African’s Small Island Nations and Middle-Income Countries Discuss Development Priorities
Saved under Cape Verde, WESTERN AFRICA
Tags: Cape Verde, Millennium Development Goals, Praia, sustainable development, Ulrika Richardson
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Representatives From African Middle — income countries (MICs) and small island developing States (SIDs) are gathering in Praia, Cape Verde today to draw lessons from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and discuss common priorities under the post-2015 development agenda.
SIDs share unique and particular vulnerabilities associated with their geography and climate, while MICs have been known to face the “middle income trap,” which is associated with a loss of competitiveness and diminishing aid flows.
“Becoming a middle income country isn’t the end of the journey. That progress needs to be sustained with significant investments in economic diversification, environmental sustainability and in continued social progress,” said Ulrika Richardson, UN Resident Coordinator in Cape Verde.
The country is on track to reach most of the Millennium Development Goals, but significant challenges remain, particularly high youth unemployment and increasing inequalities. The country has launched nationwide consultations, gathering people’s views and aspirations regarding the new development agenda.
During the conference, participants will share knowledge and lessons learned, as well as discuss risks and opportunities around the proposed sustainable development goals, and financing for development. The conference comes just over a month before the Third International Conference on Financing for Development, which will take place from 13 to 16 July in Addis Ababa, and three months before the UN General Assembly’s summit to adopt a post-2015 sustainable development agenda, which will take place in September in New York.
The delegates in Praia will cover the following themes: national ownership and knowledge of the post-2015 development agenda; integrating that agenda in national growth strategies and plans; and innovative financing for development, with particular attention to the specificities of MICs and SIDs.
Presenters will be drawn from government, the private sector, civil society, international organizations, and academia. They will produce a series of recommendations on how to boost development results between now and 2030.
