The eighth edition of Mutual Review of Development Effectiveness (MRDE) Report was launched jointly with the Africa Competitiveness Report 2015 on 3rd November 2015 at the 10th African Economic Conference in Kinshasa, DRC. The MRDE report is a joint publication by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) under the mandate received in 2003 from the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation.
The 2015 MRDE report provides an in-depth review of the implementation of commitments by both Africa and its development partners in 19 individual topics clustered under four key areas: sustainable economic growth, investing in people, good governance and financing for development. The report also proposes future key policy priorities in these areas.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Germaine Kambinga Katomba, Minister of Industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo, highlighted that Africa should continue its focus on structural transformation to ensure that the improvements in the standards of living will be tangibly reflected in the reduction of poverty and inequality.
Dr. Adam Elhiraika, Director of the Macroeconomic Policy Division at ECA presented the report focusing on its key priority areas and the significant progress made, especially by African governments, since the turn of the century. Dr. Elhiraika drew the attention to the commendable focus of the report on industrialisation and investments in manufacturing as the main engines of Africa's structural transformation.
The MRDE launch was attended by more than 100 participants. Professor Olu Ajakaiye, Executive Chairman of African Centre for Shared Development Capacity Building, facilitated the event while Prof. Frannie Leautier, Partner and Chief Executive of Mkoba Private Equity Fund, and Mr. Jean Bankole, UNIDO's Representative and Director of Regional Office in Ethiopia, provided very rich insights as discussants of the report.
