The Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, H.E Ms Nardos Bekele- Thomas hosted a working lunch for the diplomatic corps in Pretoria.

The event was a platform for Ms Bekele-Thomas to address African Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and development partners in South Africa in her new capacity at the helm of the Agency, and to share her organisation’s vision for Africa’s transformation.

Speaking on behalf of the Diplomatic Corps, in his capacity as Dean of the Heads of Mission in South Africa, Ambassador Andre Nzapayeke from the Central African Republic commended the great work that the AUDA-NEPAD has been undertaking on the continent.

“The African diplomatic corps is ready to work with the new CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, H.E Ms Nardos Bekele Thomas,” Ambassador Nzapayeke added.

Unwavering support to the Ms Bekele-Thomas and AUDA-NEPAD was also reiterated by the Ambassador of Senegal to South Africa, H.E Ms Safiatou Ndiaye who remarked that, “As Senegal we wish H.E Bekele-Thomas success at AUDA-NEPAD.”

Ms Bekele-Thomas spoke on the Agency’s priorities, which include operationalisation of the AUDA-NEPDA Development Fund, emphasising that, “With our own development fund, we will be able to make our own decisions, and determine our own development and transformation programmes.”

As the continent’s development agency, AUDA-NEPAD is mandated to implement priority regional and continental projects to promote regional integration towards through Agenda 2063, Africa’s development framework. Ms Bekele-Thomas informed the diplomatic corps that the Agenda 2063’s second implementation plan will be people centred.

The CEO also announced the Agency’s new flagship programme for Africa’s youth, called Energise Africa, which will be launched later this year.

“We need to think not only of ourselves, but of the generations to come. Africa’s future requires a high degree of imagination and innovation that will only come from its youth. For this reason, AUDA-NEPAD has designed an ambitious youth programme – Energise Africa, for highly qualified and competent youth who are committed to contributing to Africa’s public and private sectors,” announced Ms Bekele-Thomas.

The Pan-African Parliament President H.E. Chief Fortune Charumbira, who also attended event endorsed the new CEO’s vision and pledged the Parliament’s support in achieving the mandate of the Agency.

This sentiment was echoed by other Ambassadors and dignitaries, including the Ambassador of Morocco, H.E Youssef Amrani who expressed the full support of the Kingdom of Morocco to the vision of Ms Bekele-Thomas, acknowledging her emphasis on the importance of strengthening impact and promoting responsibility whenever the future of the citizens of Africa is at stake.