WHAT IS EPANET?
EPANET is the African Capacity Building Foundation’s (ACBF) continental and global network of African and non-African professionals with vast knowledge in issues relating to capacity building for the strengthening of economic policy analysis, formulation and management of national development.

MEMBERSHIP OF EPANET
Members are drawn from social science and development management disciplines and are accomplished development managers, policy analysts and practitioners, and researchers with extensive experience in the development and appraisal of economic policy and management projects, interventions in capacity building, applied policy research, and knowledge management in the area of economic development.

OBJECTIVES
The main objective of EPANET is to help strengthen ACBF's internal capacity and enhance its access to a wider pool of experts in the strengthening of policy analysis capacity of national parliaments and parliamentary institutions. EPANET was established to support the activities of ACBF Secretariat in the core competence area – “Economic Policy Analysis and Management”, and, where possible, provide the Foundation’s other knowledge networks an idea management tool through which they can broaden consultation and seek responses to specific issues and questions relating to capacity building. EPANET operates to achieve other objectives. It serves as:

• an institutional support for reviewing aspects of the Foundation’s activities and adding value to its operations;
• an idea management tool for ACBF Secretariat to seek professional opinion on issues and discuss ideas in greater depth; and
• a global network for sharing knowledge, especially experiences and best practices, in the field of capacity building for economic policy analysis and management.

ACTIVITIES
On an annual basis, EPANET undertakes the activities listed below:

1. ANNUAL POSITION PAPER
   EPANET is expected to prepare a position paper on developments relating to the state of economic policy reforms and management on the African continent. The Annual Position Paper is a regular feature of the Annual Work Plan of the TAP-NET and is used as an instrument for systematically tracking progress or lack thereof in the building capacity in macroeconomic and sectoral policy reforms and management in Africa
   
2. EPANET ISSUES AND LESSONS NOTES
   EPANET is expected to prepare Lessons, Best Practice or an Avoidable Pitfall Note each year that could provide lessons to countries in sub-Saharan Africa in any of the following areas, among others:

• Macroeconomic and Sectoral Policy Reforms and Management.
• Economic Structure and Vulnerability to Domestic and External Shocks.
• Public Sector Reforms.
• Socio-Economic Infrastructure.
• Effectiveness of Poverty Reduction Programs.
• Macroeconomic Policy Analysis and Management Capacity Building.
• Trade Policy Development and Reforms.
• Economic Integration.
• HIPC, Debt Relief and Poverty Reduction.
• Private Sector Development.
• External Resource Flows and Development Management.

The Note is disseminated on behalf of the Network as a knowledge product to assist in the building and strengthening of economic policy analysis and management capacity.

3. ACBF REGIONAL WORKSHOP RESOURCE PERSONS
   Members of the Network are expected to serve as resource persons at ACBF seminars, workshops and conferences.
   
4. SENIOR POLICYMAKERS AND DEVELOPMENT PRACTIONERS KNOWLEDGE
   SHARING PROGRAM
   EPANET is expected to assist in proposing a short list of prominent senior policymakers and development practitioners who have made outstanding contributions to development management in Africa and/or any of the developing regions. Members of the Network are expected to lead or participate in an interview panel that extracts tacit knowledge from the selected policymakers on issues relating to the aspect of development management in Africa.
   
5. ACBF ANNUAL LECTURE SERIES
   EPANET is expected to take turns with other ACBF TAP-NETs to prepare and present a lecture at ACBF Annual Lecture Series on Capacity Building and Development Management. The lecture focuses on capacity building or a substantive development issue within its competence area. The Annual Lectures will be planned to be held back to back with the Annual Regular Meetings of ACBF Board of Governors.
   
6. REFLECTIONS BY EPANET MEMBERS
   Members of the Network are expected to contribute a 3-5 page reflection on developments and issues relating to economic policy reforms and management in Africa and/or other developing regions.
   
7. DISCUSSIONS, INFORMATION EXCHANGE AND ADVICE
   EPANET members are expected to:

• Participate in the TAP-NETs’ discussions and information sharing activities, and assist to respond to request for information and advice on project and program operations by ACBF Secretariat.
• Inform members of the Network regularly about websites, portals and other information sources that are links to data, information and knowledge materials on issues and practices in economic policy analysis and management and capacity building in Africa and other developing regions. This also includes information sources on major international seminars, workshops, conferences, symposia, colloquiums, training programs and publications relating to economic policy analysis and management in Africa.
• Peer review and add value to ACBF publications and other knowledge-related materials that will be posted from time to time on the Network’s web site.

8. CONTRIBUTIONS TO ACBF PUBLICATIONS
   EPANET members are encouraged to make contributions to any of ACBF’s publications series.
   
9. FUNDING FOR ACTIVITIES AND REMUNERATION
   Operations of EPANET are funded by the ACBF. Members are paid honoraria for tasks undertaken and fees when they serve as consultants to ACBF.
   
10. PERFORMANCE EVALUATION

The performance of EPANET is evaluated every year to determine the level of its effectiveness. The evaluation is expected to examine overall performance and the contributions of individual members of the Network.