1- More than two years after the adoption of the Millennium Declaration, the United Nations initiated a process for the implementation of the millennium objectives. These objectives are only a part of the commitments made by the Heads of State and Government.

2- The implementation of the millennium objectives occurs after :

....a. The adoption of the Monterrey Consensus (following the United Nations Conference on Development Financing in Mexico).
b. The adoption of the Doha Declaration during the Conference of Ministers of the World Trade Organisation which, in the long run, will facilitate the opening of fresh comprehensive trade negotiations
c. The Sustainable Development Summit in Johannesburg.

The commitments made at these Conferences are considered by the civil society as extremely insufficient, and even less significant than those made during preceding conferences. Apart from a few pledges of public development aid, not much progress has been registered on the issue of the debt of countries of the South. Similarly, as regards trade issues, the key demands of developing countries were taken into account, particularly as regards agricultural subsidies, the revision of Agreements on intellectual property and the implementation of the commitments of developed countries.

3- The Objectives of the millennium were defined in a context in which most countries of Africa, and West Africa, in particular, implemented strategies for the fight against poverty in relation with the international financial institutions. These strategies (PRSPs) were introduced after the failure of structural adjustment policies, implemented over the past twenty years, was acknowledged.

Civil society organisations and several African governments are toiling with numerous questions :
- Are the objectives of the millennium commensurate with the commitments made during the Millennium Summit ?
- What new and specific elements do the millennium objectives bring forth in relation to the objectives proclaimed by the World Bank's poverty reduction strategies ?
- Do the millennium objectives offer the African populations and governments more room for manœuvre in relation to policies conducted with the World Bank ?
- Do they serve as an opportunity to broaden the choice offered to citizens or are they a continuation of ongoing policies ?

Objectives of the Forum:

1- Sensitise and inform civil society organisations about the stakes that the millennium objectives represent in the current international context, and on their use in relation to economic and social policies being implemented in West Africa

2- Discuss the nature of the millennium objectives and bring out the joint positions.

3- Define the role of the West African civil society in the implementation of the millennium objectives in terms of participation, pleas and joint actions with those actively involved (governments, United Nations agencies, civil society organisations), and in terms of progress monitoring.

4- Initiate a process for the programming of West African civil society involvement in the implementation of the millennium campaign.

Methodology :

The meeting will focus on the following questions :

1- What do we know about the objectives of the millennium ?

2- Are the millennium objectives compatible with macro-economic and sectoral policies being implemented in West African countries ?

3- Are the millennium objectives realisable ?

4- How, if need be, can they be implemented at the national and sub-regional levels and under what conditions ?

Expected results :

1- An improved knowledge of the millennium objectives and their underpinnings.

2- A better perception of the role of civil society in terms of pleas, participation, and in the partnerships that will be initiated for the realisation of the millennium campaign.

3- Greater capacity to participate critically in the implementation of the millennium objectives.

4- The definition of the positions of the West African civil society on the objectives of the millennium which will be communicated to the SURF Forum on the millennium objectives.

5- The launching of a national and sub-regional programming process for the organisation of the West African civil society within the framework of the implementation of the objectives of the millennium.