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The Post-2015 Development Agenda: An Assessment of the EAC Position and Preparedness for the Post-2015 Development Agenda Charles Lwanga-Ntale & Jason.

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Presentation on theme: "The Post-2015 Development Agenda: An Assessment of the EAC Position and Preparedness for the Post-2015 Development Agenda Charles Lwanga-Ntale & Jason."— Presentation transcript:

1 The Post-2015 Development Agenda: An Assessment of the EAC Position and Preparedness for the Post-2015 Development Agenda Charles Lwanga-Ntale & Jason Braganza Development Initiatives Entebbe, Uganda, September 2014

2 We will spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty, to which more than a billion of them are currently subjected. We are committed to making the right to development a reality for everyone and to freeing the entire human race from want. United Nations Millennium Declaration, New York, 6 to 8 September 2000 15 years ago...

3 What problem is the EAC seeking to address in the first place?

4 Five specific issues on EAC preparedness for post-2015 (1)Understanding the nature & magnitude of the challenge ahead (2015 – 2030); (2)Adequacy of financial and other resources for implementing the SDGs in EAC (3)Integration of existing and future visions and strategies; (4)Developing mechanisms for tracking change and monitoring progress; (5)Participation & building a citizen-EAC compact

5 What the 2013 MDG Report says (about Africa)  Poverty reduction lags behind growth  Inequality is undermining efforts to reduce poverty  Attending primary school a norm, but the quality of education is poor  Progress toward gender parity is encouraging  Child & maternal deaths very high  Some progress on HIV/AIDS & TB but more needed  Mixed progress on environmental sustainability  Food insecurity is a recurring challenge Arica’s Traffic light progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (2014) MDG 1 – Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger MDG 2 – Achieve universal primary education MDG 3 – Promote gender equality and empower women MDG 4 – Reduce child mortality MDG 5 – Improve maternal health MDG 6 – Combat HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and other diseases MDG 7 – Ensure environmenta l sustainability MDG 8 – Global partnership for development.

6 The EAC picture in 2014...

7 Initial questions  Does the EAC have a position on the post- 2015 agenda?  Is the regional body prepared to engage with the (post-2015) agenda?

8 Enhancing understanding, ownership and uptake of the SDG agenda  Many constituencies at national and regional level in the EAC are still not familiar with the SDGs, hence they are yet to fully own them.  Not all goals are communicated in simple, accessible and easily understandable language  SDGs not incorporated in EAC treaty, strategies or plans.  Limited understanding & capacities in new areas e.g. climate change and environment

9 Financing the post-2015 EAC development agenda  Little is known about the most suitable mix of financing modalities & instruments – and likely changes over time.  Efforts still limited to increasing domestic & external resources  not focusing on understanding, identifying and applying different financial resources for maximum efficiency, effectiveness & sustainability.

10 Integrating and harmonising visions, goals and strategies  EAC has no sub-regional vision or strategy on SDGs; but EAC member countries are at various stages of defining future visions – which still do not “speak to each other”  The visions/strategies are an opportunity for the EAC to integrate development perspectives  Needed: responsive strategies & institutional structures  Also needed: legal mechanism to provide a framework for better coordination of national and regional entities  better alignment of planning and implementation

11 Mechanisms for tracking progress  Tracking progress key part for EAC post-2015 agenda  Good data & capacity to analyse are essential  But EAC countries are not using similar standards, approaches or data collection frameworks.  Sub-regional mechanisms and capacities are needed

12 Building a citizen-EAC compact  EAC citizens have low level of confidence in governments  Deeper integration of EAC region and cooperation have produced some positive macro-economic effects  e.g. growth in internal trade, but the changes are not impacting well on the poorer sections of the population  The citizen-EAC compact will to ensures citizens are: –are able to influence the region-wide political process; –have their voices, especially those of the very poorest, effectively represented; –are engaged in activities and processes that shape and emanate from the EAC (so that they do not see such processes as being “just a government thing”); –influence the content of what is being developed in the EAC; and, –have stronger connection with those who represent them in national, sub-regional and global development processes

13 Conclusions (1)  SDGs are an essential tool for shaping the post-2015 development agenda – a major achievement for the world development community.  However, the key test will be in how individual countries and the EAC translate the goals to real actions.  By participating in the discussions leading to the outcome document the EAC already has already “supported” the SDGs.  However, the readiness of the regional body for the post-2015 development agenda is still questionable  In the meantime more is needed for the EAC and member states to demonstrate how in the regional context the proposed SDGs would: –Help to focus actions on an integrated local-to-global development agenda; –Serve as a key driver for sustainably addressing poverty in the region; –Contribute to developing a clear set of priorities, actions and tools for monitoring progress; –Innovatively contribute to directly tackling poverty, sustaining positive change and prevent future impoverishment; and, –Help work towards realisation of a transformative agenda for the region

14 Finally.....  To achieve these objectives the EAC needs to develop means of implementation, and the process for achieving this must recognise the importance of openness and adopting a participatory approach.  Also, as the SDGs begin to take shape, they should continue to be viewed as a foundation for future actions not as the end point  greater ambition is required.  Further, East Africa’s impressive economic performance should ensure the gains from growth leverage progress on the SDGs  In conclusion... moving this agenda forward will require more than just increased awareness and domesticating the global agenda  to revolutionising data, establishing monitoring mechanisms, and linking economic, social and physical development goals (a political question which EAC policy makers and technocrats will have to confront.


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