Sustainable development in North Africa

1. Sustainable development in North Africa

2. few concepts and definitions Sustainable development: simple definitions complex implications common sense solutions development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs 1987 Brundtland Report

3. Operational implications: the three guiding principles of Office work on SD Economic, social and environmental components Growth distributional issues between regions/socioeconomic groups/generations No sustainable development without at least cooperation between countries and at best regional integration

4. Common sense solutions Involve all stakeholders: governments, the private sector (SMEs), civil society (NGOs) and demographic potential, researchers, regional and international organizations Synchronize national strategies with regional and international environment Call on facilitators: PPPs, knowledge sharing, ICTs

5. Indicators Vectors Actors Economic growth but not full potential  unemployment Data in report on Economic and social conditions Source: UNDP, HDR 2007/2008 Education and training 1. Low productivity  low wages 2. Inadequacy bwn private sector needs  waste of resources and graduates

6. Indicators Vectors Actors Ecology doesn’t mean just costs Textiles & garments sector a good example Important in economies of the region Challenged by globalization Good market signals: consumer needs and SD concerns Environment protection considerations are becoming as important as price and production issues Source: Misc (see report).

7. Agriculture and rural development Strategic/MDGs Around 10%, often more, of GDP 80 to 90% of water resources 25% of labor force 50% of the population Lagging Few, sometimes no, economic activities Lack of infrastructure (education, health, transport, elec.) Agricultural policies worrying more about urban than rural Unresolved debates Food security, virtual water, what kind of income generating activities: trade offs between water availability, food availability and prices Indicators Vectors Actors

8. Indicators Vectors Actors Agriculture and rural development Exogenous factors Desertification World demand, prices of cereals Climate change Internat’l community is involved more than never before ECA World Bank (green revolution since 2007) Support of national initiatives (2626 Program, INDH) Biodiversity and climate change Key indicators: wealth, common concerns within NA and between NA and others Synergies with desertification

9. Indicators Vectors Actors Social policies Allocate the benefits of growth Poverty prevention rather than alleviation Spatial distribution (rural vs urban: subsidies) Generational distribution (not only environment but also issue of budget deficits, management of retirement plans, changes in demographic structures-2025) Price of LPG: taxes and government budgets real prices (optimal allocations of resources vs purchasing power and competitiveness

10. Infrastructure Indicators Vectors Actors Communication and trade Environment/“Foreign entity” Natural resources Energy NA oil producing as well as non producing Renewable energies, positive impact on environment + econ. CC and electricity shortages as heavy reliance on hydropower Conventional + non conventional connections (TREC) Water Supply is important but managing demand is vital: e.g. ONEP Shared resources Education, R&D Innovation, enable the actors (young, women, researchers) Urgency to act now: e.g. last month’s conference of African Seed Trade Association: 10 years for new seeds

11. Indicators Vectors Actors Monitoring and evaluation Measure achievements against objectives and adjust when necessary Crisis management Otherwise development/survival whole regions/countries at stake NA: climate change and seismic hazard Knowledge management and sharing Manage knowledge Disseminate knowledge Share experiences, learn from others (successes + errors ECA, leading role, COPs PPPs: cost and efficiency for all actors

12. Indicators Vectors Actors Decision makers: legitimacy Youth: demographic windows of opportunity Women: 50% and know-how in NA Migrants, positive impact on development

13. Indicators Vectors Actors Private sector Engine of growth SMEs fragile but yet dynamic Hasn’t reached full potential, loss of opportunities NA Intra-regional trade low Low share in job creation, public sector still leader

14. Indicators Vectors Actors Regional and international organizations ECA + UMA + CEN SAD Public goods Synergies between the three conventions

15. ECA’s work on SD Defining and analyzing Africa's priorities on Climate Change Building consensus among African countries (CSD and pre and post-Bali) ClimDev-Africa African climate policy centre with Nobel prize winner Pachauri Africa's Consensus Agenda for CSD-15 Coordinated UN System Action on Climate Change: United Nations System Chief Executives Board (CEB) ECA’s active involvement for preparation and during activities of Tunis International Conference on Climate Change and International Solidarity

16. ECA’s work on SD (cont’d) CBD secretariat and UN regional economic and social commissions sign MOU to mainstream the objectives of the convention and enhance cooperation First follow-up in Nov. 2007 action with presence of CBD ES to ECA-NA EGM in Tunis ECA-NA EGM in Tunis helped: identify issues come up with recommendations discuss report presented by ECA-NA which led to publication

17. Tunis 2007 EGM on SD +50 experts from various ministries of all member states, private sector operators, consultants, academics and students, representatives of Int’l organizations and NGOs Introductory presentations of distinguished guests including Mr. Habib Benyahia, Secretary General of the Arab Maghreb Union Mr. Youba Sokana, Executive Secretary of the Sahara and Sahel Observatory and other Nobel winning IPCC members Mr. Ahmed Joghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biodiversity. Experts discussed the multiple facets of sustainable development. They recommended the establishment of mechanisms for encouraging research and innovation through education and training based on appropriate financing tools enabling all development actors (especially farmers, small and medium enterprises, youth and women) to adopt technologies facilitating adaptation to the economic as well as environmental challenges facing the world. They pointed out the need to include these efforts into a logic of regional cooperation to work together in order to rationalize resources and share experiences They highlighted the need to enhance the sustainability of development strategies through increased coordination between economic, environmental and social policies that must all put the goal of human development at the centre of their concerns.

18. Tunis 2007 EGM on SD: specific recommendations • Promote regional integration to find common solutions to better performance • Adapting to climate change should no longer be a reaction to crisis but a socio-economic reality based on the know-how of local populations • Seek synergy between the various international conventions to preserve the ecological balance • There is a need to involve all the stakeholders in the definition and the implementation of coordinated and integrated development policies • Take advantage of the demographics opportunities of the region based on its cultural heritage and give (back?) to people (especially women, youth, rural populations, migrants and SMEs) the means to adapt • Only cooperation between countries can achieve a critical size sufficient for successful R&D activities, agriculture a good example (insisted on the role of knowledge sharing and management, praising Office efforts in this regard and recommending more activities)

19. Thank you Karim Laraki klaraki@uneca.org