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Africa's Transformation Depends On Capacity Building

By Malise Otoo, Harare, Zimbabwe
Africa Africa's Transformation Depends On Capacity Building
MAY 5, 2016 LISTEN

African leaders mostly made up of Civil Society and other Think Tanks across the region have gathered in Harare, Zimbabwe in their quest to faction out plans and programs to achieve Africa's social, economic and political transformation.

Delivering his opening remarks during the 3rd Pan African Capacity Development Forum under the theme, ''Developing capacity for Africa's Economic and Social Transformation'', H.E Dr. Anthony Maruping, Commissioner for Economic Development, AUC, Ethiopia said for Africa to realize her full potential in development through social, economic and political transformation, capacity is very much needed and crucial.

''Accelerated, inclusive, trans-formative real growth with equity, is no longer an option but an imperative for Africa in order to, in a significant way, create jobs, tackle poverty and gain rapid, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable socio-economic development,'' He says.

According to the classical definition, given by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development in 1987, development is sustainable if it “meets the needs of the

present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

It is somewhat easier to say which countries are richer and which are poorer. But indicators of wealth, which reflect the quantity of resources available to a society, provide no information about the allocation of those resources—for instance, about more or less equitable distribution of income among social groups, about the shares of resources used to provide free health and education services, and about the effects of production and consumption on people’s environment. Thus it is no wonder that countries with similar average incomes can differ substantially when it comes to people’s quality of life: access to education and health care, employment opportunities, availability of clean air and safe drinking water, the threat of crime and so on.

Therefore, in my view as a development reporter, the African Agenda 2063 comes into sharp focus towards reaching this goal set by the Africa Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) as which was also eluded to by Dr. Mothae Muraping of the AUC.

It must be noted that all 17 SDGs which were adopted by the UN General Assembly in September, 2015 are embedded in the 20 goals of A2063.

On his part, Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie , Executive Secretary of the African Capacity Building Foundation, mentioned that Africa’s economic and social transformation is no longer a distant challenge, it is a reality and a sign of what lies ahead.''

He further revealed a 5 year Strategic Capacity Plan has been developed with an instrument for monitoring and evaluation composed in it. ''Its time for Africa to have resilient economies not the usual broom and dust ones.''

However, in Africa's quest to develop, Prof Nndozie says education also is key. Education to fill the skills gap is lacking. ''There is no university teaching Regional Integration in Africa-thus the disconnect.''

Poverty as the Prof puts it is, ''anyone who cannot afford basic human needs.''

With regard to the plan, Prof Nndozie says it will be aimed more broadly at tackling three thematic areas namely, critical skills, strengthening political institutions and paying special attention to Soft skills.

The conference coincides with ACBF 25th Anniversary with an official opening by Hon. Phelekezela Mphoko, Vice President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, The event ends on May 5 at the Harare International Conference Centre.

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