"Africa's Future Rests in our Hands, But is Also Dictated by our Actions and Decisions of Today" States Frannie Léautier, ACBF Executive Secretary
• NEPAD holds a High Level Panel dialogue on 'Inspiring change in Africa' to discuss the relevance of the NEPAD vision for Africa's present and future.
NEPAD, in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa held a 10th Anniversary Colloquium and Congress under the theme 'Africa's Decade of Change: Accelerating NEPAD implementation through Domestic Financing'. Former Presidents H.E. Obasanjo and H.E. Rawlings, African Ministers of Finance and Central Bank Governors, diplomats and representatives of international organisations, development partners and civil society gathered to celebrate the occasion. In his opening speech, H.E. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia urged NEPAD to draw lessons from successful Asian countries and to distill and share successes in Africa. He called on NEPAD to facilitate intra Africa co-operation, particularly where it comes to enhancing implementation capacity to make effective developmental use of the available inflows of foreign direct investment.
Addressing the stakeholders under the Colloquium theme of 'Inspiring change in Africa', H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Colloquium Special Guest, pointed out that NEPAD had evolved as a child of circumstance and a child of necessity, given Africa's colonial history. Circumstances dictated that African leaders needed a common agenda, message and programme to present to the rest of the world. The shared vision of the founding African leaders was for sustainable growth and development and the vision was to halt the continent's marginalisation, thereby promoting its integration into the global economy. Progress has been made in parts of Africa, but more needs to be done, he said, particularly on the poverty eradication agenda, issues of leadership, democracy, governance and accountability, and the ownership of the development process by all sectors of society.
In his Keynote Address, HE Jerry Rawlings, former President of the Republic of Ghana, stated that integrity, truth and wisdom, informed by African traditional morality should be embedded in the continent's adaptation of western democratic principles.
He reiterated that Africa's potential is enormous, adding that the fact that its leaders conceived NEPAD all those years ago and the progress made over the last ten years calls for further support and impetus. He urged pan- African organs to work together, rather than against each other. The pan-African agenda must be driven, he said, by the demands of its people. He underscored that NEPAD, as a radical intervention, should be recognized as a mutually beneficial process that takes advantage of the economies of scale, while pursuing policies that are in line with global best practice.
The High Level Panel, chaired by Honorable Minister Dalmas Otieno Anyango, included Mr Michel Sidibe, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Professor Wiseman Nkhulu, former CEO of the NEPAD Agency, Ms Sheila Sisulu, Deputy Executive Secretary of the World Food Programme, Professor Ben Turok, South African Member of Parliament and Dr. Frannie Léautier, ACBF Executive Secretary.
Contributing towards the discussion, Dr. Léautier highlighted the future perspectives in strengthening the human and institutional capacities of Africa for transformation to effectively gain ground. The Executive Secretary also spoke about the improving quality of African leadership, building capacity and ownership of development programmes and projects, with an emphasis on building capable states and effective institutions. "The birth of NEPAD as an institution witnessed a coming together of African minds with a vision for a better Africa. After 10 years of existence, the institution has shown that in order to achieve sustainable growth in Africa, development must be lodged in strategic cooperation and strengthened partnerships' she said. "Africa has a myriad of challenges and opportunities and institutions such as NEPAD enable the consolidation of achievements and failures, identifying areas for future development, charting new direction for the continent. Africa's future rests in our hands, but is also dictated by today's actions and decisions."
Panel discussions focused on taking a knowledge account of lessons learned, commendable practices and challenges in NEPAD's journey; peace and security, improving governance quality African leadership and ownership and state building in Africa, focusing on the role of the developmental state.
About the African Capacity Building Foundation
ACBF was established in February 1991. It is the outcome of collaboration between African governments and the international donor community. Its mission is to build sustainable human and institutional capacity for sustainable growth and poverty reduction in Africa. ACBF's vision is for Africa to be recognized for its socio-political and economic capabilities and endowments a continent with effective institutions and policies acquired through sustained investment in people and institutions. The Foundation is a leader, major partner, and centre of excellence for capacity building in Africa.
The ACBF has a strategic MoU with the African Union, which currently serves as an Observer on the ACBF Board of Governors.
For further information on ACBF, please contact:
African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)
PO Box 1562, Harare
ZIMBABWE
Tel: + 263 4 700208/210
