ADDIS ABABA, Sept. 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) on Friday lauded the African Union (AU) Commission's commitment in promoting effective partnerships, collaborative approaches and actions in support of the continent's development and integration aspirations.
The statement was made by the Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the ECA, who praised "efforts by the AU Commission and its partners to collectively work together in championing sustainable development in Africa."
"I am glad to note the cross-section of participants in person and virtually, from AU and UN entities at regional and sub-regional levels, representing important stakeholders of RCM-Africa and its SRCMs. I am confident that the meeting will produce useful outcomes that will contribute to charting the way forward," said Songwe while addressing a Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa) Stakeholders Meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
The ECA chief also stressed that the Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa), which was established more than two decades ago, "is at a crossroads," as she emphasized the identical ambitions of the AU's institutional reforms and ongoing UN reforms, particularly, as they relate to longer-term re-profiling and restructuring of regional assets.
RCM-Africa and its Sub-regional Coordination Mechanisms (SRCMs) serve as a framework for the UN system to work collaboratively in supporting the priorities of the AU and its organs and agencies at regional and sub-regional levels, particularly the AU's 50-year continental development Agenda 2063, it was noted.
According to Songwe, the regional coordination meeting "provides a platform for information sharing and reflections on the ongoing UN reforms to engender understanding on, and appreciation for what lies ahead, to mobilize for the effective implementation of transitional activities pending the outcomes of the regional consultations, and to begin preparing for the transition."
Rosette Nyirinkindi Katungye, Advisor of the Regional Integration Bureau of the AU Commission Chairperson, also underscored the need to forge strong partnerships in support of the continent's development aspirations and integration.
"We are looking forward to your usual and crucial partnership. Your presence shows how this Regional Coordination Mechanism is to all of us in our constant efforts to be innovative to effectively deliver as one," said Katungye.
"Indeed, these are challenging times and we count on your wisdom to qualitatively contribute to the betterment of our systems," she added.
RCM-Africa mainly aspires to promote and enhance UN system-wide policy coherence, coordination and collaboration at the regional level to "deliver as one" in response to identified regional priorities and initiatives of the AU, it was noted.
Amid the inclusion of Regional Coordination Mechanisms to Regional Forums for Sustainable Development, the 2020 session of RCM Africa will be held with the Sixth Africa Regional Forum for Sustainable Development, which is slated to be held in Zimbabwe in February next year, according to the ECA.
