Introduction
The Centre for Conflict Resolution (CCR), Cape Town, South Africa, held a policy research seminar in Cape Town from 13 to 14 May 2013 on “Achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa”.
The MDGs, which were signed by 189 countries, including 53 African states, in 2000, set eight benchmarks to: eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; achieve universal primary education; promote gender equality and empower women; reduce child mortality; improve maternal health; combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases; ensure environmental sustainability; and develop a global partnership for development by the year 2015. The Cape Town meeting sought to assess critically the progress that the continent has made towards achieving the MDGs, and to support African institutions in shaping the post-2015 development agenda.
