Agenda 2063 was at the centre of discussion at the United Nations General Assembly in various high-level meetings which kicked off the NEPAD Africa Week at the UN General Assembly in New York.

The fifty-year framework is designed by the African Union as a long-term development strategy aimed at optimising the use of Africa’s resources for the benefit of the continent’s people. The AU says it’s about doing things differently so that the continent can achieve prosperity. The NEPAD Agency is at the helm of this paradigm shift.

The Agenda states that by 2063, African countries will be amongst the best performers in global quality of life measures. Africa‘s collective GDP will be proportionate to its share of the world‘s population and natural resource endowments, with economies that are transformed through science, technology, innovation and competitiveness.

Dr Mayaki making his presentation on NEPAD

In his contribution on NEPAD’s perspective  to the high level Panel discussion  titled “The Africa We want: Support of the UN system to the AU’s of these changes Agenda 2063”, CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki said that the Agenda will be implemented at a time of a highly changing Africa. He said that the key drivers of these changes are different forces originating within and outside Africa.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how, as well as to get some commitments from the UN system, on support to the Africa Union as it moves along with the process of finalising the fifty-year development plan for Africa.

                                                           Representatives of  Civil Society and Ambassadors at the meeting

Mr Maged Abdelaziz, the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), said that the meeting provided a platform to discuss how to transform the Agenda and regional partnerships for development, particularly those under the NEPAD and the APRM.

Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz

The gathering of UN technocrats and diplomats, AU Commissioners, members of the NEPAD Steering Committee and other high level delegates, was addressed by the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN Mr Jan Eliassson, and Mr Sam Kutesa, President of the UN General Assembly. 

                                                                                                     Mr Sam Kutesa                                                                                            

“UN and AU co-operation goes beyond areas such as peacekeeping, rule of law and democratic governance. It is a priority of the General Assembly to mobilise for the effective implementation of Agenda 2063,” said Mr Kutesa.

The Deputy UN Chief said this was an extraordinary time for Africa in that the continent had made commendable advances – not least through NEPAD, but despite this progress, more needed to be done.

The Ebola virus, which has claimed more than 2800 deaths mainly in West Africa, was high on the agenda by speakers who included AU Commissioners for Economic Affairs and Peace and Security - Dr Anthony Maruping and Mr Smail Chergui, respectively. They spoke of the importance in strengthening governance and institutional capacities to tackle outbreaks such as Ebola. The three countries most affected by the crisis, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, are post-conflict states with weak health infrastructure.

Mrs Fatuma Ndangiza Nyirakobwa (above) Chairperson of the APRM Panel of Eminent persons said that the narrative of Africa rising comes with a number of challenges because democratic governance n Africa has to be supported by effective systems.

Addressing concerns about to many development initiatives for Africa, Commissioner Maruping said that Agenda 2063 was a consolidated framework of all other. He said it was different in that it was a consultative and inclusive Agenda which offered stakeholders and sectors of society the opportunity to make contributions.

Agenda 2063 will be presented to Africa Heads of State for adoption at the next AU Summit in Addis Ababa.