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The Brussels Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries 2001-2010: Some lessons on the way forward. Overview. Progress towards to human assets in African LDCs Equity in access Some general implications Policy implications Way Forward. Access to social services .
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The Brussels Programme of Action for Least Developed Countries 2001-2010:Some lessons on the way forward UNECA
Overview • Progress towards to human assets in African LDCs • Equity in access • Some general implications • Policy implications • Way Forward UNECA
Access to social services • African LDCs enrolment rates increased by twenty percentage points to 70% by 2010 from a low 50% in 2001. • The average U5 mortality rate reduced marginally from 104.4 per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 101.7 in 2007 but progress has been accelerated over the period 2005-2007 • Improvements in improved water supply and to a smaller extent improved sanitation has been driven by urban areas UNECA
Equity in access • Completion rates vary across income gradients (highest/lowest ratio) form a high 47 to 4.6 in a selection of 11 African LDCs • Under five mortality rates vary across the rural/urban divide from 1.7 to 1.3 and again the income gradient differs from 2.1 to 0.9 in the 11 African LDCs investigated • The evidence on improved water provision shows that economic status and place of resident are discerning aspects of inequity of delivery, whilst gender inequalities seem to be rare. • Access to improved sanitation also suffers from income gradient and location bias combined with a more marked gender difference than water. UNECA
Some general implication • Progress towards building human capacity has been of three types • Domestic and international support and adequate resource allocation resulted in relatively fast progress • Large investment requirements and time lags resulted in slower progress • International and national commitment combined with income consistency problems combined with household income have progressed the slowest UNECA
Some general implications • Wealth location and gender differences drag down averages towards building human capacitys • Contribute to marginilization of the poorer, rural areas and women from access to services • Reinforce an unbalanced growth with large swathes of the population that do not particpate in economic activities • Disaggregation counts and targets should capture all society • Universal access to social services must be real and effective UNECA
Tentaive Policy implications • Policy frameworks for coherence inclusiveness and integration (adaptation of EU framework) to test equity concerns: • Integration in poverty reduction strategy favours greater equity • Vertical and horizontal coherence of line Ministries and Ministry of finance assist increased equity • Inclusiveness through equity targets are necessary UNECA
Way forward • A strong recognition and political leverage for LDCs is crucial for action at the international, regional and national level. • Data used in most national reports relied on MDG data and a coherent data repository that allow for comparative regional analysis is vital. • Knowledge sharing among LDCs would assist LDC policy makers in better informed peer learning • The MDG consistent poverty reduction strategies/ national development plans that has served for improved coherence and alignment can serve as a model for an improved LDC Plan of Action UNECA
Way forward • Equity surveillance systems with specific targets and indicators at the national and sub-national levels for effective monitoring need to be implemented it is critical to integrate equity concerns • Economic growth strategies that ensure equitable and efficient allocation of national resources is vital • An effective decentralization of public services • Finally, regional institutions and processes can add impetus to efforts to mainstream equity concerns and to mainstream Plans of Action for LDCs within their institutional and policy fora UNECA