Addis Ababa — Speaking at the Headquarters of the African Union on the theme, United Nations Support to the African Union Agenda 2063", Carlos Lopes, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa urged participants attending the 14th Session of the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa) of United Nations agencies and organizations working in Africa in support of the African Union and the NEPAD programme "to align coherently with Africa's priorities and cooperate strategically with each other and Africa's regional institutions."

"If you want to go quickly, go alone, if you want to go far, go together," said Mr. Lopes, linking the adage to Africa's development trajectory. "

Africa, the continent with the youngest population in the world, is clamoring for more and the onus then is on key actors to go both "fast and far" to make the most of the immense opportunities offered by the continent's human and natural resources," he said.

He added that while there is goodwill and commitment among Africa's partners much remains to be done to turn these commitments into the needed long term concrete results on the ground.

For his part, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission expressed AU's support to a proposal for discussion that marks a shift in the way RCM is conducted.

Traditionally held in November, the proposal to hold it in March would align with the Conference of African Ministers of Finance Planning and Economic Development organized jointly by the ECA and the AUC.

"From our perspective, it will afford us as Africa, through the African Union and its member States, the opportunity to collectively deepen our interaction with the senior management of the UN, and thus further empower us in our efforts to both input into, and own programmes jointly formulated by us," he said.

Mr. Mwencha also called on partners to ensure that the implementation of the 10 year capacity building programme and the related UN System programme of support is linked to the evolving priorities and work plans of the AU as they are based on the provisions of Agenda 2016 and the New AU Strategic Plan.

Mr. Lopes said that support to Agenda 2063 has to be tailored around key milestones including those adapted from existing pan-African frameworks and programmes and called on the meeting to consider framing African Development Goals as an integral part of AU Agenda 2063.

These, he said, need not be incompatible with global goals as they can fit into global goals address an entirely different set of sectors and desired outcomes that are Africa specific.

In furtherance of Africa's own narrative, said Lopes, these African Development Goals can cover sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, governance, industrialization, and peace and security.

The annual RCM-Africa sessions have served as important forums for shaping African positions in global processes. Past RCM meetings contributed to Africa's preparations for Rio+20, climate change conferences, and the post 2015 development agenda.

The meeting will also discuss Agenda 2063 across the economic, social, governance and peace and security dimensions.