Following is the text of a letter sent to all Member States on 10 May 2001:

Subsequent to the debate in the General Assembly in November 1998, on the report of the Secretary General entitled, The Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa (A/52/871-S/1998/318) an Open-Ended Ad Hoc Working Group on the Causes of Conflict and the Promotion of Durable Peace and Sustainable Development in Africa was created by General Assembly resolution A/RES/53/92 to monitor the implementation of the recommendations made in the Secretary-General's report.

The Working Group met during the Fifty-fourth Session and its report (A/55/45) was endorsed by the General Assembly, which extended its mandate to the Fifty-sixth Session (A/RES/55/217), agenda item 50. At its organizational session on 20 March 2001, the Group decided to examine in more detail progress being made in the implementation of the recommendations of the Secretary General in the areas of Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding and Education.

Regional Organizations, UN agencies and programs, UN Secretariat that play a critical role in the area of Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding or Education have been invited to provide the Working Group with information on the progress made in implementing the specific proposals of the Secretary General contained in his report. Based on the information received the secretariat will be preparing a matrix to illustrate the progress made so far.

In order to facilitate its work, the Group will utilize a "Hearings" format with interactive dialogue with relevant United Nations system agencies/organizations, regional organizations, Member-States and individuals on the two specific areas of focus. During the Hearings, a keynote address will be made by a leading organization involved in these issues.

During the first days of each thematic discussion an informal non-governmental organization (NGO) session will be organized during the lunch hour so that NGOs could also present their contribution to implementing the Secretary General's report. This informal session is open to Member States and UN system and NGOs.

Tuesday, 29 May

The matrix on the implementation of the recommendations of the Secretary-General's report, dealing with the theme of "Education", will be presented by the Secretariat together with an issues paper on the subject. A keynote address on this theme will be delivered followed by a panel discussion on this theme, followed by an interactive debate, including possible presentation of additional information from Member States.

During lunchtime, there will be an informal NGO session highlighting their activities/ initiatives in this area, followed by interactive debate.

Wednesday, 30 May

The Working Group will be briefed about the discussions at the NGO informal session on Education. This will be followed by continuation of the inter-active debate on the theme.

Thursday, 31 May

The matrix on the implementation of the recommendations of the Secretary-General's report, relating to the thematic area of "Conflict prevention and post-conflict peace-building", together with an issues paper on the subject, will be presented. A keynote address on this theme will be delivered highlighting the activities/ initiatives in conflict prevention, including early warning, and peace building and security and stability in Africa. There will be a panel discussion on the above theme, followed by an interactive debate, including possible presentation of additional information from Member States.

There will also be an informal NGO session on the theme during lunchtime, followed by general discussion.

Friday, 1 June

The Working Group will be briefed about the discussions of the NGO informal briefing session on the theme of "Conflict prevention and post-conflict peace-building This will be followed by a question and answer session and end with a summary of the main conclusions of the session.