Multilateral Organizations

These are organizations formed between three or more nations to work on issues that relate to all of the countries in the organization.

• Global Organizations
• Americas
• Asia
• Middle East/Africa

Global Organizations

• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  President: Jean Lemierre - projectenquiries@ebrd.com
  
  The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) was established in 1991. It exists to foster the transition towards open market-oriented economies and to promote private and entrepreneurial initiative in the countries of central and eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) committed to and applying the principles of multiparty democracy, pluralism and market economics.
  
  http://www.ebrd.com
  
  
• European Union
  Environment Comissioner: Ritt Bjerregaard - envinfo@cec.eu.int
  
  The European Union is more formally known as the European Community. The 15 current EU member nations have extended their cooperation into areas of agriculture, fisheries, science and technology, energy, industry, transportation, education, culture, broadcasting, social policy, consumer protection, the environment, finance, and foreign policy.
  
  http://europa.eu.int/
  
  
• Greenpeace International
  Chair: David Chatfield - supporter.services@ams.greenpeace.org
  
  Greenpeace is a public interest group founded in 1971 to contribute to a world where people live peacefully in ways that allow the natural environment to sustain itself. It seeks to end nuclear testing, halt and reserve the destruction of the biosphere, and international trade in toxic wastes, promote arms control and disarmanent, promote use of alternative and renewabl energy sources, and promote the protection marine animals and habitat.
  
  http://www.greenpeace.org
  
  
• International Finance Corporation (IFC)
  Executive Vice-President: Lars Thunell - webmaster@ifc.org
  
  The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, shares the primary objective of all Bank Group institutions: to improve the quality of the lives of people in its developing member countries.
  
  http://www.ifc.org
  
  
• Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
  Secretary General: Angel Gurria - webmaster@oecd.org
  
  A 24-member international organization for coordinating the economic and social policies of its industrialized members. Founded in 1961 to replace the Organization for European Economic Cooperation, which was set up under the Marshall Plan.
  
  http://www.oecd.org
  
  
• Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
  Secretary-General: HE Abdalla Salem El-Badri - webmaster@opec.org
  
  The Organization has 11 members and was established in 1960 to coordinate and unify members' petrolium policies, and to safeguard their interests individually and collectively.
  
  http://www.opec.org
  
  
• OPEC Fund for International Development
  Director-General Mr. Suleiman J. Al-Herbish - webmaster@opecfund.org
  
  It is a multilateral development finance institution. It was established in January 1976, by the member countries of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries ( OPEC) following a decision taken in March 1975 by the Sovereigns and Heads of State of OPEC, meeting in Algiers. The Organization aims to promote cooperation between OPEC member countries and other developing countries as an expression of South-South solidarity and to help particularly the poorer, low-income countries in pursuit of their social and economic advancement.
  
  http://www.opecfund.org
  
  
• Southern African Renewable Energy Information Network (SAREIN) Not Currently active under this name
  
  There are 7 Southern African countries involved in the SAREIN project.  Each country has their own national Renewable Energy Information Network (REIN), lead by a SAREIN Network Partner.
  
  
• United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural organization (UNESCO)
  Director-General: Koichiro Matsuura - webmaster@unesco.org
  
  The organization was founded in 1946. It is a UN specialized agency with 166 member nations that promotes international collaboration in the spreading of knowledge, as well as cultural, educational, and scientific exchanges with the goal of encouraging peace and common welfare.
  
  http://www.unesco.org
  
  

  Americas

• Academy for Educational Development (AED)
  Sol M. Linowitz - admindc@aed.org
  
  Founded in 1961, AED is an independent, nonprofit organization committed to solving critical social problems in the U.S. and throughout the world through education, social marketing, research, training, policy analysis and innovative program design and management. Major areas of focus include health, education, youth development, and the environment.
  
  http://www.aed.org
  
  
• Caribbean Community (CARICOM)
  Secretary-General: Edwin W. Carrington - webmaster@caricom.org
  
  The Organization's mssion is to provide dynamic leadership and service, in partnership with Community institutions and Groups, toward the attainment of a viable, internationally competitive and sustainable Community, with improved quality of life for all.
  
  http://www.caricom.org
  
  
• Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
  President: Neville Nicholls
  
  The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) was established by the Agreement which was signed on October 18, 1969, at Kingston, Jamaica, and entered into force on January 26, 1970, for the purpose of contributing to the harmonious economic growth and development of the member countries in the Caribbean and promoting economic cooperation and integration among them, having special and urgent regard to the needs of the less developed members of the region (Article 1 of the Agreement establishing CDB).
  
  http://www.caribank.org
  
  
• Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI)
  President: Jose Manuel Pacas Castro - webmaster@bcie.org
  
  The Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), as a development bank and the financial arm of integration, has as its mission to promote progress and integration in the Isthmus, to foment economic growth with equity and to respect the environment, by means of supporting public and private projects and programs that create productive employment and contribute to improve productivity and competitiveness, as well as increase the human development indexes of the region.
  
  http://www.bcie.org
  
  
• Center for Development and Population Activities
  cmail@cedpa.org
  
  The Centre for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA) is a women-focused nonprofit international organization founded in 1975. CEDPA's mission is to empower women at all levels of society to be full partners in development.
  
  http://www.cedpa.org
  
  
• Group of 77
  g77off@unmail.org
  
  The Group of 77 (G-77) was established on 15 June 1964 by seventy-seven developing countries signatories of the Joint Declaration of the Seventy-Seven Countries issued at the end of the first session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva. Beginning with the first Ministerial Meeting of the Group of 77 in Algiers in 1967 which adopted the Charter of Algiers, a permanent institutional structure gradually developed which led to the creation of Chapters of the Group of 77 in Rome (FAO), Vienna (UNIDO), Paris (UNESCO), Nairobi (UNEP) and the Group of 24 in Washington, D.C. (IMF and World Bank). Although the membership of the G-77 has increased to 133 countries, the original name was retained because of its historic significance. As the largest Third World coalition in the United Nations, the Group of 77 provides the means for the developing world to articulate and promote its collective economic interests and enhance its joint negotiating capacity on all major international issues.
  
  http://www.g77.org
  
  
• Inter-American Investment Corporation
  iicmail@iadb.org
  
  The purpose of the Corporation shall be to promote the economic development of its regional developing member countries by encouraging the establishment, expansion, and modernization of private enterprises, preferably those that are small and medium-scale, in such a way as to supplement the activities of the Inter-American Development Bank.
  
  http://www.iadb.org/iic/
  
  
• Latin America Energy Organization (OLADE)
  Executive-Secretary: Luiz A. M. Fonseca olade@olade.org.ec
  
  It is an international public cooperation, coordination, and advisory energy organization basically aimed at ensuring the integration, protection, conversation, rational, development, marketing, and defense of the reigon's energy resources.
  
  http://www.olade.org.ec
  
  
• Latin America Oil Companies (ARPEL)
  Secretary-General: Andres Tierno Abreu - arpel@arpel.org.uy
  
  It is Organization's mission to generate and carry out activities that will lead to the creation of a more favorable environment for the development of the oil and natural gas industry in Latin America and the Caribbean.
  
  http://www.arpel.org
  
  
• Organization of American States
  Secretary-General: Cesar Gaviria - pimultimedia@oas.org
  
  The Organization of American States is an association of 35 nations from north, South, and Central America and the Caribbean created to promote peace, security, and cooperation among the member nations.
  
  http://www.oas.org
  
  
• Pan American Health Organization
  Director: George A. O. Alleyne
  
  The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency with more than 90 years of experience in working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. It serves as the specialized organization for health of the Inter-American System. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization and enjoys international recognition as part of the United Nations system.
  
  http://www.paho.org
  
  
• Regional Electrical Integration Commission (CIER)
  Executive-Director: Hugo L. Rincon-Sergent - secier@secier.org.uy
  
  The main objective of this non-profit organization is to promote and encourage the integration of the regional electric sectors through actions.
  
  http://www.secier.org.uy
  
  
• Secreteriat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA)
  Secretary-General: Haroldo Rodas Melgar - info@sieca.org.gt
  
  
• United States Agency for International Development
  Executive-Secretary - webmaster@info.usaid.gov
  
  USAID is an independent federal government agency that receives overall foreign policy guidance from the Secretary of State. The agency works in six principal areas crucial to achieving both sustainable development and advancing U.S. foreign policy objectives.
  
  http://www.usaid.gov
  
  
• World Bank Group
  Media Relations: Caroline Anstey - canstey@worldbank.org
  
  Founded in 1944, the World Bank Group consists of five closely associated institutions. Our mission is to fight poverty for lasting results and to help people help themselves and their environment by providing resources, sharing knowledge, building capacity, and forging partnerships in the public and private sectors.
  
  http://www.worldbank.org
  
  

Asia

• Asian and Pacific Center for Transfer of Technology (APCTT)
  Director: Jurgen H. Bischoff - basab@apctt.org
  
  The objective of APCTT is to strengthen the technology transfer capabilities in the region and to facilitate import/export of environmentally sound technologies to/from the member countries.
  
  http://www.apctt.org
  
  
• Asian Development Bank
  President: Mitsuo Sato - adb@adb.org
  
  ADB is a multilateral development finance institution dedicated to reducing poverty in Asia and the Pacific. Established in 1966, we are now owned by 59 members, mostly from the region.
  
  http://www.adb.org
  
  
• Asian Productivity Organization
  Secretary-General: Takashi Tajima - apo@apo-tokto.org
  
  The Asian Productivity Organization was created in 1961 to oversee productivity development throughout Asia and the Pacific. Today, the APO serves as the umbrella organization for 18 countries to coordinate and assist their individual productivity activities. These countries, through their respective National Productivity Organizations, work closely together for mutual cooperation, economic progress, and a better quality of life for their peoples.
  
  http://www.apo-tokyo.com
  
  
• Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)
  Executive Director: Dato' Noor Adlan - info@mail.apecsec.org.sg
  
  Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) was established in 1989 in response to the growing interdependence among Asia-Pacific economies. Begun as an informal dialogue group, APEC has since become the primary regional vehicle for promoting open trade and practical economic cooperation. Its goal is to advance Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and sense of community.
  
  http://www.apecsec.org.sg
  
  
• Asia Pacific Rim Electricity Cooperation (APREC)
  
  The Asia Pacific rim can pull the world economy like a locomotive, an important role in the 21st century that can be realized by the APREC vision.
  
  http://www.terrawatts.com/aeeng.html
  
  
• Association of Southeast Asian Networks (ASEAN)
  
  The Energy Ministers of the ASEAN Member States acknowledged that the development of energy infrastructure, diversification of energy supply, improvement in energy efficiency and the utilization of new and renewable energy technologies would greatly contribute to the region’s energy security.
  
  http://www.aseansec.org/
  
  
• Colombo Plan for Co-operative Economic and Social development in Asia and the Pacific
  Secretary-General: Patricia Yoon-Moi
  
  The Colombo Plan, the world’s oldest regional co-operation organisation, promotes development through South-South partnership among the its developing member countries in Asia and the Pacific. Launched 1951 as a co-operative venture in economic and social development by seven Commonwealth countries.
  
  http://www.colombo-plan.org/
  
  
• Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA)
  President: Hisashi Owada - info@jiia.or.jp
  
  The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA) is a private, non-profit, and independent research organization that was founded in 1959 through the initiative of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida. Since its foundation, JIIA's activities have been based on the five basic goals stipulated in its charter. They are: To foster the scientific study of international politics, economics and law. To provide the means for examining and researching international affairs. To promote the exchange of information, knowledge, and views on international affairs. To encourage research of international affairs at universities in Japan. To promote exchanges with universities and research institutes in other countries.
  
  http://www.jiia.or.jp
  
  
• Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)
  Director-General: Dr Jimmie Rodgers - spc@spc.int
  
  The Secretariat of the Pacific Community 's role in Pacific Islands development, unlike its structure, membership and home, has not changed significantly since 1947. Its mission has always been to provide technical advice, assistance, training and applied research to its Island member countries and territories.
  
  http://www.spc.int/corp/
  
  
• South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)
  Secretary-General: Naeem U. Hasan - saarc@saarc-sec.org
  
  The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established when its Charter was formally adopted on December 8, 1985 by the Heads of State or Government of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. SAARC provides a platform for the peoples of South Asia to work together in a spirit of friendship, trust and understanding. It aims to accelerate the process of economic and social development in Member States.
  
  http://www.saarc-sec.org
  
  
• South Pacific Forum Secretariat
  Secretary-General: Noel Levi - info@forumsec.org.fj
  
  The Secretariat's mission is to enhance the economic and social well-being of the people of the South Pacific, in support of the efforts of the national governments. Its particular responsibility is to facilitate, develop and maintain cooperation and consultation between and among its 16 members on issues such as trade, economic development, security, and other related matters.
  
  http://www.forumsec.org.fj
  
  
• United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
  Executive Secretary: Adrianus Mooy - webmaster@unescap.org
  
  ESCAP plays a unique role as the only intergovernmental forum for all the countries of the Asian and Pacific region, in the absence of a regional grouping similar to the Organization of African Unity (OAU) or the Organization of American States (OAS). Indeed it spawned two of the region's vital institutions -- The Asian Development Bank and the Mekong River Commission. ESCAP gives technical support to member Governments for socio-economic development. The assistance comes through direct advisory services to Governments, training and sharing of regional experiences and information through meetings, seminars, publications and inter-country networks.
  
  http://www.unescap.org
  
  
• United Nations Economic and Social Commssion for Western Asia (ESCWA)
  Executive-Secretary: Hazem El-Beblawi - library@escwa.org.lb
  
  ESCWA is a part of the Secretariat of the United Nations and is one of the five regional commissions which report to the Economic and Social Council, the principal organ of the United Nations responsible for coordinating economic and social activities in the United Nations system.
  
  http://www.escwa.un.org/index.asp
  
  

Middle East / Africa


• Abu Dhabi Fund For Development (ADFD)
  Director General: Saeed Khalfan - opadfdmn@emirates.net.ae 
  
  The main objective of the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD) is to provide assistance to Arab, African and Asian countries for the development of their economies by promoting development projects through loans, equity participation or guarantees. The operations of the Abu Dhabi Fund began in 1974.
  
  
• African Development Bank Group
  Secretary-General: P.Afrika - afdb@afdb.org
  
  The African Development Bank is the premier financial development institution of Africa, dedicated to combating poverty and improving the lives of people of the continent and engaged in the task of mobilising resources towards the economic and social progress of its Regional Member Countries.
  
  http://www.afdb.org
  
  
• Environmental Law Institute - Africa Program
  bruch@eli.org
  
  Over the last two years, the Environmental Law Institute has developed its Africa Program to promote environmental law, policy, and management in Africa. Partnering with activist African NGOs, ELI drafts and advances pragmatic and effective environmental laws and policies, analyzes and identifies options to improve the implementation of existing environmental law, and builds the capacity of local institutions and citizens in Africa to carry out these tasks independently. In addition to strengthening environmental laws, ELI and its partners empower civil society to address environmental needs by undertaking projects in rule of law, transparency, public participation, and access to justice.
  
  http://www.eli.org/Program_Areas/africa.cfm
  
  
• African Export-Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK)
  President: Christopher C. Edordu - mail@afreximbank.com
  
  The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) was created under the auspices of the African Development Bank (AfDB) following a Resolution adopted by the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors held in Cairo, Egypt in July 1987. The purpose of the Bank is to facilitate, promote and expand intra-African and extra-African trade.
  
  http://www.afreximbank.com
  
  
• African Project Development Facility (ADPF)
  Director: Nkosana Moyo (2003)
  
  The APDF seeks to accelerate development of productive enterprises sponsored by private African entrepreneurs as a means of generating self-sustained economic growth and productive employment in Sub-Saharan Africa. The facility provides advisory services to private African entrepreneurs in preparing viable projects, works with the entrepreneurs to secure financing, and helps them obtain technical and managerial assistance to start their projects. APDF was established in 1986 as a United Nations Development Programme project -- with the International Finance Corporation as executing agency and the African Development Bank as regional sponsor. The facility maintains offices in Nairobi (Kenya), Harare (Zimbabwe), and
  
  http://www.gmfield.info/English/KOs/A/KO_000029835.htm
  
  
• Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa
  Director General: Medhat Sami Lotfy - badea@badea.org
  
  The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) was established pursuant to the decision of the VIth Arab Summit Conference at Algiers. The Bank began operations in March 1975. Its headquarters are established in Khartoum, the capital of the Republic of the Sudan. The Bank was created for the purpose of strengthening economic, financial and technical cooperation between Arab and African countries, to make Arab-African solidarity a concrete reality and to base this co-operative venture on foundations of friendship and equality. To this end, the Bank was given a mandate to assist in financing economic development in non-Arab African countries, to stimulate the contribution of Arab capital to African development, to help provide the technical assistance required for the development of Africa.
  
  http://www.badea.org
  
  
• Arab Maghreb Union (AMU)
  Secretary-General: Mohamed Amamou - sg.uma@maghrebarabe.org
  
  The main objectives of the AMU are to strengthen all forms of ties among Member States, as well as to introduce gradually free circulation of goods, services, and factors of production, among them.
  
  http://www.maghrebarabe.org
  
  
• Arab Planning Institute - Kuwait
  Director General: Essa Al-Ghazali - api@api.org.kw
  
  The Arab Planning Institute is a non-profit regional organization whose primary mission is to advance the cause of economic and social development in Arab countries through training, research, consultancy, expert-group meetings, and publication. The API's main objectives are to provide the necessary knowledge-based and experiential skills that will empower Arab countries to keep pace with the cutting edge of Development, Economic Management and Planning, to facilitate the process of research and data retrieval for Arab decision- makers and researchers, to increase the quality of studies and research skills of those specializing in Development, Economic Management and Planning, in the Arab Countries, to create an Arab cadre of multi-level specialists in the areas of Economic and Social Development, and to establish a venue for experts to meet and exchange ideas about important economic and social development issues for the Arab countries.
  
  http://www.arab-api.org
  
  
• Central Bank of West African States
  Governor: Charles Konan Banny - webmaster@bceao.int
  
  The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO - Banque Centrale des Etats de l'Afrique de l'Ouest) is the common central bank of the eight (8) member states which form the West African Monetary Union (WAMU). The BCEAO is a public international institution whose headquaters is located in Dakar, Senegal. Besides the sole right of monetary signs issue which it enjoys throughout the member states of the Union.
  
  http://www.bceao.int
  
  
• Common Market For Eastern And Southern Africa (COMESA)
  Secretary-General: J.E.O. Mwencha - comesa@comesa.int
  
  COMESA exists as an organisation of free independent sovereign states which have agreed to co-operate in developing their natural and human resources for the good of all their people'. With its 20 member states and population of 385 million it forms a major integrated trading block.
  
  http://www.comesa.int
  
  
• Gulf Cooperation Council
  Secretary-General:
  
  GCC), officially Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, organization (est. 1981) promoting stability and economic cooperation among Persian Gulf nations. Its members are Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. In 1991 the GCC countries joined with Egypt and Syria to create a regional peacekeeping force. An aid fund was also established to promote development in Arab states; it was used to help liberate Kuwait in 1991. In 2003 GCC members eliminated tariffs on trade between member nations and established common external tariffs. They have agreed to establish a broader economic union (including a single market and currency) by 2010.
  
  
• Council of the Entente (Conseil de l'Entente)
  Administrative-Secretary: Paul Kouame
  
  The Council of the Entente was established in 1959, as a political and economic association of self-governing states, formerly a part of French West Africa. Its purpose is the promotion of political, social, and economic coordination among the member states.
  
  
• Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
  Executive-Secretary: Lansana Kouyate - info@ecowasmail.net
  
  The Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional group of sixteen countries, founded in 1975. Its mission is to promote economic integration in all fields of economic activity, particularly industry, transport, telecommunications, energy, agriculture, natural resources, commerce, monetary and financial questions, social and cultural matters.
  
  http://www.ecowas.int
  
  
• Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
  Secretary-General: Onder Ozar - eco.org@neda.net
  
  Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), is an intergovernmental regional organization established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey for the purpose of promoting economic, technical and cultural cooperation among the Member States. ECO is the successor organization of Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD) which remained in existence since 1964 up to 1979. In 1992, the Organization was expanded to include seven new members. The date of the Organization’s expansion to its present strength, 28th November, is being observed as the ECO Day.
  
  http://www.ecosecretariat.org
  
  
• Enterprise Support Services For Africa
  jhessa@ncs.com.gh
  
  Was started in Ghana in March, 1996. Funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), ESSA assists small and medium sized businesses in developing their potential for achieving success, both locally and internationally, by helping business men and women better manage their businesses.
  
  
  
• European Institute for Research on Mediterranean and Euro-Arab Cooperation
  Secretary-General: Charles-Ferdinand Nothomb - medea@medea.be
  
  The MEDEA Institute is a non profit association under Belgian law which was created in July 1995. It started its activities in April 1996. Its objectives are to facilitate exchanges of information and ideas between politicians, academics, journalists and concerned NGO’s, to promote independent and objective analysis, and to communicate research findings to opinion and political decision makers, in particular members of the European Parliament, in order to make a substantial contribution to co-operation, development and stability in the Mediterranean region and in Euro-Arab relations in general.
  
  http://www.medea.be
  
  
• Fund For Co-Operation, Compensation and Development (Ecowas Fund)
  Director: Barthelemy D. Drabo - fund@ecowas-fund.org
  
  The Fund for Co-operation, Compensation and Development (ECOWAS FUND) was established on 28 May 1975 and became operational in 1979. ECOWAS FUND derives its resources from contributions from Member States, income from loans and placements, as well as lines of credit from financial partners. It operates a compensation fund which is used to provide assistance to Member States that incur losses as a result of the implementation of the trade liberalization scheme.
  
  
  
• Inter-Arab Invesment Guarantee Corporation (IAIGC)
  Director-General: Mamoun Ibrahim Hassan - iai@ncc.moc.kx
  
  The Inter-Arab Investment Guarantee Corporation is a Pan-Arab regional organization with membership of all Arab countries (except Comoros Islands). It was established with the aim of promoting inter-Arab investments and trade. The Organization's objectives are to provide insurance coverage for inter-Arab investments and export credits against non-commercial risks for the former and non-commercial and commercial risks for the latter, and to foster inter-Arab investment flows through the awareness of potential investors of investment opportunities, provision of institutional support, and development of human capital.
  
  http://www.iaigc.org
  
  
• Kuwait Fund For Arab Economic Development
  Chairman: Ali Salem al Ali Al-Sabah - info@kuwait-fund.org
  
  The Organization was established in 1961, the year of Kuwait's independence, to asist Arab and other developing countries in developing their economies by particularly by providing loans and grants required to facilitate the implementation of development programs.
  
  http://www.kuwait-fund.org
  
  
• League of Arab States
  Secretary-General: Ahmed Esmat Abdel-Meguid - info@leagueofarabstates.org
  
  The League is a national and regional organization that seeks to promote closer ties among member-states and co-ordinate their policies and their economic, cultural, and security plans with a view to developing collective co-operation, protecting national security and maintaining the independence and sovereignty of member-states; thereby enhancing the potential for joint Arab action in all fields.
  
  
• Niger Basin Authority (NBA)
  Executive-Secretary: Bba BA' Aba
  
  It was created in 1964 by the Agreement of Niamey. The Niger Basin Authority is responsible for the harmonization and coordination of national development policies' the formulation of trhe general development policy of the Basin; the elaboration and implementation of of an integrated development plan of the Basin; the initiation and monitoring of an orderly and rational regional policy for the utilization of the waters of the Niger River.
  
  
• Organization of African Unity (OAU)
  Secretary-General: Salim Ahmed Salim
  
  The Organization of African Unity was established on May 25, 1963, at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and the Charter of the Organization was signed on that occasion by Heads of State and Government of 32 independent African States. Its purposes are to promote the unity and solidarity of the African States; defend the sovereignty of members; eradicate all forms of colonialism; promote international cooperation having due regard for the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; coordinate and harmonize Member States economic, diplomatic, educational, health, welfare, scientific and defense policies.
  
  http://www.oau-oau.org
  
  
• Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC)
  Secretary-General: Abdulaziz A. Al-Turki - oapec@quailitynet.net
  
  The Organization was established by an agreement amongst Arab countries which rely on the export of petroleum, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (OAPEC) is a regional inter-governmental organization concerned with the development of the petroleum industry by fostering cooperation among its members. OAPEC contributes to the effective use of the resources of member countries through sponsoring joint ventures. The Organization is guided by the belief in the importance of building an integrated petroleum industry as a cornerstone for future economic integration amongst Arab countries.
  
  http://www.oapecorg.org
  
  
• Saudi Fund For Development (SFD)
  Vice-Chairman: Mohammad Al-Sugair - info@sfd.gov.sa
  
  The basic objective of the Fund is to “participate in the financing of development projects in developing countries through the granting of loans to said countries”. The emphasis is on development projects that promote the social and economic well-being of the people in low income countries.
  
  http://www.sfd.gov.sa
  
  
• Sub-Sahara Africa
  Director: Cesare Calari - abn@ifc.org
  
  http://www.ifc.org
  
  
• Swisscontact in Eastern and Sothern Africa
  Executive Director: Dr. Urs Egger - sc@swisscontact.ch
  
  Swisscontact is a private foundation for development cooperation. It was established in 1959 by leading Swiss businessman as a non-profit organization. The overgoal of Swisscontact is to contribute directly and indirectly to the improvement of social and economic conditions in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and East European countries.
  
  http://www.swisscontact.org
  
  

• United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP)
  Director: Jeggan C. Senghor
  
  The United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP by its French acronym) was established by resolution 58 (IV), adopted at the fourth session of the Conference of Ministers of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). It began its operations on 21 November 1963. The primary purpose of IDEP is to undertake a wide range of activities related to economic development and planning in Africa with the aim of promoting and defending the economic independence of African countries.
  
  http://www.un.org/depts/eca/idep
  
  
• West African Development Bank (BOAD)
  President: Boni Yayi - boadsiege@boad.org
  
  The African Western Bank of Development (BOAD) is the common institution of financing of the development of the States of the African Western Union Economic and Monetary (UEMOA). It is created by Traité signed on November 14, 1973. The Member States of the BOAD are: the Benign one, Burkina, the Côte.d'ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.
  
  http://www.boad.org
  
  
• West African Rural Foundation
  Director of Programs: Diana Senghor - warfedi@cyg.sn
  
  WARF helps rural communities find and follow a path to self-reliance. This transformation rests on two cornerstones: (1) a better appreciation by the community of the value of their local resources — human and natural; and, (2) an enhanced capacity of the community to act effectively to realize that value.
  
  http://www.frao.org
  
  
by Togan Moler. Original research by Tanya Saenz
Email: info@geni.org