28 January 2013
The Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) – Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, has presented the Agency’s Results-based Activity Report of July to December 2012, at the AU heads of state summit in Addis Ababa.
He highlighted effort for sustaining the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)) momentum and the various tools and mechanisms for domestic resource mobilisation for the NEPAD programmes.
“The NEPAD Agency believes that the time has come to give new impetus to CAADP to meet legitimate expectations of member states while providing a clearer perspective and overall role for agriculture in the economic transformation of the continent. To support this transformation NEPAD has launched the Africa Rural Development Forum as platform for knowledge sharing on polices on rural transformation.” said Dr Mayaki.
The CAADP has emerged as a key vehicle to diversify economies, grow agribusiness, ensure food security and thrive. It also stimulates access to finance, inputs and markets for smallholder farmers.
To sustain its momentum, there’s a need to assess how non state actors can take ownership of the CAADP process by contributing to the development and implementation of agricultural policy in their respective countries.
Dr. Dlamini Zuma – head of the AU, pointed out that despite NEPAD’s achievements, there’s need to address challenges such as adequate resources and human capital, to implement NEPAD Programmes and Projects.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn urged AU member states to reduce dependency on foreign aid for implementation of infrastructure development projects.
President of Benin and Chairperson of the Africa Union, Boni Yayi called on the need for Africa to scale up implementation of NEPAD priorities, such as agriculture and infrastructure, and speed up the aspect of domestic resource mobilization to encourage less dependence on western funding.
But, speaking at the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has today called on the continent’s leaders to boost efforts to lift millions out of poverty and end recurrent cycles of violence to accelerate development in the region.
According to APO, Mr. Ban told delegates: “Africa has the experience to forge solutions to its own challenges and contribute to our global goals of inclusive growth, social justice and protecting our environment.”
He noted that many countries have made important gains to achieve the anti-poverty targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
The eight MDGs set specific targets on poverty alleviation, education, gender equality, child and maternal health, environmental stability, HIV/AIDS reduction, and a ‘Global Partnership for Development.’
“More African children are in schools, especially girls. More clinics are helping more women survive childbirth. More African women sit in Government and key decision-making positions,” Mr. Ban said, adding that in spite of this progress, he is still concerned about hundreds of millions of Africans living in poverty.
Mr. Ban urged African leaders to accelerate efforts to achieve the MDGs, before their 2015 deadline. He stressed that success will depend on ownership by governments and civil society.
“Our destination is clear: A future where Africa’s wealth enriches all of Africa’s people; where misrule is only found in history books; where Africa’s goods get a fair price on the global market; where global partnerships mean shared prosperity.”
Young people and women will be key to driving peace and development in the continent, Mr. Ban said, underlining the importance of investing in their health and education, and providing them with a secure environment.
“We especially need to speak out against rape and sexual violence in conflict. Governments must support victims and end the culture of impunity,” he said.
Mr. Ban underscored that peace is essential for development, and reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to work with countries in the region to address conflict and violence.
Regarding the crisis in Mali, Mr. Ban said the UN is determined to do all it can to help the people in the country, with humanitarian agencies currently assisting civilians in need. “The United Nations has also sent specialists on the military and political tracks. This is a moral imperative for all in the international community,” he said.
Fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels broke out in northern Mali last January, after which radical Islamists seized control of the area.
The renewed clashes in the north, as well as the proliferation of armed groups in the region, drought and political instability in the wake of a military coup d’état in March have uprooted hundreds of thousands of civilians.
Last month, the Security Council authorized the deployment of an African-led International Support Mission in Mali, known as AFISMA, for an initial period of one year to assist the authorities in recovering rebel-held regions in the north and restoring the unity of the country.
Mr. Ban called on Malian authorities to embrace a comprehensive political process, and agree on a roadmap leading to full restoration of constitutional order.
In addition, he reiterated his full commitment to ensure that the UN stands ready to undertake major peacebuilding efforts as well as security sector reform, reconstruction and regional cooperation once the combat operations come to an end.
Referring to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Mr. Ban said the UN Stabilization Mission in the country (MONUSCO) is doing everything it can to protect civilians, and encouraged regional leaders to endorse a peace, security and cooperation framework to address the causes of violence in the country.
Mr. Ban also addressed a special event on the Campaign for Accelerated Reduction of Maternal Mortality in Africa (CARMMA), where he pledged the UN’s support to expand the campaign so that pregnant and nursing mothers in the continent have access to nutrition and healthcare.
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