The United Nations 2008 General Assembly focused on issues of importance to Africa’s development when it organized a High Level Meeting (HLM) on Africa’s Development Needs on September 22, along with a wide range of partnership activities, before holding a special HLM on the MDGs on September 25, 2008. 
 
The September 22 meeting on Africa’s Development Needs was attended by a number of African heads of state.  The World Bank was represented by Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice President for Africa.  She and senior staff of the Africa Region also participated in side events focusing on strengthening the private sector, the Gleneagles scenario approach and scaling up development assistance, enhancing food security and expanding food production and trade, commitment to progress for mothers, newborns and children, and a forum on African women. 

In all of the meetings, the Vice President affirmed the World Bank’s commitment to the continent.  While acknowledging the very real progress that has been made, she stressed the importance of scaled up efforts on the part of both African countries and their development partners.  She underscored the need for partner countries and institutions to provide support for development strategies defined by African countries themselves, and emphasized the need to involve the private sector.  The Vice President recognized the threat posed by rising food and fuel prices in many African countries, and indicated that the World Bank intends to double its lending for agriculture.  She also reiterated that the Africa Region’s agricultural strategy is aligned with the AU/NEPAD CAADP (Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme).

The September 22 HLM resulted in a political declaration that recognized the steps that have been taken by both African countries and their development partners to date, but also urged greater action to meet the development challenges facing the continent.  In addition, the political declaration requested the UN Secretary General to present a report on the status of commitments and obligations in support of Africa’s development, along with recommendations for action, to the next UN General Assembly, with a view to formulating a comprehensive review mechanism by the UN General Assembly in 2010.  

The September 25 HLM on the MDGs was convened by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the General Assembly President Miguel D’Escoto, and brought together UN member states, international organizations, and invited representatives of civil society, the private sector and philanthropic institutions.  It generated an additional estimated $16 billion in pledged assistance for support of the MDGs, including $1.6 billion to enhance food security, $4.5 billion for education and $3 billion to combat malaria. 

Website: UNGA MDGs Meeting and Africa’s development needs