The opening ceremony will be held at Joaquim Chissano Conference Center at 9:30 a.m and will be honoured by the presence of all UN Resident Coordinators/Resident Representatives, the UNDP Associate Administrator, the UNDP Africa Bureau Director, UNDP Senior Staff, the Senior Management from other UN agencies, and government dignitaries from Africa.

The intense international focus throughout 2007 on the reality of climate change has again highlighted the difficulties Sub-Saharan Africa faces in its attempt to play an effective role in the international policy arena. Among the reasons for the region’s marginal influence on the Global Agenda are its economic predicament and its preoccupation with managing competing development priorities that demand equal attention and far more human, material and financial resources that can ever mobilize on its own. From climate change, trade and globalization, conflict prevention and recovery, achieving sustained economic growth, expanded access to affordable energy for the poor etc., Sub-Saharan Africa cannot afford to concentrate on one priority at the expense of others. At the same time, African countries are expected to be full participants in an international system that is continuously laying out such competing development agendas as the Millennium Development Goals, the Doha Development Agenda, Climate Change adaptation, Financing for Development, etc.

The 2008 annual RMTM will be an opportunity to take stock of 2007 and look forward to 2008 and beyond on global and regional developmental issues, UN and external partnerships in Africa, the UN reform framework, and internal UNDP matters.

The meeting will also examine ways in which UNDP can enhance Africa’s capacity to manage highly competing internal priorities at a time when resources tend to be tied to internationally driven, albeit critical and compelling, development agendas.

One important question that the meeting will attempt to answer will be: How can UN and the UNDP help Sub-Saharan Africa develop its capacities in 2008 and beyond in areas of importance in the region?

For further information, please contact Luis Zaqueu UN Communication Officer cel. (+258) 82 3082470 email: luis.zaqueu@undp.org and Anselmo Bila UNDP Communications cel.(+258) 82 3015965 email: anselmo.bila@undp.org