The African Union Commission (AUC) and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) held a two day meeting on 12 and 13 May 2016, with key stakeholders representing various capacity development sector including Governments and their development partners at the African Union Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Participants at the workshop examined the major points and recommendations emerging from the capacity review undertaken by the ACBF/African Union Commission’s (AUC) to provide feedback and guidance with the view to validate the work done so far, and ascertain that the work is going in the right direction.

During the workshop, Ambassador Febe Potgieter-Gqubule, Deputy Chief of Staff at African Union Commission delivered a key note address. In her opening speech, she welcomed the stakeholders and stressed the need to ensure that Agenda 2063 is well understood by the citizens so that they can own the Agenda and contribute fully to its implementation. She further underlined the importance of this Agenda to the development of the continent, hence the need to build the capacity and skills successfully.

“Agenda 2063 is a vision and call to action to fulfill African aspirations and the AU Vision of “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”  Amb. Febe underlined. She added that “in developing the AU Agenda 2063, the African Union felt it very important to consult as widely as possible so that ownership can be assured... It calls on all Africans, policy makers at all levels, business, religious, community, women and youth leaders, ordinary citizens to act in concert with determination”. (See complete speech of the AUC Deputy Chief of Staff on the AU website: www.au.int ). 

Speaking on behalf of the ACBF Executive Secretary, Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie, the Director of the Knowledge Monitoring and Evaluation of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), Dr Thomas Munthali in his opening remarks said Africa faces the task of addressing critical challenges associated with unsustainable and non-inclusive growth, youth unemployment, climate change, worsening security, gender inequality, excessive reliance on primary commodity exports, inter alia. He added that, “fortunately for us, our leaders and us as a people have recognized these challenges and have put together our aspirations on the type of life we wish to have by 2063. Through a widely consultative process, these aspirations have been well defined in Agenda 2063”. (See complete speech by ACBF Representative on the AU website: www.au.int) .

It would be recalled that the Heads of States and Governments, through the African Union have agreed on an indigenous African Strategic Framework over the next fifty years, known as “Agenda 2063-The Africa We Want”. This unique strategic framework has been built around seven key aspirations: A Prosperous Africa, based on Inclusive Growth and Sustainable Development; An Integrated Continent Politically united and based on the ideals of Pan Africanism and the vision of African Renaissance; Rule of Law; A Peaceful and Secure Africa; Africa with a Strong Cultural Identity  Common Heritage, Values and Ethics; An Africa Whose Development is people driven, relying on the potential offered by  African People,  especially  its Women and Youth, and  caring  for Children; and An Africa as A Strong and Influential Global Player and Partner.

Furthermore, an implementation plan for the First Ten Years of Agenda 2063 has also been developed with specific goals and targets.

The two (2) day stakeholders’ engagement workshop concluded with the following recommendations on the implementation of Agenda 2063: the urgent need for a Central Entity – to push forward arrangements and mobilization for urgent work to deliver on the First 10-Year Plan; The need for a well decentralized approach for implementing the First 10-Year Plan/Agenda 2063; The critical importance and substantive roles to be played by key stakeholder groups (beyond the roles of intergovernmental institutions at various levels); Programmatisation of activities identified for the First 10-Year Plan; Increasing the Capacity for greater ownership, through the idea of preparation of “National Agenda 2063” documents; The need for urgent attention and actions to promote mind-set transformation, a new belief, and an African confidence and commitment to build a new tomorrow from today, among others.