The ILO Post-conflict reintegration specialists from Africa and the Arab states discuss in Cairo. A new ILO Guidebook on Socio-economic reintegration to be released last quarter 2007. (Cairo, 30-31 July)

The meeting took place on 30 and 31 July in Cairo, Egypt. 18 specialists from a number of Country Offices in Africa and the Arab region gathered to discuss a draft of a new ILO Guidebook on socio-economic reintegration in post-conflict settings. The Regional Office and Sub-regional Office for Africa provided logistical support.

The major objectives of the meeting was a) to obtain technical expertise for the draft Guidebook from field-based experts and b) to compile lessons learned from past and ongoing DDR programmes in Africa and the Arab region in order to establish an ILO strategy for action.

The meeting gathered a wide range of advice from the participants. This illustrated the fact that the ILO has a long and rich history of involvement in post-conflict employment creation. Inputs from the participants have been incorporated into the draft Guidebook. The Guidebook will be ready for a wider technical consultation with experts at the HQs and external agencies in October.

The Guidebook is planned to be published by the end of 2007.

Photograph from the meeting