African countries urged to influence the post MDG development agenda

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African countries urged to influence the post- MDG development agenda

ECA Press Release No. 43/2012

Addis Ababa, 27 March 2012 (ECA) – As we move closer to 2015, African countries have been called upon to look beyond the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and engage in the post 2015 development agenda.

Mr. Maxwell Mkwezalamba, African Union Commissioner for Economic Affairs, reporting back from a panel discussion held on the MDGs, said that while MDGs would not be attained by 2015, African countries should not be left out from the post 2015 development debate but rather influence the discussion with timely consultation with all stakeholders.

The Commissioner was reporting to the plenary session of the joint conferences of ECA and AU Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development which ended today in Addis Ababa.

He, however, commented that some African countries have made commendable progress in attaining the MDGs, but the progress varies between countries and goals and where there has been progress, it is attributable to political will and prioritization in the development agenda.

Mr. Maxwell Mkwezalamba, who chaired the “Post- MDGs African development agenda”, said “the debate during the panel discussion was whether we should extend the MDG deadline or introduce new issues”.

He reported that the panel has decided that the MDGs must continue beyond 2015 as they have assisted in resource mobilization and have become rallying points for national development.

Mr. Maxwell Mkwezalamba concluded the session reporting on a set of recommendations made by the panel. The first, he said, African countries must play a more assertive role in shaping the post-MDG development agenda. This will require a common vision and strategy.

Secondly, the post MDG agenda must be informed by national development priorities. The targets need to better reflect local conditions and the limited means a country may have at hand to realize them.

Thirdly, Africa should invest in statistics to guide the production of quality, comparable and timely statistical data in the continent and subsequently inform policy discussions. He urged member states to sign and ratify the charter on statistics.

Finally, African countries must put emphasis on developing and implementing national policies and strategies aimed at achieving the new development framework. These polices need to focus on a number of key areas including committed leadership, good governance, domestic resource mobilization, women and youth employment, capacity building, among others. Furthermore, The new development framework must mainstream human rights principles in all dimensions.

In the context of the theme of the Conference, the panel session on “Post-MDGs African development agenda” was held in which Ministers, Central Bank Governors, senior officials and experts from the United Nations and other organizations, including representatives of civil society and the private sector, discussed and shared their views.

Issued by:

ECA Information and Communication Service P.O. Box 3001

Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251-11-551 03 65 E-mail: [email protected]

Web: www.uneca.org

3/27/2014 Article - African countries urged to influence the post- MDG development agenda

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Africa(3/26/2012)