Agreement between the International Labour Organisation and
the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara

PREAMBLE

Whereas the International Labour Organisation, as a universal organisation, attaches the greatest importance to the maintenance and advancement in the social and labour fields of world standards based on the principles set forth in the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation and the Declaration of Philadelphia, and, while co-operating with the United Nations in the maintenance of international peace and security, remains outside political controversy between nations or groups of nations, and is at the disposal of all its member nations to co-operate with them either severally or through regional organisations of which they are members in implementing in the light of the world standards evolved through the International Labour Organisation, the objectives for which the International Labour Organisation itself exists, and to this end has established an African Advisory Committee and an African Field Office for the purpose of assisting it to fulfil its responsibilities towards the members of the Organisation having territories in Africa; and

Whereas the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara is likewise a non-political body which has been established by an international agreement concluded between its member Governments for the purpose of encouraging and strengthening technical co-operation in all fields affecting the well-being of the peoples of the territories of its members in Africa South of the Sahara and has under its aegis the Inter-African Labour Institute and the Inter-African Labour Conference;

Desirous of contributing within the general framework of the Charter of the United Nations, the Constitution of the International Labour Organisation and the Agreement for the Establishment of the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara to the effective accomplishment in Africa of the objectives which they have in common;

The International Labour Organisation, on the one hand, and the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara, on the other hand,

Have agreed upon the following:

ARTICLE I
Mutual Consultation

1. The International Labour Organisation and the Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa South of the Sahara will consult regularly on matters of common interest for the purpose of furthering the effective accomplishment in Africa of the objectives which they have in common.

2. The International Labour Organisation will inform the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara of any plans for the development of its activities of special interest to the member Governments of the Commission for Technical Cooperation in Africa South of the Sahara and will consider any observations concerning such plans which may be communicated to it by the Commission with a view to accomplishing effective co-ordination between the two organisations.

3. The Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara will inform the International Labour Organisation of any plans for the development of its activities in regard to subjects of interest to the International Labour Organisation and will consider any observations concerning such plans which may be communicated to it by the International Labour Organisation with a view to accomplishing effective co-ordination between the two organisations.

4. When circumstances so require, consultations will be arranged between representatives of the two organisations, upon the initiative of either, to agree upon the most effective manner in which to organise particular activities and to secure the fullest utilisation of the resources of the two organisations.

ARTICLE II
Statistical and Legislative Information

The International Labour Organisation and the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara will seek the greatest possible co-operation to eliminate all unnecessary duplication of work; they will combine their efforts to obtain the best use of statistical and legislative information and to ensure the most effective utilisation of their resources in the assembling, analysis, publication and diffusion of such information with a view to reducing the burdens on the governments and other organisations from which such information is collected.

ARTICLE III
Exchange of Information and Documents

1. The fullest and promptest exchange of information and documents concerning matters of common interest will be made between the International Labour Organisation and the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara.

2. The Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara will be kept informed by the International Labour Organisation of developments in the work of the International Labour Organisation which are of interest to the Commission.

3. The International Labour Organisation will be kept informed by the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara of developments in the work of the Commission which are of interest to the International Labour Organisation.

ARTICLE IV
Regional Meetings

1. The Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara will rely upon the International Labour Organisation for the convocation of any regional meetings of a tripartite character which may be desirable; if it considers such a meeting necessary it shall propose to the Governing Body of the International Labour Office that the latter convene such a meeting.

2. The Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara will continue to convene Inter-African Labour Conferences for consultation among government representatives accompanied, as the case may be, by technical or other advisers.

3. The International Labour Organisation and the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara will consult together to ensure the greatest possible degree of co-ordination in regard to meetings of technical experts concerning questions in which both organisations have an interest.

4. The International Labour Organisation and the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara may, in appropriate cases, agree to sponsor, on terms to be arranged in each particular case, joint meetings of technical experts, seminars or training courses, concerning questions in which both organisations have an interest. The manner in which action proposed by such joint meetings, seminars or training courses, is undertaken shall be agreed between the two organisations.

ARTICLE V
Reciprocal Representation

For the purpose of furthering the effective accomplishment in Africa of the objectives which the two organisations have in common, the International Labour Organisation will invite the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara to be represented at meetings of the International Labour Conference and at meetings within or particularly concerning the African region, convened under its aegis, and similarly, the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara will invite the International Labour Organisation to be represented at the Inter-African Labour Conference and at any other technical or scientific meetings convened under its aegis at which the subjects for discussion include matters of particular interest for the International Labour Organisation.

ARTICLE VI
Administrative Arrangements

1. The Director-General of the International Labour Office and the Secretary-General of the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara will make appropriate administrative arrangements to ensure effective collaboration and liaison between the staffs of the two organisations.

2. These arrangements will include provision to ensure effective collaboration and liaison between the Director of the I.L.O. Field Office in Africa and the Director of the Inter-African Labour Institute and between the technical assistance operations of the International Labour Organisation and the operations of the Foundation for Mutual Assistance in Africa South of the Sahara.

ARTICLE VII
Entry into Force

1. The present Agreement will enter into force from the date at which it is signed by the authorised representatives of the International Labour Organisation and the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara.

2. The Agreement may be modified with the consent of the two parties.

3. Either of the parties may denounce the Agreement by giving six months' notice to the other party.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Director-General of the International Labour Office, duly authorised by the Governing Body of the International Labour Office, and the Secretary-General of the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara, duly authorised by the member Governments of the Commission, sign the present agreement in duplicate in both English and French, both texts being equally authoritative.

For the International Labour Organisation:
(Signed) David A. MORSE,
Director-General.

For the Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara:
(Signed) C. CHEYSSON,
Secretary-General.

***

Published in: Official Bulletin of the ILO, Vol. XLII, 1959, No. 6