New York October 23, 2013 – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has paid
tribute to the important role played by the NEPAD Agency and the Africa
Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in the stride to eradicate poverty in Africa.
The UN Chief was speaking at the official opening of the High Level panel
discussion on Africa’s Innovative Governance through ten years of the APRM
at the United Nations in New York.
“What the APRM does for governance, NEPAD does for development. Together,
they help Africa to advance along the path of democracy and development to
benefit the continent’s people. Today, a few African countries have abject
poverty. African countries are trading amongst themselves; there are more
women in positions of power. I thank NEPAD and the APRM for taking the lead
in supporting the processes that are enabling these developments, “said Mr
Ban.
The Discussion, chaired by Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz, UN
Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa is the first in a
series of activities at UN Headquarters marking “Africa Week,” during the
68th UN General assembly Debate on Africa.
NEPAD CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki will address several sessions on the NEPAD
process and how its programmes are being managed. The Week, which is marked
annually, promotes debate on various African developments priorities.
The APRM, which was established in 2003 marks its tenth Anniversary and the
UN headquarters will also features discussion reflecting on the organ in
the last decade and the future outlook.
In his remarks, Dr Mayaki said: “Since the formation of NEPAD, African
countries have increased their planning capacities and their performance in
achieving jointly defined benchmarks and policies. Strategic regional
frameworks have been developed and are being implemented in areas spanning
from agriculture and food security, to infrastructure and health.”
South Africa’s UN Ambassador KingsleyMamabolo said the fact that the Un has
acknowledged NEPAD meant that it was now up to Africa to fight for the
space that has been created so as to place NEPAD in a more strategic
position to deal with developmental issues post 2015.
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