by: Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)

The post-2015 Development Agenda provides a unique opportunity for Africa to reach consensus on common challenges, priorities and aspirations, and to actively participate in the global debate on how to complete the MDGs and address emerging development issues.

Published in March 2014, the Common African Position on the post-2015 Development Agenda is the embodiment of that unity. The Position recognizes rising trends such as population growth and the youth bulge, urbanization, climate change and inequalities. It reiterates the importance of prioritizing structural transformation for inclusive and people-centred development in Africa.

According to the document, such a development approach requires: development of adequate policy space and productive capacities, notably through infrastructure, science, technology development, transfer and innovation. It also requires addressing the challenges posed by climate change, desertification and land degradation, drought, loss of biodiversity sustainable natural resource management; ensuring peace and security; and promoting responsive and accountable global governance architecture, including through the full and equitable representation of African countries in international financial and economic institutions.

The African Position is an African Union (UN)-sponsored document. It received technical suppor from the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA ), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Regional Bureau for Africa, and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

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