The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is organizing the second session of the Committee on Development Information, Science and Technology (CODIST) from 2 to 5 may 2011 at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the theme: Innovation for Africa’s industrial development.

The Committee  on Development Information, Science and Technology (CODIST) is one of the seven subsidiary bodies of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)  composed of senior officials and experts from member States who meet on  a biennial basis. The role of CODIST is to review challenges and issues pertaining   to   the   ICT,  Science,  Technology  and  Innovation  (STI), Geo-Information  as  well  as  Libraries  and Information Services sectors;
formulate   policies   and   strategies  to  address  Africa’s  development challenges;  and determine priorities to be reflected in the work programme of the ICT, Science and Technology Division of ECA.

CODIST-II  will bring together Member States delegates  in the field of the ICT,  Science,  Technology and Innovation (STI), Geo-Information as well as Libraries  and Information Services and other experts to explore the extent to  which African countries have harnessed innovation to enhance industrial development  on  the  continent,  and to advise the Economic Commission for Africa  (ECA)  in  these areas. CODIST-II will also review progress made by
the Commission  and member States towards implementing the recommendations of CODIST-I.

Who should attend?

Official Delegates

These are  persons designated and sponsored by a Member State to represent and speak on the member State’s behalf.

Observers

States   that   are,  not  members  of  the  Commission,  intergovernmental organizations,  academic institutions and research centres, agencies of the United  Nations  and  non-governmental organizations, stakeholders, experts in  any  substantive  field  (ICT, Geo-information, science and technology, libraries  and  Information  Services)  within CODIST’s purview who are not official  delegates  are  cordially  invited  to  participate as observers.
Observers are responsible for all their travel and subsistence costs.

Exhibitors

Persons, organizations, or corporate entities that have products, services, or information to exhibit and are invited to attend as exhibitors.

Additional information is available on : www.uneca.org/codist, Please send all correspondence related to this meeting to codist@uneca.org