SEMINAR ON RESTORING GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY CONCLUDES IN ROME
Press Release
DEV/2102
SEMINAR ON RESTORING GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY CONCLUDES IN ROME
19960319 The interregional seminar on restoring government administrative machinery in situations of conflict was held in Rome from 13 to 15 March. It was attended by some 50 participants, including government Ministers and senior officials from Namibia, Liberia, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, the Palestinian Authority, Angola, South Africa and Azerbaijan. Senior United Nations representatives from offices responsible for Cambodia and Somalia were also in attendance.Issues raised at the seminar included the tendency of emergency response to take precedence over the development dimension and neglect of root causes and capacity-building. The country representatives underlined the uniqueness of the specific conflict situation of each country and appealed to the donor community to adopt a holistic approach in addressing the issue of administrative rebuilding, as well as to support governance systems.
Country papers underlined models promoted at the national and local levels for engaging civil society actors as well as for devolution of authority. Other aspects examined included the reintegration of combatants and the need for peaceful cohabitation and the transition from peace-keeping and peace-enforcement to consolidation of a viable administrative machinery.
The responsibility of national governments and the international community for ensuring coordination of efforts in a constant partnership was emphasized. An appeal was also made to the donor community to reduce demands on the limited human resources available to post-conflict governments. The role of the United Nations in coordinating the funding procedures of multiple donors was seen as crucial to the success of post-conflict development efforts.
Among the priority issues discussed that were considered central to the rebuilding of the administrative machinery were: creating security and stabilizing the immediate situation through mitigation of the effects of war; rapid rebuilding of the economy through stimulating investments which would lead to job creation; and establishing governance systems that strive towards consultation, consensus-building, communication, mediation and reconciliation.
The participants also addressed the issue of viewing the post-conflict situation a challenge for initiating reforms. For example, the post-conflict
- 2 - Press Release DEV/2102 19 March 1996
period could be used to address streamlining procedures and establishing accountability systems in the civil service. Management training at the central and local community levels should also be addressed as a major priority.
The involvement of civil society was considered a countervailing force to the recurrence of violence. Support to the building of a civilian police force and judicial system was acknowledged and judged as initial ingredients for the successful implementation of a reintegration program.
The seminar succeeded in the objective of examining strategies which would assist governments in the formulation and administration of their reconstruction programmes. The findings will be further articulated in a series of recommendations to be submitted to the General Assembly resumed session regarding the role of the United Nations in mobilizing the international community to assist states in transforming crisis situations into constructive development.
* *** *