ECA Press Release No. 04/2005

ADDIS ABABA, 24 February 2005 (ECA) - It is a very promising time for Africa, with many countries redoubling their efforts to address development challenges and surmount capacity shortfalls. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) represents the continent taking a firm leadership role in guiding its destiny. Further, some 24 countries have acceded to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which further underscores the commitment and political will to institute better governance practices as the way forward.

There is also a renewed international interest in helping Africa meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with commitments to greater and more predictable aid flows and other support. These new opportunities present the chance to reexamine what needs to be done to scale up capacity in order tackle poverty challenges head on.

It is widely acknowledged, that Africa’s efforts toward sustainable growth remain inextricably linked to human and institutional capacity. Organizational systems and structures that work efficiently, appropriate skill levels, access to resources, and a broader enabling environment all reinforce and enhance efforts at alleviating poverty.

However, close examination of traditional approaches points to the importance of going beyond the supply of training and technical cooperation towards a focus on demand and incentives for the retention and effective utilization of capacity. In parallel, there is a growing list of promising new approaches in public expenditure accountability, service delivery, as well as success stories at the sectoral level and from regional partnerships.

To take a candid look at lessons and approaches from various countries, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the World Bank are co-sponsoring a workshop from 24 to 25 February 2005 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia entitled “Capacity Development in Africa: Effective States and Engaged Societies.”

This two-day workshop, which will be attended by policy makers from the African Union, the regional economic communities, research institutes and networks, universities and training institutes, and African Governments, will focus on the practical and operational challenges of improving responsiveness and effectiveness of donor assistance with a view to scaling-up support in Africa.

Over the last decade since the launch of the Partnership for Capacity Development in Africa (PACT), African Governments and institutions have been making substantial headway in their capacity building efforts with the support of the three sponsoring organizations, as well as from other development partners.

For more information
Contact
Carolyn Knapp, Communication Officer, UNECA
Tel: +251 1 445303
Email: cknapp@uneca.org

Issued by the ECA Communication Team
P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: +251-1-44-58-26
Fax: +251-1-51-03-65
Email: ecainfo@uneca.org
Web: www.uneca.org