Algiers — Given the fragile state of its economies and the need to present a common front in a globalized world, Africa must unite behind a single vision to address its development challenges.
Zimbabwe's Minister of Finance, Simba Makoni, told delegates at the opening of the Ninth Session of the Joint Conference of African Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Planning and Economic Development this morning that Africa could not afford three initiatives aimed in the same direction, with common development goals and the same noble intentions.
Mr. Makoni was referring to three development initiatives currently on the table: the Millennium Plan (MAP), proposed last year by Presidents Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria, Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, and Thabo Mbeki of South Africa; the Omega Plan, proposed by President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal; and the Compact for African Recovery, developed by the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
Speaking in his capacity as outgoing chair of the bureau of the Conference, Mr. Makoni stressed the need to rationalize the three initiatives into a single vision around which Africa could unite. In this regard, he explained that ECA has been mandated by African Finance Ministers in November 1999 to develop the Compact. While the Compact was being developed, the MAP and Omega emerged.
Mr. Makoni told the conference that in the interest of coherence, ECA had agreed to "subsume the Compact into the initiative of the sovereigns", and offer the Compact as a technical implementation modality in support of the political vision as espoused by the MAP.
In his opening statement, ECA's Executive Secretary K.Y. Amoako said the MAP had several virtues. "It provides a needed political framework for our progress together. It provides a needed political momentum, as only Africa's top political leadership can make the kinds of changes in governance, necessary to create a lasting foundation for our development. It provides a high level visibility with our partners. I think it will give us a far better chance of obtaining the changes in development partnership which we seek".
Mr. Amoako explained that in meetings with Presidents Mbeki and Obasanjo, as well as with leaders of Ethiopia, where ECA is headquartered, it was quickly agreed that the Compact should serve to help operationalize the MAP. On the Omega Plan, Mr. Amoako said he had recently met with President Wade of Senegal to discuss his initiative. "I see very high potential for the merger of the MAP and the Omega Plan so that at the political level, Africa can speak with a united voice," said Mr. Amoako. "In fact, I think we are well on the way to this point".
Speaking earlier, Organization of African Unity (OAU) Assistant Secretary General Lawrence Agubuzu said that Africa must speak with one voice. He reminded the audience of the decision of African Heads of State and Government in Sirte, Libya in February 1999 that the MAP and Omega should merge.
Algeria's Finance Minister, Abdelatif Benachenou, speaking on behalf of President Bouteflika who was unable to open the conference, also stressed the need for African unity and solidarity, around a single vision that could be articulated in global forums such as the upcoming G8 meeting in Italy. Now, more than ever, it was critical for Africa to close ranks.
In his message to the Conference, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan highlighted governance, promoting economic growth and macro-economic stability, harnessing the private sector and fighting against HIV/AIDS as four issues deserving special attention by the MAP and Compact. He said Africa's development partners should support Africa's own efforts at change by increasing official development assistance, debt relief and market access, and pledged that the United Nations would remain committed to supporting an African-led and African-owned development agenda.
Jean-Claude Faure, Chair of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Assistance Committee (OECD-DAC), welcomed the push by Africa to take charge of its own development, and promised that the OECD would work with Africa and provide support in the spirit of full partnership.
More than 30 Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Planning and Economic Development are attending the three-day conference, which was preceded by a technical experts meeting. The conference theme is "Compact for African Recovery: Operationalizing the Millennium Partnership for the African Recovery Programme".
At the end of the conference, Ministers will issue a statement articulating their vision for development based on African ownership, which will form the basis for partnership between Africa and its development partners.
