As we start
the new millennium, African countries face a myriad of challenges
– from widespread poverty, rapidly changing population dynamics,
environmental degradation, to HIV/AIDS. Political conflicts, poor
governance, recurrent droughts and famines and low levels of education
exacerbate these problems.
Sustainable
development has remained illusive in Africa as widespread poverty
affects most countries and the continent has yet to benefit from
the opportunities resulting from globalization. The Africa Chapter
of the Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD) affirms the international community’s
commitment to support sustainable development in Africa by addressing
the special challenges of the continent through concrete actions
to implement Agenda 21 within the framework of the New Partnership
for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Accordingly, the priority
actions defined in the NEPAD are closely in line with the commitments
for the sustainable development of Africa contained in the WSSD
Plan of Implementation and the African Ministerial Declaration
on Sustainable Development.
It is within
this context that the Sustainable Development Monitoring Cluster
(SDM) was established in the Sustainable Development Division
(SDD). Its main responsibilities include:
- Lead the
preparation and implementation of all activities and the delivery
of outputs relating to population, environment and the crosscutting
issues of the sustainable development nexus;
- Coordinate
the production and publication of the Sustainable Development
Report;
- Lead and
coordinate the implementation of the Committee on Sustainable
Development meetings;
- Liaise
with the Secretariat of the Commission on Sustainable Development
(CSD) for the follow-up of the implementation of the WSSD outcomes
in Africa.
The monitoring
of progress on sustainable development has so far proceeded from
an approach of follow-up to individual global/international conferences
pertaining to different aspects such as population and development
(ICPD), food security (WFS), and environment and development (Agenda
21). In response to the comprehensive paradigm of sustainable
development adopted by the WSSD, and with a view to improving
the quality and impact of information for policy-making, the Division
will develop an integrated approach to monitoring and assessing
progress on sustainable development. Activities in this regard
will aim at preparing and disseminating a new biennial major publication
entitled “Report on Sustainable Development in Africa.”
This Report will provide key indicators of sustainable development
and livelihoods (featuring critical elements of the economic,
social, environmental and institutional dimensions of sustainability)
and present best practices as well as in-depth analyses of selected
themes of crucial importance for sustainable development in Africa.
The Sustainable
Development Monitoring Cluster will also coordinate the production
and publication of the Bulletin on Sustainable Development in
Africa. The Bulletin aims to encourage the exchange of experiences
in implementing the WSSD outcomes. The information in the Bulletin
will provide a platform to discuss research results, policy initiatives
and outcomes, and activities at the grassroots level. The Bulletin
will be disseminated to policy makers, planners, universities,
researchers, NGOs and IGOs .
For the 2004-2005
biennium, the SDM Cluster will also review the application of
environment impact assessment (EIA) in selected African countries;
organize training seminar on natural resources accounting and
PEDA and develop field project on relationships between women’s
reproductive health and household food security in rural areas
in Africa.
In line with
the above focal areas, partnerships will be established/strengthened
particularly with UNDESA, UNFPA, UNEP, and UN-Habitat and other
regional commissions.
