Opening remarks by Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, at General Assembly Joint Debate on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development: Progress in implementation and international support and Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, particularly in Africa
16 October 2015
Secretary-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, 2015 has been a momentous year for the African continent and the international community.
We witnessed the adoption of the African Unions’ Agenda 2063 and its First Ten Year Implementation Plan, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the universal 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. An upcoming climate change regime is expected to add even more significance, ambition and feasibility to these agreements.
These agendas bring together global, continental, regional and national plans into one holistic and coherent framework for advancing and following up on Africa’s development. It is important to underscore the nexus of these agendas and the need for synergy and complementarity in their implementation.
Today’s joint debate is an opportunity to reflect on our collective efforts to partner with Africa and support the continent in its efforts to tackle challenges and maximise opportunities in the areas of peace and security, human rights and sustainable development. The debate is also a clear demonstration of the special place accorded to Africa in the work of the General Assembly.
Ladies and Gentlemen, over recent years the African continent has made significant strides in human development, political governance and peace and security. And today, it offers the world’s most promising growth potential. But with over 42% of sub-Saharan Africans living below the poverty line, and with a number of African countries continuing to experience conflict and instability, significant challenges remain.
In relation to malaria, commendable efforts, in particular by the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA), have helped to reduce malaria incidence by over 34% in Africa between 2000 and 2013. On the other hand, in 2015 alone, it is estimated that over 340 thousand Africans will die needlessly from this preventable disease. I therefore encourage the General Assembly, the UN system and other stakeholders to continue to work together to combat this disease.
Many of the challenges relating to malaria, ladies and gentlemen, are of course linked to broader development challenges on the Continent. In this sense, it is appropriate that today we also consider progress in implementing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).
NEPAD represents a framework for pan-African socio-economic development and is an essential blueprint for ensuring a positive socio-economic transformation in Africa including by combating poverty in all its forms. Its importance in supporting implementation of both the 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda has been recognised in both documents.
The latest report of the Secretary-General on NEPAD highlights various actions being taken by African countries towards the achievement of the objectives of NEPAD. From infrastructural development projects to agriculture and food security, commitment to health and primary education, and human capital development, African states are demonstrating their resolve to fully implement this development blueprint.
The support of international partners towards NEPAD and its flagship programmes such as the African Peer Review Mechanism cannot be overstated and is integral to the success of the programme. The UN plays a particularly crucial role and I would like to commend the ongoing efforts of the UN system, especially the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa under the leadership of Mr. Maged Abdelaziz, to support the full implementation of NEPAD, Agenda 2063 and continental programmes.
The Secretary General’s recent report also reaffirms the important linkages between socio-economic development and peace and security in Africa and it outlines a number of recommendations which we should all reflect on in order to maintain political momentum around NEPAD.
As we begin a new chapter in international cooperation, let us work together to fight malaria and complete the MDGs, to protect human rights and to the lay the foundations for peace, prosperity and sustainable development across the African continent.
I hope that today’s debate will provide a positive contribution to such efforts.
Thank you.