ACC Declaration on the United Nations System-wide Special Initiative On Africa
15 March 1996
The Special Initiative on Africa being launched today by the Secretary-General, with the executive heads of all the agencies and organizations of the United Nations system represented in the Administrative Committee on Coordination (ACC), reflects the priority accorded to Africa's development by the international community, the mandates emanating from the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and major United Nations conferences, and the undertakings made individually and collectively by African governments to accelerate the development of their countries. It is a concrete expression of the commitment of all organizations of the system to enhance substantially their support for the development efforts of African countries.
The Initiative consists of a set of major programmes which address established priorities for development. It will be backed by a year-long effort, to be undertaken by all organizations of the United Nations system, to mobilize world-wide political commitment and support for Africa's development. The aim is to develop practical actions which can serve to maximize the support provided by the United Nations system to African development, and help ensure that Africa is given the attention and place it deserves on the international agenda.
The economic, human development and environmental challenges facing Africa continue to be of unparalleled severity, in spite of the sustained efforts of African governments and civil society, and the assistance of the international donor community. At the same time, prospects for Africa's development are, in many ways, better now than they have been for many years. To realize these prospects will require renewed determination, within Africa as well as by the international community, to meet priority development needs. It will require innovation, renewed dedication, strong solidarity, and urgent and concerted action.
This Special Initiative aims to contribute to this effort through a number of concrete actions in four thematic areas of fundamental importance to Africa's future. It is an expression of renewed strong commitment by the organizations and agencies of the United Nations system to Africa's development. The actions and themes it embodies all respond to specific priorities identified by African governments and the international community.
Give Development a Chance
This theme focuses on enhancing support for promoting some of
the basic conditions for civil tranquillity and economic development.
-- Peace-building, Conflict Resolution and National Reconciliation. This effort will include support for strengthening the capacity of the Organization of African Unity to engage effectively in peace-building throughout Africa. It will be accompanied by initiatives aimed at strengthening critically important civil society groupings which work on peace-building, and fostering communications for peace in Africa;
-- External Support for Africa's Economic Transition will be enhanced through actions aimed at: promoting more favourable resolutions of Africa's debt situation; widening trade access and export opportunities, including diversification; fostering foreign direct investment; and enhancing South-South partnerships;
-- Domestic Savings and Investment will be bolstered through technical support; and
-- Information Technology and systems will be fostered to improve links within Africa and with the rest of the world.
*******
New Hope for the Upcoming Generation
No actions are more important than those which assure parents
that their children will have better opportunities and a better
future. The largest commitment of the resources to be mobilized
through the Special Initiative will build upon ongoing actions
in African countries designed to better peoples' conditions through
expanded access to education and health, particularly for girls
and women. This effort will be accompanied by parallel actions
concerned with employment and the promotion of sustainable livelihoods.
-- Basic Education for All African Children will be the goal of a major 10-year effort of critical importance for the upcoming generation;
-- Health Sector Reform will also involve a decade-long effort to strengthen, revitalize and expand Africa's primary health facilities, in order to provide essential basic care and outreach services to the majority of the population; and
-- Employment and Sustainable Livelihoods will be furthered by promoting employment-generating opportunities particularly in the informal sector, and fostering sustainable livelihoods, particularly in environmentally marginal areas.
*******
Strengthening the Capacity for Governance
Supporting actions by the United Nations system to bolster significant
efforts under way in Africa to improve governance will focus on:
--Building capacities for good and accountable governance through effective civil services, and the strengthening of independent judicial systems, parliamentary functions and electoral processes; and
-- Strengthening the capacities of civil society to be a more active partner in development, and enhancing its contribution to and participation in policy-making.
*******
Urgency on Survival Issues
The Initiative place special emphasis on the need to enhance sustainable
food and water security in Africa. A number of focused programmes
will be undertaken.
-- Food Security and Drought Management actions will emphasize: reducing land degradation and increasing desertification control, improving soil quality, and enhancing food security with special emphasis on the situation of women.
-- Water Security will focus on: household water and sanitation needs; assuring sustainable use of and equitable access to freshwater; improved freshwater assessments; and better management of water for food production.
The total financing required for these actions is estimated at up to $25 billion over a 10-year period. Financing will come mainly from a redirection of existing resources at national and international levels, as well as from new resources. The World Bank has agreed to take the lead in mobilizing the bulk of the required resources. In addition, other UN agencies will contribute financial resources and will participate in resource mobilization initiatives.
The Special Initiative also includes three innovations intended, on the one hand, to make development partnerships more effective, efficient, and participatory, particularly as regards Africa's civil society, and, on the other, to enhance the prospects for resource mobilization: the creation of goal-oriented regional forums; the preparation of goal-oriented country programmes by sectors; and a broadening of participation in Consultative Groups and Roundtable meetings to include leaders of business and civil society.
In addition to the actions embodied in the Special Initiative, United Nations agencies and organizations have agreed to maintain and enhance parallel efforts which will reinforce the aims of the Special Initiative. Such actions include support for the effective macroeconomic management of African economies; infrastructural development including ground and air transportation and telecommunications; civil society empowerment for poverty reduction; drought preparedness and mitigation; special programmes in solar energy; and improved postal administration.
Agencies and organizations of the United Nations system will pursue each of these undertakings with determination and full commitment to their effective implementation and positive development impact.
As part of this commitment, all heads of United Nations agencies and organizations are pledged to participate in a year-long effort at mobilizing political support for Africa's development.
In so doing, the United Nations system will work closely with African leaders and peoples, as they pursue their priorities aimed at assuring a better future for the women, men and children of the continent.
This commitment comes at a time of severe financial crisis for the United Nations, and at a difficult time for development assistance. Africa's development needs cannot, however, wait for better times. Indeed the vigour of the commitments and partnerships involved in the Special Initiative on Africa should serve to promote renewed determination and far-sightedness on the part of the United Nations, Africa and the whole international community, in facing humanity's future.
Material from this article may be freely reproduced, with attribution
to "Africa Recovery, United Nations".
We would appreciate a copy of the reproduction.
Africa Recovery
Room S-931
United Nations
New York, NY 10017 USA
Tel: (212) 963-6857
Fax: (212) 963-4556
Email: africa_recovery@un.org
Website: www.africarecovery.org
Contact us by email: africa_recovery@un.org