MEETING OF SHERPAS OF THE HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE ON THE POST 2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, February 22, 2014/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- INVITATION TO MEDIA REPRESENTATIVES
WHEN: 24-27 February 2014
WHERE: Ndjamena, Republic of Chad
WHO: Organised by the African Union Department of Economic Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Chad and the office of the Chair of the High Level Committee on the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
WHY: The 22nd Assembly of Heads of State and Government holding in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 30-31 January 2014 adopted the Common African Position (CAP) on the post 2015 development agenda to serve as an African input to the Global post 2015 development Agenda.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the meeting is to launch the CAP and formulate a strategy for advocacy, negotiation and forging alliances
PARTICPIANTS: Sherpas of the High Level Committee on the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
EXPECTED OUTCOME: Document on Negotiation strategy and advocacy
BACKGROUND: A High Level Committee (HLC) was established at the 21st Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government held in May 2013, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to finalize the draft African Common Position and build regional and intercontinental alliances around the post 2015 Development Agenda.
The High Level Committee includes two Heads of State and Government from each of the five regions of the continent and is chaired by Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the President of the Republic of Liberia.
During the Assembly, Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the President of the Republic of Liberia and Chair of the High Level Committee (HLC) on the Post 2015 Development Agenda presented the Draft Common African Position which is an outcome of a series of consultations with a wide spectrum of African stakeholders since 2011. The document is structured around five pillars and enablers.
• Pillar 1: Structural Economic Transformation and inclusive
• Pillar 2: Science, technology and innovation
• Pillar 3: People-centered development
• Pillar4: Environmental sustainability, natural resources management and disaster risk management
• Pillar 5: Finance and Partnerships
The document also identified Peace and Security; Good governance, transparency and fighting corruption; Enabling governance architecture; Human rights for all; Macroeconomic Policy; Private sector development; A credible participatory process; Monitoring and evaluation; Traditional Knowledge; Capacity development as key enablers for implementation.
The Assembly expressed a need for a Post-2015 Development Agenda that remains focused on completing the unfinished business of the MDGs, whilst also incorporating new and emerging challenges. It also expressed its aspirations for a Global Agenda that creates an enabling environment for Africa to transform its economies, pursue sustainable development, strengthen resilience and promote an agenda that encourages open and accountable governance supported by strong, mutually beneficial and diversified global partnerships. The Assembly further requested to bring peace and security upfront as a pillar and emphasized the need for a standing Committee to follow up, monitor and report the implementation of the Post 2015 Development Agenda.
Finally the Assembly called for, a fully open, transparent and inclusive negotiation process in which nations are equal and have an equal voice and commit to speak with one voice and to ensure that Africa's voice is heard and fully integrated into the global development agenda and called for the formulation of goals, targets and indicators based on the priority areas that will fit into Africa Agenda 2063.
JOURNALISTS ARE INVITED TO COVER THE EVENT