Namibia-The Minister of Foreign Affairs ,Cooperation and East African Community of the Republic of Rwanda Louise MUSHIKIWABO, attended a two day meeting of the African Union Ministerial Follow-up Committee on the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and its flagship programmes ,which has brought together 15 members of the committee from seven African countries including host Namibia, Algeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Ethiopia, Rwanda and South Africa, in Windhoek, the capital city of Namibia.
In her opening remarks Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, the Namibian deputy prime minister said that much discussion has taken place to understand what is expected of member states, the Commission and other relevant stakeholders to make the continental vision a reality.
“The time has now come for all of us to redouble our efforts to implement Agenda 2063 and to move to effective implementation, for the benefit of the people of this great continent, particularly the women and the youth”.
On the other hand, The Agenda coordinator, Retselisitsoe Mabote said Agenda 2063 was set up based on seven aspirations, 20 goals with 39 priority areas and 256 targets as well as with more than 248 indicators. It was agreed upon at the African Union golden jubilee in May 2013.
As part of jump−starting the implementation of Agenda 2063, key flagships have been identified by the commission and approved by the African Union policy organs.
The 12 flagship programmes include the provision of electricity for the entire continent via the Great Inga Dam,the continental free trade area, where African countries are able to trade with one another and travelling freely without being inhibited because of the introduction of an African passport.
The Ministerial Follow-UP Committee was establsihed in January 2014, and its membership was renewed in January 2016,was initially entrusted with the mandate of providing political direction on the development of the terms of reference to accelerate the implementation of Agenda 2063 in all countries, and to report to the Executive Council on the four strategic roles; Ensuring Efficiency; Financing; and Accountability in the delivery of Agenda 2063; and the deliberations covered the First Ten-year Implementation and Successive Plans.
A progress report will be presented by the AU Commission on progress made, which will be discussed for adoption at the next Executive Council meeting in January 2018.
Agenda 2063, is a strategic framework for the socio-economic transformation of the continent over the next 50 years. Its builds on, and seeks to accelerate the implementation of past and existing continental initiatives for growth and sustainable development.
AT/afm/APA
The Express News
