GCI Report:

The regional preparatory meeting for Africa was held from 15-18 October 2001 in Nairobi. 3000 African intellectuals were gathered together, composed of government officials, experts, members of business, NGO leaders and journalists. Green Cross Ivory Cost, the Green Cross focal point for Africa in the Rio+10 process, was represented by its Executive Director, Mr. Mahika Koffi Mathieu.

The final aim of its meeting was the adoption of two documents: the evaluation of progress accomplished since the Rio Earth Summit, and a Ministerial statement. The final ministerial session was preceded by three others meetings: an expert meeting, a business workshop, and an NGO forum.

GC Ivory Cost participated in the NGO forum. The forum made 14 propositions to African governments and expressed six civil society's commitments.

The propositions concerned the following issues:

  1. To suppress the African debt and to fight against corruption;


  2. To make the reduction of poverty a priority;


  3. To open discussions on the New African Initiative, with the participation of civil society and major groups;


  4. To implement a constraining legal instrument relating to the principle 10 of the Rio declaration, particularly free access to information, participation in decision-making, and access To justice;


  5. To award a percentage of the budget to the fight against HIV/AIDS and other transmitted diseases, and create mechanisms for better access to medicine;


  6. To reinforce multilateral financing mechanisms to assist African governments and civil society on their way To achieving sustainable development;


  7. To ensure equitable distribution of national and international resources;


  8. To take action for the management of all conflicts in Africa and to promote democratic governments;


  9. To better integrate young people in all aspects of sustainable development, as a tool of peace promotion in internal conflicts;


  10. To ensure civil society participation in the elaboration and implementation of environmental programs;


  11. To develop Commissions on Sustainable Development (CSDs) in all countries, at the national and regional level;


  12. to ratify and implement the Protocol on Biosafety, and put pressure on other governments to ratify and implement other Conventions, such as the Convention to Combat Desertification, the Kyoto Protocol, and ILO Conventions;


  13. To support financially and materially civil society and to help its integration into development projects;


  14. To recognise the legitimacy of civil society organisations, as an essential partner in sustainable development.


  15. To work with each government as a partner in sustainable development;


  16. To reinforce the participation of civil society, mainly by sharing of information;


  17. To implement partnership with the other actors involved in sustainable development;


  18. To promote professionalism within civil society;


  19. To ameliorate co-ordination in civil society activities;


  20. To promote exchange of knowledge between the different organisations of civil society.

Ministerial meeting:

The aim of the ministerial meeting was to assess progress accomplished, to discern obstacles, and to determine domains where further efforts are needed and issues that challenge the implementation of Agenda 21 in Africa. It took into consideration causes of concern of industrial sector and civil society, and highlighted 26 priority domains of action. Among these domains of action were good governance, access to safe water and sanitation services, proliferation of small arms and issues of civil conflicts and war, access to education and knowledge, and management of chemical products.

More than producing a ministerial document, this kind of meeting offers opportunity for NGOs, international organisations and governments to exchange their views and sensitise other stakeholders to issues of concern. Regular exchange of this kind is fundamental for a good understanding of each other's position, and to find and implement efficient actions and solutions.