ECA Executive Secretary and Experts Attend “Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development” in Doha

UN Under-Secretary-General and ECA Executive Secretary Abdoulie Janneh led the Commission’s delegation to the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus which officially opened in Doha, Qatar on 29 November.

The conference is a result of UN General Assembly resolution 62/187 which mandates the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to "assess progress made, reaffirm goals and commitments, share best practices and lessons learned and identify obstacles and constraints encountered, actions and initiatives to overcome them and important measures for further implementation, as well as new challenges and emerging issues". The meeting brings together stakeholders from around the world, including policy-makers, private sectors, civil society organizations, and representatives from international and regional organizations.

In addition to the main conference agenda, which focuses on a review of the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus on Financing for Development, a number of special events have also been organized.

On the afternoon of 29 November, the government of Norway and the five regional commissions of the United Nations convened a special side event on the theme “Mobilizing women’s potential for growth and development”. The side event was opened by the United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon, who, in his keynote address, stated that investing in gender equality and women’s empowerment is crucial for development.

Following the Secretary-General’s address, the ECA Executive Secretary address made a presentation on behalf on the five regional commissions of the United Nations. In his remarks, Mr. Janneh stated that the current financial crisis engulfing the world economy posed considerable challenges to development. He also noted that the crisis should serve as an opportunity to revisit the agenda of gender equality, in order to incorporate it in the new economic, financial, and political architecture at the global level.

In addition, the ECA Executive Secretary stressed that financing for gender equality and women’s empowerment was crucial to making progress towards meeting Millennium Development Goal 3. He further stated that investing in women and girls makes smart economics as it results in poverty reduction, increased productivity and efficiency and sustainable growth and development. He concluded by highlighting some of the activities the regional commissions are undertaking in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in their respective regions.

For more the issue of gender equality and women’s empowerment go to: http://www.uneca.org/adfvi/

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