Meeting of Ministers on Committee on Women and Development: Opening remarks by K. Y. Amoako, executive secretary of the economic commission for Africa (ECA)

Abstract

Opening Remarks by K. Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) at the Meeting of Ministers on Committee on Women and Development. Mr. Amoako, on his remarks outlined that, from the National reports presented at this conference, it is clear that the majority of the African countries have the political will and commitment to creating an environment conducive to addressing gender issues and enhancing the status of women. NGOs are very active partners in supporting government initiatives. there are fundamental challenges that remain to be addressed. The first challenge is how to bring about change in the process of eradicating poverty in Africa where it is estimated that over 70 percent of the poor are women. The second challenge which is linked to the first is how to address the gender inequality that persists in access to and control of productive, human, and social capital assets. The third challenge is whether the International Development Target to reduce poverty by half by the year 2015 can be achieved and sustained over the next two decades if macroeconomic policies do not adequately incorporate gender dimensions. ECA as the main UN organ for development in Africa has been involved in the recent initiative of the African Leaders: the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). We are working on priority sectors as identified in NEPAD and as requested by OAU Member States at their Lusaka Summit in July 2001.