Johannesburg, 9 June 2021- The Colombian Presidential Agency for International Cooperation (APC-Colombia) has signed a Financial Contribution Agreement with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) within the framework of South-South Cooperation to bolster technical assistance for programmes across Africa.

The Agreement was signed on Wednesday 9th June 2021, by APC-Colombia General-Director Dr. Angela Ospina de Nicholls and AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, in the presence of the Ambassador of Colombia to South Africa H.E. Mr. Carlos Andres Barahona Niño. This paves the ways for the exchange of best practices, building local lasting capacities and technical assistance in different areas such as entrepreneurship and orange economy; environment, risk management and resilience; emergent technology and research; agriculture; and food security and nutrition, among others. The identification of these areas was facilitated by the Embassy of Colombia in Pretoria for about a year.

“This agreement is considered a milestone in Colombia-Africa relations and cooperation based on the principles of South-South Cooperation which are autonomy, horizontality and respect for self-determination and solidarity” said Dr Angela Ospina de Nicholls.

Some of the priority projects targeted by AUDA-NEPAD through this agreement include the Biosafety Regulatory strengthening of African regulators through African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) on agricultural biotechnology and the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100) which works with local communities, governments, and private investors as well as future identified priorities such as Food Security and Nutrition.

The signing ceremony took place at the Headquarters of AUDA-NEPAD in Johannesburg and was attended virtually by the Director of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Colombia, Dr. Alvaro Calderón Ponce De León on behalf of the Viceminister of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, Dr. Francisco Echeverri Lara.

This Agreement is considered an important step for South-South Cooperation between Colombia and the African region as it will allow the Government of Colombia to allocate important financial resources for multidisciplinary projects.

The agreement also supports the Sustainable Development Goals and the Agenda 2063 vision to foster innovation and research.

In his welcome remarks, Dr Mayaki indicated that the concrete cooperation between AUDA-NEPAD and the Government of Colombia built from the past is a clear demonstration of APC-Colombia and the Government of Colombia’s commitment to promoting Africa’s development agenda.

“Your presence here today, emphasizes the importance you place on these priorities and to strengthen our capacities and knowledge transfer of AUDA-NEPAD projects and programmes”, he said

In his closing remarks, Ambassador Carlos Andrés Barahona pointed out that “The African continent and Colombia are facing really difficult times due to the pandemic and I believe that through this kind of cooperation we expect to create great opportunities for our peoples and specially women”.

Issued by APC-Colombia and AUDA-NEPAD.

Media Enquiries:

Millicent Kgeledi- AUDA-NEPAD Communications

© +27 83 266 1829 (e) millicents@nepad.org

Winy Lissette Anaya – APC-Colombia Communications

Mobile: +57 3208479669 (e) winyanaya@apccolombia.gov.co

Ivan Mendoza – Embassy of Colombia in South Africa

Mobile: +27 648582224 -(e) ivan.mendoza@cancilleria.gov.co