Africa ready for post-2015 MDGs development agenda – Report

A new report has observed that Africa has effectively engaged in the process of defining the contours of the post-2015 development agenda as deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target draws near.

The report, ‘Assessing Progress in Africa towards the Millennium Development Goals 2012’, explains ongoing efforts to capture emerging perspectives from Africa on the post-2015 development agenda, but urges countries in the region to remain focused on the MDG targets.

The report, published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), African Union, African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was considered and endorsed at the 19th Summit of African Union Heads of State and Government held in Ethiopia.

“These efforts must, however, not detract African countries from the focus on making continued progress toward achieving goals by the 2015 target date”, the report states.

The report therefore suggests a post-2015 agenda that seeks to promote the resilience of African countries to socio-economic and climate-related shocks by addressing associated vulnerabilities.

“The post 2015 development agenda must reflect an appropriate balance of development enablers and outcomes”, it says, arguing that the MDGs have focused largely on development outcomes and less on the means or processes required to achieve the goals…(it) must provide broad indications of development enablers while taking note of country and regional specificities”, the report explains.

The report said important enablers for the development of African countries should include enhanced peace and security; good governance; human rights for all; strengthened access to justice and equality; a credible participatory process; and enhanced capacity to measure progress and ensure accountability.

By Ekow Quandzie