NEPAD Agency Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki has thanked the Government of Spain for its long standing partnership and support towards the achievement of the African Union/NEPAD goals for gender equality and the empowerment of African Women.

The 9th Steering Committee of the NEPAD Spanish Fund for African Women’s Empowerment has convened yesterday in Johannesburg, South Africa, to reflect on the achievements and challenges of the joint Fund. The meeting aimed to map out forward-looking approaches to improve on implementation and also plan strategically for its phasing out at the end of the year.

Dr Mayaki highlighted that an amount of 6,827,758 Euros had been disbursed to 31 approved projects during the 2nd Call for Proposals in 2012. Out of this number 20 projects have ended, with 11 ongoing and earmarked to end before the end of 2015.  “The projects have had predominantly positive impact on beneficiaries, households and communities across the continent. This is a worthwhile achievement”, Dr Mayaki said.

Ambassador Juan Sell highlighted the strategic partnership between the NEPAD Agency and Spain and its continued commitment towards empowering African women. He referred to the 78 projects that have been supported by the NEPAD Spanish Fund since its inception in 2007.

The Fund is a partnership between the NEPAD Agency and the Spanish Government through the Spanish Agency for International Development and Cooperation (AECID). It has benefited from a 20 million Euros contribution from the Government of Spain.

So far, thousands of women and men have benefited directly from the Fund in areas such as vocational training, agriculture, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), business, microfinance, women entrepreneurship, Gender-Based Violence (GBV), gender mainstreaming and employment. At institutional level, the capacities of government institutions and civil society organisations have been strengthened. This has led to an increased representation and effective participation of women in decision making processes in political parties, local governments, the private sector and Civil Society Organisations.

Besides challenges, Dr Mayaki underscored that the Agency has established structures and processes that have ensured transparency, accountability, good governance of the Fund as well as goodwill among development partners and stakeholders.

Ambassador Sell highlighted that 2015 is a crucial year for the NEPAD Spanish Fund to build on the achievements made as it is the ‘African Union Year of Women Empowerment towards the Development of Agenda 2063’.

Both parties agreed to continue their strong partnership beyond the official close of the Fund in December 2015.