‘Ensure that everyone benefits from economic gains’ Interview: UN Special Adviser on Africa Maged Abdelaziz: Mobilizing more financial resources from within African countries is a major goal of the African Union

In May 2012, Maged Abdelaziz was appointed as the UN’s new special adviser on Africa, at the level of under-secretary-general. As head of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), he is in charge of advocating for African development internationally and helping coordinate the efforts of UN agencies and departments in support of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), the African Union’s continental plan for political, economic and social advancement. Although new to his post, he is no stranger to the global community’s interaction with Africa. As part of a long diplomatic career on behalf of his native Egypt, he was that country’s permanent representative to the UN in New York for the seven years just prior to his most recent appointment, and in that capacity served as vice-president of the UN General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council, among other duties. As OSAA prepared for new General Assembly debates on Africa in October, he shared some of his thoughts with Africa Renewal.