Strong Partnerships Key In Solving Socio-Economic Troubles, Says AUC

> Thandisizwe Mgudlwa

Cape Town: “We must share as members of the international community to contribute to a better world for all. The political crisis and conflicts in several parts of the world including in our own backyard in Africa, have local, regional and international dimensions”.

These are the words of Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission.

Speaking during the Africa Week 2016 High Level Inaugural Event on “Strengthening Partnership for Inclusive Sustainable Development, good governance , peace and stability on Africa”, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York earlier in October, with the week-long series of events paying particular attention on Africa's development.

Mwencha further called for strengthened partnerships, cooperation and collaboration both in Africa and globally, to address unprecedented socio-economic and political challenges.

He observed that with the ongoing migration crisis, escalating threats of terrorism, adverse effects of climate change, shrinking resources, conflict and insecurity, impunity, rising intolerance and gender inequity, there is need to collectively address the universal challenges.

Mwencha noted that to ensure effective cooperation, coherence, synergy and coordination of the diverse AU organs, institutions and Regional Economic Communities, the AU is keen on supporting the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), which he said, presents enormous potential and opportunity for partnership in harnessing the needed various competencies, resources and capacities towards attainment of durable peace in Africa.

In echoing similar sentiments, the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his remarks, underscored the need for the international community to support African countries, and directly and actively work with all relevant national and regional stakeholders, including the African Peer Review Mechanism, to improve good governance, and the conduct of elections and to ensure that civil society has the freedom to play its vital role. 

Ki-moon noted that the UN has worked tirelessly to strengthen peace and security in Africa and noted the Organization’s support for implementation of the African Peace Security Architecture in moving ahead with the African Union initiative to silence the guns by 2020, as well as working alongside it to consolidate peace in the Great Lakes, the Sahel, the Horn of Africa and other troubled spots. He qouted the age-old African word of wisdom stating “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together’.”

Conversely, Maged Abdelaziz, the Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa observed that with the enormity of the ambitions contained in both Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, coupled with the accelerated timelines set for their achievement, calls for new partnership approaches in support of Africa’s efforts.

Maged noted that the key to successful implementation of the First 10-Year Implementation Plan for Agenda 2063 stresses the need to maximize partnerships, particularly in the areas of resource mobilization, technology transfer, and capacity building. Similarly, Goal 17 of the 2030 Agenda emphasizes on the need for revitalised Global Partnership for Sustainable Development as critical for the achievement of its goals.

Meanwhile, other High Level participants included principals from UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), NEPAD and APRM.