The average temperature here in Mexico City is 27degrees Celsius and the mood just as warm. The town is abuzz with international delegates to the High Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation.

The meeting will review global progress in making development co-operation more effective and take steps to boost social and economic growth. The NEPAD Agency will join Heads of State and Government, Ministers, parliamentarians, leaders from international organisations, business, civil society, foundations and other key development players at this important meeting on April 15 and 16.

Africa is here with a united agenda on key issues that impact on its social economic development. In preparation NEPAD, under the auspices of the Africa Platform for Development Effectiveness (APDev), and the Government of Ivory Coast, hosted the Africa Heads of Delegation Meeting yesterday, to ensure that the continent speaks and articulates Africa’s priorities with one voice

Ministers and experts at yesterday’s meeting

Dr Albert Mabri, Ivory Coast’s Minister of Planning stressed that “Africa is calling for a binding Global Action Plan, which requires a much stronger commitment by all stakeholders towards making concrete progress in ensuring that aid supports the attainment of development results globally.”

 (Picture courtesy of Global Partnership website)

With over 12 African Ministers of Finance, yesterday’s meeting agreed that the recently adopted African Action Plan on development effectiveness will inform continental interventions in here. Critical issues include Domestic Resource Mobilisation and supporting the local private sector. Africa’s position is that the “a one-size fits all” approach has failed to work and will not work.

                                                   Africans planning to speak coherently with one voice              

The AUC Commissioner for Economic Affairs  Dr Anthony Maruping, underscored the need for an expanded, more effective and participatory representation on the Global Partnership governance structures. This is because the continent is not currently adequately represented.

The next two  days of negotiations will provide a platform for the continent to strongly articulate its priorities to add value to Africa’s renewal agenda.