“As we draw this session to a close, I want to emphasize the unwavering commitment of AUDA-NEPAD to the Impact Assessment Study. We are fully aware of the extended mandate bestowed upon us and are prepared to collaborate closely with all stakeholders. Our collective efforts are aimed at fulfilling the vision set forth by our Heads of State and Governments in Niamey last year. We are committed to transforming challenges into opportunities and making significant strides towards our shared goals” CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas

On the 25th November 2023 in Niger’s capital, Niamey, a declaration was made during the Seventeenth Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union on Industrialization and Economic Diversification , that the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD  and the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, in collaboration with the African Union Commission  and with the support of other Partners should undertake country impact assessments on the implementation of Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) and the  AfCFTA.

The impact assessment is an essential tool for policy formulation and management.  It is also a vital instrument for channelling stakeholder engagement and communicating the ramifications of policy changes, which Member States need to consider in implementing AIDA and AfCFTA within their national development plans.

In this regard, on the 28th September 2023, AUDA-NEPAD, AUC and AfCFTA convened the kick-off impact assessment study workshop in Kigali, Rwanda. The meeting was attended by representatives from Afreximbank, Afrochampions, ITC, JICA, UNECA, UNIDO, and the Academia and Think-Tank. 

Noting the expectations from Niger’s Summit, the workshop aimed at sensitizing all relevant stakeholders about the roadmap for implementing this project, launching the First Implementation phase through the development of a Standard Assessment Guide and to generally create visibility and awareness: to support the successful implementation of the impact assessment study.

During the workshop, the participants- experts in their field, drew critical lessons and best practices learnt, proposed specific policy actions to push the respective implementation process forward, recommend an integrated, harmonized, and effective monitoring, evaluation, and reporting framework whereby all relevant stakeholders can effectively gather information to in essence accelerate AfCFTA’s and AIDA’s work, with the overall objective of achieving the vision of a prosperous Africa!