5 End of the Beginning

The work of the Africa Commission should not solely be valued by this report, which is one step along the way. The success of this Commission must ultimately be judged by the achievement of its goals in providing more opportunities for African youth, women and businesses to prosper.

Private sector-led growth and job creation for Africa’s young people must be put higher on the international development agenda. The Commissioners, as key stakeholders in international development cooperation with Africa, are committed to this goal and they will actively promote the implementation of the Commission’s five initiatives. Also, the Commissioners will work to ensure that the recommendations presented in this report will be reflected in the national development strategies of African countries.

The Commission fully recognises that the success of the five initiatives will depend not only on the financial support and technical capacity development provided, but also, and more importantly, on African governments’ ownership and commitment to improve good governance, promote entrepreneurship and private sector-led growth.

The Commission’s five initiatives will complement existing efforts in Africa to achieve the MDGs and will be aligned with national policies and development plans in cooperation with African governments. Initially they will be implemented in a number of Sub-Saharan African countries characterised by small and open economies and a commitment to promoting good governance, private sector-led growth and job creation for young people. Thereafter, it is the aim of the Commission to roll out the initiatives to a larger number of countries based on experience and best practices.

Each of the initiatives will be developed in accordance with the key principles of aid effectiveness, including strong national ownership, alignment with country policies and systems, harmonisation with other development partners, and capacity development of African organisations and institutions, especially within the private sector. The focus will be on tangible results.

The initiatives will mainstream and benchmark gender equality as a key priority. Other issues, such as the need for participating and implementing organisations and beneficiaries to tackle the HIV/AIDS pandemic and environmental concerns will be taken into account in line with national policies.

The Secretariat of the Africa Commission, in close collaboration with the implementing partners, African governments and key stake-holders, will further develop and consolidate the initiatives. In order to ensure African ownership, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation of the five initiatives will be anchored within the African Union Commission.