There is no renewed plan for how these final five years to the MDG deadline will play out, but this glaring gap could also present a new opportunity. In 2010, developed countries can work together with African civil society, the private sector and government leadership to flesh out an improved strategic partnership to help the continent accelerate along the path towards poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth. The stakes are high, with many critical goals and lives on the line. In order to be successful, this new plan must recognise the changes in the global landscape, must build a true partnership with Africa (and thus also lean even more heavily on the fulfilment of African commitments), must emphasise accountability for all parties involved and, most of all, must be rooted in two critical elements that have not been prioritised sufficiently in the past – governance and equitable economic growth.
