Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa

Progress towards achieving the Goals has been slow, but far from uniform across Africa. Although it is unlikely that the continent will achieve all the targets by 2015, the rate of progress is improving on several indicators such as primary school enrolment; the proportion of seats held by women in national parliaments; rates of HIV-prevalence; and the proportion of women in non-agricultural wage employment. Lack of financial resources and a hostile economic environment are the most visible hurdles to progress in achieving the MDGs in Africa.

The Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), Cape Town, South Africa, held a policy research seminar in Cape Town May 2013 on “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa”. The emerging consensus on the post-2015 development agenda for Africa is that the MDGs cannot be achieved unless they are expanded to include broader concerns such as climate change and environmental sustainability; economic and social transformation; institutional capacity challenges; greater roles for civil society and the private sector; and the improved accountability of external donors in delivering on their commitments. Furthermore, African governments and regional bodies should assume ownership of this agenda – prioritising measures to reduce poverty and improve health.