MDG’s Africa Campaigners meet in Entebbe, Uganda.

From 20 – 23 November 2008, the United Nations Millennium Campaign (UNMC) held a meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, to review progress of its campaign in Africa during the year 2008; share campaign experiences at continental and national levels; and discuss and make recommendations for improvements moving forward with the Campaign.

This review and strategy meeting, also known as the Africa Campaigners Retreat, is the second of its kind after the one held in Mombasa, Kenya, a year earlier. The Retreat brings together national coalitions, faith-based organisations, members of parliament, Global Call to Action against Poverty, local authorities and youth organisations, who campaign together with the UNMC in Africa to hold their governments to account for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The meeting was officially opened by the Uganda Minister for Local Government, General Kahinda Otafire, on the afternoon of the 19th November 2008. The Chair of the Ugandan Parliamentary Committee on MDGs, Honourable Bernabas Tinkasimiire also honoured the meeting by his presence at the opening session. Both General Otafire and Honourable Tinkasimiire addressed the meeting. Details on their repsective remarks are available in the Retreat’s Report.

The United Cities and Local Government of Africa (UCLGA) was represented at the Retreat by its Programme Manager, Mr Charles Patsika, supported by UCLGA MDGs Desk Coordinator, Mr Samuel Kaninda. Both UCLGA and UNMC share a commitment to the acceleration of the attainment of MDGs in Africa. This shared vision led to the signing of an agreement between the two organisations in October 2008. The agreement provides that the UCLGA and UNMC collaborate to inform, inspire and encourage people’s involvement and action, with specific emphasis on local governments, for the realisation of MDGs.

The Retreat ended with a number recommendations and action points for strengthening the Campaign across Africa. The Africa Campaigners agreed on four broad strategies and actions for moving the Campaign forward in 2009, namely: implementing strategies for obtaining transformative change; moving from “talk” to building a movement for change; strengthening mobilisation and communication strategies and; strengthening the impact of Stand Up. The last is a worldwide call to all sectors of society to get involved, mobilise, and show commitment and support for ending poverty and inequality and to achieving and exceeding the MDGs.

For more on the MDGs Africa Campaigners Retreat 2008,  click here to access the Report.

United Nations Millennium Campaign, Africa Office

Tel: +254 20 445 3440

Fax: +254 20 445 3444

Cell: +254 729 467197

E-mail: africa.millenniumcampaign@undp.org

For more information on the UCLGA MDGs Project, write to: info@uclgafrica.org