Positioning Africa in the Financing for Development Conference

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 10 July 2015: African Union Commission welcomes the holding of the upcoming Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD3), to take place from 13-16 July 2015, here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and is convinced that its Member States will actively participate and promote the interest of Africa as a whole in line with its development framework as articulated in “Africa’s Agenda 2063”. The FfD3 Conference is organised by the United Nations, and hosted by the Government of Ethiopia; the first time in Africa.

The AU will be participating at the highest level, represented by the President of Zimbabwe, current Chairperson of the Union, H.E. Robert Mugabe, and the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, the AU Commission Chairperson said, “The Financing for Development Conference takes place at a very opportune moment for Africa. Last year we adopted a Common African Position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, and in January 2015, AU Heads of State and Government approved Agenda 2063 as the overarching framework for Africa’s development. At this point, financing of the Agenda and its implementation plans is extremely critical, ranging from domestic resource mobilization, investments, international development aid and stopping illicit flows.”

The AU Commission Chairperson looks forward to the final negotiated outcomes of the post-2015 development agenda, and Addis Ababa Action Agenda. Dr. Dlamini Zuma takes the opportunity to welcome the thousands of delegates arriving in Addis Ababa for the FfD3. She urges the United Nations entire membership to be ambitious in their approach to the last leg of negotiations, so that the outcome could match the need for and challenges of financing development across the globe..

The Chairperson will actively participate in the plenary sessions, side meetings and hold important bilateral meetings. The AU Commission is also co-organising side events on the margins of the FfD3. Some of the side events, amongst the estimated 200 planned, include:

- Agenda 2063 Developing African Tax Systems to mobilise domestic resources for African development;
- Malaria Luncheon for a new era: exceptional case for investment;
- Media Roundtable on Domestic Financing for Health, Third International Conference on Financing for Development;
- Investing in Health: Sustainable Development,” “UNIDO Financing for Sustainable Industrial Development;
- Resource mobilization Roundtable Forum for the CAADP towards operationalization of Africa’s Agenda on Accelerated Growth and Transformation; and
- Transforming Africa: Agriculture, Industrialization, Energy and Infrastructure.

The AU Commission Chairperson will hold bilateral meetings with the UN Secretary General, Heads of State and Government, and other heads of delegations from the private sector as well as civil society.

According to the UN, FfD3 will bring together thousands of delegates, including Heads of State and Government, Ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs and Development Cooperation, civil society organisations and the private sector.

JEE/