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Date: 30/01/2010
Source: The African Union
Title: AU: Ping: Opening remarks by the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, at the 22nd Nepad Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee, Addis Ababa

His Excellency Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chair of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC)
Excellencies Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC)
Dr. Maxwell M. Mkwezalamba, Commissioner for Economic Affairs
Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer, New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Secretariat
Representatives of Regional and International Organizations
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great honor and privilege for me to welcome you all to the 22nd Meeting of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) taking place here at the African Union Commission (AUC), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Please allow me to thank the Government and the People of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for hosting this important meeting. Let me also take this opportunity to warmly welcome members of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC), representatives of regional and international organizations, as well as the NEPAD Secretariat.
Mr. Chairperson
Excellencies

Please allow me to begin by first highlighting the positive progress that has been made to integrate NEPAD into the structures and processes of the African Union (AU) since the 21st NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee Meeting, which took place in Sirte, Libya, on June 30, 2009. Although the African Union Assembly decision on NEPAD integration was deferred until the 14th AU Assembly, the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat agreed to continue working closely together to ensure that work on integration proceeds. This work has been guided by the conclusions of the 21st NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee meeting. It has, particularly, focused on the adoption by the NEPAD Secretariat of AU policies and procedures in finance, administration, human resource (HR) management, auditing, legal, protocol and procurement. Efforts have also been made to harmonise the work programmes of the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat in order to identify overlaps, foster a clear delineation of roles and promote joint working.

In this regard, a number of activities have been undertaken and achievements registered. These include, amongst other, work on the establishment of the NEPAD Coordination Unit in my Office and the recruitment of its staff. The Unit will serve as an interlocutor between the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat. Further, a number of secondments and working visits have been undertaken in recent months by AUC staff in finance, procurement, administration and HR, legal, protocol, internal audit and Management Information Systems (MIS) to undertake a needs assessment of NEPAD Secretariat in these areas vis-à-vis the adoption of AU procedures. This assistance has, for example, enabled the NEPAD Secretariat to submit to the Commission its 2010 budget, which has since been included as part of the overall budget of the AU.

Concerning programme harmonization, the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat undertook their First Work Programme Harmonisation Session on November 3, 2009, which involved Commissioners, NEPAD Chief Executive Officer, Directors and sectoral Heads. A joint report has since been prepared compiling, in detail, the programmatic work of the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat in the various sectors, identifying overlaps, and proposing areas of joint collaboration. This is work in progress and will continue to undergo refinement. Substantial work has also been undertaken on the future issuing of AU Laissez-Passer to eligible staff of the NEPAD Secretariat. The AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat have also been working closely to harmonise future partnership support.
Mr. Chairperson
Excellencies
The work on integration undertaken so far has facilitated closer synergies, communication, understanding and team work between the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat. It is in this regard, that I wish to convey my sincere gratitude to Your Excellencies Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee and in particular, His Excellency Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chair of the NEPAD HSGIC, for your continued support, encouragement and guidance. I also would like to commend the excellent cooperation and collaboration between the NEPAD Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and myself and between the NEPAD Secretariat and AU Commission, in general. In particular, I wish to commend the role that the CEO has played in ensuring a smooth and close working relationship between the NEPAD Secretariat and the African Union Commission. Furthermore, please allow me to commend the NEPAD Co-coordinating Unit under the chairmanship of the Commissioner for Economic Affairs for its diligence, hard work and commitment to the integration process.
The integration of NEPAD into the AU is, however, not without its challenges. Notably, these include ensuring the institutionalization of a coordinated approach and regularized feedback between the various departments, divisions and sections of the AUC and the NEPAD Secretariat in their operational and programmatic functions. Further, there is need to effectively capacitate the NEPAD Coordination Unit in the office of the AUC Chairperson so as to effectively implement its mandate. Insufficient finances have resulted in certain and necessary AU equipment, notably the AU payroll system and VSAT facilities, not being installed at the NEPAD Secretariat. The adoption of such software will need to be adequately resourced at the level of the NEPAD Secretariat.
Mr. Chairperson
Excellencies

It is my sincere hope, Your Excellencies, that the African Union Assembly will endorse the conclusions of the 21st HSGIC meeting and give guidance on the way forward, taking into account the progress made to date on the integration of NEPAD into the AU structures and processes. This, in my view, will assist the AUC and NEPAD Secretariat concretely actualize NEPAD integration. On my part, I shall remain committed to ensuring that the various decisions of the African Union Assembly on the integration of NEPAD are fully implemented.

With these few remarks, it is my singular honour to wish the 22nd HSGIC successful deliberations.

I thank you for your kind attention.

 

 

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