ICSU Conference confirms the value of SAEON's objectives

Health and human well-being in Sub-Saharan Africa was one of the issues highlighted at ICSU's Second Regional Consultative Forum (Picture © Mitzi du Plessis)

- Kamal Naicker, SAEON Business Manager

The International Council for Science (ICSU) held its Second Regional Consultative Forum on the 25-27 September 2006 in Gauteng. The ICSU members were well represented with participants from across Africa and other countries internationally.

The Forum concentrated on four aspects. These were to assess an overview of the ICSU Strategic Plan 2006-2011, and for members to critically evaluate three draft Science Strategies: Natural and Human-Induced Hazards and Disasters in Sub-Saharan Africa, Global Change in Sub-Saharan Africa and Health and Human Well-being in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The assembled delegates were grouped into three working groups so as to provide comment on the individual strategies. The strategies discussed had particular relevance for SAEON, as all encompassed means to ensure long-term monitoring, observation and evaluation of natural and man-induced phenomena.

One of the oldest non-governmental organisations in the world, ICSU was founded in 1931 to promote international scientific activity in the different branches of science and its application for the benefit of humanity. The membership includes both national scientific bodies (104 members) and international scientific union (27 members).

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