Dec 28, 2015 | News

“KUDOS TO NEPAD AND APRM” - UN CHIEF

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has paid tribute to the important role played by the NEPAD Agency and the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in the stride to eradicate poverty in Africa.

The UN Chief was speaking at the official opening of the High Level panel discussion on Africa’s Innovative Governance through ten years of the APRM at the United Nations in New York.

What the APRM does for governance, NEPAD does for development. Together, they help Africa to advance along the path of democracy and development to benefit the continent’s people.  Today, a few African countries have abject poverty. African countries are trading amongst themselves; there are more women in positions of power. I thank NEPAD and the APRM for taking the lead in supporting the processes that are enabling these developments, “said Mr Ban.

The Discussion, chaired by Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa is  the first in a series of activities at UN Headquarters marking “Africa Week,” during the 68th UN General assembly Debate on Africa.

NEPAD CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki will address several sessions on the NEPAD process and how its programmes are being managed. The Week, which is marked annually, promotes debate on various African developments priorities.

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Representatives of UN Members States

The APRM, which was established in 2003 marks its tenth Anniversary and the UN headquarters will also features discussion reflecting on the organ in the last decade and the future outlook.

In his remarks, Dr Mayaki said: “Since the formation of NEPAD, African countries have increased their planning capacities and their performance in achieving jointly defined benchmarks and policies. Strategic regional frameworks have been developed and are being implemented in areas spanning from agriculture and food security, to infrastructure and health.”

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NEPAD CEO with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and Ambassador Fatuma Ndangiza Nyirakobwa Chairperson of the APR Panel of Eminent Persons

South Africa’s UN Ambassador Kingsley Mamabolo said the fact that the Un has acknowledged NEPAD meant that it was now up to Africa to fight for the space that has been created so as to place NEPAD in a more strategic position to deal with developmental issues post 2015.

Civil society were also represented at the discussion.

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Pamla with the “Queen mother of Africa”Dr Delois  Blakely, representing the African Diaspora in the US