AHG/235 (XXXVIII)
Annex I
Page 8
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new partnerships between governments and the private sector, and with civil
society.
21. We reaffirm our conviction that the development of Africa is ultimately the
responsibility of Africans themselves.
Africa’s development begins with the
quality of its human resources. We, therefore, undertake to work towards the
enhancement of our human resources through the provision of more and better
education
and
training,
especially
in
Information
and
Communications
Technology (ICT) and other skills central to a globalising world; and better health
care, with priority attention to addressing HIV/AIDS and other pandemic
diseases.
22. The marginalisation of women remains real despite the progress of recent years.
We will, therefore, work with renewed vigour to ensure gender equality and
ensure their full and effective integration of women in political and socioeconomic development.
23. Globalisation and liberalisation does not mean that there should be no role for
government in socio-economic development. It only means a different type of
government. We, therefore, undertake to foster new partnerships between
government and the private sector; a new division of labour in which the private
sector will be the veritable engine of economic growth, while governments
concentrate on the development of infrastructure and the creation of a macroeconomic environment. This includes expanding and enhancing the quality of
human resources and providing the appropriate institutional framework to guide
the formulation and execution of economic policy.
24. The regional economic communities remain the building blocks for Africa’s
economic integration. We will, therefore, continue to strengthen them in every
way practicable and to relate their evolution more closely to the development of
the African Union.