"ECA is working to ensure that the issue of the African Development Goals (ADGs) does not fall off our collective radar but we must remember that existing programmes and frameworks are not yet being tracked and measured through a unified system of goals, targets and indicators," said Mr. Carlos Lopes, the Executive Secretary of the ECA during the 25th Summit of the AU taking place in South Africa.
Speaking to the NEPAD Head of States and Governments Orientation Committee Mr. Lopes reminded those present that the African Development Goals are intended to draw on these positive attributes of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but within the context of Africa's specified priorities and long-term objective of structural transformation.
Mr. Lopes suggested that ADGs should be developed in a way that takes account of the different starting points of our countries and gives them the space to adopt suitable policies rather than have a 'one size fits all' policy regime. They will also need to be compatible not only with Agenda 2063 but also with the African Common Position.
"The ADGs should form the milestones towards the structural transformation of the continent and must be seen as a 'Dashboard' to guide the monitoring of the process of structural transformation heading towards 2063," Mr. Lopes advocated.
The expiring Millennium Development Goals are to be replaced by a new global development agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals that should take into account Africa's interest in a different manner from the MDGs.
"However, success in articulating and using the goals for their intended purpose means that we have to strengthen statistics and statistical development within the continent," Mr. Lopes cautioned.
African states should measure and monitor the progress, especially in sectors of special importance for Africa's development, including gender, agriculture, infrastructure, industrialization, governance, employment, social development and education.
Mr. Lopes proposed an integration of the goals saying, "African Development Goals should accordingly be viewed from the lens of the broader discussions around global and regional development frameworks, notably the post-2015 development agenda and Agenda 2063".
In addition to acting as a guidelines, the ADGs will pay attention to how mega-trends relating to demographics, urbanization, technological change and environmental degradation are impacting on Africa. The AU member states hope to move quickly to finalize the goals to allow for presentation at the January 2016 meeting of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee and with provision for subsequent annual reporting to this body.
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