In closing intensive discussions on peacebuilding and statebuilding in Africa, African leaders and assembled experts called for new peace- and statebuilding goals to guide global aid and country level action. They stressed the importance of shared assessment and management of risk to support transitions out of fragility and increase investments in country systems and local capacity.

The final communiqué said, "We also need stronger ownership, leadership and transparency from fragile countries in assessing their situation of fragility and to develop visions and plans to build peace and legitimate and accountable states."

It argued that "the way we deliver aid must be better tailored to fragile states. Specifically, we need to respond faster and in a more flexible and predictable manner to opportunities to build peace and the legitimacy of the state."

The 150 participants included 11 ministers of finance and planning, senior representatives from international organizations, and civil society. They came from Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Comoros, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Somalia, South Sudan, and Zimbabwe.

The meeting was organized by the African Development Bank, UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission to shape the agenda for the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Korea in November 2011.

Technical contact : Basil Jones

Media contact : Penelope Pontet