The First Continental Report on the Implementation of Agenda 2063 was launched on the margins of the 33rd Ordinary Summit of the African Union on 8 February. The report is an assessment of progress made by 31 African Union Member States and six Regional Economic Communities towards achieving Africa’s blueprint and master plan for sustainable development and economic growth.It is a joint effort between the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD), AU Member States and Regional Economic Communities.
Convened by Chairperson of AUC, Moussa Faki Mahamat, the report was presented during a high-level forum attended by the President of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara; President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde; President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi; Former AUC Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma; African Development Bank President, Akinwumi Adesina; Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Vera Songwe; as well as senior national government officials.
President of Côte d’Ivoire and AU Champion on Agenda 2063, Alassane Ouattara, in his opening remarks said, “The first continental report on the implementation of Agenda 2063 highlights the progress and achievements made by Member States but also the challenges to be addressed in priority areas. It makes critical recommendations to accelerate the dynamic set in motion to achieve its main aspirations.”
“The report is a milestone in recognising Africa’s resurgence of political and economic power. Africa has come a long way to lead with dignity, peace and prosperity,” the President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, declared.
Commending Agenda 2063, the President of Botswana, Mokgweetsi Masisi proclaimed that, “Successful implementation of Agenda 2063 requires deliberate policy choices and actions by countries.” He also stressed the need to strengthen national statistics systems for improved data collection, management and reporting.
Former AUC Chairperson and architect of Agenda 2063, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, said that the launch of the report is proof of the Continent making progress towards achieving, “An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in global arena.”
The First Continental Report on Implementation of Agenda 2063 shows that:
The implementation of Agenda 2063 has gathered momentum at all levels, due to the collective and concerted efforts of countries in domesticating it into national development plans.
Africa has made some remarkable progress towards attaining the goals defined in Agenda 2063’s First Ten-Year Implementation Plan. Significant progress has been made especially under the aspiration for “A peaceful and secure Africa,” with a performance of 48% against the 2019 target. There is relatively good progress under the aspiration for “An integrated continent, politically united and based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the vision of Africa’s Renaissance,” with a score of 44%.
The continent saw weak performance under Aspiration 1 for ensuring “A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development”, with an aggregate score of 29%.
Recommendations in the report include the harmonisation of reporting on continental and global development agendas, including the Sustainable Development Goals, by using the methodology developed by the AUC and AUDA-NEPAD.