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ACBF HOSTS AFRICA THINK TANK SUMMIT

Harare
Zimbabwe
16 Nov, 2020

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), African Union’s Specialized Agency for Capacity Development will host the7th Africa Think Tank Summit on 18 and 19 November 2020. The virtual Summit is dedicated to the theme, “Implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement: Assessing country readiness and the implications for capacity-building.”

The Summit is meant to provide a platform for African Think Tanks and other key stakeholders to engage in a high-level deliberation on the most effective ways of addressing capacity challenges of Member States in a bid to enhance country readiness and accelerate implementation of the AfCFTA,  especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ACBF’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Emmanuel NNADOZIE  says the Summit will examine the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for making the AfCFTA a reality; assess country readiness in the implementation of the AfCFTA; identify and examine key capacity challenges facing countries and other key institutions involved in driving the continental free trade agenda.

“The Summit provides a perfect opportunity for all players to determine the most effective ways of addressing institutional and human capacity challenges facing the implementation of the AfCFTA. Having played a key role in establishment of the majority of the foremost Think Tanks across the Continent, we at ACBF believe that Think Tanks have a critical role to play in making the AfCFTA a reality. Therefore, our goal is to provide the opportunity for a better understanding of the role of Think Tanks and how they can effectively support African countries in addressing AfCFTA-related challenges and in maximizing the benefits of intra-Africa trade.”  

The 2020 Think-Tank Summit is expected to generate partnerships and coordination mechanisms that will enhance capacity development programming and overall efforts in advancing country readiness in implementing and benefiting from the AfCFTA.

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Thomas Kwesi Quartey

ACBF has been granted the status of a specialized agency because of the potential to transform Africa through capacity development.


H.E. Thomas Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson, AU Commission
Erastus Mwencha

The recognition of ACBF as the African Union’s Specialized Agency for Capacity Development launches the beginning of a new era for capacity building by ACBF, which will require an appropriate level of political commitment and financial support from all stakeholders.


H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Chair, ACBF Executive Board
Lamin Momodou

The remarkable achievements ACBF has registered over the past 26 years is not by accident in our opinion. They have come through hard work, dedication, commitment, purposeful leadership, support from the member countries as well as productive partnership building.


Mr. Lamin Momodou MANNEH, Director, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa
Goodall Gondwe

Africa needs ACBF as much, probably more now, than at the time it was created in 1991.


Hon. Goodall Gondwe, former Chair of the ACBF Board of Governors and Minister of Finance – Malawi
Ken Ofori Atta

Ghana’s partnership with ACBF is a tremendous blessing for us and therefore the opportunity for Ghana to host the 26th ACBF Board of Governors Meeting is something that we treasure.


Hon Ken Ofori Atta, Chair of the ACBF Board of Governors and Minister of Finance - Ghana
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