The first session of the joint annual meetings of the African Union (AU) Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) conference of ministers of finance, planning and economic development will take place in Addis Ababa, at the United Nations Conference Centre from 31 March to 2 April 2008.

AU and ECA said that the conference will also be the occasion for the start of a year-long commemoration of the Economic Commission for Africa's 50th anniversary. As part of these celebrations, selected African heads of state and government and other eminent persons have been invited to reflect on the theme of the conference, which is “Meeting Africa's New Challenges in the 21st Century”.

The ministerial conference will be preceded by a technical preparatory meeting of the committee of experts from 26 to 29 March 2008.

The two organs also said poverty reduction in Africa remains a daunting challenge, as, in most cases, recent growth and improved macroeconomic management have yet to result in meaningful employment opportunities.

 “The issue of state capacity to promote and guide the development process also remains a key challenge especially with regard to the provision of infrastructure and social services and in countries undertaking post-conflict reconstruction and development,” they said.  
In addition to these long-term challenges, the majority of African countries are threatened by rising oil and food prices and the global credit crisis both of which can lead to a slowdown in key economies and also impact negatively on Africa's external debt situation, AU and ECA said.

According to their statement, the joint meetings will provide a platform for in-depth discussions and policy debate of these challenges and enable ministers to articulate strategies and concrete actions for effectively confronting them.

The proposal to hold joint annual meetings was endorsed by the assembly of heads of state and government of the AU at its meeting in Accra in July 2007. This followed decisions taken by the AU conference of ministers of economy and finance (CAMEF) in Yaounde, Cameroon in November 2006 and the ECA conference of African ministers of finance, planning and economic development in Addis Ababa, in April 2007, in particular Resolution 853 (XL) for the joint organization of their meetings, it was learnt.

The Joint Meetings will provide a streamlined and coherent arrangement for bringing the relevant Ministers together and also provide a framework for strengthened collaboration between the AU and the ECA.

By Melaku Demissie