Committed to sustainable development
D
ifferent assessments, including
the
AUC-UNECA
Economic
Report for 2011, on Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), have
concluded that a number of countries
in Africa are making progress on some
fronts while recognizing that much
more progress is needed in other
fields. Progress registered includes,
for example, more girl children going
to school, lowering of the HIV/AIDS
infection, among others. However, we
need to do more in combating poverty.
At this rate, it may not be possible for
a number of African countries to attain
MDGs by 2015.
Efforts are under way to address
challenges to our pursuit of MDGs. For
instance, through the Comprehensive
African
Agriculture
Development
Programme (CAADP), we are trying
to increase agricultural production,
productivity, food and nutrition security
against odds occasioned by climate
change, volatile food prices and
others. The African Union has also
put in place Africa Day for Food and
Nutrition Security to be commemorated
annually to raise awareness. We are
also taking forward the implementation
of the July 2008 Sharm el Sheikh AU
Summit Declaration on Water and
Sanitation. All these efforts will propel
Africa forward in the pursuit of MDGs
relating to hunger and malnutrition,
water and sanitation as well as poverty
eradication, among others.
One other important Millennium
Development Goal relates toSustainable
Development. It is important to note
that the July 2011 Malabo AU Summit
focused on the Theme Sustainable
Development and Empowerment of
Youth. The outcome of the Summit has
enhanced Africa’s preparedness for
Rio+20. And more importantly, to renew
our commitment towards sustainable
development in all its dimensions,
from biodiversity to water and land
management, among others.
Satellite information
Sustainable Development is, indeed, a
key component of the African Monitoring
of the Environment for Sustainable
Development (AMESD), which is a
programme that African Union is
implementing in Member States in
partnership with the European Union and
Regional Economic Communities, among
others. Satellite information is important
for decisionmaking, Measuring, Reporting
and Verification (MRV) on Reducing
Emissions from Deforestation and Forest
Degradation (REDD) and also it has helped
United Nations Environment Programme,
African Union Commission, and African
Minister’s Council on Water (AMCOW) to
jointly produce the African Water Atlas.
o
Campaign against HIV in Batho,
Bloemfontein, South Africa.
© Elisabeth Deliry Antheaume/Indigo/IRD
i
Fifteen years ago, only about 25% of Ethiopian
boys and 20% of girls went to school. Today,
in most of the country, it is close to 90% for both
(here in Addis Ababa). Schoolchildren were 3,5
million in 1990 and about 16 million in 2010.
© J.D Dallet/Suds-Concepts
24 - Sustainable Development in Africa & Satellites
