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Meeting Report

AFRICAN REGIONAL MEETING

This document provides a synthesis of the main discussions and recommendations of the African regional meeting of the programme on Management of Social Transformations, MOST, held at United Nations Centre at Gigiri, near Nairobi, Kenya, on 28-30 September 1995. The meeting was attended by senior scholars from 13 Member States of UNESCO. Report by the Secretariat (1) 1. The African regional meeting of the UNESCO programme on Management of Social Transformations (MOST) was held at United Nations Centre at Gigiri, near Nairobi, Kenya, on 28-30 September 1995. Table of Contents Objectives and expected outcomes Summary of presentations by the Secretariat Summary of presentations by participants Recommendations of Thematic Working Groups Working Group on Multi-ethnic and Multi-cultural Societies Working Group on Cities as Arenas for Social Transformations Working Group on Local-Global Interactions General evaluation of the meeting Follow-up by the Secretariat Annex 1. List of Participants Annex 2. Programme of work Objectives and expected outcomes 2. The overall objective of the meeting was to formally introduce the MOST programme to social science scholars from sub-Saharan Africa. The expected outcome was that a general consensus would emerge by the end of the meeting on an approach to be pursued by the programme in developing relevant activities in sub-Saharan Africa. 3. Delegates at the Inter-Governmental Council of MOST in Paris in July had recommended that the African regional meeting be held before the General Conference. The meeting had been planned and deferred a number of times due to lack of funds (previously it had been scheduled to be held at Dakar, Senegal, on 22-24 June 1995). Following a special allocation by the Executive Board through the so-called “Option-C” it became possible to hold the meeting. However, arrangements had to be finalized hurriedly, with invitations being sent out in early August for a meeting at the end of the following month. 4. Some 18 senior scholars from 13 Member States (Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, France, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire and Zimbabwe) and four UNESCO Staff members from Paris and Field Offices were able to attend (see Annex 1 for the list of participants).(2) In spite of a heavy programme of work (see Annex 2), the objectives of the meeting were realized to a reasonable extent. Moreover, many of the keynote papers presented at the meeting were of high a quality. These conclusions are consistent with the general evaluation conducted at the end of the meeting (see Annex 3 for the instrument used for this purpose).(3) 5. The meeting identified a number of concrete actions that could be undertaken by the MOST programme in sub-Saharan countries in the context of programme and thematic development in the region. The outline of these actions is provided below. The overall conclusion drawn by the Secretariat from this regional meeting is that the major thrust of MOST in sub-Saharan Africa should be on Theme 1 (“The Management of multi-cultural and multi-ethnic societies”), from the perspective of assisting Member States deal with the root causes of Africa's past and on-going ethnic conflicts and violence. A corollary to this is that such a targeted approach can also serve as a useful entry-point for encouraging relevant policy analyses across the other two thematic areas of the programme - on Theme Nº 2 (“Cities as arenas for social transformations”), as well as on Theme Nº 3 (“Coping locally and regionally with economic, technological and environmental transformations”). 6. The need to give more emphasis in MOST comparative policy research to the questions of the root causes of ethnic conflicts and violence was particularly underscored by a number of keynote papers on the increasing problem of urban violence in many African countries and the urgency of finding durable solutions to this menacing challenge. Moreover, it was also argued that Africa's links to the rest of the world (in economic, social, political and other terms) (the MOST programme's Theme Nº 3 on globalisation, or rather “local-global interactions”) could be unduly affected by unresolved ethnic tensions and conflicts. 7. These general conclusions would seem to draw credence from all recent policy assessments of Africa's contemporary situation, which have underlined the primacy of Africans themselves understanding the root causes of their ethnic conflicts and finding durable solutions to them, as preconditions of addressing their region's and their countries' other development problems. It is generally acknowledged that the substantial and often prolonged disruption of traditional economic activity, which is usually the aftermath of the catastrophic events such as have been witnessed recently in Rwanda, Somalia and in a number of other African countries, has the further consequence of undermining the capacities of the African countries to address the underlying social and economic problems of social exclusion which are, in the first place, often the root causes of ethnic conflicts and violence. From the foregoing, therefore, it can be concluded that a meaningful programme of social development in the African countries cannot be implemented without a more rigorous effort to eliminate or minimize the impact of ethnic conflicts. Summary of presentations by the Secretariat 8. Introductory remarks by the Secretariat outlined the rapid transformations which Africa and other regions of the world are experiencing and observed the timely emergence of a programme like MOST concerned with charting these changes and analysing their implications for different societies. The importance of identifying and outlining the burning issues in each thematic area was noted, particularly what participants of the meeting might consider to be the major gaps in existing policy knowledge. It was observed that inter-ethnic and inter-cultural differences are more often the grounds for engaging in conflict than for “celebrating ethnic and cultural diversity”. But what could African countries do to create polities in which democracy could triumph? How could they ensure that “national consciousness” replaces “ethnic identity” as a force in political mobilization? 9. On the urban theme of MOST, the Secretariat noted the high urbanisation rate in Africa and its implications in various domains, for example, on governance and on the capacities of local city administrations and Governments to provide basic services and infrastructures. [In 1960, only 15% of the African population lived in cities; by 1992 the number had risen to 30%; by the year 2000, it is expected to have reached 34%.] As result, the high rate of urbanization is not only making cities in Africa greater “arenas for social transformations” - in the sense of being the loci of heightened awareness - but also of “heightened agitation”. 10. On the third theme of MOST (on local-global interactions), the Secretariat outlined a number of processes which suggest that technology and the market have indeed become global forces. Among the processes cited were the increasing interconnectedness of the world economy, the growing integration of financial markets, the increasingly widespread dissemination of technological progress, the cross-border nature of environmental problems, the relentless spread of pandemics and even the globalisation of crime (e.g., drug-trafficking, terrorism and illegal trade in armaments). 11. It was noted that while some of these processes represented new opportunities for all countries, at the same time, some of the important aspects and dynamics were “beyond the control of any single country”, hence the justification for greater scientific and other efforts in relevant areas. It was argued that the work carried out under this theme of the MOST programme could hopefully contribute to a better understanding of the global phenomena. It was observed that, the programme could seek to encourage the analysis of the impact and consequences of the radical changes that are occurring, particularly on the less-industrial countries of Africa who must compete in the global market-place not only with the more-industrial countries but also with all the other countries as well, according to the prevailing or emerging “rules of the game”. Summary of presentations by participants 12. During the first two days of the meeting, lead presentations examined interactions between different ethnic communities from the vantage point of the recent experience of a number of African countries: a historiography of ethnicity, nationalism and democracy in Africa's multi-ethnic and multi-cultural States, by Professor B. Ogot (Kenya) [recent former President of the UNESCO General Conference]; ethnic conflict in Rwanda (and to some extent in Kenya and Uganda), by Mr. C. Asowa-Okwe (Uganda); ethnic conflict in Burundi and Rwanda, by Professor P. Rutake (Burundi); ethnic diversity and national integration, by Professor P. Nkwi (Cameroon); the State and the management of ethnic conflicts with a special focus on Rwanda and Burundi, by Professor D. Kamukama (Uganda); the politics of colonization, the post-colonial State and ethnicity, by Dr. O. Selolwane (Botswana); Afrikaner nationalism and race ideology in South Africa, by Dr. L. Sakarai (South Africa); and the emergence of sects, 'syncretic movements' and other fundamentalist groups in a number of countries of Central Africa, by Professor E. Wamba-dia-Wamba (Zaire). 13. The presentations and discussion on ethnic conflict and violence around the MOST programme's Theme 1 were well complemented by several expositions on the same phenomena around Theme 2 on cities: on urban conflict, crime and policing in South African cities, by Mr. M. Shaw (South Africa); a typology of violence, by Mr. Y. Marguerat (France); and overview of pertinent research and policy issues on urban violence in Africa, by Dr. O. Albert (Nigeria). 14. Four other presentations on the urban theme were concerned with a multiplicity of issues: poverty and social exclusion in Dakar, by Dr. A. Ndiaye (Senegal); the evolution and growth of the City of Conakry in Guinea, by Professor S. Sampil (Guinea); population growth, poverty and environmental problems in African cities, by Ms. M. Francis (Zimbabwe); and the activities of the Community Peace Foundation of South Africa, by Mr. [Councillor] D. Dlali (South Africa). Mr. D. Lamba (Kenya), a member of the Scientific Steering Committee of MOST, and the Executive Director of a well known NGO (Mazingira Institute) specializing in urban development issues, chaired one of the sessions on the urban theme. Recommendations of Thematic Working Groups 15. Participants constituted themselves into three groups, according to the themes of the MOST programme. Reports of the Working Groups were presented in the final plenary session. Working Group on Multi-ethnic and Multi-cultural Societies CHAIR: PROFESSOR KAMUKAMA (UGANDA) 16. Widen the institutional base for collaboration. A cross-section of African institutions was identified with whom the MOST programme could collaborate. The following centres were specifically mentioned: the Centre for Basic Research, Kampala, Uganda; the International Centre for Applied Social Sciences, Yaounde, Cameroun; the Regional Centre for Research Training for Peace, Democracy and Development, with offices in both Burundi and Rwanda; the “Nairobi Peace Initiative”, Nairobi, Kenya; the University of Natal, Durban (Mary de Haars); the Pan African Association of Anthropologists, Yaounde, Cameroun (with 350 affiliated associations in some 43 countries). 17. Enhance the presence of African scholars on the Scientific Steering Committee. The contribution of African scholars should be strengthened in two specific ways: first, by increasing their presence on the Committee, and second, by setting up a sub-committee to review African projects and proposals before they are actually submitted to the UNESCO Secretariat. 18. Establish an Ethno-Network. The MOST programme should assist African scholars in establishing an “Ethno-Network”. It was felt that such an action would add an important African scholarly contribution to the existing initiatives in the region concerned with ethnic conflict and conflict resolution. The proposed network would have the following goals and objectives: monitor and study ethnic conflicts; coordinate the activities of concerned parties in conflict areas; contribute to minimizing and resolving conflicts; use the available information or data to provide “early warnings” of latent conflicts and conflict areas; provide a nucleus in each African country to focus on ethnic conflict and to liaise with other groups (through reports, workshops, symposia, conferences, etc.). 19. Support a planning workshop. The MOST programme should organize a major workshop in six months, preferably in a “conflict area”, in order to provide a forum in a realistic context in which African researchers, NGOs and other representatives of civil society could conceive a relevant research agenda as well as instruments of monitoring and resolving ethnic conflicts. It was suggested that such a workshop could facilitate planning and designing the activities of the proposed Ethno Network; analysing pertinent issues and proposing a meaningful follow-up; designing policy studies and assessments on ethnicity, culture, nationalism and the incorporation into university social science teaching curricula of such subjects at both the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Working Group on Cities as Arenas for Social Transformations CHAIR: DR. SAKARAI (SOUTH AFRICA) 20. Devise more rigorous conceptual frameworks. The working group appreciated the role of cities, noting that they are “gateways of innovation”. However, it was indicated that scholars should avoid being just “descriptive”. In other words, there should be more analytical scholarly work on cities. There was also a call for historical studies to situate the city in its overall national setting and in the State formation. The State was viewed as central in the understanding of the city. It was observed that it is “what the State conceives 'the City' to be at a given time that actually determines the shape of the City”. 21. Encourage inter-disciplinary approaches. It was argued that understanding the city requires a “multi-disciplinary approach”. The existing modes of production in the city had to be better understood and analysed. In this context, therefore, it was observed that the marginalized elements of the city (ghettos, slums, the informal sector or the so-called “parallel economy”) are, in fact, a necessary and important “support system”. In each national context, therefore, it is necessary to understand better the “causes” as well as the actual forms of “exclusion” or “inclusion”. It was claimed that this is an important public policy matter since inclusion or exclusion are sooner or later the causes of conflict and violence within most cities. 22. Support research and policy analyses in a number of areas. The MOST programme should support social science research and policy analyses in a few well chosen areas: on the nature and form of inclusion or exclusion in cities; on urban social movements; on subsistence-sector production by the family (particularly on the role women and children in the informal sector, the parallel economy, etc.); on the nature, magnitude and root causes of the increasing urban violence in many African countries. Working Group on Local-Global Interactions CHAIR: DR. SELOLWANE (BOTSWANA) 23. Conceptual development of Theme 3. A number of measures should be taken by MOST for the further development of the theme “local-global interactions”, including the following: organize a regional seminar focussing on issues in this area and bringing together scholars who have been working on pertinent concerns. Such a workshop should be organized before the proposed international meeting on globalisation so as to ensure an effective contribution by African scholars and institutions; commission a background paper to provide a conceptual framework and a general elaboration of the central issues in local-global interactions; identify sub-themes to be developed in papers to be presented at the proposed workshop; propose a group of potential participants for such a workshop. 24. Contextualize research and policy analysis. The proposed workshop could focus attention on a number of areas that are considered important to African countries, and which could themselves become useful trajectories of research and policy analysis, including: the increasing marginalization of the African countries in the world's economic and political scene; the impact of structural adjustment reforms on the social fabric of African societies; the recent world summits (Rio on the environment; Vienna on human rights; Cairo on population; Copenhagen on social development; and Beijing on women) and their promise and limitations in addressing Africa's social and economic problems; the role of new information technologies in different industrial contexts and what they portend for the African economies; the contribution of national universities to R&D including science and technology in general and new information technologies in particular; the changing employment regimes and human resource development implications of globalisation; social, cultural and political dimensions of globalisation; the impact of globalisation on inter-State relations. General evaluation of the meeting 25. A general evaluation undertaken at the end of the African regional meeting of MOST suggested that, in the view of the majority of the participants, the objectives of the meeting had been generally fulfilled. Most participants felt that both the presentations and the ensuing discussion had been of a high calibre. 26. However, as was expected, most participants felt that there had not been adequate time for discussion. While considerable attention had been devoted to the relevant issues pertaining to Theme 1 (on multi-ethnic and multi-cultural societies), and to some extent, to Theme 2 (on urbanization), there had not been sufficient opportunity to elaborate the pertinent questions relating to Theme 3 (on local-global interactions). [In fact, no keynote paper had been presented on this theme, other than by the Secretariat.] Participants had therefore recommended that future meetings of MOST in Africa should attempt to devote more attention to the latter two foci of the programme. 27. A number of participants had also expressed the view that the intended direction of the MOST programme could be aided by a “concept paper”, which does not exist at the moment, on the notion of “social transformations” which gives the programme its name. Follow-up by the Secretariat 28. The Secretariat will explore the feasibility of providing assistance to some of the actions recommended by the African regional meeting of MOST with funding from the core budget of the programme or from extra-budgetary sources. Particular attention will be given to supporting the proposed Ethno-Network to become a MOST project. Funding will also be sought for an African regional meeting on globalisation. In addition, encouragement will be given towards the development of a MOST project involving policy research and assessments on the theme of urban violence in Africa. Thus, it is hoped that at least two major MOST projects will be developed in Africa. 29. Moreover, since many of the papers presented at the meeting were of a high quality, the Secretariat will shortly publish the best ones as MOST Discussion Papers, to be widely disseminated by UNESCO. These papers will be issued in both English and French. ANNEX 1 List of participants Mr. Davinder Lamba Executive Director Mazingira Institute P.O. Box 14550 Nairobi, KENYA Fax: +254(2)444.643 (Phone: +254(2)443.219/29) Internet: Mazingira@elci.gn.aps.org Dr. Winnie V. Mitullah University of Nairobi Institute for Development Studies P.O. ox 30197 Nairobi, KENYA Fax: +254(2)222.036 (Phone: +254(2)334.244 Ext. 28177) Prof. B.A. Ogot Maseno University Private Bag Maseno, KENYA Fax: (035)51.221, 51.153 (Phone: (035)51.011, 51.622, 51.008 Dr. Olawale Albert University of Ibadan Institute of African Studies Ibadan, NIGERIA c/o Fax: +234(2)810.40.77 Mr. C. Asowa-Okwe Centre for Basic Research 15 Baskerville Av., Kololo Hill M.P.B. 9863 Kampala, UGANDA Fax: 256(41)235.413 Mr. Abdourahmane Ndiaye Faculté de Sciences Economiques et de Gestion B.P. 5005 Dakar Fann, SENEGAL Fax: (221)246.031 (Phone: (221)248.992) domicile Professor P. Nchoji Nkwi President Pan African Association of Anthropologists (A.A.A) B.P. 1862 Yoaunde, CAMEROON Fax: +(237)239.479, 221.873 (Phone +(237)234.242) E-Mail: ICASSRT@CAM.HEALTHNET.ORG Prof. P. Rutake CURDES B.P. 1049 Bujumbura, BURUNDI Fax: 228.072 Prof. Dixon Kamukama Makerere University Department of History P.O. Box 7062 Kampala, UGANDA Phone: 531.841 Ms. Monica Francis Institute of Development Studies Department of International Relations and Social Development Studies University of Zimbabwe P.O. Box M.P. 167, Mt. Pleasant Harare, ZIMBABWE Fax: +263(4)333.345 (Phone: +263(4)333.341 Ext. 211 Mr. Mark Shaw Crime and Policing Project Institute of Defence Policy Constatina Square 240 Old Pretoria Road P.O. Box 4167 Halfway House, 1685 SOUTH AFRICA Fax: 27-11 315.70.99 (Phone: 315.70.96) Prof. Saliou Sampil Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la recherche scientifique B.P. 2201 Conakry, GUINEA Phone: 413.255 Mr. Yves Marguerat Directeur de recherche ORSTOM (LSS) F93143 BONDY Cedex FRANCE Fax: (1)48.47.30.88 (Phone: (1)46.61.02.51) Dr. Onalenna Selolwane University of Botswana Private Bag 0022 Gaborone, BOTSWANA Fax: (267)356.591 (Phone: (267)351.151 Ext. 2052) E-Mail: Selolwan@noka.ub.bw Prof. M. Sejanamane* Southern African Regional Institute for Policy Studies 4 Dreary Avenue, Delgravia P.O. Box MP 111, Mt. Pleasant Harare, ZIMBABWE Fax: 732.735 (Phone: 727.875) * From January 1996 The National University of Lesotho P.O. Roma 180 LESOTHO Fax: (266)340.000 (Phone: (266)340.601) Dr. Lawrence J. Sakarai School of Government University of Western Cape Private Bag X17 Bellville Western Cape SOUTH AFRICA Fax: +(27 21)959.22.08 (Phone: +(27 21)959.31.89/32.07) E-Mail: Lawrence@EMS.UWC.AC.ZA Mr. David Dlali or 44 Wall Street Community Peace Foundation Cape Town 8000 Cape Town P.O. Box 16548 SOUTH AFRICA Fax: (021)487.26.37 Fax: +(27 21)448.15.66 Phone: (021)487.20.55/20.11 Prof. E. Wamba-dia-Wamba University of Dar es Salaam P.O. Box 35050 Dar es Salaam, TANZANIA Fax: (255-51)467.54 (Phone: (255-51)433.97 E-Mail: WAMBA@UDSM UCC.GN.APC.ORG UNESCO PARTICIPANTS Mr. T. Ngakoutou Regional Adviser for Social and Human Sciences in Africa UNESCO Regional Office for Education 12 Av. Roume P.O. Box 3311 DAKAR, SENEGAL Fax: (221)238.393 (Phone: (221)235.082 E-Mail: UHTIM Ms. C. Marias UNESCO Windhoek Office Sub-Regional Adviser for Social and Human Sciences Private Bag 24519 Windhoek, NAMIBIA Fax: 223.651 (Phone: 264-61-200-2140) E-Mail: Carrie@Marias.alt.na Mr. J. Nkinyangi UNESCO Sector of Social and Human Sciences Division of Social Sciences, Research and Policy 1, rue Miollis 75732 PARIS Cedex 15 FRANCE Fax: 33(1)40.65.98.71 (Phone: 33(1)45.68.38.37) Mr. Paul B. Vitta Director UNESCO Nairobi Office P.O. Box 30592 Nairobi, KENYA Fax: 254(2)215.991 (Phone: 254(2)622.356) E-Mail: UHVIT INTERPRETERS Mrs. Jimka Paschkoff P.O. Box 34464 Nairobi, KENYA Fax: 254(2)750.035 (Phone: 254(2)750.929/750.036) Mr. Eloy Molinero P.O. Box 30677 Nairobi, KENYA Phone: 254(2)522.033 (Home) 254(2)521.450 (Office) Lucas M. Amuri Conference Interpreter (E.S.I.T.) Sorbonne Graduate P.O. Box 54708 Nairobi, KENYA Fax: 254(2)562.214 (Phone: 254(2)564.000) ANNEX 2 Programme of work UNESCO African regional meeting of MOST United Nations Centre, Gigiri, Kenya 28-30 September 1995 Programme of work Thursday, 28 September 09.30 - 10.30 Opening session Welcome and introductory remarks Mr. P. Vitta, Director, UNESCO Office, Nairobi Overview of the MOST programme Goals, objectives and expected outcomes of the meeting Mr. J. Nkinyangi, Sector of Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO, Paris 10.30 - 11.00 Break 11.00 - 13.00 Presentations and discussion: MOST's Theme Nº 1 - “Multi-ethnic and multi-cultural societies” Chair: Prof. P. Nkwi (Cameroon) Prof. B. Ogot (Kenya): “Ethnicity, nationalism and democracy in multi-ethnic and multi-cultural states - A historiography” Mr. C. Asowa-Okwe (Uganda): “Ethnicity, culture and the challenges of social transformations in Africa: Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in comparative perspective” Prof. P. Rutake (Burundi): 13.00 - 14.30 “Les conflits ethniques au Burundi et au Rwanda” 14.30 - 15.45 Lunch break 15.45 - 16.00 Discussion: MOST's Theme Nº 1 (cont'd) 16.00 - 17.00 Break Discussion: MOST's Theme Nº 1 (cont'd) 18.30 - 20.30 Reception in honour of participants (Hotel Boulevard, Swimming Pool area) Friday, 29 September 09.00 - 10.30 Presentations and discussion: MOST's Theme Nº 1 - “Multi-ethnic and multi-cultural societies” (cont'd) Chair: Dr. W. Mitullah (Kenya) Prof. P. Nkwi (Cameroon): “Ethnic diversity and national integration in Africa: A re-assessment” Prof. D. Kamukama (Uganda): “The State and management of ethnic conflicts: The case of Rwanda and Burundi” Dr. O. Selolwane (Botswana): “Colonization, post-colonial State and ethnicity” Dr. L. Sakarai (South Africa): “Afrikaner nationalism, race ideology and 10.30 - 10.45 Apartheid” 10.45 - 13.00 Break Discussion: MOST's Theme Nº 1 (cont'd) 13.00 - 14.30 14.30 - 15.45 Lunch Presentations and discussion: MOST's Theme Nº 2 - “Cities as arenas for social transformations” Chair: Mr. D. Dlali (South Africa) Dr. O. Albert (Nigeria): “Urban violence in Africa: Pertinent research and policy issues” Mr. M. Shaw (South Africa): “Urban conflict, crime and policing in South African cities” M. Y. Marguerat (France): “Les violences: Un essai de typologie” Friday, 29 September (cont'd) 15.45 - 16.00 Break 16.00 - 17.30 Presentations and discussion: MOST's Theme Nº 2 - “Cities as arenas for social transformations” (cont'd) Chair: Mr. D. Lamba (Kenya) Mr. D. Dlali (South Africa): “Outline of the activities of the Community Peace Foundation of South Africa” Dr. Abdourahmane Ndiaye (Senegal): “Esquisse de la pauvreté à Dakar” Ms. M. Francis (Zimbabwe): “Population growth, poverty and environmental problems in African cities” Prof. S. Sampil (Guinea): “La ville de Conakry en Guinée” Saturday, 30 September 08.30 - 10.15 Presentations and discussion (cont'd) Chair: J. Nkinyangi (UNESCO) Prof. E. Wamba-dia-Wamba (Zaire): “Sects and 'syncretic' movements: The Masiku movement in Central Africa” 10.15 - 10.30 Break 10.30 - 11.30 Presentation and discussion on MOST's Theme Nº 3: “Coping locally and regionally with economic, technological and environmental transformations” Mr. J. Nkinyangi (UNESCO): “Local/global interactions: A synopsis of some issues” Discussion Saturday, 30 September (Cont'd) 11.30 - 13.30 Working Groups Chairs: Prof. D. Kamukama (Uganda): Theme Nº 1 Dr. L. Sakarai (South Africa): Theme Nº 2 Dr. O. Selolwane (Botswana): Thème Nº 3 13.30 - 14.30 Final session Chairs: Mr. D. Lamba (Kenya) Mr. J. Nkinyangi (UNESCO) Reports of working groups Discussion Adoption of recommendations Closing remarks: Mr. J. Nkinyangi (UNESCO) NOTES 1. The French-language version of this document is in preparation. 2. The participants presented a cross-section of constituencies perceived to be important for the MOST programme including scholars from the major sub-regions of sub-Saharan Africa (West, Central, Eastern and Southern Africa); a number of the Member States of the Inter-Governmental Council of MOST (Cameroon, Guinea and Zimbabwe); Anglophone and Francophone countries; younger and more senior researchers; scholars representing different perspectives and worldviews; and academic associations. The working languages of the meeting were English and French. 3. A number of key scholars from Lusophone countries, notably Angola and Mozambique, who had confirmed participation, were unable to do so because of travel difficulties. Further, there was a comparatively smaller number of women than men participants, and although a serious attempt had been made at gender balance, the efforts of the Secretariat in this regard were not entirely successful.

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