Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want.
AGENDA 2063 is Africa’s blueprint and master plan for transforming Africa into the global powerhouse of the future. It is the continent’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on its goal for inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance The genesis of Agenda 2063 was the realisation by African leaders that there was a need to refocus and reprioritise Africa’s agenda from the struggle against apartheid and the attainment of political independence for the continent which had been the focus of The Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the precursor of the African Union; and instead to prioritise inclusive social and economic development, continental and regional integration, democratic governance and peace and security amongst other issues aimed at repositioning Africa to becoming a dominant player in the global arena.
As an affirmation of their commitment to support Africa’s new path for attaining inclusive and sustainable economic growth and development African heads of state and government signed the 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the formation of the OAU /AU in May 2013. The declaration marked the re-dedication of Africa towards the attainment of the Pan African Vision of An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens, representing a dynamic force in the international arena and Agenda 2063 is the concrete manifestation of how the continent intends to achieve this vision within a 50 year period from 2013 to 2063. The Africa of the future was captured in a letter presented by the former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlaminin Zuma.
The need to envision a long-term 50 year development trajectory for Africa is important as Africa needs to revise and adapt its development agenda due to ongoing structural transformations; increased peace and reduction in the number of conflicts; renewed economic growth and social progress; the need for people centered development, gender equality and youth empowerment; changing global contexts such as increased globalization and the ICT revolution; the increased unity of Africa which makes it a global power to be reckoned with and capable of rallying support around its own common agenda; and emerging development and investment opportunities in areas such as agri-business, infrastructure development, health and education as well as the value addition in African commodities
Agenda 2063 encapsulates not only Africa’s Aspirations for the Future but also identifies key Flagship Programmes which can boost Africa’s economic growth and development and lead to the rapid transformation of the continent.
Agenda 2063 also identifies key activities to be undertaken in its 10 year Implementation Plans which will ensure that Agenda 2063 delivers both quantitative and qualitative Transformational Outcomes for Africa’s people
Key Transformational Outcomes
Agenda 2063 identifies several key benefits to Africans if the programmes identified in the strategic development framework are initiated and implemented in the FTYIP.
Africa is expected to show improved standards of living; transformed, inclusive and sustained economies; increased levels of regional and continental integration; a population of empowered women and youth and a society in which children are cared for and protected; societies that are peaceful, demonstrate good democratic values and practice good governance principles and which preserve and enhance Africa’s cultural identity.
- Improvements in Living Standards
- Transformed, Inclusive and Sustainable Economies
- Integrated Africa
- Empowered Women, Youth and Children
- Well-governed, peaceful and cultural centric Africa in a Global Context
National capital markets will contribute at least 10% of development financing and the proportion of aid in the national budget will be no more than 25% of the 2013 level.
The First Ten Year Implementation Plan
The First Ten Year Implementation Plan (FTYIP) of Agenda 2063 (2013 – 2023) is the first in a series of five ten year plans over the fifty year horizon of Agenda 2063’s 50 time frame.
The purpose for developing the ten year plans are to:
Identify priority areas, set specific targets, define strategies and policy measures required to implement the FTYIP of Agenda 2063.
Bring to fruition the Fast Track programmes and initiatives outlined in the Malabo Decisions of the African Union (AU) to provide the big push and breakthroughs for Africa’s economic and social transformation.
Provide information to all key stakeholders at the national, regional and continental levels on the expected results / outcomes for the first ten years of the plan and assign responsibilities to all stakeholders in its implementation, monitoring and evaluation
Outline the strategies required to ensure availability of resources and capacities together with citizen’s engagement in the implementation of the First Ten Year Plan.
To ensure that Agenda 2063 is not only implemented but that it has measurable results, the FTYIP enumerates 20 Agenda 2063 Goals linked to the 7 Aspiration and each of these goals identifies the priority areas to be implemented at a national level to ensure that collectively Africa will attain its developmental objectives. The goals and priority areas of the FTYIP were influenced by 4 key factors:
The Flagship Projects /Programmes of Agenda 2063
Near Term National and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) Development Priorities
Continental Frameworks
Agenda 2063 Results Framework
National & RECs Development Priorities
Agenda 2063 not only considers Africa’s continental growth aspirations but acknowledges that for the whole continent to develop the premise of Agenda 2063 must be adopted at regional and country level. At the inception of Agenda 2063, the National Development Plans of Member States were as well as the strategic plans of the Regional Economic Communities were reviewed and the focus areas of their development priorities have been included in the First Ten Year Implementation Plan to ensure that their priorities in the near term converge with the priority areas contained in the 50 year framework document.
The national and regional priority areas include:
Sustainable and inclusive economic growth
Human Capital Development
Agriculture/value addition and agro-businesses development
Employment generation, especially the youth and females
Social Protection
Gender / Women development and youth empowerment
Good governance including capable institutions
Infrastructural development
Science, Technology, Innovation
Manufacturing-based industrialization
Peace and Security
Culture, Arts and Sports