Africa Team Round Table Discussion Marks Development Milestone in Malabo
During the 7th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Summit, the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD organized a significant Africa Team Round Table discussion in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. This event signifies a crucial step in the continent’s integrated development journey.
The Africa Team initiative aims to unite the ambitions and commitments of AUDA-NEPAD, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), African Union institutions, financial bodies, Member States, and development partners under one cohesive framework.
Key Discussions and Outcomes
At the Round Table, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, African Union Commission Chairperson, emphasized the need to transition from fragmented efforts to harmonized delivery for a resilient, prosperous, and self-reliant Africa.
CEO of AUDA-NEPAD, Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, highlighted the importance of establishing a unified investment framework for the continent through the Africa Team, emphasizing collaboration with RECS.
The operational phase of Africa Team was officially launched during the event. This shared platform aims to enhance coordination, ensure accountability, and expedite resource mobilization, with the belief that Africa’s sustainable development requires collective action under the Swahili concept of ‘Pamoja’ or ‘together’.
The Round Table featured the introduction of Africa Team’s Programme Document, outlining over 300 high-impact projects organized into six thematic portfolios.
Future Directions and Initiatives
The Africa Team concept originated from deliberations at the 4th African Union Mid-Year Coordination Meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2023, with a focus on eliminating duplication and enhancing programming and funding efforts.
Key outcomes of the Round Table include the endorsement of a High-Level Declaration designating Africa Team as the African Union’s primary investment platform. A roadmap for Phase II was approved, setting milestones for partner alignment, project curation, and monitoring mechanisms to sustain momentum.
A drive for partner commitments was initiated, welcoming a range of financial institutions and investors to express interest in various forms of support.
The Africa Team’s future activities also include prioritizing projects that enhance continental trade routes, tracking accountability through quarterly dashboards, ensuring legislative oversight, and introducing tools for private sector engagement.
Conclusion
As Africa moves towards its development goals, unity and collaboration through initiatives like Africa Team signify a promising future for the continent as a whole.
