Economic and Social Council
African Union
E/ECA/COE/35/Inf/1
AU/STC/FMEPI/EXP/Info.1(II) Distr.: General
18 January 2016 Original: English Economic Commission for Africa
Committee of Experts Thirty-fifth session
African Union
Committee of Experts Second session
Ninth Joint Annual Meetings of the African Union Specialized Technical Committee on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration and the Economic Commission for Africa Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic
Development
Meeting of the Committee of Experts Addis Ababa, 31 March 2 April 2016
Draft concept note
I. Background and context
1. For over a decade, economic growth in African countries has exceeded the global average and remarkable progress has been made on several socioeconomic indicators despite low initial conditions. Notwithstanding th is positive performance, much more remains to be done to reduce poverty and improve access to health and education services that meet minimum standards of quality. Almost one out of every two individuals in Africa lives below the extreme poverty line, and the continent has the highest levels of maternal and child deaths. Approximately 3.2 million of the continent’s children did not reach their fifth birthday in 2012 and the maternal mortality rate of 289 deaths per 100,000 live births exceeds the global average of 210.
2. The relatively high level of poverty is linked to the structure of most African economies. African countries are largely dependent on commodities that are exported with little or no value addition, essentially undermining prospects for job creation. Through commodity-based industrialization, economic transformation can create decent job opportunities, substantially reduce poverty and minimize income and wealth inequalities.
3. It is against this backdrop that African member States prioritized structural transformation in Agenda 2063 (the regional framework for development), the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (the global development agenda) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, which supports the
The Specialized Technical Committee replaces the Conference of African Ministers of Economy and Finance and the Conference of African Ministers of Integration. The Specialized Technical Committee brings together ministers of finance, monetary affairs, economic planning and integration
implementation of Agenda 2030. In this context, African countries are confronted by a dual transition: a global-level transition from the Millennium Development Goals to Agenda 2030 and a regional-level transition to Agenda 2063 and its 10-year implementation plan. Both transitions must be effectively coordinated to ensure coherence in implementation and follow-up and review.
A. Agenda 2030 and the common African position
4. The articulation of a common African position on the post-2015 development agenda was key to integrating the continent’s priorities in to Agenda 2030. The common African position was developed through a consultative process that started in November 2011 when the Economic Commission for Africa, the African Union Commission, the African Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme’s Regional Bureau for Africa convened a regional workshop in Accra, Ghana, to begin a conversation on Africa’s priorities for the post-2015 development agenda. The consultations were informed by analytical think pieces that analysed three options for the new development agenda: retaining the Millennium Development Goals in their current form; revising the Goals to take into account new and emerging realities; or doing away with the Goals altogether. The overwhelming consensus was that the Millennium Development Goals should be revised to address their shortcomings and take into account new and emerging priorities, such as climate change.
5. An important observation that emerged from the consultations was that the Millennium Development Goals focused largely on development challenges such as poverty and poor access to health and education services. However, they paid little attention to the underlying causes. Such development challenges can be traced to dependence on a narrow range of primary commodities, inadequate infrastructure and weak institutions, which in turn contribute to limited employment opportunities, vulnerability to economic shocks, rising inequalities and slow economic growth.
6. The consultations also revealed other weaknesses of the Millennium Development Goals including: limited focus on the quality of service delivery;
disproportionate emphasis on official development assistance as opposed to domestic resource mobilization; failure of the Goals to take into account initial conditions of countries in the assessment of progress; and lack of focus on the role of development enablers such as infrastructure and peace and security in facilitating socioeconomic development. In the light of these observations, the common African position prioritized structural transformation, science, technology and innovation, people-centred development, and financing and partnerships.
7. The findings of the consultations were presented at the African Union Summit in July 2012, where the Heads of State and Government mandated the African Union Commission and its partners to deepen regional consultations with all stakeholders and develop an African common position. Regional consultations in Mombasa, Kenya, in October 2012, Dakar, Senegal, in December 2012, and Hammamet, Tunisia, in March 2013 consolidated Africa’s priorities in what is now described as the common African position.
8. In a landmark decision, in May 2013 the African Union Summit established a high-level committee made up of ten Heads of State, representing the five subregions and chaired by Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, to oversee the finalization of the common African position, promote buy-in by other negotiating blocs and ensure its integration into the post-2015 development agenda. The creation of the committee gave the common African position political legitimacy as the continent’s framework for engagement in the post-2015 intergovernmental negotiations. Following the inclusion of peace and security as a separate pillar of the common African position, the position
was endorsed by the committee in February 2014 and served as the basis for Africa’s negotiations on a post-2015 development agenda.
9. As a result of the continent’s unified voice in the intergovernmental negotiations, Agenda 2030 and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development , incorporate the majority of Africa’s priorities. For instance, Goals 8 and 9 of Agenda 2030 reflect Africa’s priorities for structural transformation, technology and innovation. Specifically, Goal 8 focuses on promoting sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all, while Goal 9 prioritizes the building of resilient infrastructure, the promotion of inclusive and sustainable industrialization and the fostering of innovation.
B. Agenda 2063 and the first 10-year implementation plan
10. Agenda 2063, is a long-term development framework that aims to materialize Africa’s vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful continent, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the world.
11. The origins of Agenda 2063 can be traced to the fiftieth anniversary of the African Union, in 2013, when Heads of States recommitted themselves to the pursuit of the pan-African vision. Heads of State and Government tasked the African Union Commission, supported by the Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank, with preparing a long-term vision for the continent through a people-driven approach.
12. The resulting document, Agenda 2063, has three key components: the vision, the transformation framework and the first 10-year implementation plan.
It is anchored by seven aspirations that are supported by corresponding go als, priority areas, targets, and strategies. There are currently 20 goals that apply to the 10-year implementation plan. To ensure effective implementation, Agenda 2063 is divided into five 10-year implementation plans, with the first spanning the period 2013–2023. The first 10-year implementation plan is founded on the Constitutive Act of the African Union; the vision of the African Union; the eight priority areas of the African Union’s Fiftieth Anniversary Solemn Declaration;
the African aspirations for 2063 obtained through a consultative process;
regional and continental frameworks; and national plans and visions.
13. The goals and targets contained in the 10-year implementation plan were selected based on guidance from decisions of the Assembly; insights from the development priorities of member States and regional economic communities;
the orientation of existing continental frameworks; and the flagship projects and programmes of Agenda 2063.
C. Convergence between Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063: Key issues to highlight
14. By committing to both Agenda 2030 and 2063 African member States demonstrated their unwavering commitment to the implementation and follow - up of both agendas. The significant convergence of the two agendas at the level of goals and targets will minimize some of the coordination challenges associated with implementing and monitoring the agendas.
15. The convergence of the two agendas was not an accident of fate but the result of deliberate efforts by member States. Specifically, the crafting of the common African position facilitated the integration of Africa’s priorities into Agenda 2030. Since Agenda 2063 builds on the common African position as well as other existing priorities and programmes in Africa, such as the Programme for Infrastructure Development for Africa and the Comprehensive
Africa Agriculture Development Programme, several of the priorities of Agenda 2030 are also reflected in Agenda 2063.
16. Both Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 are comprehensive, underpinned by an extensive consultation process and share common aspirations of structural transformation and sustainable development. For instance, both agendas aim to improve the living standards of households through an inclusive and sustainable growth process. Goal 1 of Agenda 2063 focuses on ensuring a high standard of living, quality of life and well-being for all. Similarly, Agenda 2030 prioritizes ending poverty in all its dimensions and improving access to social protection.
Again, both agendas call for poverty eradication, greater equity in the distribution of economic and social assets, and significant improvements in social service delivery for all social groups irrespective of gender, ethnicity, age or geography. The synergies provide an opportunity to implement both agendas without unduly burdening policymakers with multiple development frameworks.
17. Notwithstanding the synergies, the agendas are not identical. For example, Agenda 2063 includes a number of commitments not captured in Agenda 2030, such as Goal 8 on creating a United States of Africa; Goal 9 on the creation of continental financial and monetary institutions; Goal 15 on ensuring a fully functional and operational African peace and security architecture; and Goal 19 on ensuring that Africa is a major partner in global affairs and peaceful co-existence.
18. Thus, synergies notwithstanding, coordination will be vital to ensure that implementation and follow-up take into account all dimensions of both initiatives: areas of convergence as well as issues that are tackled separately by each initiative but are of importance to the development of the continent.
Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 will provide the framework for sustainable structural transformation in Africa. A key implementation challenge for member States will be the coherent integration of both agendas into their national planning frameworks. Underpinning this challenge is the issue of messaging to ensure awareness about relationship and synergies across the agendas and their mutual relevance to national development. Agenda 2030 is an attempt to respond to the global dimensions of Africa’s development challenges while Agenda 2063 responds to the regional dimension. Implementation of both agendas will therefore require: advocacy and awareness-raising about the details of both frameworks; strengthened capacities to integrate them in a coherent fashion, such as initiatives in national planning frameworks; and research to support evidence-based policymaking.
19. With respect to follow-up and review, the burden of reporting by countries will be substantial if countries have to report on one set of regional indicators for Agenda 2063 and another set for Agenda 2030. The African development goals could serve as the unifying framework to monitor progress on both Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063. The African development goals are a set of goals, targets and indicators derived from Agenda 2063, which itself is a coherent compilation of all the thematic and development frameworks tha t Africa has set for itself over the years through the formulation and ratification of various development frameworks at the continental and international levels.
The African development goals build on the common African position, which informed the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals. To reduce the reporting burden, it makes sense to adopt the African development goals as the regional template for follow-up of both Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals since they overlap with both initiatives.
20. Related to the issue of a unified set of monitoring tools is the question of the follow-up architecture. To avoid overburdening policymakers it will be essential to develop common platforms and reporting mechanisms for both agendas. Agenda 2063 calls for an annual African forum to: raise cross-sector awareness and cultivate understanding of the role of the African public in the implementation of the Agenda; take action based on Agenda 2063 progress
reports; engage stakeholders to accelerate the realization of Agenda 2063; and identify best practices and champions to accelerate implementation.
Meanwhile, Agenda 2030 calls upon the regional commissions to support member States in developing an appropriate forum for follow-up. In March 2015, the African regional forum on sustainable development was mandated to follow-up on Agenda 2030. There is therefore a need to harmonize the follow- up mechanisms of Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 to ensure coherence.
II. Objectives and focus
21. The above background and context sets out the imperative need for Africa to adopt a coherent strategy for the effective and coordina ted implementation of Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063.
22. The Conference of Ministers, which has become the premier forum on the continent for African ministers responsible for finance, economy, planning, integration and economic development and governors of central banks to discuss issues pertinent to Africa’s development agenda, will be held under the theme “Exploring the synergies between the African and the global development agendas”. This wide-ranging theme builds on the recommendations made by the African Union on the need to fast-track the implementation of Agenda 2063, including flagship projects, and the global discussions on the implementation of Agenda 2030.
23. The Conference of Ministers will therefore address the question of how African countries can design and implement effective strategies and policies that will support the promotion and implementation of a common framework for meeting the goals of Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063. Such strategies should not only focus on promoting high and sustainable long-term growth but also ensure that the benefits of such growth are widely shared in order to reduce poverty and improve the standard of living for all Africans. Furthermore , the ministers would, at the end of their deliberations, offer guidance on mechanisms for the successful execution of a common framework at the national, regional and continental levels.
24. The Conference is expected to draw on lessons from Africa’s development experience with continental initiatives over the years and global development processes to ensure that an implementation framework includes provisions for:
Effective implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation arrangements at the national, regional and continental levels;
Mobilization of resources for implementation at the national, regional and continental levels;
Enhancing the capacity of national, regional and continental institutions to be involved in the execution of the common framework;
Raising awareness among institutions and organizations at the national, regional and continental levels responsible for the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the common development goals;
Engaging the African public, civil society organizations and other groups in information exchange and participation in the decision- making process with respect to the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the framework.
25. The Conference, which will draw seasoned and high-level panellists from Africa and other regions, will be interactive with a Davos-style format, so as to
give ministers an opportunity to discuss and share their views and experiences on the advancement of Africa’s development and the coherent implementation of Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063. The discussions will draw on technical background materials synthesizing the results of recent research on the subject, including pragmatic policy recommendations and best practices in terms of policies and measures adopted by member States.
26. The 2016 Conference promises to be a very exciting and engagin g event, with high expectations, as the topics to be discussed and decisions to be taken will have important implications for Africa’s future. A common development framework for Africa has the potential to be a powerful driver of sustainable , pro-poor growth in African countries. The ministers will place great emphasis on the policies and institutions needed for the transformation of African economies. The pursuit of an agenda must be underpinned by efforts at national, regional and continental levels to address binding development constraints within a holistic economic and social development framework.
III. Format
27. A high-level panel made up of eminent persons, senior government leaders and distinguished experts from regional and international organizations, including the United Nations system and the regional economic communities, will lead the discussions. The interactive moderated sessions with panel and audience participation will help to maximize the benefit for delegates and discussants.
28. The Conference will be preceded by a technical preparatory meeting of the Committee of Experts, which will analyse the theme and make recommendations to the ministers for adoption. In addition, the Committee will review the state of economic and social conditions in Africa, consider other statutory issues relating to the work of the African Union Commission and the Economic Commission for Africa, and make appropriate recommendations for consideration at the Conference.
29. In addition, on the margins of the Conference, there will be a number of side events on key development issues, as well as the annual Adebayo Adedeji lecture on a topical issue of importance to development on the African continent.
30. In this context, there will be four main plenary sessions, as follows:
The first plenary session will consist of a ministerial policy dialogue on the theme of the Conference, with particular emphasis on issues of alignment between Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 to ensure policy coherence and a coordinated strategy for implementation and monitoring at the national level;
The second plenary session will critically examine the implementation strategies and challenges of Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063;
The third plenary session will address the issue of resources at the national, regional and continental levels in support of Africa’s development and chart out a way forward;
The fourth plenary session will address statutory issues of the African Union Commission and the Economic Commission for Africa.
IV. Expected outcomes
31. It is expected that the Conference will result in the following:
Well-articulated modalities for aligning and integrating Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 into national planning frameworks;
Key elements of a framework for follow-up and review of both agendas;
The nature and governance structure of the follow-up architecture for both agendas;
A concise report prepared by the Committee of Experts containing the main recommendations and resolutions of its meeting, which will be submitted to the Conference for adoption;
The adoption of a ministerial policy statement, which will provide a basis for concerted action at the national and regional levels on the issues discussed at the Conference. The ministerial statement and other outcomes of the Conference will be submitted by the African Union Commission as major inputs to inform discussions at the African Union Summit in June or July 2016. Economic Commission for Africa will also submit the documents to the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
V. Documentation
32. A concept note on the theme of the Conference of Ministers and technical background papers on the subthemes for the plenary sessions, round tables and parallel events will inform the discussions at both the expert and ministerial levels.
VI. Participation
33. Participants and delegates will include ministers and representatives from member States, regional economic communities, United Nations agencies, pan-African financial institutions, African academic and research institutions, development partners and other intergovernmental organizations. Invitations will also be extended to other cooperating partners, non-governmental organizations and the private sector.
VII. Contact details
34. For more information about the Conference of Ministers and the meeting of the Committee of Experts, kindly contact:
Economic Commission for Africa Ms. Sandra Baffoe-Bonnie
Secretary of the Commission
Tel.: +251-11-544-3378 or +251-911-523-267 E-mail: [email protected]
African Union Commission
