A/70/PV.35 General Assembly

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the States members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in today’s joint debate on the agenda items entitled “New Partnership for Africa’s Development: progress in implementation and international support” and “2001-2010 Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa”. The fraternal ties between the Caribbean and Africa, built on the bonds of history and culture, are further cemented by our common aspiration to achieve a destiny of our own design and to attain peace, security *1532063* 15-32063 (E) and sustainable development in our regions. CARICOM therefore reiterates its support for the African-led and African-owned approach to growth and socioeconomic development that the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) represents. The year 2015 is a landmark year for global development and for the development of Africa. With the adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1), the international community has taken important steps to advance sustainable development globally. Those efforts will hopefully be crowned with an ambitious global climate-change agreement in Paris this December. It is therefore fitting that, within that context and during the time when the United Nations is observing the seventieth anniversary of its founding, Africa has articulated its own long-term strategic vision for the transformative development of the continent through its Agenda 2063. CARICOM is heartened by major development gains in Africa, achieved even as the continent continues to grapple with significant challenges to peace and development. We have taken particular note of the progress made on all of the NEPAD thematic priorities, including strengthening the financing for and implementation of major infrastructure projects, improving regional and national health systems to better respond to global pandemics, enhancing gender mainstreaming and working towards climate adaptation in agriculture and other sectors. In order to achieve further progress and to ensure that Africa fulfils its potential as a dynamic force in the international arena, the continent will, however, need to take steps to overcome challenges in all of the NEPAD priority thematic areas. Moreover, the international community and the United Nations will need to ensure coherence and synergy between the global and continental development frameworks, so as to fully support their implementation in Africa. Several priorities merit consideration, including consolidating the considerable gains made by Africa in promoting peace and stability; pursuing a strategic approach to combating diseases, especially HIV/AIDS and malaria, which continue to be a burden and a major challenge to Africa; advancing the fight to eliminate the Ebola virus completely; and undertaking a more long-term and integrated approach to investment by international partners that will have a more desirable and sustained impact. Today, as we observe World Food Day, we recall also the fight against hunger and the importance of promoting food security throughout Africa. We note with concern that, as the report of the Secretary-General (A/70/175) mentions, despite extensive efforts to mobilize domestic resources, inadequate financing remains a major challenge in all sectors. That issue must be addressed with urgency. While increased investment will be needed from all sources, it will be important that the international community complement the continent’s efforts, including through additional financial support, technical assistance and capacity-building. We therefore urge development partners to strengthen their efforts to meet their official development assistance (ODA) commitments, as well as to enhance their ODA allocations to the continent, so as to aid in the implementation and achievement of the global and regional development agenda. We call for a reaffirmation of United Nations support for Africa, including through ongoing efforts to strengthen the efficacy of regional coordination mechanisms. CARICOM supports Africa’s quest to improve governance and accountability, which reflects our shared commitments in that regard. The increased subscription by African countries to the processes of the African Peer Review Mechanism is a testament to the efficacy of that instrument in promoting good governance on the continent. We also share Africa’s commitment to promoting the role of women and youth in securing durable peace and socioeconomic transformation. In that regard, we welcome the designation of 2015 as the Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards the African Union Agenda 2063. The African Economic Outlook 2015 projects that growth in Africa’s gross domestic product will strengthen to 4.5 per cent this year and reach 5 per cent in 2016. Should those forecasts hold true, it will represent a resumption, after a number of years, of the impressive pre-crisis levels of growth that Africa had achieved. That development bears particular consideration. From one perspective, it may be seen through the lens of the years of lost growth that impeded progress on the continent, owing largely to factors beyond its control. From another, it heralds, in important ways, the continued resilience of the continent. If the full promise of Africa is to be realized and sustained, determined and cohesive efforts will be needed on the part of Africa, its development partners and the international community as a whole. CARICOM hopes that the trend towards higher and sustained growth and development does indeed represent the dawning of a new day in Africa’s development. We reaffirm our commitment to collaborating with Africa in addressing the challenges to peace and development and in jointly contributing to a more prosperous and secure world. Our close interaction within the United Nations has facilitated the continued renewal of the fraternal bonds between our peoples and regions. That collaboration found concrete expression recently in the engagement between CARICOM and Africa, along with other partners, which resulted in the erection of the Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade at the United Nations. The unveiling of the Ark of Return at the United Nations was only the latest and most cogent symbol of our unbreakable ties of friendship and solidarity. We look forward to strengthening those ties even further in the years ahead. The Caribbean Community takes this opportunity to express our confidence in the prospects for Africa’s continued progress. Africa’s renaissance heralds the promise of a brighter day, not only for the people of that great continent, but also for the people of the world as a whole. We renew our commitment to maintaining our partnership with Africa in the common cause of the sustainable development of our nations and peoples.

At the outset, allow me to thank the President for convening this timely debate. Egypt aligns itself with the statements made by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and by the representative of Sierra Leone on behalf of the African Group (see A/70/PV.34). Egypt welcomes the reports prepared by the Secretary-General on the African issues under today’s agenda items (A/70/175 and A/70/176). I would like to thank the Secretary-General and the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa for preparing those reports and for the thoughtful conclusions they include. I also wish to extend our appreciation to His Excellency Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz, the Special Adviser for Africa, for the successful organization of the Africa Week 2015 events on the theme “Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Moving from Aspirations to Reality”. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) represents Africa’s aspiration to take its methods into its own hands, as it serves as Africa’s instrument for reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development. NEPAD translates African priorities into specific programmes and projects. It thereby crystallizes Africa’s vision on specific thematic issues, namely, agriculture and food security, regional integration and infrastructure, human development, and information and communication technologies. NEPAD has received additional impetus, as it has become the vehicle for the implementation of the African Union Agenda 2063, Africa’s vision for regional integration and an African renaissance. As a proud founding member, Egypt continues to support the work of NEPAD in various programmes and thematic activities and calls for increasing international support for the implementation of the NEPAD agenda. A number of the issues raised under today’s agenda items coincide with those raised in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda on financing for development. It is important to emphasize the importance of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the fulfilment of the commitments made towards Africa in the new 2030 Agenda. No global development agenda can ever succeed if it does not tackle the African priorities of increasing economic output, creating jobs and eradicating poverty through increased industrialization, infrastructure and agricultural development. African development needs significant and diverse financial resources, technology transfers and capacity-building. Official development assistance should continue to constitute the backbone of financing for development. Furthermore, Africa needs the support of the international community for the recovery of illegally transferred assets. The international community has achieved significant progress in the elimination of malaria in developing countries, especially in Africa, with nearly half of the affected countries now free of the disease. The international community has to ensure that this success is maintained by guaranteeing ongoing technical and financial support for malaria programmes in African countries, thereby improving access to prevention and treatment. Efforts to achieve sustainable development and growth are bound to fail unless coupled with serious efforts to create, maintain and build peace. In that regard, we welcome the report of the Secretary-General entitled “Causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa” (A/70/176). We also highlight Africa’s initiative to achieve a conflict-free Africa, as outlined in the Fiftieth Anniversary Solemn Declaration of the Organization of African Unity-African Union, of 2013. The initiative is complemented by the work of the African Peer Review Mechanism, which manifests Africa’s commitment to enhance good governance and respect for human rights and democratic values. There is also an urgent need for collaboration and the scaling up of efforts to ensure the coherence of strategies aimed at facing the challenges relating to terrorism, which threaten the development and economic achievements of our continent. It is important to emphasis as well the need to sustain and consolidate the support provided to Africa by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa as the leading entity dedicated to advancing African issues in the United Nations system. Allow me to conclude by reiterating Egypt’s ongoing commitment to the welfare, peace and security of Africa during its membership in the Security Council for the period of 2016-2017.

At the outset, let me congratulate the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa, the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Development Bank for a successful Africa Week 2015. Also allow me to welcome all the high-level representatives of the African regional economic communities and to commend them for their invaluable contributions. We also thank the Secretary-General for the reports provided on Africa’s progress (A/70/175 and A/70/176). Rwanda endorses the statements delivered by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and by the representative of Sierra Leone on behalf of the Group of African States (see A/70/PV.34). As we celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations, allow me to join others in congratulating the President of the General Assembly on the theme chosen to set the stage for the new development agenda, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1). This landmark year is indeed special, as it occurs at a crossroads: the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era is ending at the prelude to the newly adopted 2030 Agenda, which has the power to transform our lives in an unprecedented manner. Coupled with that bold and ambitious Agenda is our own African Union Agenda 2063, which outlines our priorities to achieve the Africa we want in order to move from aspirations to reality. At the onset, we can note with satisfaction that most of our key African priorities have been taken on board in the new 2030 Agenda of the United Nations, making it easier for us to hit two targets with one shot. The next step will be to merge the two agendas in our development plans. Despite the ongoing effects of the global financial and economic crises and the conflicts still raging on our continent — with their corollary of new threats in the form of terrorism and extremism, which remind us that we are still navigating in troubled waters — we have reason to have hope for the future. Indeed, the lessons learned from hardship have enabled us to emerge more resilient and equipped with new tools to confront adversity. Consequently, we remain confident that the new 2030 Agenda will give us an impetus to believe in the readiness of Africa to embark on a positive trajectory and to continue to register sustained growth. It is a known fact that our economies are undergoing rapid transformation. More and more countries have managed to sustain their growth at more than 5 per cent of their gross domestic product, and as we urbanize, burgeoning industries and service sectors are leading to the creation of more off-farm jobs. While the worst enemy that we are still confronted with is chronic poverty, we see, when we delve into statistics, that more and more people are being lifted from poverty. In Rwanda alone, on top of having more than a million lifted out of poverty in a five-year time span, the latest figures show that more than 660,000 have followed the same path during the past three years. Those numbers bode well for the future, which prompts policymakers to look at the entire ecosystem so as to nurture it to open doors to a myriad of possibilities. Let me now briefly discuss four issues of importance to my country, where we see the need for better synergies for the implementation of both landmark outcomes. First is the unfinished business of the MDGs. We take this opportunity to recognize the important milestone that the MDGs have achieved for many of the developing countries, especially in Africa. Rwanda is on course to meet all eight Goals, and on some, we have even exceeded the targets. Secondly, the nexus between peace, security and development is a fundamental issue reflecting the realities that many countries face, since the complementarity of peace and development makes them two sides of the same coin. Rwanda, as would any other post-conflict country, faced considerable difficulties in dealing with the aftermath of the genocide against the Tutsi, which claimed 1 million lives, and in establishing a climate of peace and security for all, as well as in rebuilding inclusive governance structures and promoting economic and social development. That experience taught us that inclusive decision-making has not only strengthened our governance structures, it has been essential in enabling us to become one of the fastest-growing economies on the continent. That points to a growing need for integrated approaches that promote peace, security and economic development. Concerning the partnership between the United Nations and the African Union (AU), we believe that increasing the capacity to streamline and implement cooperation with the African Union and its regional economic communities will help both organizations in their conflict-prevention efforts, not only through long-term structural measures but also in their ability to recognize and defuse signs of impending or potential conflict. Thirdly, an important step in moving from conceiving and adopting aspirations to making them a reality is to incorporate the gender and youth components. The African Union has declared 2015 the Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063, reaffirming the important role that women and girls will play in driving that Agenda. In most AU member States, women make up more than 50 per cent of the population. It will be impossible to achieve the 2030 Agenda and the AU Agenda 2063 with its First Ten-Year Implementation Plan if nations choose not to include more than half of their populations. My fourth and last point is about creating jobs for young people, who in some countries make up more than 70 per cent of the population. Young Africans will play an extremely important role in transforming Africa in the social, economic and cultural spheres. Investments are needed in education, employment, empowerment and effective civic participation. We should therefore make it a priority to consider the measures that should be taken going forward so as to ensure sustainable development and economic growth and guarantee peaceful, harmonious and secure living. In that regard, my country has taken strong measures to transform job seekers into job creators. First, to boost job creation Rwanda has lowered significant barriers to employment by investing in quality education and vocational technical education, and has created a mass mentoring platform to coachi trainees, thus enabling job seekers to gain the experience they need. Secondly, we have made it easier for entrepreneurs to enter the job market, affording them an adequate support system that includes appropriate financial products and access to financing, business development services, access to markets, and a regulatory framework that makes things easier for start-ups. Decentralizing such services has been instrumental in attaining tangible results, and we thank the African Development Bank for contributing to that venture. Thirdly, by investing massively in research and development and supportting access to technologies, Rwanda has fostered creativity and innovation. Fourthly, investing in infrastructure development and energy generation has led to job creation on a huge scale. Regional integration has greatly helped to boost our trade and will definitely enable us to align our development plans with Agenda 2063 and its First Ten- Year Implementation Plan. Finally, to bring about the changes necessary for Africa to thrive, Governments, donors and the private sector are invited to walk the talk by providing adequate means to ensure that actions are being properly implemented. In addition, all official development assistance commitments should be honoured so as to complement domestic resource mobilization. In closing, I would like to reiterate that the future of Africa is in our hands. It is therefore high time to join hands in shaping that future, so that it can support the lives of future generations. In our global quest for poverty eradication, let us rally behind that motto, seize this momentum and go on to thrive together.

Today’s meeting highlights Africa’s significance as an emerging continent. The African Union Agenda 2063, aimed at the region’s transformation and renaissance, and its First Ten-Year Implementation Plan, are both are all- encompassing and focus on almost every aspect of the region’s advancement. They call for mutual synergy with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations (resolution 70/1). In the light of this historically new context, Kazakhstan calls for strengthening the African Union’s structures and instruments, such as the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and the African Governance Architecture, which includes the African Peer Review Mechanism, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Pan-African Parliament, together with the continent’s regional economic communities. That will require close coordination with the United Nations framework for Africa in conjunction with regional structures and State institutions. Within that framework, every Member State has a role to play. Kazakhstan has therefore been deepening its commitment to Africa for the past several years. As Chair of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 2012, we worked on some of Africa’s most pressing issues, such as the political transition in North Africa, the crises in the Sahel and Somalia, organized crime and threats of terrorism, and the problems of food, water and energy security. Kazakhstan has moved from being a regular recipient of aid to becoming a donor country, and takes its responsibilities seriously. We have given substantial humanitarian aid to the Central African Republic and Somalia. During the Ebola outbreak in 2014, we quickly allocated funds to the United Nations Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund and to the African Union’s fund. We are now establishing our own overseas development agency, KazAid, which will focus on both financial assistance and knowledge transfer, since Kazakhstan believes in learning from African countries, too, Peace, development and stability in Africa are a growing priority for our foreign policy. We intend to be increasingly involved in peacekeeping operations, and Kazakh military observers are currently serving in United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa. We will invest in development in order to reduce conflicts, and we will work to strengthen the Peacebuilding Commission and the Peacebuilding Support Office. If we are to overcome the current grave crises in the Middle East and Africa, we must address those issues jointly. As the world’s largest landlocked country, Kazakhstan is sensitive to the plight of geographically disadvantaged States and will work with other development partners to help address the shared challenges of landlocked developing countries in Africa. In cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), we have created opportunities for African experts to study at leading educational institutions in Kazakhstan in the fields of the oil and gas industry and agriculture. Kazakhstan recently signed a third-party cost-sharing agreement with UNDP aimed at implementing an Africa-Kazakhstan partnership for the Sustainable Development Goals, thereby further strengthening our commitment to Africa’s development. Like all other regions, Africa is threatened by climate change and energy insecurity, and it can take advantage of Kazakhstan’s Green Bridge partnership programme, which focuses on sustainable growth and promoting the best green technologies and practices. Energy will also determine our collective security, and we are looking forward to a major African contribution to Expo 2017, which is to be held in Astana on the theme of “Future Energy”, showcasing innovations in the global energy industry. That will be our contribution to the Sustainable Energy for All initiative of the United Nations. In that regard, Kazakhstan hosted the African Future Energy Seminar in Astana this past July to share our expertise. Following the Expo 2017 event, we will propose the establishment, in Astana, of an international centre for the development of green technologies and investment projects, under the auspices of the United Nations. The centre will serve to facilitate technology development and transfer to developing countries. The 2015 Astana Economic Forum’s special session, entitled “Africa as the Next Driver of the Global Economy”, brought African and Kazakh experts together. The World Anti-Crisis Plan, formulated during the Astana Economic Forum, will have pointers for Africa. In that regard, our financial architecture will have to be reconsidered so as better to meet the criteria of justice, democracy, competitiveness, effectiveness and international control. We call for the completion of the Doha Round of world trade negotiations so as to give a significant boost to African trade and accelerate structural reforms. As economic power and political influence are moving southwards and eastwards, South-South and triangular cooperation, which complement North- South cooperation, are becoming an important tool for capacity-building, the design of policies and the delivery of programmes. We welcome the progress achieved in Africa in enhancing gender equality and women’s empowerment on the continent. The promotion of equal rights of men and women to education and decent work is also critically important for long-term development. The international community should consider supporting African women and girls by targeting programmes in financing, technology transfer and capacity-building, among others, in accordance with the post-2015 development agenda. When President Nazarbayev addressed the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015 (see A/70/PV.10) and the General Assembly (see A/70/PV.13), he outlined some very thought-provoking proposals that could serve as additional reinforcement points in achieving long-term security and sustainable development in Africa. We need to shift our focus from routine conflict prevention and post-conflict recovery to a new development strategy that would do much to eliminate the threat of war. Since my President’s address at the General Assembly has full relevance for Africa, I would like to refer to his proposal that the task of the twenty- first century is to implement a strategy that would eliminate the threat of war and its causes permanently. For that purpose, President Nazarbayev suggested that for the centenary of the United Nations, a 2045 global strategic initiative plan should be agreed to. Its core idea would be to launch a new trend in global development based on fair conditions, where all nations would have equal access to the global infrastructure, resources and markets, as well as the ability to maintain a comprehensive system of accountability with regard to human development. To achieve substantive results, we would need to transform the Economic and Social Council into the Global Development Council, in close coordination with the United Nations system, the International Monetary Fund and other multilateral agencies. It would serve as a global economic regulator, with worldwide projects but with Africa as its priority area. The proposal that all Member States should allocate one percent of their military spending to a special sund for the Sustainable Development Goals is another initiative that is also relevant to today’s topic. We applaud the fact that the entire African region has become, under the Pelindaba Treaty, a nuclear- weapon-free-zone. Kazakhstan, with its own Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone, has experiences to share. We can thereby reinforce our mutual efforts for nuclear security. As a candidate for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council for the term of 2017-2018, Kazakhstan is committed to focusing on nuclear, food, energy and water security, which are critical for achieving long- term sustainable development in Africa. Kazakhstan expresses its readiness, if elected, to promote the genuine interests of our African partners in the Security Council. Partnership and cooperation among nations are a must. Only in that way can we protect our common security and advance our common humanity. Kazakhstan is totally committed to Africa’s advancement, both through regional efforts and through efforts reinforced by a broader multilateralism.

There are many reasons to be optimistic about the African continent’s future. Great progress has been made in achieving the Millennium Development Goals, including in education and maternal and child health. Democracy, good governance and the rule of law are gaining ground on the continent, and some of the fastest-growing economies in the world are in Africa. While significant achievements have been made, some fundamental challenges still remain. Falling commodity prices and more difficult financial conditions for investment have slowed expected average growth in Africa to its lowest level since 2009, according to the International Monetary Fund. Many countries are highly vulnerable to external shocks, the effects of climate change and environmental degradation. We agree with African States that some of the key measures to be taken include strengthening national revenue mobilization, curbing illicit financial flows and investing in infrastructure. Economic growth has not created enough jobs, nor has it significantly increased income opportunities for the vast majority of the poor, particularly minorities, women and youth. Inequality, poverty and unemployment are potential causes of social unrest, conflict and migration. Growth must be inclusive. Poverty eradication and sustainable development are inextricably linked with women’s and girls’ rights and gender equality. Empowering women and girls increases productivity and has a positive impact on nutrition, health and education. Norway remains deeply committed to supporting Africa’s fight against poverty through investments, trade, capacity-building and aid. Peace, security and sustainable development are closely interlinked. Common denominators of protracted conflicts include weak State institutions, lack of basic services, militarization of societies, and social and economic exclusion. Often, fragility and insecurity are fuelled by transnational organized crime, piracy and terrorism. One consequence is the refugee flows and migration we are witnessing, and, as we all know, no quick fixes exist. Stronger cooperation between Africa and Europe is needed, among the States of origin and transit and the receiving States. We must work together to solve conflicts, end fighting and increase efforts for sustainable development. The Secretary-General makes a strong case for the importance of a holistic approach that addresses security, development and human rights. More emphasis must also be placed on prevention of conflict. The African Union’s transformative 50-year Agenda 2063 is an example of such an approach and provides the framework for an inclusive and people-centred development in Africa. I commend the African Union Summit on the decision to make 2016 the Year of Human Rights with Special Focus on the Rights of Women, a theme that resonates with the emphasis on national ownership and leadership in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and provides a platform giving a voice to all segments of society. At the same time, many of those challenges are transnational in their nature and require concerted efforts, not just from the region but from the international community as a whole. The increasingly strong collaboration between the United Nations system and the African Union is a case in point. Norway and the African Union Commission signed a memorandum of understanding in January this year. We agreed to strengthen our collaboration in the areas of peace and security, democracy and governance, and sustainable development and job creation. That strategic partnership reflects both the strong historical ties between Africa and Norway and our joint aspirations for the future. The visions and objectives outlined in Agenda 2063 mirror our own.

I appreciate this opportunity to contribute to this joint debate. My delegation aligns itself with the statements delivered by the representative of South Africa on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and by the representative of Sierra Leone on behalf of the Group of African States (see A/70/PV.34). I also commend the Secretary-General for the two comprehensive reports on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD): the thirteenth consolidated progress report on implementation and international support (A/70/175) and on the causes of conflict and the promotion of durable peace and sustainable development in Africa (A/70/176). My delegation takes note of the considerable progress that has been made in Africa’s development agenda, in particular through the NEPAD continental framework and the strategic approach in the key development issues and programmes in such fields as agriculture, infrastructure and health-care systems. One cannot overemphasize the success factors and experiences with the NEPAD frameworks, including the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa as instruments for strengthening capacity to follow up on the progress and performance of regional, subregional and national programmes. Zambia, like many African countries, has benefited from the support and implementation of the NEPAD programmes. For instance, it signed its CAADP compact and endorsed its national agriculture and food security investment plan in January 2011. Since then Zambia has developed its national agriculture investment programme, which provides a full package of incentives in the agricultural sector. Farmer organizations, the private sector and active partnerships are collaborating in the programme’s implementation, with support from cooperating partners. Zambia is also implementing a policy on conservation agriculture involving thousands of households, which has had a marked impact on resilience, food security and increased food production in a number of areas. With regard to agenda item 14, entitled “2001-2010: Decade to Roll Back Malaria in Developing Countries, Particularly in Africa”, I wish to state that malaria remains a major health concern in Zambia. It also disproportionately affects children under 5 years, pregnant women and the vulnerable and the poor in society. Malaria imposes a severe socioeconomic burden on individuals, households and the communities at large. We strongly believe that a malaria-free Zambia is possible. Policy and legal frameworks have been put in place to ensure that no barriers exist to the implementation of interventions aimed at eliminating malaria. The Government has articulated that resolve in major national development policy documents, notably in the national health policy and more specifically in the National Strategic Plan for Malaria. At present, the main prevention interventions include indoor residual spraying and long-lasting insecticide-treated nets. Curative intervention is enshrined in prompt and effective case management. In addition, Zambia has continued to implement three steps towards malaria eliminatio: improving surveillance and reporting at the health-facility level, implementing mass screening and treatment campaigns, and using an active case-detection system for community-level surveillance. I am therefore glad to report that Zambia has reported declines in malaria case-fatality rates. For example, the case-fatality rate for the age group aged 5 years and above was reduced from 31 per 1,000 admissions in 2012 to 18 per 1,000 admissions in 2013. That could be attributed to good practices in our joint action with the global community. Despite that positive trend in our fight against malaria, the country still faces some challenges, such as delays in timely and effective deployment of some key malaria-prevention interventions owing to financial constraints, which may in turn lead to the late procurement and distribution of the required commodities. To accelerate progress, Zambia has strategized and focused on improving surveillance as an intervention in tandem with strengthening all other key interventions. We hope to increase our access to potential victims through the use of community structures, by ensuring the availability of all required items and also through continued monitoring and evaluation. Community health workers are critical in ensuring access to health care and in providing holistic and integrated management of diseases, including malaria and pneumonia. The response further involves using community leaders and opinion-makers in malaria- control activities and programmes. These measures have led to the establishment of strong institutional structures by the Government and its cooperating partners. In our continuous effort to reduce the cost of anti-malarial drugs, we plan to continue forging partnerships in the manufacturing of antimalarial drugs and insecticide-treated nets locally. In conclusion, I wish to underscore that the scaling up of integrated packages of cost-effective malaria interventions yields positive outcomes. We need to enhance collaboration with the international community in our efforts to eradicate malaria globally.

At the outset, let me express our appreciation for the organization of this important meeting, and we thank the Secretary-General for his valuable reports (A/70/PV/175 and A/70/176). We are happy to see the increased interest in Africa at the United Nations. Despite the tremendous challenges, institutional and social progress in Africa’s development is continuing. We have heard a number of success stories coming out of Africa. They give hope for a better future for the continent, and there is greater African ownership in African matters. In that process, Turkey will continue to stand with Africa. Today, we are politically more engaged and economically better connected with Africa, and we have proven ourselves to be a reliable development partner. In 2008, the African Union declared Turkey a strategic partner. The first Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit was held strong institutional structures in Istanbul in August 2008, with the high-level participation of 49 African countries. That Summit initiated a steady and sustainable cooperation process. The Second Turkey- Africa Partnership Summit was organized in November 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, under the theme, “A New Model of Partnership for the Strengthening of Sustainable Development and Integration”. The Summit adopted a declaration and a joint implementation plan for the 2015-2019 period. Turkey is not an outsider to the continent. We have engaged with many local administrations in many parts of Africa ,from the north to the Horn of Africa, to East Africa and to the Sahel region. In Africa we have expanded our diplomatic missions to 39, and the number of African embassies in Ankara is now 32. That is a strong manifestation of Turkey’s and our African partners’ commitment to developing relations further. In realizing that, Turkish Airlines, with its 44 destinations in 28 African countries, acts as an important enabler in connecting people. The year 2015 is a critical time for global action. It is particularly important that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) build on the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and address the unfinished business. The 2030 Agenda recognizes what we have been witnessing for years, namely, that sustainable development cannot be achieved without peace and security and that peace and security will be at risk without sustainable development. The African Union Agenda 2063 shares the same vision — peace and security are intertwined with one another. Yet the demographic changes in Africa also show that the empowerment of youth and women will have a special role to play in achieving the development goals that can ensure peace and security. Turkey holds the presidency of the Group of 20 (G-20) in 2015. We have been making every effort to strengthen dialogue and action between the G-20 and Africa. In that connection, we hosted a meeting on energy access in sub-Saharan Africa on 1 October in Istanbul, with the participation of the ministers of energy from both the African and the G-20 countries. In the face of crises and disasters, Turkey’s approach to Africa is based on a combination of humanitarian and development assistance. That approach ensures that we offer much-needed assistance and protection in the event of complex emergencies. It also aims to support capacity- and institution-building in all areas. Of course, we are aware that that should be done with the use of local resources and knowledge. The Turkish International Cooperation and Coordination Agency currently operates 15 programme coordination offices in Africa, with total Turkish development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa amounting to $193 million in 2013, according to the databases of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The most concrete examples of that approach can be seen in Somalia, where we support capacity-building to help the federal Government to achieve greater self-sufficiency in the social and economic realms. To showcase Somalia’s achievements and garner further support, we will host the next ministerial high-level partners forum on Somalia in early 2016. We are determined to pursue humanitarian diplomacy as one of the key activities of Turkish foreign policy. We will continue to stay in close contact with our partners in Africa in the lead-up to the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit, to be held in May 2016 in Istanbul. We call on all States to be represented at the highest level. Turkey defines itself as an Afro-Eurasian country and is committed to a strong engagement and genuine partnership with Africa, which will continue unabated in the future.

Nigeria wishes to align itself with the statement made earlier by the representative of Sierra Leone on behalf of the Group of African States (see A/70/PV.34). The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) remains the embodiment of Africa’s aspiration for the inclusive growth and sustainable development of the African continent. From its inception in 2001, NEPAD has spearheaded the policy engineering of the development dimension in Africa through the effective facilitation, planning and coordination of priority regional programmes and projects. Nigeria salutes the vision of progressive African leaders in establishing NEPAD, which has now become the leading implementation actor in Africa’s renaissance under the auspices of the African Union (AU). The African vision for sustainable development is largely premised on durable peace and security. The realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) through the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals is critical to the continent’s transformation. We therefore reiterate the overriding need for the international community to continue to pay due attention to the nexus between peace and security and development. Nigeria believes that efforts at the subregional, regional and international levels should be intensified to support and advance national efforts in conflict prevention and management as prerequisites for durable peace and sustainable development. As the world becomes more complex and interconnected, so do the security challenges we face. Violent extremism knows no bounds and respects no culture, not even the sacred culture of religion. We have seen that clearly in various parts of the globe — in Asia, in Africa, in Europe and in the Americas. At home in Nigeria, we are facing the challenge of terrorism and insurgency from a faceless group, Boko Haram, that has caused untold hardship and destruction in the northern part of the country. Indeed, the consequences of violent extremism are usually horrific. We must therefore join hands to counter and defeat those perpetrators of crimes against humanity in all their ramifications. Regional peace and security structures must be strengthened at the African Union and United Nations levels, so as to respond in a timely manner to those systemic human rights abuses and violations. As obligated by its own Charter, the United Nations should expeditiously address any threats to peace and security in Africa and should implement all relevant Security Council resolutions in order to forestall the outbreak of conflict and, where appropriate, respond to conflicts in order to prevent massive loss of life and the dislocation of communal activities. Nigeria has always emphasized regional initiatives to address conflict in Africa. We collaborate with four member States of the Lake Chad Basin Commission, together with the Republic of Benin, to address the security situation and terrorism in our subregion. We strongly believe that a multidimensional, multinational approach will lead us to effectively surmount the transborder security challenges. Importantly, Africa has set its sight on an endogenous 50-year plan in the form of Agenda 2063, adopted by the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government in January 2015. The adoption of the Agenda presents a landmark opportunity to address Africa’s priorities on a long-term basis in the areas of infrastructure, industrialization, agriculture, human- capital development, and peace and security. We are excited that NEPAD, as the implementing agency of the African Union, is pivotal to the implementation of the AU Agenda 2063. That plan will serve to stimulate the various continental policy frameworks and programmes championed by NEPAD at the regional and continental levels. Nigeria looks forward in particular to the accelerated implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme and the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa. Indeed, the growth potential of Africa’s agriculture and infrastructure sectors will help to transform the continent’s food security and development landscape. We further commend the invaluable work that the NEPAD Agency has been doing since its integration into the structures and processes of the African Union in promoting the mobilization of domestic resources for development, climate-smart agriculture and gender, as well as curtailing illicit financial flows from Africa and promoting capacity-building for tax administration. We urge the United Nations to continue to collaborate with NEPAD and the regional economic communities so as to achieve effective development on the continent. We likewise commend NEPAD for its initiative to promote good governance in Africa. The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which African leaders established in 2003, is a unique self- monitoring tool that should be fully supported by the international community. The Mechanism is the nucleus for deepening democracy and disseminating best practices among African Union member States and reflects Africa’s commitment to improving governance in all its ramifications. As the second- cycle review process begins under the African Peer Review Mechanism. Nigeria calls for the effective implementation of the national programmes of action arising from the peer review exercise for the 17 countries so far reviewed. Nigeria will, for its part, continue to work with like-minded countries to achieve the objectives of NEPAD and the APRM for the betterment of our people. We therefore stand ready, as always, to work with Member States for the advancement of our region and the entire world. In that regard, we welcome the various initiatives created within the framework of regional cooperation with Africa. Finally, we highly commend Mr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, for his leadership in serving the programmatic interventions of NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism.

Africa has transformed immensely since the 1950s and 1960s, when it began the difficult journey from poverty towards greater economic stability. Over the past decade, the number of Africans living in extreme poverty has continued to decline, more African boys and girls have completed elementary education, and child mortality has been reduced by almost half. Today, African industry is becoming more diverse and competitive. From agriculture to infrastructure, services and consumer goods, the continent has become a global force to be reckoned with. Africa is not only rich in natural resources, it is also rich in human talent and potential. With 70 per cent of its population under the age of 30, the continent’s future will be shaped by its dynamic and vibrant youth, who are more empowered and engaged than ever before. Yet in spite of Africa’s hopeful progress and development, the challenges of the region persist. Drought and famine, hunger and poverty, terrorism and war — those are the obstacles to unlocking the continent’s true potential. Israel recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (resolution 70/1) presents a new road map that will allow the international community to take the necessary steps to rid the world of extreme poverty once and for all. I am proud to stand here representing a country that has been deeply engaged in African development for almost six decades. In 1958, then Foreign Minister and later Prime Minister Golda Meir visited the newly independent States of Africa and recognized the common history and shared struggle of Israel and Africa. She resolved to share Israel’s growing expertise, explaining: “Like Africa, we had to learn for ourselves how to reclaim the land, how to increase the yields of our crops, how to irrigate ... how to live together.” Since that time, Israel has shared its experience with Africa in areas ranging from agriculture and energy to health and education. Today, our partnership has been transformed into a symbiotic relationship based on the exchange of ideas and expertise. Israel’s experience shows that the smartest investment, and the one that reaps the greatest returns, is an investment in women and youth. Invest in women. The international community will not regret it. Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation, MASHAV, has been working hand in hand with African countries for over 50 years to engage and empower the female members of society. MASHAV’s agribusiness training programmes help women break away from the cycle of poverty by giving them the tools to start their own businesses. This year, Israel will be submitting a draft resolution on agricultural technology for development, which focuses on the important role of youth in improving food security and nutrition, transforming economies and creating a sustainable future. Only by harvesting the untapped potential of every sector of society can we tackle the most pressing problems in Africa and around the world. Climate change is becoming one of the biggest impediments to development, as it is the poorest and the least prepared who are usually the most affected. Last year, Israel and Germany joined forces to launch the Africa Initiative, a development cooperation programme aimed at helping to mitigate pressing global challenges, including climate change. Partnering with Burkina Faso, Burundi and Cameroon, the Africa Initiative recently launched a programme that builds up the capacity of local populations to adapt and counter the impacts of climate change and land degradation, using cutting-edge agricultural technologies such as the drip irrigation invented in Israel. There is no greater testament to true friendship than support offered in times of greatest need. After a devastating cyclone season in Madagascar, Israel delivered over 100,000 life-saving concentrated food rations to fight the malnutrition of over 10,000 children in the drought-stricken southern region of the country. Last year, during the height of the terrible Ebola outbreak, Israel sent medical equipment, mobile clinics and monetary aid to the countries most affected, making it the largest donor per capita in the Ebola Response Multi-Partner Trust Fund. An African proverb states that tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today. When I look at Africa, I see a continent with an abundance of potential. If we work together to harvest that potential today, we can guarantee a prosperous and peaceful Africa tomorrow.

We have heard the last speaker in the debate on these items. The Assembly has thus concluded this stage of its consideration of agenda item 66 and its sub-items (a) and (b) and agenda item 14.