Dear Friends,
Welcome to the ninth edition of Africa Capacity. The ACBF member countries are increasingly honoring their membership contribution to the Foundation which, in turn, is key to enable us fulfill our mandate on capacity development in Africa. Mauritania has confirmed that they will continue to support the Foundation and fulfill its pledges. At the moment, contributions from member countries are at US$15m - a record in the history of the Foundation.
The ACBF presented the Risks and opportunities, capacities for implementation and division of roles under the theme Agenda 2063, 10 Year Plan to the African Union Executive Council Ministerial Retreat, on the occasion of the 25th African Union (AU) Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The presentation resulted in recommended responses to the capacity deficits on the continent being highlighted in the Retreat’s resolutions.
In the past two months, the ACBF has invested in developing capacity of the AU and the East African Community (EAC). The AU received a US$3m grant in support of its 3-year capacity building program, which aims to build and enhance capacities within its Commission for the implementation of the continent’s development programs. The AU’s program, set to be implemented over three years (2015-2017) aims mainly to strengthen institutional capacity to enhance coordination between the AU and its organs and ensure that partnerships and collaboration between the Commission, AU organs such as the NEPAD Policy and Coordinating Agency, Pan African Parliament (PAP) and strategic partners contribute to the successful implementation of the continent’s development programs. On 15 June, the EAC received a US$1m grant to boost its capacity to drive the new phase of the bloc’s integration process, a priority area for ACBF, which aims to make its Custom Union and Common Market Protocols operational. The program will contribute to strengthen the EAC Secretariat’s capacity to better carry out policy research and formulate policy that advances its regional integration agenda.
The 24th Annual Meeting of the ACBF Board of Governors will be held from 2-4 September 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The BOG will look into the future of Capacity Building in Africa and ACBF’s role in it.
In this issue we feature two beneficiaries of ACBF-sponsored masters in banking and finance. The two graduates share their experience on how their new qualifications enable them to contribute and bring change at work and in society. On the topic of resource mobilisation, Mauritania honors its financial contribution to ACBF while in Zambia, ACBF’s 10 year investment through ZIPAR has received recognition for its contribution to significant improvements in the policy making processes. Also, the Foundation continues to make key and crucial contributions to Africa’s development. Read more on ACBF’s recommendations adopted in the June African Union Ministerial Retreat.
As usual, we hope that you will find this issue of the bulletin informative on the Foundations activities. Your feedback is highly appreciated.
Enjoy the read!
