Participatory Development and Governance: Africa's Special Needs

The Committee report addresses three main issues: the need for Africa to gain ownership of its development strategy and policies; governance responsibilities in a globalising world; and issues relating to the least developed countries. The report makes a series of recommendations regarding these themes. For example, the UN is advised to play a leading role in facilitating the inflow of foreign direct investment, and to re-examine the effectiveness of the present official development assistance programmes based on voluntary contributions by member countries. Bold initiatives are recommended in a number of key areas of governance, including the need for greater transparency and the enhanced participation of developing countries in multilateral governance. The Committee agreed that the Maldives is eligible for graduation from the list of least developed countries on current criteria, but recommended that the transition period should be extended until the next review in 2003 before a decision is taken by the General Assembly.United Nations, Economic and Social Council Committee for Development Policy Staff is the author of 'Participatory Development and Governance: Africa's Special Needs', published 2001 under ISBN 9789211045048 and ISBN 9211045045.