“Africa is looking for MDG-plus, an agenda that recognises the impact of climate change, the global finance and food crisis. The new agenda must involve consultation on the African side.”

These remarks were made by African Union Commissioner for Economic Affairs Dr Maxwell Mkwezalamba, who spoke on behalf of AUC Chair Dr Nkosana Dlamini-Zuma, at the 13^th UN Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) on the Post-2015 agenda for Africa; the new development framework which will succeed the current Millennium Development Goals.

The RCM is an annual high-level forum organised by the UN Economic Commission for Africa to foster debate on Africa and to determine how best to coordinate UN system support to the African Union and New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). It is a vital mechanism to review progress made by NEPAD and to ensure that UN support is channeled effectively, based on the Continent’s needs and priorities.

The two-day meeting, chaired by the UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and the AU Deputy Chairperson, Ersatus Mwencha, brought together representatives of UN agencies, the AUC, NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) including the East African Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as well as member states and development partners to strengthen the momentum of the Millennium Development Goals and to assess what happens after the 2015 deadline.

Dr Mkwezalamba stated: “In constructing a common position on the post-2015 development agenda, we need to take of account the challenges of the MDGs...too much focus on the social sector; deter­mining inequality in terms of the numbers rather than the qualitative aspects of inequal­ity; overlooking the enablers of development (peace, human rights); encouraging the cul­ture of aid dependence.”

Also highlighted was the issue of growing inequalities in Africa and that economic growth  has not fully translated into social transformation, thus the need to put job creation strategies and inclusive growth at the centre of the new development agenda.

Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Agency, said that Africa’s development is marked by disparities - in performance and geography. “I cite two examples; Tunisia was well on track with the MDGs (highest school enrolment for girls, highest internet penetration on the continent) while Mali was always cited as a model. The two development models failed, proving that the new development agenda for Africa must take into account regional and national priorities and needs. It must be inclusive and combine different development sectors.”

Also addressing the meeting, Direc­tor-General of the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Kande Yumkella called on the need to differentiate between poverty management and poverty eradication. Mr Yumkella said “Africa does not need any more pilot programmes; we need to scale up a transformative agenda.”

“We cannot remain an exporter of natural resources and raw materials; we need industrialize by adding value,” said Mr Yumkella. 

UN Deputy Secretary General Jan Eliasson emphasised the need for UN agencies and organisations to re-double their support to Africa and strengthen the UN-AU relationship through the RCM.

Participants agreed at the end of the forum that Africa should take a primary role in determining the Post-2015 agenda, with the AU and NEPAD Agency being fully engaged in the process.