Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital is set to host a three day Capacity Development Forum dubbed Developing capacity for Africa’s Economic and Social Transformation from the third to the fifth of May.
Speaking ahead of the forum to be held in African Capacity Building Foundation’s (ACBF) host country, Zimbabwe, ACBF Executive Secretary, Professor Emmanuel Nnadozie said that about 500 delegates were expected in Harare to discuss how to ‘Develop Capacity for Africa’s Economic and Social Transformation’.
“Delegates will gather in Harare as part of our 25th Anniversary and we will address several important issues, with a view to moving the debate from dialogue to action.
“We are delighted to welcome several Pan-African organisations, business leaders, non-governmental actors, public sector representatives and parliamentarians as well as representatives of academia and our partners from the multilateral and bilateral development agencies to this important event,” he said.
He added that the forum will look at how Africa can innovate, emulate, replicate in order to transforms itself and make a significant impact in building the critical skills that are needed.
Professor Nnadozie went on to highlight how some of the world’s fastest growing economies have achieved their success through strategic investments in human, institutional and organizational capacities.
“The top performing emerging economies, including Brazil, China, United Arab Emirates, India and Malaysia have all implemented long-term economic transformation agendas, supported by the development and implementation of effective socio-economic policies. Many African economies such as Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire and Rwanda are also experiencing rapid growth. What sets them apart is the focus on building sustainable capacity for effective development and their commitment both to effective policy formulation and policy implementation”.
The forum which brings together Ministers of Finance and Planning, multilateral agencies, funding partners, academics and representatives from ACBF-supported institutions will consider the capacity dimensions on Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on the role of governments, development partners, civil society, private sector, training institutions and the media in supporting the development of capacity for Africa’s economic and social transformation.
Professor Nnadozie, believes that sustainable development can only be achieved through building skills, knowledge and capabilities of African individuals and institutions, and ensuring that capacity in an integral part of pan-African policies. Such skills need to be retained and harmonised for utilisation on the continent.
The third Capacity Development Forum which is scheduled for Harare next week follows two other forums hosted in Mali (2001) and Mozambique (2007).
“We have held two previous Capacity Development Forums – in Mali and Mozambique. This third Forum presents us with an opportunity to reposition ourselves as the continental leaders in spearheading a new Capacity Development Platform for coordinating capacity building on the continent. We need an Africa that is capable of achieving its own development and it is time to stop talking the talk and start walking the talk – we should no longer be talking about what needs to be done, but how exactly we are going to do it,” said Professor Nnadozie.
The host, ACBF was established a quarter of a century ago, and has a long term strategy to build human, institutional and ‘soft’ capacities to contribute actively to the continent’s structural transformation agenda.
Since its inception, ACBF has invested over $1 billion, building institutions in 45 countries and supporting Regional Economic Communities, continental organisations and over 41 Policy Units and Think Tanks.
The Forum will be accompanied by several thematic side events, including a session on the role of science, innovation and technology in Africa’s social and economic transformation.
