education, migration, gender, etc…

Training activitiesTraining activities

M. A program in economic policy and management– Target: adult policymakers and others– Emphasis: Policy relevance with up-to-date economic and

quantitative knowledge– Current enrolment: 18; planned 25– What makes it different?

i) Hands on policy relevance

ii) Higher skill level than similar programs

iii) Regional policy agenda is centre-stage

Training: the short courses (1)Training: the short courses (1)

Global issues  1.   Regional integration

  2.  Global WTO negotiations and trade

  3.  Commodity-based WTO negotiations

4. Globalization and Economic Development in Africa

 

Training: the short courses (2)Training: the short courses (2)

Sectoral policies1.  Capital budgeting for infrastructure

2.  Agricultural policy

3.  Finance and development

4.  Financial markets

5.  Regulation and supervision

6.   Human development

7.    Poverty and labor market policy

8.   Economics of ICTs

Training: the short courses (3)Training: the short courses (3)

Applied quantitative techniques

1. Statistical techniques for surveys

2. Applied quantitative methods for economic policy making

3. CGE modeling

Leveraging with partnersLeveraging with partners

African partners– Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)– African Union (AU)– African Development Bank (ADB)– Association of African Universities (AAU)– Sub-regional organizations and governments– Others: AERC, ACBF, Research centers,

Universities, Civil Society, Private Sector

International and Non African International and Non African PartnersPartners

UNDP for long term collaboration

European Commission to promote African Regional integration

Bilaterals for core and project support

A new governance for IDEPA new governance for IDEP

Governing Council composition:- 10 reps. of African govts, 2 per sub-region - 1 rep. of ECA, AU, ADB (3)- 2 reps. of the private sector;- 2 reps. of the civil society;- 1 rep. of the Government of Senegal;- 1 rep. of the Advisory Board;- Director of IDEP as the Secretary of GC;- UNDP if in collaboration with IDEP

A new Executive CommitteeA new Executive Committee

- Chairperson of the Governing Council

- 1 rep. of the Governments

- 1 rep. of the 3 Regional Organizations

- 1 rep. of the Private Sector

- 1 rep. of Civil Society

- Director of the Institute.

  

Indicative Program Statistics    

Category 

 2002

 2003

 2004

 2005

 Total

RESEARCH          

Research projects 1 2 2 2 7

Meetings/workshops 2 4 4 4 14

Policy forum 1 3 3 3 10

Working papers 2 8 10 12 32

Books/monographs 0 0 1 2 3

TRAINING          

Enrolment in M.A. Program 18 20 25 25 88

Number of short courses 2 4 6 8 20

Enrolment in short courses 50 100 150 200 500

ADVISORY & CONSULTING

Number of visits to countries 2 6 6 6 20

PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Researchers/lecturers (full time) 2 5 7 7 7

Research assistants (full time) 2 3 4 4 4

Research program Coordinators 1 2 2 2 7

Visiting Scholars 2 3 3 3 11

Thank you for your attention.Thank you for your attention.