The Renewal of Planning Section (RPS) of the Macroeconomic Policy Division of ECA organized a side event on the margins of the 2017 African development week in Dakar, Senegal.

The purpose of the event was to share experiences on Holistic and integrated approaches to the implementation of the SDGs and Agenda 2063. The event featured a panel discussion led by Mr. Moubarack Lo, Chief Economist of the Prime Minister of Senegal, Prof Emmanuel Nnadozie, Executive Secretary of African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) and Mr. Bartholomew Armah, Chief of the Renewal of Planning Section.

Participants included development planning experts, economists, advisors from several African countries and institutions, counsellors from President Office, representatives from African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Institute for Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), visiting Professor of Economics, the African Union, UN organizations, etc.

Participants were introduced to ECA's Tool/Software that helps in aligning Agenda 2030/SDGs and Agenda 2063 with national planning frameworks and also includes a module that facilitates national and sectoral tracking of country performance on both agendas. The demonstration was based on the Results Framework of Ethiopia's Growth and Transformation Plan (GTPII).

Mr. Armah, on his part said "that the software will ensure coherent and integrated implementation of the two agendas and can strengthen national voluntary reporting at the High Level Political forum".

The event also served as a platform to report on the status and revitalize the African Development Planners' Network as an ECA moderated virtual platform for knowledge sharing and capacity building.

Several country representatives expressed interest in and capacity support from RPS in aligning the SDGs and Agenda 2063 in their national plans as well as tracking the performance the of SDGs and Agenda 2063. In particular, they urged ECA to develop a guidance note to assist countries in the development planning process.