Addis Ababa — Preparations are underway for the 14th Session of Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM) to be held on 21- 22 November 2013 at the African Union Conference Centre, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on the theme: "Agenda 2063". The choice of the theme is aimed at guiding UN system support to this Africa-owned Agenda.
The AU Summit of July 2012 called for the formulation of a new continental plan that would provide greater coherence in the actions and initiatives of the AU organs, member states, Regional Economic Communities and other key continental stakeholders in support of the mission of realizing Africa's socio-economic transformation.
As the continent commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the OAU/AU in 2013, this plan - known as " Agenda 2063 " is a fifty year forward looking framework that seeks to provide a concrete and viable guide to member states, regional institutions and other stakeholders on how to achieve the AU vision of " an integrated, people-centred and prosperous Africa at peace with itself".
"Agenda 2063" highlights the importance of having a long term framework that is broken down into 5 years; Linking to other long term plans across sectors, including the AU 5 year strategic plan. It is also a long term strategy that looks at trends and implications for the multifaceted programmes that Africa has to come up with.
Consultations on "Agenda 2063" have been put in place, involving member states, the RECs and other continental stakeholders. These include women, youth, civil society, parliamentarians, academia, private sector and trade unions. The outcome of the consultations will be considered at the January 2014 AU Summit, before a planned endorsement at the Summit in May 2014.
The meeting is expected to lead to the following outcomes:
- · Better understanding of the ongoing consultations on "Agenda 2063" and consensus on the Agenda.
- · Role of the UN system organizations in the context of RCM-Africa to support "Agenda 2063".
- · Consensus on the second triennial review of the TYCBP-AU, including resources mobilization for its implementation.
- · Consensus on a Regional Development Assistance Framework, including resources mobilization for its implementation.
- · Consensus on the operationalisation of MDG Africa Working Group and RCM-Africa with a view to building synergies and integrating the work of both structures related to MDGs.
RCM is an annual platform that provides an opportunity for concrete outcomes and results of coordinated UN support to Africa's development in partnership with African Union (AU) organizations.