2nd African Local Summit 2013 Set for August in Texas

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wpid-online-business.jpgA Summit to take a look at the Sustainable Development Goals and Africa beyond 2015 is scheduled to take place in Texas in the United States of America in August this year.???The summit, dubbed: 2nd?African Local Summit 2013 which is being organized by a Ghanaian NGO, Elizka Relief Foundation is themed: ?Sustainable Development Goals and Africa beyond 2015: The Role of African Diaspora?.
The main objectives of the summit is to develop policies and programs necessary of understanding the complexities and practical implications of the Africa Diaspora in socio-economic development of Africa and also foster appropriate relations between international development actors and the Africa Diaspora in the post 2015 process.
The summit also seeks to advocate, promote and strengthen the Africa Diasporas role in development by creating a perfect window of opportunity for engagement. Even though substantial progress has been made globally in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals, many countries remain off track to meeting them by 2015.
Whilst China has made remarkable progress by reducing extreme poverty to 13% in 2008, the poverty rate in Sub-Sahara Africa remained widespread.??The poverty rate in Sub-Sahara Africa fell only by almost 5% points to 48% from 2005 to 2008, which also happens to be the largest drop in the region since the beginning of estimating international poverty rates.
Moreover, the number of people living in extreme poverty fell in the region from 395 million to 386 million within the same period showing a reverse in the long-term increase since 1981.
Briefing reporters on the significance of the Summit in Sunyani, the Chief Executive Officer of the Elizka Relief Foundation, Kofi Kankam, said Africa as a whole is lagging behind in achieving the Millennium Development Goals despite a very encouraging recent rise in the rate of economic growth, improvement in environmental policy, and strong macroeconomic fundamentals.
The grave long-term risk that climate changes posses, he noted compounds the continent efforts in achieving the Millennium Development Goals and other internationally agreed development goals.
Mr. Kankam said even though Africans in the Diaspora have a major role??in attainment of the MDGs in Africa by 2015, the relationship between Africa?s Diaspora and the MDGs has not been widely explored.
He observed that Diaspora of developing countries serve as potent force for the development of their countries of origin, through remittances, but also most importantly through promotion of trade, investments, research, innovation, knowledge and technology transfers.
The CEO said the African Local Summit 20013 to be held in USA is to provide a platform for the Africans in the Diaspora and those at home to design appropriate policy instruments to accelerate the attaining of the MDGs by 2015.
The summit, he further said will provide opportunities for the NGOs. CSOs and businesspersons to establish partnership with their counterparts in the Diaspora.
Source: Pat Aboagyewaa
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