Joint Secretariat Support Office to the African Union Commission Formed

African Union (Addis Ababa)

9 May 2011

press release

A Joint Secretariat Support Office (JSSO) to the African Union Commission (AUC), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has been launched in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with Mauritania’s former Ambassador to the United States, Mr. Ibrahima Dia appointed as its Coordinator.

Ambassador Dia presented his letter of introduction to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Dr. Jean Ping, at AUC Headquarters on 4 May 2011.

The Secretariat will assist in the development of a common African policy position vis-àvis the donor community, as well as provide support to the heads of the three organizations, with a view to harmonise their common positions on global fora and issues, including the G20, infrastructure development in Africa and Climate Change.

The combination of global challenges that severely affect Africa, especially climate change, and the increasing need for adequate infrastructure for regional integration to boost trade among African countries, has convinced the heads of the AUC, ADB and
ECA of the need to strengthen cooperation among the three institutions, whose leaders had, until now, worked together closely but more or less on an informal basis.

The Secretariat, together with the Planning and Coordinating Agency of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), has also been mandated to assist the leadership of the three organizations in developing a common African policy position towards the donor community, with a view to maximize efforts to deliver effective aid and create synergy in project implementation.

Leveraging the considerable development expertise of the three organizations, the new Office will seek to shore up shared initiatives, as well as constitute an effective consultation and project monitoring mechanism, which should help eliminate unnecessary duplication.

AllAfrica – All the Time