N’DJAMENA HOSTS EXPERT MEETING OF SHERPAS OF THE HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE OF ADVISORS ON POST 2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
The Commissioner was speaking on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. He expressed gratitude to H.E Idris Deby Itno, President of the Republic of Chad for accepting to host such an important and historical meeting in his country. The N’djamena spirit, Commissioner Maruping underlined, should prevail as the count down towards the 2015 deadline of the Post 2015 Development Agenda has begun.
Commissioner Maruping explained that, consultations are ongoing at all levels to ensure an all-inclusive bottom-top approach of the document on the African Common position on the Post 2015 Development Agenda so that Africans can take ownership of this document. “Speed is required in 2014”, the Commissioner said. He called on the participants to have fruitful summit compliant deliberations, in preparation of the High Level Committee meeting scheduled for 28 February 2014. (See complete speech of Commissioner Maruping on the AU website:www.au.int ).
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Economy , Planning and International Cooperation of Chad, Mrs. Mariam M. Nour outlined that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are composed of very noble causes that need to be taken seriously by all concerned policy makers. She said considerable progress has been made in the socio-economic and political areas but much still has to be done to accomplish the work expected from the High Level Committee.
The Chair of the expert group, Dr. Abdoulaye Dukule, Sherpa of H.E Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia and Chair of the High Level Committee on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, underscored the need to brainstorm on the communication strategy of the HLC among others, to enable good popularization of the activities of the Sherpas of the HLC on the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
Organised by the African Union Department of Economic Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Chad and the office of the Chair of the High Level Committee on the Post 2015 Development Agenda, the meeting is a follow up of the 22nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 30-31 January 2014, that adopted the Common African Position (CAP) on the post 2015 development agenda to serve as Africa’s input to the global post 2015 development agenda.
The objective of the N’djamena meeting is to launch the CAP and formulate a strategy for advocacy, negotiation and forging alliances.
The opening ceremony took place in the presence of H.E Ahmad Awad Sakine, Ambassador of the Republic of Chad in Addis Ababa and to the African Union. Other participants included: the representatives of Algeria, Chad, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Liberia, Namibia, South Africa, United Nations Development Program (UNDP) United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), African Development Bank (AfDB), and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The High Level Committee (HLC) was established at the 21st Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in May 2013, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to finalize the draft African Common Position and build regional and intercontinental alliances around the post 2015 Development Agenda.
The High Level Committee includes two Heads of State and Government from each of the five regions of the continent and is chaired by Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the President of the Republic of Liberia.
During the Assembly, Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf presented the Draft Common African Position which is the outcome of a series of consultations with a wide spectrum of African stakeholders since 2011. The document is structured around five pillars and enablers i.e..
· Pillar 1: Structural Economic Transformation
· Pillar 2: Science, technology and innovation
· Pillar 3: People-centered development
· Pillar4: Environmental sustainability, natural resources management and disaster risk management
· Pillar 5: Finance and Partnerships
The document also identified peace and security; good governance, transparency and fighting corruption; enabling governance architecture; human rights for all; macroeconomic policy; private sector development; a credible participatory process; monitoring and evaluation; traditional knowledge; and capacity development as key enablers for implementation.
The Assembly expressed a need for a Post-2015 Development Agenda that remains focused on completing the unfinished business of the MDGs, whilst also incorporating new and emerging challenges. It also expressed its aspirations for a global agenda that creates an enabling environment for Africa to transform its economies, pursue sustainable development, strengthen resilience and promote an agenda that encourages open and accountable governance supported by strong, mutually beneficial and diversified global partnerships. The Assembly further requested to bring peace and security upfront as a pillar and emphasized the need for a standing committee to follow up, monitor and report the implementation of the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
