18 November 2010: The 11th Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa), which took place in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 14-15 November 2010, has concluded its deliberations on the best approaches to coordinate efforts to support the African Union (AU) and its New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) programme.

RCM-Africa is a mechanism for enhancing UN system-wide coherence, coordination and cooperation at the regional and subregional levels to “deliver as one” in support of the AU and NEPAD. The meeting, which was chaired by UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro, focused on more productive ways for all UN agencies and organizations working in Africa to coordinate their efforts in order to strengthen their support to the AU and NEPAD in fostering development in Africa. During the meeting, about 250 participants representing the nine thematic clusters of RCM-Africa, together with various regional and international partners, heard presentations on: the progress, achievements and challenges faced by the nine clusters throughout the year; reports on the review of the Ten-Year Capacity Building Programme for the AU; and activities on climate change, combating desertification and biodiversity conservation.

Other key presentations were made on: regional preparations for the 2012 UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) to be held in Brazil in 2012; a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication; progress reports of RCM-Africa; and the sub-regional coordination mechanism. In his closing remarks, UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Executive Secretary Abdoulaye Janneh commended participants for their part in the meeting and for finding ways to address the needs of the AU and NEPAD, stressing that “the RCM through the discussion and participation has already become a better mechanism. I have no doubt in my mind that we have sowed the seeds for a better RCM.” [UNECA Press Release] [NEPAD Press Release]