Ethiopia Hosts Conference on Post-2015 Development

A two-day conference on how to implement a global partnership for development after 2015 meets today in this capital, on the initiative of the United Nations Commission for Africa (ECA). The meeting, which gathers social and political personalities from all regions of the world, is held at a time when it seeks to promote discussions on development plans beyond 2015, the year set by the UN to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). An ECA statement says that the high-level meeting, held under the theme "A Renewed Global Alliance for Post-2015 Development" is the first of three major consultations with a view to the upcoming meeting to check progress of the MDGs. Organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, and the Ethiopian Minister of Finances and Economic Development, the event hosts more than 160 officials from developed and developing countries, says the text. The event is also being attended by members of the civil society and private sector, philanthropic foundations, local groups and international organizations, it adds. The ECA says in its statement that the main objective is to talk about a renewed global partnership to encourage action by all stakeholders and effectively support the implementation of the agreements. The opening ceremony of the conference was chaired by Ethiopian Finance Minister Sufian Ahmed, the Deputy General Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Affairs, Wu Hongo, and the Executive Secretary of the ECA, Carlos Lopes.