As the 2015 target date for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) approaches, the path to the development of a Post-2015 framework is made up of multiple processes which aim to ensure that that the successor to the MDGs is borne out of inclusive discussions and consultations - particularly with civil society and those who should benefit most from a Post-2015 framework.
Many share the desire that Africa should not only participate but be amongst the key architects of the post 2015 agenda. Different from the way the MDGs came about, there is the wish that Africa should largely be responsible for shaping the post 2015 agenda and bring out the needs of the grassroots and citizens themselves. For this to happen, African Civil Society Organisations need to work in partnership and leverage.
The United Nations has already set-up a task team on advancing a Post - 2015 Development Agenda and a High Level Panel on Post 2015; co-chaired by the Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia and the UK Prime Minister David Cameron.
The Panel is expected to submit a final report by the end of May 2013, which in turn will inform the UN-Secretary General report on MDGs performance and recommendations for the Post 2015 development framework. The General Assembly through its Second Committee is also expected to initiate inter-governmental processes to design the Rio+20 mandated sustainable development goals and the broader Post 2015 development agenda.
A Monrovia Africa CSO Forum held in October 2012 concluded with Her Excellency President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf accepting to host a CSO Secretariat wihin her office. The strategic bureau is aimed at facilitating African Civil Society's entry into high level spaces and optimally contributing to strategic documents and processes of the Post 2015 consultations.
ACORD - the Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development - and African Monitor, two Pan African civil society organisations actively working for social justice and bringing citizen voices to the development agenda, are jointly providing leadership to the CSO Secretariat.
