Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 16 January 2015: The African Union Commission has been discussing with representatives of the United States Government, ahead of the third International Conference on Financing for Development to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 13 to 16 July 2015, to ensure successfully negotiated and productive outcomes. One of the main outcomes is expected to be aligned with the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which the Member States have agreed on as the Common African Position.

In this light, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, on Friday 16 January 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia met a delegation of US Officials led by Mr. John Podesta, Counsellor to the President of the United States.

They discussed a wide range of issues around the Sustainable Development Goals, with emphasis on areas of keen interest to Africa requiring further attention during the negotiations. Areas related to the Common African Position particularly with regards to health, nutrition, energy, education, gender, the economy and peace and security.

The Chairperson emphasized the importance of Africa’s Agenda 2063, once adopted during the 24th Summit of Heads of State and Government at the end of this month, as a defining framework to guide the continent’s development agenda.

As part of the build up to the International Conference on Financing for Development, a meeting of the AU High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda will take place during the forthcoming Summit. Equally, African Ministers of Finance and Development will convening to better prepare for the negotiations.

JEE/