Experts discuss challenges to meeting the MDGs in Southern Africa

09 March 2007

Senior policy-makers and experts from Southern African countries will meet in Lusaka, Zambia from 14 – 16 March, to recommend strategies for accelerating growth in order to achieve the MDGs in the sub-region.

The meeting is part of the annual Intergovernmental Committee of Experts meetings of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Southern-Africa Office (ECA-SA). The theme of this 13 th ICE is “ Accelerating Africa's Development to meet the MDGs: Challenges and the Way Forward for Southern Africa”.

This theme is very timely as midway through to 2015, progress towards achieving the MDGs in Southern Africa has been uneven. The choice of theme reflects the continuing concerns all over Africa about addressing the continent's intractable challenges: high poverty levels and income inequalities, food insecurity, environmental degradation and resource constraints to development. Due to large rural populations, the high rates of poverty continue to limit educational opportunities while socio-cultural attitudes, discriminatory policies and the imbalance in opportunities have continued to limit the participation of women in the formal economy.

While there was a positive economic growth rate of 5.4% in 2006 across southern Africa, this has not had a significant impact on human development when compared to the previous decade. Among the chief reasons for the deterioration is the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

A 2006 report by the UN Interagency Expert group on MDG indicators confirms that the epidemic remains centred in sub-Saharan Africa and that new tuberculosis cases are reported to be on the rise, growing by about 1% in Africa, the fastest increase of any region in the world.

The experts will review the challenges faced by member states in achieving the MDGs. They will particularly address the impact of macro-economic policies and the linkages to job creation, the role of the private sector, and the social dimensions especially the challenges faced by governments. They will also highlight current experiences and best practices in the sub region. The meeting is expected to propose strategies to accelerate the attainment of the MDGs in southern Africa.

Background Note:

The Intergovernmental Committee of Experts comprises senior government experts from southern African countries, who supervise the work of Economic Commission for Africa, Southern Africa Office. It ensures that the development priorities of the sub region are fully reflected in the UNECA programme of work.

Zambia will host the 13 th Intergovernmental Committee of Experts meeting of the Economic Commission for Africa, Southern Africa Office (ECA-SA) from 14-16 March 2007. The meeting will be held at the Taj Pamodzi hotel in Lusaka

For more information on the above meeting please contact:

Wilfred Lombe

Economics Affairs Officer

Economic Commission for Africa – Southern Africa Office

P.O.Box 30647, Lusaka, Zambia.

Tel: +260 – 1 – 228502/3/4/5

Fax: +261-1-236949

Email: wlombe@uneca.org