The 17th Session of the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa) kicked off yesterday in Addis Ababa, amidst calls for better coordination in the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the global Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030).
The RCM-Africa – a platform for the UN system to support the African Union and its member countries to implement global and continental development goals in Africa – will play a key role in making this a reality.
“There is no doubt that global partnerships can provide the impetus for tackling the key socio economic challenges currently facing Africa. Global partnerships can work for Africa if they are aligned with the strategic objectives of the continent and buttressed by a unified continental voice”, said Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Executive Secretary, Carlos Lopes. “We have the opportunity to model what such a partnership could be”, he stressed.
Speaking on behalf of UN Deputy Secretary-General, Jan Eliasson, UN Special Adviser on Africa, Maged Abdelaziz, said: “What is critical for us today is what the implementation of the UN-AU partnership and the implementation of Agenda 2063 and 2030 agenda for sustainable development entail: both agendas are wide and comprehensive. Together they will therefore address a range of political, economical, social, and environmental challenges for Africa”.
Abdelaziz recommended that RCM Africa prioritizes multi-stakeholder and public private partnerships that facilitate joint programmes. These will support national efforts to domesticate and implement both Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030, while helping to address the perennial problem of lack of resources.
“The implementation of Agenda 2063 will really help us meet the Sustainable Development Goals of ending poverty, zero hunger, quality education, water and sanitation, protecting the planet, gender equality, reducing inequalities and ensuring prosperity for all, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, African Union Commission Chairperson, added. “An integrated, peaceful, prosperous Africa that is driven by its own citizens is in the interest of the whole of humanity”, she added.
The RCM-Africa which was held during the ongoing African Development Week, featured the participation of high level representatives from the African Development Bank, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, African economic communities as well as several UN system agencies and organizations including the World Bank and the IMF.
Participants discussed the UN-African Union partnership for the implementation of Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Objectives (SDGs). Also discussed was the African Year of Human Rights, with a particular focus on the Rights of Women, Movement, Migration, Youth and Gender Empowerment, Regional Integration, Infrastructure and Trade, and Strengthening the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa for an effective Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the SDGs.
HOPE MOSES-ASHIKE
