Africa Regional Review: 22 - 26 February 2021 (Virtual)

Outcome Document

Issues Notes

Session 1: MINISTERIAL DIALOGUE: LESSONS LEARNED AND BUILDING BACK BETTER

In this session ministers and other high-level participants reflected on the progress achieved during the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action, including remaining gaps, challenges and vulnerabilities. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the LDCs’ health care systems and its socio-economic consequences featured prominently. National recovery plans were shared. Lessons learned were identified as well as policy recommendations for the next decade. 

In this session, speakers explored how peace and security are impacting development in African LDCs. Furthermore, participants discussed mutually reinforcing dynamics of peace and development in conflict-affected countries and how to ensure a more integrated approach by the LDCs, their partners and multilateral institutions. Ways to broaden and strengthen the participation of LDCs in the institutions of global governance were also discussed.

This session explored the potential sources of growth to enable LDCs to achieve accelerated, inclusive and sustained growth and meet the SDGs by 2030. Structural transformation has traditionally been linked to increased productivity through the manufacturing sector. However, the era of technological advancement and initiatives for green growth to “build back better” after the COVID-19 pandemic call for a discussion on alternative sources for sustainable economic development in LDCs. Speakers discussed the role that services such as ICT (including access to broadband internet), tourism or agroindustry can play in this respect and highlighted successful and innovative solutions to enable the African LDCs generate higher productivity and decent employment, especially women and youth.

This session discussed experiences in domestic and international resource mobilization and discusses ways to facilitate the mobilization of the required resources, including innovative finance, to promote sustainable development in the African LDCs and enhance resilience to various shocks. The discussion focused on how to enhance the abilities of countries to leverage domestic resources and take full advantage of international support, such as financial sector reform, domestic resource mobilization, development of adequate financial infrastructure or risk reduction instruments, including South-South cooperation. It also looked at how to increase debt sustainability, especially after the deteriorations due to COVID-19.

This session explored how improved market access, especially through the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, can boost regional and global trade of African LDCs. It also discussed how competitiveness of African LDCs can be improved, including through access to sustainable energy and connectivity.

This session explored the factors contributing to the high prevalence of poverty and inequality in the LDCs and looked into the multiple dimensions limiting their poverty eradication efforts. It discussed how progress towards human development can be accelerated through addressing aspects contributing to poverty and inequality in the African LDCs.

This session discussed linkages between food security and agricultural transformation in African LDCs. It explored key ideas to leveraging agriculture for the structural transformation of the economies of the LDCs. The session also looked at the relationship between food security and nutrition and agricultural development in African LDCs.

Session 8: BUILDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND ACCELERATING THE ENERGY TRANSITION IN AFRICAN LDCs

This session discussed the factors affecting the high degree of vulnerability faced by the African LDCs. It explored how adaptation to climate change and disaster resilience efforts relate to the sustainable development of African LDCs and discuss mechanisms and approaches that could contribute to resilience building. The discussion focused on ending energy poverty in LDCs and the important role clean and renewable energy play in building climate-resilient development pathways. It also explored workable solutions and mechanisms that could contribute to a better anchoring of resilience and sustainability issues as part of a new Programme of Action.