Addis Ababa — Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) Executive Secretary, Vera Songwe, on Thursday held closed door discussions with visiting United Nations General Assembly President, Miroslav Lajčák, appraising him on on-going African Union reforms that are expected to make the continental body more self-sufficient and effective.

Ms. Songwe, a member of the reforms team that is led by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda, said they were currently focusing on a number of issues to ensure the union is run more efficiently for the benefit of its citizens.

These include the financing of the African Union; how to get efficiencies around the union through its agencies like NEPAD, which may be integrated into the AU Commission as the African Union Development Agency; strengthening the capacity of staff within the African Union to ensure quality; and getting the AU closer to its citizens.

"In terms of financing, it's a misnomer that up until now, 80 percent of what the African Union does is financed by donors," said Ms. Songwe, adding Africa can and should finance its own development and interests.

She said her team was working and progressing well in their efforts to ensure the institutional reforms realign and manage the AU efficiently at both political and operational levels, and more importantly, make provision for more sustainable funding for peace building in Africa if the 0.2 percent levy is adhered to.

Some member States have started implementing the 0.2 percent levy while others are still to do so, said Ms. Songwe, adding the AU will have a surplus of funds that will be channeled to peace and security if all African countries implement the levy.

Mr. Lajčák, who met yesterday with AUC Chair Moussa Faki Mahamat and AU Commissioners, said the reforms were crucial as they would lead to the creation of a stronger African Union.

"A strong African Union leads to a strong Africa in all international platforms," he said, adding he had discussed with Mr. Mahamat and the Commissioners the need for closer cooperation between the United Nations and the African Union.

The two organisations' leaders in January signed the AU-UN Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This followed the signing of the peace and security framework between the AU and the UN in April 2017.

"Partnerships between AU and the UN are a necessity," said Mr. Lajčák, adding the United Nations cannot achieve any of its goals without Africa.

Ms. Songwe and the UNGA President also discussed the implementation of Agenda 2030 for sustainable development and how the private sector can be brought into the SDGs' financing. They also discussed migration and ongoing consultations on the Global Compact for safe, orderly and regular and on-going UN reforms.