Patrick Mnisi, Swaziland Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25 October 2011

1. Means of implementation – Bridging the GapKey issues and recommendation arising from theExpert Segment of the Africa Regional Preparatory Conference for Rio+20 Patrick Mnisi, Swaziland Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 25 October 2011

2. The presentation on Means of Implementation: bridging the gap… • Provided an overview of progress made in fulfilling the Sustainable Development (SD) commitments on the various means of implementation • Provided recommendations for consideration and adoption by policy makers

3. Highlights of the overview of progress/1 • Financing sustainable development: • The Global financial crisis had strong implications on domestic and external resources • Governments responsible for their own development are increasing efforts to raise domestic resources • ODA to Africa is estimated to have risen to USD46bn in 2010, but the 2005 commitments have not been met • Aid and Development Effectiveness: • Paris Declaration and Accra Agenda for Action is already showing benefits in terms of coordination and reduced transaction costs • Development effectiveness is critical, with a need to build countries’ institutions and capacities

4. Highlights of the overview of progress/2 • Technology Development and Transfer: • Countries are establishing policies on Science, Technology and Innovation (S,T&I) for sustainable development • But low quality of science and engineering education and low awareness of the crucial role of S,T & I in the implementation of the Sustainable Development agenda continue to hamper progress • Intellectual property rights remain a barrier to technology transfer • Capacity Development: • Capacity development is critical for sustainable development • Significant progress on primary education enrolment • But the quality of education and of vocational training remain a challenge • There is a need for broad reforms of the labour market to ensure retention of staff 4

5. Highlights of the overview of progress/3 • Globalization and Trade: • Doha talks have been inconclusive • Tariffs have, on average, fallen, but subsidies in key commodities in developed countries (e.g. agriculture) continue to hamper market access for African products • Continued heavy dependence on natural resources is a problem, which calls for increased efforts towards diversification of the economy • Regional Integration • Critical importance for Africa, central to the objectives of AU and its NEPAD programme • Despite this, multiplicity of Regional Economic Community (RECs) and overlapping memberships, weak intra-REC trade, and inadequate physical connections persist 5

6. Highlights of the overview of progress/4 • South-South cooperation • Increasing source of external aid and technical cooperation is of importance • But multiple and fragmented arrangements persist, with African countries having inadequate SSC which hampers their agenda-setting power • Poor environmental profile of SSC initiatives is an additional challenge for sustainability 6

7. Key conclusions and recommendations from the presentation/1 Improving national governance, with full accountability of institutions and transparent and inclusive planning, is a necessary condition for sustainable development Efforts to mobilize domestic resources need to be stepped up, including through innovative financing The international community should increase support to Africa’s SD agenda, while ensuring that they complement and strengthen domestic effort, and with a particular focus on institutional and capacity development. In this regards, countries should develop comprehensive capacity development strategies 7

8. Key conclusions and recommendations from the presentation/2 Countries own systems should be increasingly used by development partners, and non-traditional donors must abide to the principles of aid effectiveness Technology transfer should target green technologies The role of science, technology and innovation must be better understood, to ensure innovation is conducive to sustainable development Regional integration’s role for sustainable development must be enhanced Economic diversification must be supported Africa’s voice should be better heard in international fora such as the WTO and the IMF 8

9. Key recommendations arising from the discussion/1 Regional integration and cooperation must continue to be central elements of Africa’s sustainable development strategy, with emphasis on strengthening regional and sub-regional institutions, joint infrastructure programmes, and increasing regional trade The effective use of Climate Change Financing should be ensured, so as to contribute to the broader sustainable development agenda 9

10. Key recommendations arising from the discussion/2 • Domestic resources, including from the diaspora, should be better mobilized for sustainable development • To ensure aid and development effectiveness, South South Cooperation must adhere to the principles set out by the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action • Best practices and experiences at country level should be identified and disseminated 10

11. Thank You, Merci