AFRICAN UNION UNION AFRICAINE UNIÃO AFRICANA REPORT ...

AFRICAN UNION
UNION AFRICAINE
UNIÃO AFRICANA
REPORT OF THE MINISTERIAL MEETING ON THE TRANSPORT AND THE
MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
ADDIS ABABA, 6 TH APRIL 2005

I. INTRODUCTION
1. On the 6 th April 2005, African Ministers responsible for transport and
infrastructure held a meeting on Transport and the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs) at the Commission of the African Union in Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia. The main objective of the meeting was to consider and adopt
transport targets and indicators considered essential in the achievement of the
MDGs in Africa. The outcome of the Ministers meeting was to be submitted to
the Summit of the African Union in July 2005 and ultimately presented to the
UN Conference on the review of the MDGs.
2. The Ministers were meeting following a two-day preparatory session of
sector experts, which proposed a declaration and matrix of transport targets
and indicators as well as implementation strategies crucial to their attainment,
and, hence, accelerating the achievement of the MDGs. In that context, the
Ministers were expected to make a thorough consideration of the proposed
targets and indicators, adopt them and declare their commitment to their
implementation.
II.
PARTICIPATION
3. The following Member States were represented at the meeting: Algeria,
Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde,
Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia,
Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi,
Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Central African
Republic, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania,
Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
4. The United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the
African Development Bank (ADB), the European Union (EU), and the World
Bank (SSATP) also participated in their capacity as African Union partners.
The following organisations were also in attendance: The United Nations Office
for the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked
Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS), United
Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and the Union of African
Railways (UAR).
5. The following regional economic communities (RECs) also took part:
CEN-SAD, ECCAS, ECOWAS, COMESA and IGAD.
6. The full list of participants is annexed to this report.
III. OPENING CEREMONY
7. The opening ceremony was conducted by Dr. Bernard ZOBA, the
Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the African Union, who
cordially welcomed the Ministers, heads of delegations, invited guests and
other participants to the meeting. He proceeded to mention the objectives and
expected outcome of the meeting. He then invited the representatives of the
various partner organisations present to address the meeting before the

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opening speech of Honourable Dr. Kassu Yilala, Minister for Infrastructure of
the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
Address by H.E. Mr. Anwarul K. CHOWDHURY, the Under-Secretary-
General and High Representative – UN Office of the High Commission for
the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and
Small Island Developing States
8. The High Representative began his statement by expressing his gratitude
at the opportunity to address the historic meeting. He underscored the role
that transport can play in combating rural poverty and as a necessary
precondition for attaining the MDGs. He noted the major constraints suffered
by developing landlocked countries arising from excessive transport costs
which create barriers to the foreign markets. He further informed the meeting
that this situation is further aggravated by the inadequate infrastructure
development and other non-physical barriers existing in transit countries.
9. As well, the High Representative informed the Meeting that, in an effort
to address these imbalances, the International Ministerial Conference of
Landlocked and Transit Developing Countries, Donor Countries and
International Financial and Development Institutions held in Almaty,
Kazakhstan in 2003 adopted the Almaty Programme of Action on transit
transport cooperation. This programme, he mentioned, takes a holistic
approach to transport, trade and development and attempts to provide links
between development and effective transport services. In that context, it aims
at the integration of the landlocked developing countries into the world
economy and international trading systems through the establishment of
efficient transit systems and thus overcoming the particular problems caused
by the lack of access to the sea and isolation from global markets.
10. In conclusion, the High Representative stated that this information was
timely and of vital importance to the meeting, considering that half of the
worlds developing landlocked countries are situated in Africa. He, therefore,
underlined the need for a high level meeting to consider relevant indicators on
African transport needs in order to sensitise world leaders on the issue during
the upcoming September UN summit on the Millennium Development Goals.
Address by Mr. Juste RWAMABUGA of the African Development Bank
(ADB)
11. Mr. Rwamabuga of the African Development Bank (ADB) thanked the
African Union for piloting the ongoing process in the transport sector whose
outcome will help highlight the role of transport within the framework of
Millennium Development Goals. The distinguished representative further
underscored the role of ADB as a stakeholder in the mission for achieving the
MDGs and added the fact that in the vision of the ADB on poverty eradication,
the transport sector plays a very crucial role.
12. He also noted that critical funding and implementation issues were
implicit in the attainment of the proposed transport targets and indicators and
need to be seriously addressed. To that end, he recalled the mandate conferred

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upon the ADB by the African Heads of State within the NEPAD framework by
which the Bank, in collaboration with other partners prepared a short-term
action plan (STAP) and initiated a medium to long-term strategic study with a
view to defining specific strategic actions that need to be undertaken to
implement priority infrastructure programmes in Africa.
Address by Ms. Josephine OUEDRAOGO, Ag. Deputy Executive Secretary
of the Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)
13. Ms. Josephine Ouedraogo, Ag. Deputy Executive Secretary of the UNECA
began her statement by acknowledging the crucial role of transport in
achieving the MDGs. She further added that the Millennium Declaration
constitutes a strong sign on the part of our partners in support of a just and
equitable world as well as a great endeavour that would bring about
consolidation of global efforts in the eradication of poverty, hunger, gender
disparities, infant and maternal mortality, environmental degradation and
diseases such as malaria and AIDS.
14. She went on to recount various activities including studies undertaken
by the UNECA for the development of transport infrastructure and services
which she likened to an important strategy in combating poverty and, hence,
realisation of the MDGs. She spoke of the insufficient development of transport
infrastructure and services in Africa which has constrained intra-Africa trade
while undermining the competitive edge of Africa’s commodities in world
markets due to high transport costs. As well, lack of means of public transport
has resulted in poor mobility for rural and urban poor particularly women.
15. The Ag. Deputy Executive Secretary cited lessons from the two United
Nations Transport and Communications Decades for Africa (UNTACDA I&II)
referring to particularly the need to strengthen consultations on
implementation of policies and concrete programmes at all levels. She
concluded by underscoring the need to prioritise resource allocation to the
development of transport infrastructure and services as a key strategy in the
MDGs programme. She also expressed appreciation for the meeting being
convened at the very material time in line with the recently elaborated African
Union /NEPAD programme. She, finally, reiterated the commitment of UNECA
to collaborate with all the stakeholders in ensuring the implementation of the
outcome of the meeting.
Address by Mr. John RIVERSON of the World Bank
16. Mr. Riverson underscored the historical importance of the meeting in its
recognition that transport has been acknowledged as a catalyst of achieving
the MDGs as the comprehensive proposals of the meeting that focus
exclusively on transport and its role in alleviating poverty. The representative
urged the meeting to consider establishing stronger institutional frameworks in
order to optimise the role of transport in attaining the MDGs.

Address by Mr. John Bruce THOMPSON of the European Union
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17. Mr. Thompson who represented the European Union (EU) started his
address by stating the importance that his organisation attached to the
meeting. He further acknowledged that the proposals of the meeting, having
been based on African experience would represent the voice of Africans in the
forthcoming UN Summit on the MDGs. Drawing on the experiences of the EU
in its activities within the OECD forum on poverty reduction for economic
growth the representative informed the meeting that the timing and availability
of resources was of essence in attaining the objectives of the MDGs.
18. He thus advocated for concerted efforts by all development partners
together with the AU and the African Ministers of transport and the Regional
Economic Communities (RECs). He reminded the meeting that the EU was one
of the major donors to the transport sector in sub-Saharan Africa and further
committed that the institution would remain committed and ready to facilitate
the continent in ensuring the success of the MDGs.
19. Finally, Mr. Thompson urged the meeting of the importance of the
removing non-physical barriers to trade and to this end urged the Member
States of the African Union to implement international conventions in this
regard as this would bring immediate economic benefits to the region.
Address by Dr. Bernard ZOBA, Commissioner for Infrastructure and
Energy of the African Union
20. In his address, Dr. ZOBA thanked the various stakeholders including
the UNECA, ADB, the European Union, the Sub-Saharan Transport Policy
(SSATP) programme and the World Bank for their moral and material support
in ensuring successful organisation of the meeting. He especially expressed
deep gratitude to the government of Ethiopia and to the Ethiopian Minister of
Infrastructure for the vital role they played in facilitating the meeting.
21. The Commissioner recalled Decision EX.CL/166(VI) of the Abuja Summit
that requests the Commission to carry out an evaluation of the implementation
of MDGs in Africa with a view to elaborating an African common position on
the MDGs that will be presented to the UN General Assembly in September
2005. In that context, he assured that the role of transport as specified by the
outcome of this meeting would form part of the key recommendations on the
strategies for the achievement of MDGs in the continent.
22. He then went on to inform participants about the core programme of the
African Union in the transport sector, in accordance with the new vision,
mission and strategic framework of the African Union with the key theme of
“Linking Africa”. In the implementation of the continental programme, he
stated that the role of the African Union would basically be provision of
leadership, coordinating, harmonising, facilitating, advocacy and change agent.
In the same light, he underlined the role of the regional economic communities
(RECs) as pillars of the African Union with specialised agencies and partner
organisation providing the requisite support.

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23. The Commissioner concluded his address by urging the Ministers to play
an active role in ensuring the realisation of the set transport targets and
indicators for the successful accomplishment of the MDGs in Africa.
Opening speech by Hon. Dr. Kassu YILALA, the Minister of Infrastructure
of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia
24. In his opening speech the Minister began by acknowledging the vital role
of the meeting in bringing transport to its rightful place in the implementation
of the MDGs. He further expressed his gratitude to the AU and it’s development
partners, UNECA, SSATP, World Bank, ADB for having taken the initiative in
this process. He further highlighted the role of an efficient cost effective and
accessible transport system to positively impact on millions of people of whom
the greatest number live in Africa.
25. He informed the meeting that his country would draw from the outcomes
of the meeting to enrich its national process of the road map to achieving the
MDGs. Finally the Minister reminded the meeting that transport in Africa had
always been accorded low level attention and urged the meeting to change this
IV. ELECTION OF THE BUREAU
26. The following countries were unanimously elected to the Bureau of the
meeting following due consultations:
• Chairperson Ethiopia
• 1 st Vice Chairperson Gabon
• 2 nd Vice Chairperson Nigeria
• 3 rd Vice Chairperson Swaziland
• Rapporteur Egypt
V. ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
27. The following Agenda was adopted by the meeting:
I. Opening Ceremony:
1. Welcoming remarks by the Commissioner for Infrastructure and
Energy – African Union
2. Statement of the Under Secretary-General and High Representative –
UN-OHRLLS
3. Statement of the Representative of ADB
4. Statement of the Representative of UNECA
5. Statement of the Representative of the World Bank
6. Statement of the Representative of the European Union
7. Statement by the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy of the
African Union
8. Opening Speech by the Minister for Infrastructure of the Federal
Republic of Ethiopia

Working Session
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1. Election of the Bureau
2. Adoption of the Agenda and Work Programme
3. Consideration of the report of the meeting of experts
4. Adoption of the Ministerial Declaration
5. Any other business
II.
Closure
VI. ORGANISATION OF WORK
28. After an exchange of views, the meeting adopted the following working
hours:
Morning:
Afternoon:
11.00 – 13.00hrs
14.30 – 19.00hrs
VII. EXAMINATION OF THE REPORT OF THE EXPERTS ON TRANSPORT
AND THE MDGs
A. Presentation of the Report of the Experts Session of the Ministerial
Meeting on the Transport and Millennium Goals
29. The Chairman of the meeting of experts presented the report of the
experts’ session. In his presentation, he briefed the meeting on the views of the
experts and their proposed amendments to the technical paper. He stated that
while the experts had found the working document to be of high quality, they
had made a number of suggestions to improve and add value to the document.
In particular, the experts underscored the need for an implementation strategy
for the adopted targets and indicators. The highlights of the experts
recommendations included the following:
• There was need for the implementation and financing strategies in the
document covering the following key areas of the programme:
- Institutional strengthening and integration;
- Formulation and implementation of clear and practical strategies and
plans; and
- Ensuring that there is adequate delivery capacity in terms of human
capital, funding, administrative systems and research support.
• There should be an adequate emphasis on multimodal transport in the
programme;
• The need to prioritise targets and indicators in the national programmes
to avoid past mistakes of trying to achieve too much with limited
resources and institutional capacities. The failure to prioritise had
resulted in many projects being attempted at once with very limited
success in all of them.
• The introduction of gender issues in the targets and indicators in order to
address the problems that are particular to women in regard to transport.
• The need to have realistic and measurable targets and indicators.

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• There was a need for targets and indicators for safety and security in the
maritime and air transport as well as for the prevention of marine
pollution and overall protection of the environment.
• The AU should take clear responsibility for co-ordinating delivery on the
Programme across all regions. The implementation at Member States level
should be coordinated by regional economic communities (RECs), who
should be required to report to the AU regularly on the progress in this
regard.
• The RECs should be mandated to put measures in place through which
member States regularly report on progress and account for slow/poor
delivery, while at the same time ensuring that assistance is provided to
address any challenges that may arise at regional level
• In order to ensure that the targets set towards the achievement of the
eight MDGs in Africa, the Au should adopt a clear implementation
approach. articulating the institutional structure necessary to manage the
implementation, and based on the continental, regional and national level
30. Finally, the Chairman of the experts session informed the meeting that
the suggested changes including the implementation strategy were included in
the report and reflected in the Ministerial Declaration. He therefore requested
the meeting of Ministers to adopt the report.
B. Deliberations on the Report of the Experts Session
31. The meeting commended the experts for their thorough work and high
quality of their report. They then endorsed the report on the understanding
that it would be aligned with the Declaration once adopted as appropriate.
VIII. ADOPTION OF THE MINISTERIAL DECLARATION ON TRANSPORT
AND THE MDGs
32. The Ministers considered the Draft Declarations together with the matrix
of targets and indicators as presented and congratulated the experts for the
quality of the documents. They then made a number of observations,
comments and proposed changes to the Draft Declaration aimed at improving
the form and contents of the document. Their substantive input included the
following:
• It was recommended that the language of the Draft Declaration be in the
form of instruction and, therefore, needed to always begin with “should”.
• In view of the need for closely monitoring of the implementation process,
the African Union should create, as a matter of priority, a specialised
technical committee on transport that would meet regularly to follow up
on the progress of the programme.
• The draft Declaration be amended to reflect the totality of the sector
ministers involved and also the context in which the Meeting was taking
place. Thus, the title has to reflect in full that it was the Ministers of
transport and infrastructure meeting to consider the role of transport in
achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

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• To emphasise the role of all sectors of the transport infrastructure it was
necessary to specifically mention maritime ports and inland waterways in
the preamble.
• Regarding target number 10 on “leaded petrol”, there was a debate as to
whether transport Ministers had the mandate to recommend on the
cessation of production leaded petrol. Moreover, some delegates felt that
the deadline was too close to be achievable and that it was a very
ambitious target that would be too expensive to implement. After serious
deliberations, it was decided that Africa needed to set high targets in order
to improve on the lives of its citizenry. Furthermore, the meeting was
informed that the target was in line with current international
recommendations on the matter and it was, therefore, necessary to
maintain the respective target and indicator in the Declaration.
• The incidence of aids in Africa had reached epidemic proportions and
while the global target for achieving the MDGs is year 2015, it was felt
that the AIDS issue merited the target date being brought forward to the
year 2010 to underscore the urgency of combating the scourge.
• It was noted that while the Targets and indicators had been suitably
amended to include gender issues, the Draft Declaration was silent on the
issue. This being of great concern to a big number of the African
population it was recommended that the same be reflected and
incorporated in the Declaration.
• There was a need to amend target no.1 to remove ambiguity in the
comparison between Africa and Asia so that it would be well understood
that the achievable target would be measured by transport indicators
within Africa as compared to those within Asia.
• Institutional structures for monitoring the progress be established at the
national level as well.
• The need to improve the regulatory framework of Member State legal
systems in order to improve the private partnership participation was
raised and addressed. It was recommended that the same should form
part of the declaration at target no.12 so that Member States are urged to
address the issue.
• The programme of implementation of the MDGs should be accompanied
by a plan of action. However, after lengthy deliberations it was felt that the
issue would be best addressed at national level.
• There was a need to institutionalise the transport sector meeting into the
African Union structure and further to introduce transport into national
teaching curricula.
• The issue of competency and capacity had not been adequately captured
in the Declaration. In this regard, it was proposed that the need for the
support to training and research be specifically reflected.
• In target 7, the need to reduce accidents fatalities be extended other
modes of transport besides road, i.e. air, railway, maritime and inland
waterways.
• Physical barriers to the flow of trade be added in target no. 12.
• The Declaration should include a requirement for Member States to give
due consideration to the phenomenon of desertification and sand
movement during the formulation of transport policies and programmes.

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33. Finally, the Declaration was adopted with the suggested amendments
and improvements. The finalised text of the Declaration and the matrix of
targets and indicators are annexed to this report.
IX.
OTHER BUSINESS
34. The Republic of Angola raised the issue of lack of the working
documents in its official language to which the Commissioner for
Infrastructure and Energy expressed profound apologies to all Portuguese
speaking delegates. He promised that the Commission would do its best to
avoid recurrence of such an unsavoury situation.
35. The Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy took the opportunity to
inform the Ministers and other participants that the African Union in
collaboration with the Government of the Republic of South Africa were
organising a meeting of African Ministers responsible for air transport to be
held in Sun City, South Africa from 16 to 19 May 2005. He cordially invited all
the stakeholders to the meeting and requested that the information be
conveyed to others not present in this meeting. He promised that the relevant
documents including invitation letters, draft agenda, work programme and
concept note of the meeting would be conveyed to participants soon.
VOTE OF THANKS
36. In proposing a vote of thanks, the Honourable Minister of Transport of
South Africa thanked the experts for the preparation of a high quality
document and the international organisations who had provided logistical
support both for the preparation process and the meeting. The Minister further
extended a vote of thanks to the Commissioner of Infrastructure and Energy
for the professional manner in which he had facilitated the meeting. He, finally
expressed gratitude to the Government of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia
through the Minister of Infrastructure for the hospitality extended to all the
delegates.
X. CLOSING
37. The Chairman, Dr. Kassu Yilala, Minister of Infrastructure of the Federal
Republic of Ethiopia, thanked the participants for their positive and effective
participation which enabled the meeting to reach fruitful conclusion. He then
declared the meeting closed.
Annexes:
1. Declaration of the African Ministers Responsible for Transport and
Infrastructure on Transport and the Millennium Development Goals.
2. Table of Transport Targets and Indicators in the Achievement of the
MDGs.
3. List of Participants