   
Section on Regional Activities:
Africa
Report of Activities Regional Office 1999-2000
In accordance with the mandate given by IFLA and as stipulated in the statutes of the Association, the Regional Office, in coordination with the Standing Committee of the Africa Section , has undertaken a number of activities during the years 1999 and 2000. These activities were funded for each year through subsidies of 15 000 NLG for the Régional Office operating budget and 10 000 NLG for the organisation of the annual Regional Standing Committee meeting.. These budgets are provided to the Regional office by IFLA HQ.
The Regional Office is housed in the main library of the Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, Senegal. Mr Henri SENE, the University librarian is the Regional Manager, with an assistant Mrs Antoinette Correa, from the Library School of Dakar University.
The main tasks of the Regional Office are :
- to work in close cooperation with the Africa Section in order to serve as an effective link between IFLA African members, the Regional Section, IFLA HQ and other bodies interrested by IFLA activities in the region
- to publish regularly a newsletter focused on IFLA activities in Africa.
- to circulate IFLA publications and information on IFLA activities among the members in the region.
- to manage the african projects proposed by Africa Section and funded through the ALP programme or other sources of funding.
- to give all informations about IFLA in Africa.
In 1999 and 2000 the Regional Office published four issues of the Regional Newsletter. In 1999 (n°17 - 18) and in 2000 (n° 19 - 20). 350 copies of the Newsletter were sent out to national associations, national libraries, library schools and some other institutions and individuals in the region. Copies were also sent to IFLA HQ, ALP Programme and some institutions in Europe and US. Publication and circulation of this Newsletter are one of the priority of the Regional Office which consequently strives to ensure its regular publication.
The Regional Office was responsible for the logistical arrangements for the annual meetings of the Standing Committee of the Africa Section. These meetings took place in Lomé, Togo (1999) and Rabat, Morocco (2000).
Regional Office had to plan the meetings with the officers of the Section, send air tickets to each members of the Standing Committee and make all arrangements with local organisers for the holding of the meetings : venue, hotel accomodation, local transport, etc.
The Regional Office was also in charge of the management of the Bart Nwafor Staff Development Programme. The aim of this programme funded by NORAD is to enable south-south cooperation in the field of the training of human ressources for the libraries in the region.
In cooperation with the ALP Programme and libraries in Africa the Regional Office organised the travels and the stay of the Bart Nwafor fellows in their host institutions. These fellows was selected by the Africa Section during his annual meetings. Six grantees in 1999 and five in 2000 have benefited of this programme. These grantees came from Zambia, Nigeria, Morocco, Kenya, Cameroun, Ethiopia, Ghana and Uganda. The Regional Office is responsible of the reception of applications forms of the candidates, contacts with the host institutions, contacts with the grantees and ALP Office in Uppsala, and the booking of tickets for the grantees, and reception of their report after their four weeks training.
In close cooperation with the officers of the ALP Programme, the Regional Office is responsible of the dissemination of information on ALP Programme and the reception of the projects proposals coming from all parts of the region. In 1999 and 2000 the Regional Office has sent five projects to the ALP Programme and to the members of the Standing Committee in the region.
In 1999-2000, Regional Office has been involved in the management of the Danida Travel Grants in the region : dissemination of information, management of applications forms and selection of candidates.
The Regional Office carried out also administrative tasks : exchange of correspondance by mail or e.mail with IFLA HQ, with the members of Standing Committee, individuals and institutions in the region and abroad. Information sent by Regional Office are mainly on ALP Programme, Bart Nwafor fellowship, IFLA conferences and membership procedures..
Regional Office has also in charge to launch each year after IFLA annuel conference the call for papers for the open forum held by the Section during IFLA conferences. Regional Office receive abstracts and papers and have the responsability to send these documents to each member of the Standing Committee for apprasail before the S.C. regional meeting.
For this purpose IFLA Regional Office publish regularly tools of information : brochures, leaflets, and also news on IFLANET. The Regional Manager is the IFLA information coordinator in the region.
Regional Manager during these two years and his assistant, participated to conferences and meetings organised by IFLA or the ALP Programme. They have attended the IFLA General Conference in Bangkok (1999) and in Jerusalem (2000). As member of the Regional Division Coordination Board , the Regional Manager has participated to the meeting held in Uppsala in october 2000, on Division VIII issues.
In october 2000, Regional Manager with his other colleagues paid a visit to IFLA HQ to meet HQ stafff and to discuss with them on the situation and the evolution of the Regional Offices.
During 1999 and 2000 , the Regional Office has maintained regular and fruitful contacts with IFLA HQ, the Africa Section, and others bodies in the region and abroad in order to promote the programmes of IFLA in the continent. The Regional Office have also been in contact with professionals and institutions in the region in order to increase their awareness of the activities of the Regional Office. We hope that with the assistance of IFLA HQ and our colleagues of Regional Standing Committee, we will able to further this interest during the forthcoming years.
Henri SENE
Manager Regional Office
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