The special session of the African Union Permanent Representative Committee (PRC) seating on 8 June in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, expressed great satisfaction on the work and achievements the NEPAD Agency. As the African Union’s implementing body, NEPAD Agency supports member states in the pursuit of their development ambitions.

A NEPAD Agency team, led by the CEO, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, provided a detailed briefing on the Agency’s programmes and related implementation status. Attended by 48 Ambassadors, the PRC briefing took place as part of the process in preparing for the upcoming African Union Heads of State and Government Assembly in early July, in Mauritania.

The briefing provided a detailed results-based report covering NEPAD Agency programmes and initiatives and related deliverables. The report also highlighted some medium term impacts being realised at various levels – national, regional and continental – in relation to set goals and targets as articulated in Agenda 2063, as well as in national and regional development plans. 

With an active footprint in 52 of the 55 AU member states, the NEPAD Agency results-based briefing covered results related to the Agency’s priority programme areas. Some of the results, presented by priority area, include:

• Transformed Agriculture and Food Systems: A blueprint to implement rural development policies in Africa is in place; regional fish trade was boosted through certification of fisheries with ECO-Mark Africa Eco-label standards in the ECOWAS region; within the framework of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), public agricultural expenditures in Africa have increased on average by 7% per year; capacities of 4 countries were enhanced in managing agriculture and food insecurity risks; establishment of Grow Africa is increasingly harnessing private sector investments into the agriculture value chain.
• Sustainability and Enhanced Resilience: Guided by the target of reaching 25 million small scale farmers by 2025, 9 countries are receiving support on promoting Climate Smart Agricultural practices; the Climate Change Fund has benefited over 500,000 people in 30 countries; capacities of 30 countries have been strengthened in sustainable land and water management practices; contract negotiation skills among SADC, ECOWAS and SADC member states have been enhanced, and guiding policy instruments developed in the extractive industry.
• Infrastructure, Trade and Markets: The establishment of the Service Delivery Mechanism has guided the design and early preparation of 51 cross-border projects; the Continental Business Network has seen private sector partnerships supporting implementation of 5 infrastructure projects in SADC, EAC, ECCAS and ECOWAS; a traffic light system to track efficiency of cross-border procedures related to intra-Africa trade was introduced; regional energy pools and an Energy Master Plan for the continent are under construction, with a view to exporting  surplus power to Europe, Asia and the Gulf States; and implementation of 9 cross-border infrastructure projects - championed by Heads of State through the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative, is ongoing.
• Skills Revolution and Entrepreneurship: The Gender Fund directly benefited about 1.2 million women and youth in 38 countries. The benefits included: Strengthening of 7 modern business incubation centres for women entrepreneurs; creation of 175 cooperatives; business and skills training made available to 530,000 women and youth; and 92 grassroots organisations strengthened to move forward the Gender agenda. Furthermore, an estimated 400,000 youth in 4 countries are expected to benefit from the Africa Solidarity Trust Fund; and the Skills Initiative for Africa – currently in five countries is targeting to reach 50,000 youth in each country. 
• Transformative Capacities: Three emerging technologies were prioritised around capacity development on gene drive for malaria vector control and elimination in Africa; drones for transforming Africa’s agriculture, and; micro-grids for empowering communities.
• Improved Health and Nutrition: Over 300 health workers from 4 countries in SADC were trained in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB and occupational lung diseases; the AU model law on African Medicines Regulation and Harmonisation was implemented in 12 countries; biosafety systems were supported in 17 countries; an Integrated Vector Management strategy to fight against vector transmitted diseases such as malaria, dengue and chikungunya was set up

The briefing also highlighted NEPAD Agency’s draft medium term plan spanning 2018 to 2023, designed in response to country priorities and aligned to Agenda 2063’s First Ten Year Implementation Plan. In addition, the briefing included an update on the technical progress made towards the transition into the African Union Development Agency in the context of the current reforms.

Appreciating the informative briefing, several PRC members called for institutionalisation of the NEPAD Agency briefing to the PRC. The PRC was also able to provide valuable insights and guidance with regard to member states needs and expectations from the NEPAD Agency. The meeting noted that there was already ongoing consultations between H.E President Paul Kagame and H.E President Macky Sall on the transformation of NEPAD into the African Union Development Agency.

Source: NEPAD Agency