Deputy Secretary-General's closing remarks to the 8th Regional Consultation Meeting of UN Agencies and Organizations working in Africa in support of the African Union and NEPAD

I now have the honour to deliver the closing statement for our deliberations. I have no doubt we have had very fruitful and engaging deliberations. Our discussions with the AU Commission, NEPAD Secretariat, the RECs and the UN family, have been extremely useful. We have witnessed increased participation by the AU Commission and the NEPAD Secretariat in all aspects of the RCM. The ECA has continued to play its role as secretariat and will be supported with human and financial resources from other agencies.

In establishing the MDGs Africa Steering Group, the Secretary General sought to further enhance the centrality of Africa in our development agenda. From the deliberations we have had it is clear that we all seek to obtain a greater focus on our goals for Africa. It is also clear that UN agencies are poised to find a more determined way to align their priorities to those of the AU Commission and NEPAD as well as those of the United Nations.

From the summing-up done by Under-Secretary-General Janneh, I understand that we have reached agreement to develop a business plan and to focus more on programmes and projects rather than processes. It was also agreed to strengthen the cluster system, to address further AU-UN Cooperation framework as well as to convene more regularly and to keep abreast of developments and follow up on decisions made. These are significant steps to strengthen our work. I am particularly pleased about the resounding determination to mainstream gender in the work of the cluster and find a way to feed it into achievements of the MDGs.

I should like to thank you Executive Secretary of the ECA, for your leadership. I also thank the African Union Commission, the NEPAD Secretariat, the African Development Bank, Regional Economic Communities and the entire UN family for their active participation and contribution to the successful outcome of this 8th Regional Consultations Meeting. I applaud your common determination to ensure that the RCM is used to further the cause of Africa's development.

Moreover, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff who organized this meeting, and who have worked hard to make it a success. I should also want to thank the interpreters and the technical people that supported this meeting. For those travelling back I wish you a safe trip to your destination and to urge that we all carry forward the positive spirit of our deliberations here.

I would like to thank you very much and once again let me say: merci beaucoup, bon voyage, au revoir.