The COVID-19 pandemic has set Africa’s economic convergence with the world economy back. Across the continent, we have seen an increase in economic vulnerability with higher government debt, inflationary pressure, and tighter monetary policies. Against this background, Member States continue to face difficult socio-economic challenges. Over the past two years, more than 59 million Africans have been pushed into extreme poverty. Furthermore, at least one in five Africans goes to bed hungry and an estimated 140 million people in Africa face acute food insecurity. These statistics not only reflect the severity of the socio-economic challenges facing Member States, but more importantly, they highlight that local actors, policymakers, regional bodies, development institutions and AUDA-NEPAD need to intensify efforts to respond to the present socio-economic crises, prepare for future challenges, reduce vulnerabilities, and build resilience in all facets of society.
When I took office as the Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) on May 1, 2022, I was confronted with the question of how the Agency will address these challenges and contribute to the development of the continent. Our system-wide response has been to strengthen the Agency’s technical and financial capacity to deliver its mandate, embrace an integrated development approach, as well as redefine and adopt a more agile strategy to ensure that we fully execute our mandate, deliver a people-centred inclusive transformative impact and champion the implementation of Agenda 2063.
Towards this end, AUDA-NEPAD has adjusted its programmes and budget to respond to the emerging needs and priorities including disruptions and shocks triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, geo-political tensions on the continent, the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and impacts of climate change. This process resulted in a strategic reprioritisation and focus on transformational results in three areas taking into account Africa’s goals of sustainable socio-economic development through rapid industrialisation within the framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area. These include (i) Infrastructure, Trade and Industry—accelerating cross-border infrastructure development and regional integration, fast-tracking the movement of goods, services and people, and advancing industrialistion; (ii) Agriculture, Food Systems and Environmental Sustainability—coordinating the implementation of the African Common Position on Agriculture, advancing food and nutrition security, while mitigating the impact of climate change; and (iii) Human Capital and Institutional Development—strengthening health systems, advancing the empowerment of women and youth, and building strong and capable institutions, underpinned by Science, Technology and Innovation.
As the implementing agency of the African Union, AUDA-NEPAD in partnership with the African Union Commission is tracking progress in the realisation of Agenda 2063. These interventions will help us to better prepare and build the necessary capacities to respond to current challenges and future needs of Member States towards realising “The Africa We Want”. We also launched the AUDA-NEPAD Energize Africa Initiative which focuses on catalysing and harnessing the youths’ potential, creativity and innovativeness into Africa’s economic growth and development drive. The aim is to expand income opportunities for the youth—through the creation of jobs, dynamic innovations and entrepreneurship contributing to rapid industrialisation.
Most notably, AUDA-NEPAD is working with the Regional Economic Communities towards a continental resource mobilisation programme to ensure sustainable funding for the implementation of Agenda 2063.
Looking ahead, the Agency recognises that getting ahead of Africa’s development complexities requires leaping forward into new and uncharted opportunities. The Agency intends to do this by continuing to forge dynamic and productive working relations with Member States, and all of Africa’s stakeholders and partners through collective approaches.
H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas
Chief Executive Officer, AUDA-NEPAD