Africa’s Social Development Bulletin 2010 CALL FOR PAPERS Issued to The Human and Social Development Section (HSDS), within the ECA African Center for Gender and Social Development Division (ACGS) invites contributions to its inaugural 2010 issue of Africa’s Social Development Bulletin (ASDB), which will focus on aspects of social development in Africa that link in with its overarching theme “Advancing the Social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development”. The Bulletin is aimed at providing information on research results, and on best practice policy initiatives on social development at national, sub-regional and regional levels that are crucial in assisting policy makers make informed decisions. The Bulletin is also intended to be an advocacy instrument targeted at raising policymakers’ awareness on advancing progress on social development. The overarching theme for the 2010 issue of ASDB is “Advancing the Social dimensions of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development”. In July 2001, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was adopted by the African Heads of State and Government as Africa's principal agenda for development, providing a holistic, comprehensive integrated strategic framework for the socio-economic development of the continent, within the institutional framework of the African Union. NEPAD aims to place African countries on a path of sustainable growth and development in order to halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process; eradicate poverty; accelerate the empowerment of women; achieve; and ensure that all African countries achieve the Millennium Development Goals. The priority areas of NEPAD’s Action Plan that are focused on promoting social development include: human resource development on education and health; agriculture and food security; gender and development; governance; peace and security; and infrastructure to support social development including water, sanitation, transport, ICT and energy. To further strengthen social development and integration on the continent in order to achieve the objectives of NEPAD, the African countries adopted an African Common Position on Social Integration in 2008 which advances social integration on the continent as noted in the Secretary General’s Report. The Common Position specifically calls for pro-poor growth, empowerment, social protection, human rights and other issues related to an inclusive development that are all important for social integration and building a society for all. Since 2001, there has been visible progress in implementing NEPAD by both African Governments and their development partners. Progress has been made to: strengthen regional integration efforts; boost the participation of Africa in the global economy; improve governance; and promote social development. However, limited headway was made on poverty reduction, eradicating hunger, maternal mortality and on addressing disparities due to gender, income, and disability. The economic, financial, fuel and food crises are a setback to the progress that had been achieved on social development on the continent. Further progress in achieving the social dimensions of NEPAD depends on the development and implementation of relevant national, sub-regional and regional policies supported by adequate resources. Policy makers at national, regional, sub-regional and international levels require adequate information on policies that have worked in order to make informed decisions. To provide that evidence base the ASDB is seeking articles that provide empirical evidence on the assessment of the implementation of the social dimensions of NEPAD; highlight the major successes and challenges; and provide suggestions and priority areas for promotion of social development within the NEPAD framework, the AU’S Social Policy Framework, the ICPD PoA and the MDGs. You are hereby invited to submit an abstract, for consideration to be included in the 2010 issue of the Africa’s Social Development Bulletin. The major focus should be on social issues in the NEPAD framework. Abstracts are invited in the following areas:
The Bulletin’s Editorial Team will review the abstracts, and authors of successful abstracts will be invited to submit full articles for inclusion in the Bulletin. The main criteria for review will be the appropriateness of the proposed article for the illumination of the progress made in implementing the social dimensions of NEPAD and its contribution in identifying priority areas for promotion of social development and the achievement of MDGs in Africa. Once the abstract is accepted a conditional acceptance will be issued. The written manuscript should be in English and should not exceed 5,000 words in length. Abstracts should be submitted to the editorial team, asdb2010@uneca.org, and to aderolili@un.org no later than 15th April 2010. Notification of Conditional Acceptance – May 3, 2010. |
