Addis Ababa — The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) includes Ethiopia into the 49 countries selected from across the world to hold national consultations to feed into the framing of the post-2015 global development agenda.
In a joint press conference by Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MoFED) and UNDP at Hilton Addis yesterday, United Nations Resident Coordinator, UNDP Resident Representative and UN Humanitarian Coordinator Eugene Owusu said that there was no opportunity to engage citizens on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agenda. " When the MDGs were drafted almost 13 years ago, citizens did not get to contribute to the Agenda, through the type of national level consultations that we are now offered with."
According to Eugene, the post-2015 consultation is a clear recognition of the pivotal role that global goals and global partnerships have in driving necessary development transformation across nations in today's world. He further indicated that while countries, especially like Ethiopia, are making good progress in their national development agendas, the global goals and frame works helps set bench marks for the world to monitor mutual commitments and accountability against agreed development outcomes.
MoFED State Minister Dr. Abraham Tekeste on his part said that the five-year Growth and Transformation Plan which is designed by the Ethiopian government and wide public participation can be a witness to Ethiopia's experience on designing and practicing different developmental policies and growth plans. "So the Ethiopian government will strive to bring tangible result from each national consolidations by coordinating private sector, civil societies and community group and media." Abraham also called on all citizens to forward ideas which can be a national input.
Both Eugine and Dr. Abraham underlined that the consultation will not be limited to those participants that have been invited by the National Task Team, which is composed of the government, CSO bodies and the private sector and the UN. "As we have learnt from the MDGs, all of us have a stake in drafting goals that we will in the end be monitored against." said Eugene.
It was announced that the national consultation will be held on three formats: three regional level consultations with wide stakeholders, three focus group consultations and one national level consolidation. The national consolidation with stakeholders including states, the private sector, women and youths will take place in Bahir Dar, Adama, Dire Dawa, Hawassa and Addis beginning next Thursday in Bahir Dar. It is expected that all national discussions in all countries will be finalized November 2012 - February 2013.
allafrica.com
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