Main outcomes of the United Nations Main outcomes of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Conference on Sustainable

Development: Implications for AfricaDevelopment: Implications for Africa

An ECA Presentation at the An ECA Presentation at the Eighth Session of the Committee on Food Security Eighth Session of the Committee on Food Security

and Sustainable Development and Sustainable Development

and the and the

Africa Regional Implementation Meeting for the Africa Regional Implementation Meeting for the Twentieth Session of the Commission on Sustainable Twentieth Session of the Commission on Sustainable

Development Development

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 19 November 2012Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 19 November 2012

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Outline of the presentationOutline of the presentation

Scope and objectives of the reportScope and objectives of the report

The Africa Regional Preparatory ProcessThe Africa Regional Preparatory Process

The main outcomes of Rio+20 and their The main outcomes of Rio+20 and their implications for Africaimplications for Africa

Conclusion and way forward Conclusion and way forward

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Scope of the reportScope of the report

Focus:Focus:• High Level Political Forum on High Level Political Forum on

Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable Development• Sustainable Development GoalsSustainable Development Goals• Means of ImplementationMeans of Implementation• Third International Conference on Third International Conference on

Small Island Developing StatesSmall Island Developing States• Programme of work on broader Programme of work on broader

measures to complement GDPmeasures to complement GDP• Green EconomyGreen Economy• Thematic and cross-sectoral issuesThematic and cross-sectoral issues

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Objectives of the reportObjectives of the report

Analyse the main outcomes of Rio+20 and their Analyse the main outcomes of Rio+20 and their implications for Africa implications for Africa

Identify possible areas of intervention by regional Identify possible areas of intervention by regional partners and organizationspartners and organizations

Inform the deliberations of the Africa RIM for CSD-Inform the deliberations of the Africa RIM for CSD-2020

Elicit inputs on regional priorities and concerns in Elicit inputs on regional priorities and concerns in the implementation of the Rio+20 outcomesthe implementation of the Rio+20 outcomes

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Africa’s preparations for Africa’s preparations for Rio+20…Rio+20…

Preparations spearheaded by ECA jointly with the AUC and Preparations spearheaded by ECA jointly with the AUC and AfDB, in partnership with RECs, UNEP, and UNDP (OSAA, AfDB, in partnership with RECs, UNEP, and UNDP (OSAA,

UNDESA)UNDESA)Objectives:Objectives:

Support African countries to collectively articulate their Support African countries to collectively articulate their concerns and priorities at the Conferenceconcerns and priorities at the Conference

Ensure these priorities are adequately reflected in the Ensure these priorities are adequately reflected in the Conference outcomesConference outcomes

Strengthen regional consultative mechanism to support Strengthen regional consultative mechanism to support implementation of Conference outcomesimplementation of Conference outcomes

Africa Consensus Statement to Rio+20- Common PositionAfrica Consensus Statement to Rio+20- Common Position

Website address: http://www.uneca.org/rio20

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Rio+20 outcomes: The Future we WantRio+20 outcomes: The Future we Want

Largely reflects Africa’s priorities and concerns as contained in Largely reflects Africa’s priorities and concerns as contained in its Common Position for Rio+20 its Common Position for Rio+20

UNGA at its 67UNGA at its 67thth Session was to take decisions on a number of Session was to take decisions on a number of important issues:important issues:

• Identifying the format and organizational aspects of Identifying the format and organizational aspects of the Universal, Intergovernmental High-Level Forumthe Universal, Intergovernmental High-Level Forum

• Strengthening the United Nations Environment Strengthening the United Nations Environment ProgrammeProgramme

• Constituting a working group to develop global Constituting a working group to develop global Sustainable Development Goals to be agreed by UNGA Sustainable Development Goals to be agreed by UNGA

• Establishing an intergovernmental process to prepare Establishing an intergovernmental process to prepare a report proposing options on an effective SD a report proposing options on an effective SD financing strategy financing strategy

• Considering a set of recommendations from the Considering a set of recommendations from the Secretary-General for a facilitation mechanism that Secretary-General for a facilitation mechanism that promotes the development, transfer and promotes the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologiestechnologies

• Launch of a programme of work on broader measures Launch of a programme of work on broader measures of progress to complement GDPof progress to complement GDP

• Designating a member State body to operationalize Designating a member State body to operationalize the 10-YFP-SCP the 10-YFP-SCP

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Our common vision and renewing political Our common vision and renewing political

commitmentscommitments Touches on all aspects of sustainable development, Touches on all aspects of sustainable development, including the governance dimensionincluding the governance dimension

Reaffirms principles contained in all relevant UN Reaffirms principles contained in all relevant UN documents (CBDR), including the UN Charterdocuments (CBDR), including the UN Charter

Reaffirms commitment to all IADGsReaffirms commitment to all IADGs

Recognizes poverty eradication as a global challenge Recognizes poverty eradication as a global challenge and overriding objective of sustainable developmentand overriding objective of sustainable development

Other important elements:Other important elements:

• Advancing integration, implementation and Advancing integration, implementation and coherencecoherence

• Engaging major groups and other stakeholdersEngaging major groups and other stakeholders

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Institutional framework: global levelInstitutional framework: global level

Establish a universal intergovernmental high-Establish a universal intergovernmental high-level political forum, subsequently replacing level political forum, subsequently replacing CSDCSD

Launch an intergovernmental negotiation Launch an intergovernmental negotiation process under the GA - first meeting 68th GAprocess under the GA - first meeting 68th GA

To respond to Africa’s needs, the forum should:To respond to Africa’s needs, the forum should:

• Foster the balanced integration of the three Foster the balanced integration of the three dimensions, including through its membershipdimensions, including through its membership

• Vertical linkages- global to local based on the Vertical linkages- global to local based on the priciple of subsidiaritypriciple of subsidiarity

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Institutional framework: regional Institutional framework: regional levellevel

Regional and sub-regional institutions, including RCs - Regional and sub-regional institutions, including RCs - key role in sustainable developmentkey role in sustainable development

Enhance the RCs and their SROs in their respective Enhance the RCs and their SROs in their respective capacities to support Member States capacities to support Member States

Suggested Actions:Suggested Actions:

• Africa- RIM to be strengthened to Africa SD ForumAfrica- RIM to be strengthened to Africa SD Forum

• RCM-Africa to coordinate UN support for Rio+20 outcomesRCM-Africa to coordinate UN support for Rio+20 outcomes

• Support for African LDCs participation in regional and Support for African LDCs participation in regional and global platformsglobal platforms

• ECA to be strengthened to support countries on ECA to be strengthened to support countries on sustainable development, including integration of the sustainable development, including integration of the three dimensionsthree dimensions

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Institutional framework: national Institutional framework: national levellevel

Countries to strengthen institutions or relevant multi-Countries to strengthen institutions or relevant multi-stakeholder bodies and processes dealing with SD to stakeholder bodies and processes dealing with SD to enable effective integrationenable effective integration

Suggested actions:Suggested actions:

• Decentralized structures at the local levelDecentralized structures at the local level

• Be linked vertically – with sub-national, sub-regional and Be linked vertically – with sub-national, sub-regional and regional levels – as well as horizontally regional levels – as well as horizontally

• Coordinate the development and implementation of Coordinate the development and implementation of policies and strategies policies and strategies

• Tools and approaches to promote the balanced integration Tools and approaches to promote the balanced integration of the three dimensions of sustainable developmentof the three dimensions of sustainable development

• Identify innovative sources of funding to implement Identify innovative sources of funding to implement sustainable developmentsustainable development

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Sustainable development goalsSustainable development goals

Recognize the importance and utility of a set of SDGs, Recognize the importance and utility of a set of SDGs, taking into account national specificitiestaking into account national specificities

Establish an intergvt process to develop global SDGs Establish an intergvt process to develop global SDGs

Request relevant UN system bodies to support Regional Request relevant UN system bodies to support Regional Commissions to collect and compile national inputsCommissions to collect and compile national inputs

Suggested actionsSuggested actions::

• Ensure effective bottom-up consultations to inform global Ensure effective bottom-up consultations to inform global SDG process SDG process

• Build on the Post-2015 Development Agenda consultations Build on the Post-2015 Development Agenda consultations and promote the convergence of the two processes and promote the convergence of the two processes

• Sustainable development report on Africa – regional Sustainable development report on Africa – regional chapter of the proposed Global Sustainable Development chapter of the proposed Global Sustainable Development ReportReport

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Financing Financing

Establish an intergovernmental process under the Establish an intergovernmental process under the GA, with technical support from the UN system and GA, with technical support from the UN system and in open and broad consultation with relevant in open and broad consultation with relevant stakeholdersstakeholders

Suggested actions:Suggested actions:

• ECA, with AUC and AfDB, to carry out a comprehensive ECA, with AUC and AfDB, to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the financing requirements and provide a assessment of the financing requirements and provide a platform for broad-based consultationsplatform for broad-based consultations

• Enhance mobilization of domestic resources; consider Enhance mobilization of domestic resources; consider innovative finance, channel FDI to SD innovative finance, channel FDI to SD

• Accelerate progress towards putting in place a regional Accelerate progress towards putting in place a regional financial architecture to deal with crisesfinancial architecture to deal with crises

• Consolidating existing SD-related funds, towards Consolidating existing SD-related funds, towards creating an Africa Sustainable Development Fundcreating an Africa Sustainable Development Fund

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Financing - Voluntary commitmentsFinancing - Voluntary commitments

More than 700 voluntary commitments amounting to More than 700 voluntary commitments amounting to more than 170m USD specific to Africa, and “global”more than 170m USD specific to Africa, and “global”

Suggested actions:Suggested actions:

• ECA to serve as a broker between UNDESA, committing ECA to serve as a broker between UNDESA, committing organizations, and African member Statesorganizations, and African member States

• Requesting ECA and other partners to promote Requesting ECA and other partners to promote platforms to share experiences and foster knowledgeplatforms to share experiences and foster knowledge

• Advocate for inclusion of African countries not yet Advocate for inclusion of African countries not yet targetedtargeted

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Technology development and transferTechnology development and transfer

Technology: Request UN agencies to identify options for a Technology: Request UN agencies to identify options for a facilitation mechanism that promotes the development, facilitation mechanism that promotes the development, transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally transfer and dissemination of clean and environmentally sound technologiessound technologies

Suggested actions:Suggested actions:• The UN to establish of an independent advisory board on The UN to establish of an independent advisory board on

technology–UN Cluster on Science and Technology of RCM Africa technology–UN Cluster on Science and Technology of RCM Africa and the African cluster on S&T could constitute regional chapter and the African cluster on S&T could constitute regional chapter

• Strategies to promote and strengthen technology institutions at all Strategies to promote and strengthen technology institutions at all levelslevels

• Establishment of regional and sub-regional networks of centres of Establishment of regional and sub-regional networks of centres of excellence and hubs, leveraging on existing networksexcellence and hubs, leveraging on existing networks

• Establishment of regional funding mechanisms to support Establishment of regional funding mechanisms to support developing countries (taking into account the proposed regional developing countries (taking into account the proposed regional SD fund)SD fund)

• Establishing of a steering committee to focus on development, Establishing of a steering committee to focus on development, dissemination and use of clean technologiesdissemination and use of clean technologies

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Capacity developmentCapacity development

Capacity development: Invite all relevant actors to support Capacity development: Invite all relevant actors to support developing countries in capacity-building for developing developing countries in capacity-building for developing resource-efficient and inclusive economiesresource-efficient and inclusive economies

Suggested actions:Suggested actions:• ECA and partners to support the revision of the AU-NEPAD ECA and partners to support the revision of the AU-NEPAD

Capacity Development Strategic Framework, informed by Capacity Development Strategic Framework, informed by regional priorities and Rio+20regional priorities and Rio+20

• The coordination of various capacity development initiatives at The coordination of various capacity development initiatives at all levelsall levels

• The elaboration of national capacity development strategiesThe elaboration of national capacity development strategies• School curricula to incorporate knowledge and skills for School curricula to incorporate knowledge and skills for

sustainable developmentsustainable development

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Small Island Developing StatesSmall Island Developing States

Third International Conference on SIDS to be held in 2014Third International Conference on SIDS to be held in 2014

Five SIDS in Africa: Cape Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, Sao Five SIDS in Africa: Cape Verde, Comoros, Mauritius, Sao Tome and Principe, SeychellesTome and Principe, Seychelles

Suggested actions:Suggested actions:

• Call for bold and ambitious outcomesCall for bold and ambitious outcomes• Reiterate the importance of the consolidating and Reiterate the importance of the consolidating and

scaling-up of the implementation of the Barbados scaling-up of the implementation of the Barbados Programme of Action and the Mauritius StrategyProgramme of Action and the Mauritius Strategy

• Support for national and regional preparations for the Support for national and regional preparations for the Conference & coordination of support to be providedConference & coordination of support to be provided

• African SIDS to provide guidance on the kind of support African SIDS to provide guidance on the kind of support requiredrequired

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Programme of work on broader Programme of work on broader measures to complement GDPmeasures to complement GDP

Establish a programme of work on measures to complement Establish a programme of work on measures to complement GDP, to be led by the UN Statistical Commission GDP, to be led by the UN Statistical Commission

Provides opportunity for more accurate and comprehensive Provides opportunity for more accurate and comprehensive assessment of the state of the economy assessment of the state of the economy

Suggested actions:Suggested actions:• ECA, AUC, AfDB and others to provide required supportECA, AUC, AfDB and others to provide required support• Participation in the process- meeting early 2013Participation in the process- meeting early 2013• The Statistical Commission for Africa to provide platform to The Statistical Commission for Africa to provide platform to

discuss and inform Africa’s position – 2014 next sessiondiscuss and inform Africa’s position – 2014 next session• African countries to ratify the African Charter on StatisticsAfrican countries to ratify the African Charter on Statistics

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Green EconomyGreen Economy

Recognizes GE as Recognizes GE as one ofone of the important tools, bearing in mind the important tools, bearing in mind the need to: respect national sovereignty; strengthen the need to: respect national sovereignty; strengthen international cooperation, including MoI; avoid unwarranted international cooperation, including MoI; avoid unwarranted conditionalities on ODA, finance and trade; and promote conditionalities on ODA, finance and trade; and promote sustainable consumption and productionsustainable consumption and production

Suggested actions:Suggested actions:Seek better understanding of green economy paradigmSeek better understanding of green economy paradigm

Adopt step-wise approach, considering different stages of Adopt step-wise approach, considering different stages of development and country specificitiesdevelopment and country specificities

Case studies that allow for lesson learning to inform policiesCase studies that allow for lesson learning to inform policies

Ensure inclusive job-creating growth that is resource Ensure inclusive job-creating growth that is resource efficientefficient

Key requirements are technology, capacity and appropriate Key requirements are technology, capacity and appropriate investments investments

Need to strengthen existing partnerships and build new Need to strengthen existing partnerships and build new onesones

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Thematic and cross-sectoral issuesThematic and cross-sectoral issues

Identified a number of thematic and cross-sectoral issues Identified a number of thematic and cross-sectoral issues and highlighted key actions for implementation, supported and highlighted key actions for implementation, supported by adequate means of implementation:by adequate means of implementation:

• Poverty eradication Poverty eradication • SIDS; LDCs; Landlocked developing countries; and Africa SIDS; LDCs; Landlocked developing countries; and Africa • Water and sanitation; sustainable transport; energy; Water and sanitation; sustainable transport; energy;

mining mining • Education; human health and population; gender Education; human health and population; gender

equality/women empowerment; employment, decent equality/women empowerment; employment, decent work & social protectionwork & social protection

• Sustainable cities/human settlements; oceans & seas; Sustainable cities/human settlements; oceans & seas; DRR; climate change; forests; biodiversity; DRR; climate change; forests; biodiversity; desertification; land degradation & drought; mountains; desertification; land degradation & drought; mountains; chemicals and wastes; sustainable consumption and chemicals and wastes; sustainable consumption and productionproduction

• Food security & nutrition; and sustainable agriculture Food security & nutrition; and sustainable agriculture • Sustainable tourismSustainable tourism

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Thematic and cross-sectoral issuesThematic and cross-sectoral issues

Important to implement the Rio+20 thematic and Important to implement the Rio+20 thematic and cross-sectoral outcomes within the framework of cross-sectoral outcomes within the framework of existing regional, subregional and national existing regional, subregional and national frameworks and ensure coordinated support by UN frameworks and ensure coordinated support by UN and other partners:and other partners:

• Africa has already clearly identified programmes of Africa has already clearly identified programmes of action in several of the areas (e.g. ClimDev action in several of the areas (e.g. ClimDev programme, AUC/ECA/AfDB Land Policy Initiative, programme, AUC/ECA/AfDB Land Policy Initiative, NEPAD framework, such as e.g. CAADP, PIDA, CPA, NEPAD framework, such as e.g. CAADP, PIDA, CPA, DRR, EAP)DRR, EAP)

• RCM-Africa – coordinated institutional arrangement for RCM-Africa – coordinated institutional arrangement for UN Agencies’ support to NEPAD programme and the UN Agencies’ support to NEPAD programme and the strategic plans of the AU and RECsstrategic plans of the AU and RECs

• SRCMs to ensure effective linkages between RCM-SRCMs to ensure effective linkages between RCM-Africa and UNDAF processes at national levelAfrica and UNDAF processes at national level

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AfricaAfricaRio+20 called on the international community to enhance Rio+20 called on the international community to enhance support and fulfill commitments to advance Africa’s sustainable support and fulfill commitments to advance Africa’s sustainable developmentdevelopment

Welcomed the efforts by development partners to strengthen Welcomed the efforts by development partners to strengthen cooperation with NEPADcooperation with NEPAD

Welcomed the progress made by African countries in deepening Welcomed the progress made by African countries in deepening democracy, human rights, good governance and sound democracy, human rights, good governance and sound economic managementeconomic management

APRM could promote accountability of governments and their APRM could promote accountability of governments and their institutionsinstitutions

Invited Africa’s development partners to:Invited Africa’s development partners to:

• Support African countries to strengthen human capacities Support African countries to strengthen human capacities and democratic institutions and democratic institutions

• Facilitate the transfer to technology (as mutually agreed) Facilitate the transfer to technology (as mutually agreed)

• Increase the flow of new and additional resources for Increase the flow of new and additional resources for developmentdevelopment

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AfricaAfricaSuggested actions:Suggested actions:

• Renew political commitment to sustainable Renew political commitment to sustainable developmentdevelopment

• Strengthen the NEPAD programme as a Strengthen the NEPAD programme as a framework for SD in the region – integrating the framework for SD in the region – integrating the outcomes of Rio+20 in its reviewoutcomes of Rio+20 in its review

• Ensure that national and regional development Ensure that national and regional development strategies are informed by sustainable strategies are informed by sustainable development frameworksdevelopment frameworks

• Enhance awareness of SD and encourage Enhance awareness of SD and encourage participation of all stakeholdersparticipation of all stakeholders

• Support the creation of an African Sustainable Support the creation of an African Sustainable Development Fund (see financing SD)Development Fund (see financing SD)

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Conclusion and way forwardConclusion and way forward

Africa needs to effectively engage in the Africa needs to effectively engage in the intergovernmental processes set out in the Rio+20 intergovernmental processes set out in the Rio+20 outcome documentoutcome document

In this regard, the continued involvement of In this regard, the continued involvement of Africa’s political leadership critical:Africa’s political leadership critical:

• The Outcome Document of Africa-RIM to feed into The Outcome Document of Africa-RIM to feed into CSD-20 and other relevant processes under the GACSD-20 and other relevant processes under the GA

• Draft decision to be presented at AU Summit in Draft decision to be presented at AU Summit in January 2012 (MS to sponsor)January 2012 (MS to sponsor)

• Tabled at the Sixth Joint Meetings of the Joint Tabled at the Sixth Joint Meetings of the Joint AUC/ECA Conference of Ministers (March 2013)AUC/ECA Conference of Ministers (March 2013)

• Inform the business plans of RCM-AfricaInform the business plans of RCM-Africa

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Thank You