As the global scramble for natural resources intensify, how can resource-rich Africa better use and govern its natural assets to support its development?
This question will be at the heart of discussions at the eighth African Development Forum to be held Oct. 23-25 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The forum will bring together various stakeholders in Africa’s development to explore strategies on how to govern and harness the region’s natural resources. It is organized by the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa in collaboration with partners such as the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank.
Like most high-level gatherings, the forum will comprise plenary discussions, debates and breakout sessions. And while binding resolutions or agreements are not part of its objectives, it does aim to identify concrete action steps to develop Africa’s natural resources, promote the sharing of best practices, and address issues such as equity and governance, among other goals.
Further, the forum aims to forge and strengthen partnerships and alliances to advocate and support the implementation of existing action plans on natural resources governance and development. Existing frameworks to be discussed include the Africa Mining Vision and the AU Declaration on Land.
Not all of Africa’s natural resources will be tackled. The forum will focus on issues related to Africa’s mineral, land, fishery and forest resources. Water issues will be not tackled in detail — only as part of discussions on integrated natural resources management.
Meanwhile, AfDB is also expected to use the high-level forum to invite more feedback and comments on the 2013-2022 long-term strategy it is developing. A final version of the strategy is expected to be released by the end of the year.
Read more development aid news online, and subscribe to The Development Newswire to receive top international development headlines from the world’s leading donors, news sources and opinion leaders — emailed to you FREE every business day.
About the author
Ivy Mungcal
As former senior staff writer, Ivy Mungcal contributed to several Devex publications. Her focus is on breaking news, and in particular on global aid reform and trends in the United States, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Americas. Before joining Devex in 2009, Ivy produced specialized content for U.S. and U.K.-based business websites.
