About the Series
In 2000, the UN General Assembly adopted the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as a way to give impetus and concrete deadlines in key areas of development. Africa was meant to be a central concerns in these efforts. Yet, despite the efforts made in recent years in support of Africa's development, the situation on most of the continent remains challenging. Today the consensus is indeed that it will be difficult to achieve in Africa, in time and in full, the objectives of the MDGs.
The reasons for this are multifold, spanning from weak African state institutions, reluctance of the international community to keep its promises, and knowledge gaps in critical areas of development. In this regard, the development community faces the following paradox: while the African continent is one in which the international development community is involved the most, the level of knowledge, of quantitative and qualitative knowledge, is often missing or limited in crucial areas of health, environment, security and others, as well as in their relations. The underdeveloped state of statistical data in a number of strategic areas for African development is a case in point... continue reading
Series One: Food System and its Interactions with Health and Nutrition
13 November 2007 - 9:30 - 5:45
United Nations New York Headquarters, Dag Hammarskjold Library Penthouse
- The interaction between the food systems and human health in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Strengthening the role of women in the food systems in Sub-Saharan Africa to achieve nutrition and health goals
- Strengthening rural markets and infrastructure in Sub-Saharan Africa to reduce poverty and hunger and strengthen health
- Promoting agricultural development to achieve the MDGs for the alleviation of poverty and hunger
Series Two: From Governance and Development Crises to Security Crises
- Links between crises of development and security crises
- Weakness of the African states (see for example weak taxation powers and lack of rights implementation)
- The disconnection between economic wealth production and investment policies for the benefit of local populations
- The role of regional and global public policy (complementarity and competition) in the promotion of peace and security
- To what extent can/should regional integration and global public policy play a role for achieving the MDGs in Africa?
Series Three: HIV/AIDS in Africa: Socio-Economic Considerations:
- Macroeconomic impacts of HIV/AIDS
- Study on prevalence and spread of HIV/AIDS: risk behaviors, impact of household income and livelihoods; impact on children; gender equality and empowerment
- Clinical success in treatment of HIV/AIDS
- Anti-retro virals: options and constrains
- Policy implications from previous political and institutional failures