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Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau
In decision 2002/304 of 25 October 2002, the Economic and
Social Council established the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on
Guinea-Bissau. The Group is composed of the Permanent Representatives
of South Africa (Chairman), Brazil, Guinea-Bissau, the Netherlands
and Portugal. The President of the Economic and Social Council,
the Chairman of the Group of Friends of Guinea-Bissau and
the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Working Group of the Security
Council on Conflict Prevention and Resolution in Africa,
also take part in its work.
The first action of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau
was to set up a series of consultations with national stakeholders
and development partners of Guinea-Bissau in New York and
Washington. A mission to the country was organized in November
2002 and the Ad Hoc Advisory Group submitted its first report
to the Council on 10 January 2003 (E/2003/8).
In that report, the Group recommended a partnership approach
between the authorities of Guinea-Bissau and the international
community, under which the authorities would work on the
promotion of the rule of law and political stability, while
international development partners would provide emergency
financial support and technical assistance in various fields.
The Group recommended the establishment of an Emergency
Economic Management Fund (EEMF), to be managed by UNDP,
to channel international assistance. It also made recommendations
for the long-term development of the country.
On 28 January 2003, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group organized
a meeting between the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Guinea-Bissau
and the Minister of Economy and Finance of Guinea-Bissau
with donors and the Bretton Woods institutions which focused
on the establishment of the partnership approach between
the Government and the donor community. This approach was
endorsed by the Economic and Social Council in resolution
2003/1 of 31 January 2003 and was subsequently advocated
by the Group.
The second visit to Guinea-Bissau of the Ad Hoc Advisory
Group took the format of a joint mission with the Security
Council in late 2003. This was the first time in the history
of the United Nations that such a joint mission had taken
place. The objectives of the mission were to promote dialogue
with the authorities of Guinea-Bissau, to appeal to the
Government to take measures to prepare for the forthcoming
elections, to promote better understanding between the authorities
and donors and to address the humanitarian situation in
the country.
This Group continued its work during the crises caused
by the resignation of President Kumba Yala in September
2003 and the establishment of the transitional government.
The Ad Hoc Advisory Group issued a statement, which called
on donors to consider extending emergency assistance to
Guinea-Bissau to enable it to return to democratic rule
and to address the deteriorating socio-economic situation.
On 17 November 2003, it followed up on this statement by
hosting an informal dialogue between the Transitional President
of Guinea-Bissau, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, United
Nations entities, the Bretton Woods institutions and major
donors, in order to discuss ways of providing emergency
support to the Transitional Government.
In a report to the Economic and Social Council (E/2004/10),
the Group provided an account of international donor support
to Guinea-Bissau, including on the Emergency Economic Management
Fund (EEMF) set up to channel financial assistance of donors
to Guinea-Bissau and which is managed by the UNDP. The establishment
of this fund was recommended in the Group's initial report.
The report also stressed that the Emergency Economic Management
Plan and the budget for 2004 set-up by the Government with
support from the Bretton Woods institutions, the African
Development Bank and UNDP, were elaborated with explicit
reference to the partnership approach proposed by the Group.
With successful legislative elections in March 2004, the
Ad Hoc Advisory Group issued a statement on 6 April in which
it congratulated the people of Guinea-Bissau and called
for broad donor support to Guinea-Bissau, including through
contributions to the Emergency Economic Management Fund
managed by UNDP, in order to respond to the pressing needs
of the population.
On 18 November 2004, the President of the Economic and
Social Council and the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group
were invited to address the Security Council at a private
meeting on the situation in Guinea-Bissau and to present
the work carried out by those bodies on development support
to the country.
The second joint mission to Guinea-Bissau by the Security
Council and the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau was
held on 25 to 28 June 2004. In a supplementary report (E/2004/92)
to the Council in July 2004, the Group highlighted the positive
developments it witnessed in Guinea-Bissau, including major
improvements in the management of public finances and a
strong commitment to the partnership approach developed
in 2003. The Group also addressed the future challenges
and constraints that could have ramifications on the country's
transition from crisis to sustainable development, including
the need for capacity-building and broader support by the
international community to this country.
On the occasion of the General Debate of the 59th session
of the General Assembly, H.E. Mr. Henrique Pereira Rosa,
Transitional President of Guinea-Bissau, visited the United
Nations and also met with the ECOSOC Ad Hoc Advisory Group
on 24 September 2004. The discussion focused on recent development
in the country and how to channel additional donor support
to assist the country in its postconflict reconstruction
efforts. Furthermore, and as a token of appreciation, the
Transitional president of Guinea-Bissau, presented a presidential
degree to Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, Chairman of the Ad
Hoc Advisory Groups on Guinea-Bissau.
On 11 October 2004, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau
issued a statement in response to the revolt of elements
of the Armed Forces caused by salary arrears, poor conditions
in their barracks and other aspects of conditions of service.
In its statement, the Ad Hoc Advisory Group expressed deep
regret over events in the country. The Group called on the
International Community to continue to support Guinea-Bissau,
especially with emerging budgetary support and restructuring
of the armed forces. It also expressed confidence that the
country is moving in the right direction.
At its 2005 and 2006 substantive sessions, the Council extended the mandate of the Ad Hoc Advisory on Guinea-Bissau . (See resolution 2005/32 of 26 July 2005 and 2006/11 of 26 July 2006)
Reports
- Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 18 April 2006, E/2006/8
- Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, 2 June 2005, E/2005/70
- Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 23 December 2004, E/2005/8
- Supplementary Report by the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 9 July 2004, E/2004/92
- Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 6 February 2004, E/2004/10
- Supplementary Report by the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 3 July 2003, E/2003/95
- Report of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 10 January 2003, E/2003/8
Resolutions
- Resolution 2006/11, Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 26 July 2006
- Resolution 2005/32, Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 26 July 2005
- Resolution 2005/2, Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, 1 March 2005
- Resolution 2004/61, Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, 23 July 2004
- Resolution 2004/1, Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau , 3 May 2004
- Resolution 2003/53, Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, 24 July 2003
- Resolution 2003/1, Ad Hoc Advisory Group on Guinea-Bissau, 31 January 2003
Decisions
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