Africa Day Gala Dinner

The Department of Foreign Affairs and the NEPAD Business Foundation, as part of a series of events commemorating Africa Day, will host a Gala Dinner on Friday 23 May 2008 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Sandton, Johannesburg. 

The Gala Dinner will be held under the banner, “Towards the Realisation of the African Agenda: Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation.”

Africa Day marks the historic establishment of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963.

Africa Day celebrations acknowledge the progress that we, as Africans, have made, while reflecting upon the common challenges we face in a global environment.

The AU is at the centre of the continent’s renewal process, aimed at making a break with a past that characterised by political instability, poverty and underdevelopment.

Cognisance should be taken of the progress made in moving towards the creation of a peaceful and prosperous Africa. 

Hereunder are a few of these historic milestones which have been reached since the advent of the new millennium:

• The launch of the African Union (AU);
• A continental programme which guides the Continent’s efforts to bring about peace, stability, security and sustainable development has been developed collectively by Africans and adopted by the AU known as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD);
• The launch of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) which is a unique voluntary system of self review by African member states to ensure conformity and commitment to democracy, respect for human rights, socio-economic development and good governance;
• The launch of the Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF) to drive and sustain Africa’s infrastructure development in the field of transport, energy, water and sanitation and telecommunications;
• The Pan African Parliament (PAP) that has already started debating on the matter of concern for all Africans; and
• A platform within the AU to further discuss the issue of the establishment of the Union Government, such as the ongoing Heads of State and Government meeting, currently held in Arusha, Tanzania, in pursuit of social, political and economic integration of the continent.

It has been six years since the Millennium Development Goals on water and sanitation were agreed to during the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2002.  Time has dawned on us again, to assess whether countries are on track and moving in the right direction in achievement of these goals.

It is therefore encouraging to note the positive political developments being undertaked on the continent that are characterised by the New Partnership for Africa’s development (NEPAD) and the formation of the Africa Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW) in 2002.  In addition to these, the emergence of the African Water Task Force and its activities that aim to implement the African Water Vision 2025 and Framework for Action provide a foundation to address the challenges for the Millennium Development Goals targets in Africa in particularly dealing with matters on water and sanitation.

In addition, the establishment and consolidation of partnerships with African and international stakeholders, such as the African civil society networks, UN-Water/Africa, the European Union, the G8 and the United Nation’s Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation (UNSGAB) and our different public and private sector organs should be encouraged as a continental effort to address the African water challenges.   

The ultimate answers to water and sanitation challenges, however, lie with us as Africans!

PROGRAMME FOR THE EVENT

18:00 – 18:30 Arrival and Welcome

18:45 Welcome by the Programme Director

18:50 PD to introduce the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps: Amb Dr Alzubedi

19:50 PD to introduce Stanley Subramoney – NEPAD Business Foundation Director & PriceWaterhouseCoopers Deputy CEO

20:10 PD to introduce Key Note Speaker – Minister Zola Skweyiya

20:10 Vote of Thanks and Closing remarks

MEDIA ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCEEDINGS FOR THE EVENT

RSVPS: Manusha Pillai on 082 389 3587
RSPVs by sms or to e-mail address: pillaim@foreign.gov.za

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
0001

23 May 2008