Report on Progress in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa, 2011
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Report on Progress in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa, 2011
About
With less than five years remaining to the target date of 2015, this assessment is of utmost importance as it will help countries identify the targets that require concerted efforts for achievement of the MDGs. As they embark on economic recovery, African countries have a new opportunity to harness economic growth and reduce poverty through employment creation and social protection schemes. Strong, sustained and shared growth must be the key priority for future macroeconomic policy, given that most countries were only able to maintain stabilization during the global economic and financial crisis. Putting Africa on this growth path for the next decade would entail focusing less on macroeconomic stability and more on inclusive growth. This requires national economic structural transformation, unlocking entrepreneurship across regions and sectors, with well-designed and supportive policy and actions underpinned by a vibrant private sector and productive entrepreneurship.
Remarkable progress has been made in meeting education targets, gender empowerment, combating HIV/AIDS and debt sustainability
African countries have recorded a satisfactory performance for Goals 2 (achieve universal primary education) and 3 (empower women). Progress towards the first target of Goal 6 (fight against HIV/AIDS) and the debt sustainability target of Goal 8 (global partnership for development) are also noteworthy.
Progress is slower in poverty reduction, health MDGs and environmental sustainability
Notwithstanding the improvements made in the goals and targets described earlier, Africa’s performance in Goal 1 (eradicate extreme poverty and hunger) and Goal 5 (improve maternal health) should be improved, if the region is to meet these goals. In addition, data available suggest that impetus should be given to Goal 4 (reduce child mortality), Goal 6 (combat malaria and TB) and Goal 7 (ensure environmental sustainability) targets, if they are to be achieved by the deadline.
Conclusion and way forward
African countries are making steady progress towards MDG targets such as achieving universal primary education and empowerment of women. Most countries are set to achieve universal primary education by 2015. Yet, they must now pay particular attention to improving the quality of education, with focus on primary completion rates. Gender empowerment has seen positive trends, as more girls are gaining access to primary, secondary and tertiary education, and most countries have increased the proportion of parliamentary seats held by women. The past several years have also seen significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS due to an increase in access to treatment and improved prevention efforts. Most African countries have made significant strides toward debt sustainability. These positive trends must not be overlooked as they highlight a significant social development in many African countries.
The recent global financial and economic crisis has again underscored the importance of creating mechanisms in Africa to protect the most vulnerable segments of the population against unexpected external shocks. Without creating job opportunities and wealth for the poorest of the poor, countries cannot expect to make any meaningful progress toward some MDG targets. Building social safety nets would help to ensure that growth is shared with the most vulnerable. As the global financial crisis has turned into a job crisis, African countries have realized the importance to pay more attention to public works programmes, such as labour-intensive infrastructure investment. Moreover, short-term social safety nets should be supplemented by well-targeted longer-term protection programmes to ensure shared growth in the medium term.
See also
References
United Nation Economic and Social Council/Economic Commission for Africa/African Union Commission.2011.Report on Progress in Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa, 2011. Meeting of the Committee of Experts of the 4th Joint Annual Meetings of the AU Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
