SNV/UNDP/MDP Conference on MDG localisation in Africa; options and experiences
After the G8 top and broad international attention for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), its now time to make sure the MDGs are really being implemented. Not just by Western institutes but by local people themselves. Therefore SNV Dutch Development Organisation, the Municipal Development Partnership (MDP) and the UNDP are organising a regional conference, hosted by the Ministry of Local Government of Uganda, from 9-11 August in Kampala, Uganda. The conference will explore what role local actors can (and must) play in achieving the MDGs. A key outcome of the conference is expected to be a statement on the necessity and the feasibility of MDG localisation as an additional approach to assist African countries to work towards MDG attainment. Particular focus will be generated on the role of (local) capacity building organisations and coalitions in this localisation process. The conference targets on Capacity Development Practitioners with specific expertise and practical experience in local governance. For further information please go to www.snvworld.org/mdg or contact us at [email protected] (for content matters) or [email protected] (for logistical arrangement).
SNV/UNDP/MDP Conference on
MDG localisation in Africa; options and experiences
9-11 August 2005 Kampala, Uganda
After the G8 top and broad international attention for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), its now time to make sure the MDGs are really being implemented. Not just by Western institutes but by local people themselves. Therefore SNV Dutch Development Organisation, the Municipal Development Partnership (MDP) and the UNDP are organising a regional conference, hosted by the Ministry of Local Government of Uganda, from 9-11 August in Kampala, Uganda. The conference will explore what role local actors can (and must) play in achieving the MDGs.
The biggest challenge on implementing the MDGs lies in Africa. As Jeffrey Sachs notes in the Millennium project report: “Sub-Saharan Africa is the epicentre of crisis, with continuing food insecurity, a rise of extreme poverty, stunning high child and maternal mortality, and large numbers of people living in slums and a widespread shortfall for most of the MDG’s”. But according to him there is still hope as: “the specific technologies for achieving the goals are known. What is needed is to apply them at scale.”
The regional conference aims to contribute to the MDG debate from the development practice perspective. Particularly in Africa the gap between policy and implementation, the space between national and local level, the difference between political rhetoric and concrete action on the ground, is only increasing. Even if intentions are focused and coherent, capacities are inadequate for designing and delivering policies. Therefore, it’s important to focus on increasing local capacity to implement the MDGs, because it is at local level that policy gets translated into implementation and rhetoric turns into action.
A key outcome of the conference is expected to be a statement on the necessity and the feasibility of MDG localisation as an additional approach to assist African countries to work towards MDG attainment. Particular focus will be generated on the role of (local) capacity building organisations and coalitions in this localisation process. The conference targets on Capacity Development Practitioners with specific expertise and practical experience in local governance.
For further information please go to www.snvworld.org/mdg or contact us at [email protected] (for content matters) or [email protected] (for logistical arrangement).