On 25 September 2020, the African Union (AU) Commission Chair, H.E Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, with the AU Development Agency-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer, H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki, addressed in a virtual meeting the AU Development Partners Group (AUPG), co-chaired by Ambassador of Denmark, Karin Poulsen and United States Ambassador to the African Union, Jessica Lapenn, on the AU institutional reform and AUDA-NEPAD’s transformation.
The AUC Chairperson stressed that the strategic objective of the institutional reform process is to enhance efficiency of the AU operations and to equip the Union with the necessary means to meet the evolving challenges of the present and the future. He explained that the Union is focusing on key priority areas such as peace and security, governance, economic integration, and rethinking the strategic focus of the AU’s partnerships in the global arena. He highlighted success attained in restructuring the AU; division of labour with Regional Economic Communities; and financing the African Union.
Chairperson Faki further elaborated on the mandate of the AUDA-NEPAD and its delegated responsibility to spearhead the implementation of Agenda 2063. The AUC Chair emphasized the importance of the decision of the African Union Assembly which made provisions for the AUDA-NEPAD to coordinate the implementation of Agenda 2063 projects, undertake resource mobilization and serve as a technical interface between the continent and all of Africa’s stakeholders and development partners.
The AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mayaki outlined the functions of the Agency, 2020 – 2023 strategic priorities and resource needs. He articulated on the AUDA-NEPAD’s consolidated responsibilities emphasizing the function that relates to undertaking the full range of resource mobilisation and flexible financing modalities for the implementation of AU flagships.
The Dialogue was a first step by the AUDA-NEPAD towards strengthening its relationship with AU development partners in support of Africa’s socio-economic development and implementation of Agenda 2063. It was agreed that the dialogue continues at two important levels, at ambassadorial level and through technical thematic subgroups of the AUPG.
