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Title Africa Beyond 2005 Day / Time Wednesday, June 21st / 13:30 - 15:30 Room MR12 Event Description During WUF II in Barcelona, Spain in 2004, UN-HABITAT and the Commission for Africa Secretariat organised a special networking event on the work of the Commission for Africa. The objectives of the event were two-fold: the Commission for Africa wanted to inform the participants about its remit to take a fresh look at Africa’s development needs, including those related to human settlements; and the Commission for Africa wanted to find out from the participants what they thought were the priorities on urbanisation in Africa. Based on that networking event and other civil society meetings across Africa, rapid urbanisation was tabled as a major development concern. The Commission for Africa Report, “Our Common Interest”, specifically states rapid urbanisation is the second biggest threat to Africa’s development after HIV/AIDS. This firmly placed urbanisation on the global agenda. At WUF III, UN-HABITAT and its partners have organized this networking event as a follow up to the Commission for Africa to discuss how the recommendations of the report and commitments made at the G8 summit in July 2005 will be followed through beyond 2005. Discussed will include the sources and mechanisms for financing sustainable human settlements. Session Language English French Speakers (information as provided by host organization)         Contact Need more information about this event? Please fill the contact form Related Documents (in English and / or French) Host Organization Commission for Africa Host Organization Description UN-HABITAT is the lead agency with the UN for human settlements issues. It is directly responsible for helping governments to implement the Habitat Agenda which was signed by 171 Governments at the Second UN Human Settlements Conference at Istanbul in 1996: Habitat II. The Commission for Africa was launched by the British Prime Minister Tony Blair in February 2004. The aim of the Commission was to take a fresh look at Africa’s past and present as well as the international community’s role in its development path. The work set out to be comprehensive and challenging, addressing difficult questions where necessary. The Commission was tasked with finalising its report by early 2005 and producing clear recommendations for the G8, EU, other wealthy countries and African countries. The Commission consisted of 17 Commissioners who all worked in an independent capacity. Most of the Commissioners were African and all were active and influential in their differing spheres of work and expertise, and included Anna Tibaijuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director UN-HABITAT. Commissioners were supported in their work by a Secretariat based in London. The Commission for Africa delivered its mandate by July 2005 and though the Secretariat was closed down, considerable progress is being made on the commitments. Commissioners continue to monitor and push the agenda of the Commission for Africa in their personal capacities. Website (Organizer and partners)

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