Secretary-General Ban urged for scaled-up action to meet Africa's MDGs by 2015 including raising agricultural productivity across the continent.

 

 "Tremendous gains are possible if the international community translates commitment to deliverables," Mr. Ban said.  

 

He pointed to examples of achievements made, such as Malawi's lowering of child mortality rates, Senegal's accomplishments in enhancing its water and sanitation facilities and Tanzania's improvements in primary education.

 

"The challenge is now to replicate these successes in more countries," he observed.

 

Monday's meeting identified several key programs that need to be implemented by African nations, with assistance from the international community, in the near future, including launching an African "Green Revolution" to speed up economic growth and tackle hunger; controlling infectious diseases by providing comprehensive AIDS treatment by 2010 and bringing malaria mortality rates close to zero by 2012; and ensuring emergency obstetric care for all women by 2015.

 

Secretary-General Ban noted that there are several pressing challenges, especially that of rising food prices. It is essential to raise the productivity of farmers while also mobilizing resources to combat malnutrition and hunger, he said, adding that $500 million is required to meet the "most urgent needs."

 

He voiced hope that the Group's recommendations would spur action on the part of world leaders and encourage them to focus on specific steps that need to be agreed upon to reach development targets.

 

"We see a lot of leadership from African governments on these issues, and we are committed to working with them to support the design and implementation of country-led strategies and programs," he said.

 

The MDG Africa Steering Group was set up last September after data showed that despite faster growth and strengthened institutions, Africa remains off-track to meeting the targets.

 

 

Alan Doss (pictured above on the right) previously served as UN Special Representative for Liberia until 2005 and as Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the Ivory Coast in 2004.

 

He was also Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sierra Leone where he was also the United Nations resident coordinator, humanitarian coordinator and resident representative of the United Nations Programme for Development (UNDP).

 

During his career, Mr. Doss also directed the United Nations Development Group (UNDG). Previously, he was director of the UNDP office in Geneva, with the mandate of reinforcing public relations and communications work in Western Europe.