24 February 2015: Africa’s revenue from the extractive industries and other natural resources revenue is expected to be a key source of development financing for the post-2015 development agenda and the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063, according to participants at the High Level Expert Group Meeting on the Post-2015 Development Agenda and the AU Agenda 2063, titled ‘Enhancing the Management of Africa’s Extractive Industries.’ The meeting addressed managing Africa’s extractive industries to harness their potential for sustainable development, inclusive growth and structural economic transformation.

The UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA) held the meeting in coordination with the AU Commission, the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB), the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Department of Public Information (DPI). The meeting convened on 24 February 2015, at UN Headquarters in New York, US.

African countries must ensure that their extractive industries contribute to inclusive, sustainable industrialization and socially inclusive growth, said Sam Kutesa, President of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). He called for African countries to, inter alia: enforce sustainable consumption and production (SCP) patterns; support natural resources management; build public-private partnerships; consider regional approaches to harmonize policies, boost intra-African trade and improve cross-border infrastructure. He added that 2015 is a “unique opportunity to change the way we do business…reinforce commitments and galvanize support for Africa’s inclusive and sustainable development.”

The meeting also discussed progress on the 2009 African Mining Vision, which calls for a shift in Africa’s extractive industries, from a resource development model to a model that promotes the structural transformation of Africa’s economies, by using mineral resources to catalyze inclusive growth and foster economic diversification and industrialization. Participants identified areas of progress, including: improved management of mining revenues; implementation of reform policies and regulatory frameworks to optimize national value creation; and development of human resources and basic infrastructure. [UN Press Release] [UNGA President Statement] [Event Webcast]