AFRICA MILLENNIUM INTERNATIONAL PROJECT

AFRICA MILLENNIUM INTERNATIONAL PROJECT
www.milafrica.org

Fourth Session of the Independent Commission on "Africa and the Challenges
of the Third Millennium" - Accra (Ghana) - 28-29 May 2001

The Fourth Session of the Independent Commission will be held on Monday 28
and Tuesday 29 May in Accra on the theme "Science and Technology : Bridging the
Knowledge Gap" under the chairmanship of His Excellency Alhadji Aliu Mahama,
Vice President of Ghana. Jointly organised by the Independent Commission on
Africa and the United Nations University (Institute for Natural Resources in
Africa) with support of UNESCO and UNDP. About 40 participants made up of
University intellectuals, scientists and researchers from the Continent and
the Diaspora will take part in the Conference. The Conference will in the main
deliberate on issues that are critical for the sustainable development of
the continent. Among these are:

- The creation of a favorable environment for the return of African
scientists actually scattered all over the world.

- The strengthening of African human resources in the fields of Science and
Technology and the integration of these resources into the global scientist
community.

- The development of African research capacity in science based especially
on existing knowledge and geared towards protection of the environment and of
the continent's natural resources.

- The gradual development of Africa's capacity to process and transform its
raw materials and all its natural resources so as to become a full and
independent actor in world trade.

- The need for Africa to control its future in the area of satellite
communication and participate in space research, a field in which African
competence do currently exist.

The Fourth Session of the Independent Commission will be the starting point
for a coalition of African scientists that will, among others, draw the map of a
network of "Centres of Excellence" on the Continent for research and
training in science and technology. Those centres will give opportunity to African
scientists to carry out innovative, quality research and interact with Africa's young scientists.

The opening ceremony of the conference will take place on Monday 28 May at
8:30 am at Accra International Conference Centre (Castle Road).

For more information, please contact :

Bernard VERSCHUEREN [email protected]
Africa Millennium Project (233-21) 77 53 60

Iddrisu SIDDIQ [email protected]
UNDP-Accra (233-21) 77 38 90 ou (233-24) 32 76 61