AUDA-NEPAD CEO praises Pan-African Parliament

AUDA-NEPAD CEO Mrs. Nardos Bekele-Thomas briefing the PAP Plenary on the agency’s contribution to Africa’s economic recovery. Image courtesy of Pan-African Parliament media
The CEO of the African Union’s development agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has thanked the Pan-African Parliament for the invitation to address the continental parliament on the progress of the agency’s work. At the Pan-African Parliament sitting of permanent committees held from 6 to 17 March 2023 under the AU theme for 2023, Mrs. Belele-Thomas delivered a statement on the wobbly state of Africa’s economic growth after the shock of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new leadership of the Pan-African Parliament headed by Zimbabwean Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira has made significant strides in the past 8 months to reposition the continental parliament as a platform to give vent to the expectations of the African citizenry. The invitation of representatives of AU agencies and organs to the sitting of PAP’s committees is critical to the Pan-African Parliament re-engagement exercise after an acrimonious relationship with the mother body.
Having AU representatives deliver reports on the state of progress in their departments allows for information access to legislators and feedback from members of parliament who have a direct link to their electorate across the continent.

Formerly known as NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency, the AUDA-NEPAD was established at the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of African Union Heads of State and Government in Nouakchott, Mauritania, in June 2018.
The mandate of AUDA-NEPAD is to coordinate and execute priority regional and continental projects to promote regional integration towards the accelerated realization of Agenda 2063; strengthen the capacity of African Union Member States and regional bodies, advance knowledge-based advisory support, undertake the full range of resource mobilization and serve as the continent’s technical interface with all Africa’s development stakeholders and development partners.