Our Organs

Collegial governance
in support of African craftsmanship.

ODEPA is governed by decision-making and technical bodies that ensure the fulfillment of its mission and the achievement of its objectives.

🏭

Highest authority

The Conference of Ministers

The Conference of Ministers is the supreme body of ODEPA. It is composed of the following members:

  • The current President
  • First Vice President
  • The Second Vice President
  • The Third Vice President
  • The ministers responsible for crafts in the member states
⛭

Executive body

The General Secretariat

The General Secretariat is the executive body of ODEPA. It is responsible for coordinating, monitoring, and implementing the decisions made by the Conference of Ministers.

👥 Chaired and led by a Secretary-General appointed by the Conference of Ministers.

🌎

Regional offices

Regional Coordinating Committees

There are four (04) ODEPA Regional Coordination Offices. They act as liaisons for the Conference of Ministers in each region and ensure that decisions are implemented at the regional level.

🌎West Africa
🌎North Africa
🌎Central Africa
🌎East and Southern Africa

📋

Technical expertise

The Committee of Experts

The Committee of Experts is composed of senior officials responsible for the crafts sector and representatives of craftspeople. It includes, in particular:

  • ›Directors of Crafts
  • ›The Presidents of the Chambers of Trades or their representatives
  • ›Craft Industry Contacts
📍

National relays

National Liaison Offices

The National Liaison Offices serve as representatives of the ODEPA General Secretariat at the member state level.

Led by the directors responsible for the crafts sector, these groups work in close collaboration with relevant national organizations and representatives of umbrella organizations.

🎯

Primary responsibility: operational coordination of activities to achieve the organization’s objectives in each country.

📊 KEY FIGURES

28
Member countries
4
Regional zones
5
Organs
11
Ministers’ Conference

View all statistics →

☰ THE 5 ORGANS

  • 01Ministerial Conference
  • 02General Secretariat
  • 03 Regional Coordination
  • 04Committee of Experts
  • 05 National Branches

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

14
JUNE

Pan-African Handicrafts Summit

📍 Accra, Ghana

22
JULY

ECOWAS Artisans’ Forum

📍 Dakar, Senegal

09
SEPT

ISI International Exhibition

📍 Nairobi, Kenya

View all events →