The Africa Commission

Transcription

1 The Africa Commission Commission on Effective Development Cooperation with Africa

2 Objectives of the Africa Commission Address the priority challenges facing Africa (with special emphasis on African youth and employment) Make specific policy recommendations and devise concrete initiatives Focus on private sector-led growth Present new and creative strategies to revitalize and strengthen international development cooperation with Africa

3 Commissioners

4 AARHUS Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, Rector of Aarhus University 26 May 2009 Commission timeline and major meetings First meeting of the Africa Commission: April 16, 2008 (Copenhagen) Five thematic conferences: June-October 2008 Second meeting of the Africa Commission: November 20, 2008 (Addis Ababa) Three thematic workshops: February-March 2009 Third and conclusive meeting of the Africa Commission: May 6, 2009 (Copenhagen)

5 Between Copenhagen and Addis Ababa

6 Outcome of thematic conferences The thematic conferences reaffirmed the inter-linkage between the overall focus on youth and employment and the chosen sub-themes: Education: Strong link between education and job opportunities Climate change: Climate change will have far-reaching consequences Women s Economic Empowerment: Addressing gender inequalities is critical Economic growth: Productive employment, including self employment and decent work is a key route out of poverty

7 Commission Status after Addis Ababa The first two meetings of the Africa Commission as well as inputs from the five thematic conferences led the Commission to stress that African governments together with international partners should: Focus on private sector-led growth rather than donor-led growth in Africa Strengthen the effort towards good governance Ensure that the focus on growth and employment is based on country specific strategies

8 Between Addis Ababa and Copenhagen Three thematic workshops Africa Commission workshop in association with The World Bank: February (Washington, D.C.) Africa Commission workshop in association with The Brenthurst Foundation: March (South Africa) Africa Commission workshop in association with The African Union and The African Development Bank and co-hosted by Tanzanian President Kikwete: March (Dar es Salaam)

9 The Five Final Initiatives 1. The creation of an African Guarantee Fund in partnership with the African Development Bank 2. Ensuring access to energy at the local level through a new initiative with the EU and the African Development Bank 3. Benchmarking African countries competitiveness through a partnership with the Africa Union and the World Economic Forum 4. Unleashing the power of African entrepreneurship by providing advisory services and access to finance. 5. Post primary education and research in two tracks

10 Initiative: Promoting Post-Primary Education and Research Track One: Technical and vocational skills development Track Two: Linking university education, research and business in sustainable agriculture

11 Initiative: Promoting Post-Primary Education and Research Track Two: Linking university education, research and business in sustainable agriculture Objective To promote innovation and entrepreneurship by increasing and strengthening collaboration between universities, research institutions and the private sector. To support development of required capacity at universities for a closer collaboration between higher education, research and the private sector.

12 Initiative: Promoting Post-Primary Education and Research Track Two: Linking university education, research and business in sustainable agriculture Strategic approach Fostering innovation and competiveness along agricultural value chains Improving links between education, research and innovation Research partnerships supporting education programmes Collaboration with African and non-african institutions Networking and twinning with international centres of excellence Sound governance of institutions supported and strengthened

13 Response from Universities Denmark Oct. 2008: Meeting between the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs and Universities Denmark to discuss the involvement of Universities Denmark in Danish development work Feb. 2009: Meeting between Danish ambassadors from countries in the South and Universities Denmark to discuss cooperation March 2009: Two cross cutting initiatives as response to the Africa commission Scholarships for coming political and business leader in developing countries African brain trust initiative

14 Response from Universities Denmark Scholarships for Coming Political and Business Leaders in Developing Countries: Universities Denmark proposes to expand the current Danida Emerging Leaders Scholarship Programme. This will ensure that more African students will receive a quality higher education. African Brain Trust Initiative: Universities Denmark proposes to invest more than 1 billion DKK in three centres of excellence. By supporting three carefully chosen African Universities critical research and development capacity can be built locally in Africa.

15 Response from Universities Denmark Aug 2009: Meeting between the Danish Minister for Development Cooperation and Universities Denmark to discuss a university initiative regarding long term capacity development primarily in Africa Six national fora Global Health Management, Entrepreneurship and Leadership Water, Land and Biodiversity Agriculture and Agro-Business Sustainable Technologies Economic Development, Migration and Conflict Management

16 Thank you for your attention