NEPAD, Afreximbank launch Energize Africa - ITREALMS

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The African Union Development Agency (NEPAD) in partnership with Afreximbank, co-launched the AUDA-NEPAD Energize Africa initiative on the margins of the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York. 

The Energize Africa initiative recognises that Africa’s youth and women – making up more than half of the continent’s populations - must be at the core of Africa’s economic growth and inclusive development strategies.

NEPAD now African Union Development Agency – ITREALMS Online

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African Union (AU) has renamed the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA), reports ITRealms.

This follows the outcome of the recent 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government in Nouakchott, Mauritania, which saw African Heads of State and Government receiving several reports, including the status of the implementation of the AU Institutional Reforms presented by President Paul Kagame of Rwanda. President Kagame is the current chair of the African Union and the champion for the AU Institutional Reforms process.

Also, the Assembly approved the establishment of African Union Development Agency as the technical body of the African Union with its own legal identity, defined by its own statute.  The statue will be developed and presented for adoption at the next AU Summit in January 2019.

The Assembly commended the leadership of Senegalese President, H.E Macky Sall, current Chairperson of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee, for reinforcing the credibility of NEPAD that has been acknowledged in the international community, including the G20 and the G7.

The current reforms at the AU are an affirmation by member states of their commitment to the NEPAD Agency as the Union’s own instrument established to champion catalytic support to countries and regional bodies in advancing the implementation of the continent’s development vision – as articulated in the seven aspirations and 20 goals of Agenda 2063.

Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the NEPAD Agency, stated that, “A core aspect of the current reforms is to streamline and improve effectiveness and efficiency in delivery in the implementation of AU decisions, policies and programmes across all AU organs and institutions. In this sense, as the NEPAD Agency is the technical implementation agency of the AU, one specific recommendation in the Kagame report is to transform it into the AU Development Agency. We are enthusiastic about this transformation, which will make it possible to deploy our programmes even more effectively in the service of our continent’s development.”

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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NEPAD Agency achieves footprints in 52 African countries, unveils 2017 report

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The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency, is now with a footprint in 52 out of the 55 African Union Member States, reports ITRealms.

Chief Executive Offi cer, NEPAD Agency, Dr Ibrahim A. Mayaki revealed this to ITRealms at the unveiling of the NEPAD Agency’s 2017 annual report, tagged, “Fast-Tracking the Implementation of Africa’s Development Agenda.”

He also said that NEPAD has been adopted as results-based approach which aligned its interventions to the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.

“Accordingly, the 2017 Annual Report is an account of the NEPAD Agency’s contribution to Agenda 2063,” he said.

Mayaki noted in a foreword to the report made available to ITRealms that it additionally presents ‘What’ was achieved and ‘Where’ deliberate efforts to foster learning are made by providing detail on the context and ‘How’ the results were realised.

The report, ITRealms gathered, also highlighted some results that contribute to development effectiveness and organisational efficiency.

He pointed out that the results of the NEPAD Agency’s contribution to Agenda 2063 for the year 2017 are presented at continental, regional and national levels.

As said by him, they are organised around five major outcome areas, namely the “Skills Revolution and Entrepreneurship;  b) Sustainability and Resilience; c) Improved Health and Nutrition Services; d) Transformed Agriculture and Food Systems; and e) Integrated Corridor Infrastructure, Trade and Markets.”

Mayaki pointed out that the year 2017 marked the end of the strategic plan cycle that spans 2014 to 2017.

“It also heralds the medium term development plan, 2018 – 2023, aligned to Agenda 2063’s First Ten Year Implementation Plan,” he said.

Further, he said, the annual report comes at a time when preparations are concluding for transforming the NEPAD Agency into the African Union Development Agency, with greater scope for action and capacity.

“To this end, this report provides some insights into the possible strategic impact areas of the transformed Agency, namely: Wealth Creation, Shared Prosperity, Transformative Capacities and Sustainable Environment,” he said.

Equally, he said, NEPAD agency extended appreciation to the steering committee members for their strategic and wise guidance, as well as the African Union Commission (AUC) for the continuous support provided to the Agency throughout 2017.

Remmy Nweke/GEE

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NEPAD, SANSA sign MoU on satellite services, signals new African focus

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The NEPAD Agency and South African National Space Agency (SANSA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on satellite based remote sensing products and services which they say is a new focus for Africa, reports ITRealms.

A press statement made available to ITRealms by the Senior Communications Officer at NEPAD Agency, Mwanja Ng'anjo, revealed that the MoU was signed at the Hartebeesthoek ground station in South Africa’s Gauteng province.

According to her, during the ceremony, the importance of Africa as a continent to find and implement its own solutions to address its challenges was stressed.

In addition, she said, with the MoU the two institutions have signed an important step that signals the new focus for Africa that is emerging, one that places confidence in African institutions and capacity to find solutions to the continent’s challenges.

Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, CEO of the NEPAD Agency, was quoted as commending the collaboration between the two institutions and stated that, “Gaps in policy-making and implementation can, from now on, be filled will real time data and evidence from Africa itself.”

South Africa plays a central role in the international space community with an established reputation for accuracy and reliability, of which SANSA is using the benefits of space science and technology to help grow and develop the African region.

“The South African National Space Agency is revisiting its strategic position in leading innovations for space solutions, not only for South Africa, but for the rest of the continent to enable us to make informed decisions,” Dr Val Munsami, SANSA’s CEO said.

Dr Munsami also reiterated that Africa is starting to look inward for its own solutions, and added that the MoU signed with the NEPAD Agency will go a long way in redressing challenges in various sectors including agriculture, food security and disaster management.

Other areas of collaboration between SANSA and the NEPAD Agency include: Integrated water resources management; sustainable forestry management; infrastructure; geospatial visualisation and web mapping services, as well as capacity building and knowledge transfer.

ITRealms reports that the satellite based remote sensing products and services provided by SANSA will play a fundamental role in aiding spatial decision support systems that are required for the implementation of NEPAD’s 2025 Vision on the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), which is Africa’s policy framework for agricultural transformation, wealth creation, food security and nutrition, economic growth and prosperity for all. The products and services will also play a key role in NEPAD’s Action Plan for the Environment Initiative and the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative.

“The achievement of Agenda 2063 requires innovative partnerships that enhance evidence based planning and implementation for real transformation on the continent,” Dr Mayaki said.

The space-based solutions will also enable the NEPAD Agency to support the African Union in the monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals, which are aligned with the implementation of the first ten year plan of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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