The African Union and WatSan targets

The ‘Eleventh Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union’ is going to take place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, on 30 June and 1 July and its theme is ‘Meeting the Millennium Development Goals on Water and Sanitation’. The draft Assembly Agenda for this includes (a) introductory remarks by the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture (it doesn’t say who this is and the AU website doesn’t tell you either); (b) remarks by the Chair of the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and sanitation (again it doesn’t say who this is, but we all know it’s HRH the Prince of Orange); (iii) presentation of the Theme by H.E. President Mubarak of Egypt (let’s hope he’s properly briefed!); and (iv) a presentation by an unidentified representative of Civil Society – all followed by a debate. So, all in all, a very good agenda item. Will it bring results? Let’s hope it does as Africa definitely needs results, especially sanitation results. Watch this space for the outcome of this AU meeting.