Beyond the Millennium development goals : a rights-based agenda for Africa

Abstract

African states were active participants in the processes leading to the emergence of the Millennium Development Goals (MOGs) in 2015. This study attempts to assess specific proposals for the MDGs. These proposals should facilitate a primary but a systematic evaluation of the proposed goals and seek to establish whether there is a vigorous option for a post-2015 framework. This study further describes how the framework is going to contribute towards the changes necessary to achieve the vision incorporated in the MOGs. The vision and the mission of the MDGs shall be looked at from the perspectives of development, rights based approach for the implementation and realisation of a human-focused agenda, particularly as far as Africa is concerned. As all indicators stand presently, most of the targets of the MDGs will not be reached by 2015, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. What implications does this realisation portend for African states? After 2015, what should be the strategic agenda for African states in order to deal with the complex realities of poverty, inequality, climate change, infrastructure, health, education and sustainable governance? This study views the challenges of stunted development in much of Africa as the very bedrock of numerous conflicts, tensions and upheavals which constantly threaten the stability of African states. It is therefore a modest attempt at devising viable responses to some of the tangible developmental problems of the continent, relying on the broad array of international and regional normative standards and institutional mechanisms.