Experts to discuss role of sub national entities in efforts to achieve MDGs

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Experts to discuss role of subnational entities in efforts to achieve MDGs

Addis Ababa, 26 April 2009 (ECA) - High-level policy makers, experts from African countries and representatives of development agencies will meet in Abuja from 7 to 9 May to explore how to enhance the contribution of sub-national entities to the

achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa.

The meeting is being convened by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and Nigeria’s Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs. Its main objective is to provide a set of recommendations, based on an assessment of the current situation, on how sub-national entities can play a more active role in accelerating Africa’s progress towards the targets of the MDGs.

Participants will take stock of what State governments and other sub-national entities have done so far to advance the MDGs agenda. They will also explore the best policy options to unleash the potential of sub-national entities in accelerating progress towards the set targets.

Participants will examine inter-governmental relations and the attainment of the MDGs, drawing lessons from federal and quasi-federal systems and whether the autonomy of State governments could bolster the achievement of the MDGs in federations.

Background

Many central governments in federal systems have devoted considerable resources and administrative responsibilities to sub- national entities with the objective of improving public-service delivery. However the contribution of these sub-national entities to the development agenda and more specifically to the achievement of MDGs is not documented.

The Abuja meeting is expected to provide a number of recommendations on how best to scale up the contributions of sub- national entities to efforts towards achieving the MDGs in Africa.

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For more information on the meeting go to: http://www.uneca.org/acgd/events/2009/mdgs-nigeria/home.html Issued by the ECA Information and Communication Service

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