By Nyasha Mutena
Harare, Zimbabwe (News Of The South) – African Union is rationalizing the number of Special Technical Agencies, a move that will scrap overlapping mandates with that of the Commission and some that are not aligned to the African Union’s priorities, African Capacity Building Foundation Executive General Professor Emmanuel Nnadozie has said.
Addressing a delegation of the African Union Commission as well as the representatives of all AU Specialized Agencies at a workshop co-hosted by ACBF and AUC, Professor Nnadozie said it is critical to continue working together in addressing the still-serious capacity deficits, often in the form of shortage of critical skills, deficits in leadership, inhibiting mindsets, and weak institutions saying the incumbent institutions are expected to be exemplary in showcasing how an effective, innovative and well-managed Specialized Agency is supposed to be.
Professor Nnadozies also said there is need to reflect on the respective roles within the confines of the African Union and the greater developmental sector. He encouraged every stakeholder to be driven by the desire to see a prosperous and integrated Africa which presents opportunities for development and prosperity for each and every African citizen.
He also said while the Study recommends a review and streamlining of the Agencies to map out those that have similar functions and are priority areas of the African Union for stronger cooperation and coherence, the workshop is anticipated to come up with an Implementation Action Plan.
“I am strongly convinced that given the experience, expertise and caliber of all participants present here, we will be able to deliver a succesful workshop and, at the end, propose a solid Implementation Plan” Professor Nnadozie said.
Chief of Staff to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Abdoulaye Diop said the task bestowed upon the team was enormous but not insurmountable. He urged them to engage in the discussions interactively, open and frankly.
“I urge that the discussions and debates will be able to generate outcomes that are comprehensive, concrete and useful,” Ambassador Diop said.
He concurred with Professor Nnadozie as he also hoped the workshop will go a step further in developing a time-bound Implementation Plan/Matrix to ensure that concrete and time-bound actions are taken.
The Specialized Agencies of the AU represent efforts to coordinate and heighten the impact of interventions across Africa, forming collaborative relationships with leading institutions within various fields, to achieve mutually defined developmental objectives.
To ensure and support the Specialized Agencies in better playing their role, the January 2017 Decision Assembly/AU/Dec.653 (XXVIII) of African Heads of State and Government on the Institutional Reform of the African Union has recommended the rationalization of the number of Special Technical Agencies of the African Union structure.
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