11th RCM – Africa: UN Agencies in Africa to strengthen efforts to deliver as one for the AU and its NEPAD Programme

ADDIS ABABA -- Delegates of the the 11th Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa) in Addis Ababa, November 14-15, 2010 closed the meeting on a high note assenting to strengthen their efforts to deliver as one for the AU and its NEPAD Programme.

Key presentations focused on the need of the RCM, cluster and sub-clusters to be more result and impact oriented. Clusters were requested to develop programmes in consultation with the AUC and RECs based on their priorities and programmes. The participants also recommended that more interaction be stimulated among the AU Departments and inter-cluster relation especially on some cross-cutting issues.

As a result of the deliberations several recommendations were proposed including:

The focus of the RCM, cluster and sub-clusters need to be more result and impact oriented. To this end, Clusters were requested to develop programmes in consultation with the AUC and RECs based on the latter’s priorities and programmes, focusing in a limited number of projects and deliverables. The participants also recommended that more interaction be stimulated among the AU Departments and inter-cluster relation especially on some cross-cutting issues.

Better alignment of Sub Regional Coordination Mechanisms (SRCM) with the priorities of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), and to strengthen the relations with the Regional Director Teams (RDTs), as well as to clearly define roles. SRCMs were established in Central, Eastern and Southern Africa. As part of the preparation and inputs to Rio+20 practical food practices should be documented, a bottom-up process should be engaged to address challenges and opportunities for sustainable development.

The Ten-Years Capacity Building Programme for the AU (TYCBP-AU) needs to be aligned with other capacity development frameworks and programmes in Africa. Every cluster should define a capacity development programme as part of the TYCBP-AU and a focal point.

More visibility and resource mobilisation are needed for the RCM-Africa secretariat, clusters/sub-clusters work. RCM secretariat should be strengthened to assist cluster in programming and support implementation.

The Session was open by Dr. Asha-Rosa Migiro, the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN; H.E. Dr. Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission; Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, CEO, NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency; and a representative of H.E. Mr. Sha Zukang, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social.

The working sessions were co-chaired by Dr. Asha-Rosa Migiro, the Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and the Deputy Chairperson of the African Union, H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha, under the following three main themes: Reports of the nine clusters and Progress report of the Sub-Regional Coordination Mechanism (SRCM), which summary information is considered in the RCM-Africa progress report; The Rio+20 Earth Summit: progress, challenges and regional preparations; and The Ten-Years Capacity Building Programme for the AU: where we are and the way forward.

The UNISDR, Regional Office for Africa and several UN agencies are members of cluster four on Environment, Population and Urbanisation, led by UNEP ROA. The report of cluster four includes inputs from clusters members and informs about the Africa regional Strategy and Programme of Action for Disaster Risk Reduction (2006-2015) and the Ministerial Declaration adopted at the 2nd African Ministerial Conference on DRR in Nairobi, April 2010.

RCM and its clusters are key UN/IGOs mechanisms to promote DRR and linkages with Climate Change adaptation. UNISDR-Africa endeavours to contribute to RCM and cluster planning/programming and in particular support implementation of AUC and NEPAD programme in relation to Disaster Risk Reduction.