UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA NORTH AFRICA OFFICE Sustainable development in North Africa interactions between the three economic, social

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA

NORTH AFRICA OFFICE

Sustainable development in North Africainteractions between the three economic, social and environmental components

Sustainable Development in North Africa – Expert group meeting -ECA NA- Tunis, 18-21 November 2007


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Sustainable Development in North Africa – The three economic, social and environmental components - Karim Laraki, ECA-NA 2

few concepts and definitions

Sustainable development: simple definitionscomplex implicationscommon sense solutions

development that "meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future

generations to meet their own needs


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Common sense solutions

Operational implications:

Economic, social and environmental components

Who decides for future generations

Involve all stakeholders: governments, the private sector (SMEs), civil society (NGOs) and demographic potential, researchers, regional and international organizations

Synchronize national strategies with regional and international environment

Call on facilitators: PPPs, knowledge sharing, ITCs


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7,77,310,3

6,9

13,9

5,3

15,7

3

20

11,7

30

8,1

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Morocco Egypt Tunisia Algeria Mauritania Libya

Unemployment rate

Growth rate

Economic growth but full not potential unemployment

Education and training1. Low productivity low wages2. Inadequacy bwnprivate sector needs waste of resourcesand graduates

IndicatorsVectorsActors

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Ecology doesn’t mean just costs

Textiles & garments sector a good exampleImportant in economies of the regionChallenged by globalizationGood market signals: consumer needs and SD concerns

Environment protection considerations are becoming as important as price and production issues


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Agriculture and rural development

Strategic/MDGsAround 10%, often more, of GDP80 to 90% of water resources25% of labor force50% of the population

LaggingFew, sometimes no, economic activitiesLack of infrastructure (education, health, transport, elec.)Agricultural policies worrying more about urban than rural

Unresolved debatesFood security, virtual water, what kind of income generatingactivities



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Agriculture and rural development

Exogenous factorsDesertificationWorld demand, prices of cerealsClimate change

International community is now involvedWorld Bank (green revolution)ECA (although for quite a while)Support of national initiatives (INDH)


Biodiversity and climate changeKey indicatorsSynergies with desertification


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Social policies

Allocate the benefits of growth

Poverty prevention rather than alleviation

Spatial distribution (rural vs urban: subsidies)

Generational distribution (environment but also deficits,retirement plans

Price of gas: taxes and government budgetsreal prices (optimal allocations of resourcesvspurchasing power and competitiveness



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Infrastructure

Energy

Water

Education, R&D

Communication and tradeEnvironment/“Foreign entity”Natural resources

NA oil producing as well as non producing (federating theme)Renewable energies, positive impact on environment + econ.CC and electricity shortages as heavy reliance on hydropowerConventional + non conventional connections (TREC)

Supply is important but managing demand is vitalShared resources (federating theme)

DignityInnovation, enable the actors (young, women, researchers)


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Monitoring and evaluationMeasure achievements against objectivesand adjust when necessary

Crisis managementOtherwise development/survival whole regions/countriesat stakeNA: climate change and Seismic Hazard

Knowledge management and sharingManage knowledgeDisseminate knowledgeShare experiences, learn from others (successes + errorsECA, leading role, COPs

PPPs: cost and efficiency for all actors



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Decision makers: legitimacy

Youth: demographic windows of opportunity

Women: 50% and know-how in NA

Migrants, positive impact on development


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Private sectorEngine of growthSMEs fragile but yet dynamic

Hasn’t reached full potential, loss of opportunitiesNA Intra-regional trade low

Low share in job creation, public sector still leader

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Regional and international organizations

ECA + UMA + CEN SAD

Public goods

Synergies between the three conventions



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Comments please

Thank youKarim [email protected]

Documents

UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA NORTH AFRICA OFFICE Sustainable development in North Africa interactions between the three economic, social