Greece becomes the 45th Member of ACBF
On September 4, 2007, the African Capacity
Building Foundation (ACBF) and the Government
of the Hellenic Republic signed a Membership
Agreement, which grants Greece the status
of a full member of the Foundation. With
the signing of the Agreement, Greece
becomes the 45th member of ACBF and
the 12th non-African
countries to join the Foundation. As
a member, Greece will sit on the highest
policy making organ of the Foundation,
the Board of Governors. Members of the
diplomatic corps based in Zimbabwe as
well
as invited guests were present at the
signing ceremony.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Soumana Sako, ACBF Executive Secretary,
expressed his deep appreciation to the Hellenic Republic in its decision
to join ACBF, which is a testimony of the country’s willingness
to partner with Africa in its poverty reduction efforts in attaining
the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). He indicated that Greece
has pledged US$ 1 million under the current terms of the Membership
Agreement in support of the Foundation’s Strategic Medium-Term
Plan (SMTP) for the period 2007-2011. He noted that, within the framework
of capacity building initiatives across Africa, ACBF puts a premium
on partnering with willing governments and institutions world-wide
to join forces for Africa’s development. He expressed his hope
that other countries such as Algeria, the People’s Republic
of China, Japan, South Africa, to name but a few, would follow suit
in the near future. He concluded by extending special thanks to the
Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Zimbabwe, H.E. Mr. Dimitri
Alexandrakis, for being the champion for ACBF and capacity building
and sustainable development efforts in Africa, and gave his assurances
that the Foundation would strive to live up to the expectations of
its partners.
 |
| Dr. Soumana Sako (right),
ACBF Executive Secretary,
exchanging the instruments
of the Membership Agreement
with H.E. Mr. Dimitri
Alexandrakis (left), Ambassador
of the Hellenic Republic
to Zimbabwe. |
Speaking at the ceremony, H.E. Mr. Dimitri Alexandrakis, who signed
the Membership Agreement on behalf of the Hellenic Republic, expressed
his government’s growing interest in the development efforts
underway in Africa. To that effect, he remarked that the Hellenic
Government has set up a new department for international cooperation
within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Under the current Membership
Agreement, he stated that Greece would provide US$ 1 million over
5 years for the financing of SMTP II as an initial contribution to
ACBF. Despite the fact that Greece’s development budget is still
relatively small , he highlighted his Government’s emphasis
on development aid for sub-Saharan Africa in recent years, including
the financial and humanitarian assistance provided to Malawi, Zambia
and Zimbabwe . He indicated that his Government saw in ACBF an ideal
partner to support the capacity building initiatives across Africa,
given ACBF’s superb work in the area, and in furthering the
assistance of his Government to Africa. He stated that the signing
of the Membership Agreement testifies to his Government’s willingness
to provide Africa the chance and opportunity to develop, and shared
his optimism of a bright future for the continent if its capacities
are properly harnessed and utilized.
 |
| Members of the diplomatic
corps based in Zimbabwe
as well as invited guests
present at the signing
of the Membership Agreement. |
Current members of ACBF include the African Development Bank (AfDB),
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo-Brazzaville,
Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Denmark,
Finland, France, Gabon, Ghana, India, Ireland, Kenya, Madagascar,
Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, The Netherlands, Niger, Nigeria,
Norway, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe, Senegal, Sudan, Swaziland,
Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America,
Zambia and Zimbabwe.
