International Council of Archives

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Initiative for the creation of a Federation of African associations and professionals in the field of records and archives, libraries and information management

The ICA workshop on recovery planning after a disaster or a crisis held in Porto Novo (Bénin) on 21-23 June gave the participants an opportunity to reflect on professional solidarity and to launch the “Porto Novo call”.

G.T. Hounyo reading the call/G.T. Hounyo lisant l'appel

On June 22, 2011, in the framework of the International Training Seminar on " recovery planning after a disaster or a crisis" organized by the International Council on Archives (ICA), an initiative group met in Porto-Novo (Benin) in order to create a federative network of African associations and professionals in the field of records and archives, libraries and information management.
The Group composed of thirty one members from different countries in Africa has developed a resolution in the form of a call, "the Porto-Novo Call", as a first step for the creation of this structure. Along the same lines, the participants set up a "provisional Coordination Working Group " to lead the creation and implementation process.
The Initiative Group having setting the terms of reference of the provisional "Coordination Working Group” (PGTC) gave it a mandate:
- To define the membership (institutional, individual, other ...);
- To propose a name for the structure;
- To develop a draft constitution and rules of procedure;
- To seek funding to organize an a founding assembly or congress;
- To propose a place to hold it;
- Organize the assembly/congress;
- To conduct a broad communication campaign about the initiative around the world and especially in Africa;
- To develop a draft strategic plan for the federative structure to be submitted to the founding assembly/congress.
The ICA is happy to have provided colleagues with this opportunity, and encourages them to develop this initiative.
The provisional Coordination working group is composed of:
- Principal Coordinator: Dr. Samba Aw, Professor at the University Cheikh Anta Diop in Dakar, President of the Senegalese Association of Librarians, Archivists and Information managers (Senegal);
- Vice - Coordinator (Communications): Georges Theotimus Hounyo, Head of records and archives department of the Ministry of Economy and Finance (Benin);
- Vice - Coordinator: Eugene Loubou, Municipal Archives of Brazzaville (Congo Brazzaville);
- Vice - Coordinator: Doumbia Atoumane Ndiaye, Head of the National Center for Court Records (Senegal);
- Vice - Coordinator: Ibrahim Zoungo, President of the Burkinabe Association of Information Managers (Burkina Faso);
- Members: Timothy B. Hounkpatin, Secretariat General of the Presidency of the Republic (Benin), Félicien Houwanou, Archives of the Presidency of the Republic (Benin), Jean-Paul Ndayisaba, Association of Archivists and Librarians of Burundi; Mireille Gnikpo, Consultant (Benin), Mahamadou Lawaly Dan Dano, Directorate of Customs (Niger), Yacinthe N'Cho NGuessan, General Directorate of Treasure and Public Accounting (Ivory Coast), Marcel - Moulossy Lent, National Archives (Congo Brazzaville).

Contact: Samba Aw awsambaAThotmailDOTcom