By Aziza Atieno

The African Development Fund has approved $11.48 million grant to the African Union Commission (AUC) to strengthen its governance and provide it with institutional support to improve its capacity to drive the continent’s agenda.

Agenda 2063 is the AU’s vision for “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.” It includes programs to boost Africa’s economic growth and development and lead to the rapid transformation of the continent.

The funds will cover three main components:  institutional strengthening; policy planning, coordination, and corporate service delivery; and project management. In addition, it contains important environmental and social safeguards and gender-sensitive considerations, according to the African Union Commission Deputy Chair Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa.

In 2017, the AUC launched a comprehensive institutional reform process to make the institution with a vision to build strategic partnerships, offer technical support, and provide access to relevant knowledge related to capacity building in Africa.

A portion of the funds would be allocated to the AUC’s Disaster Risk Reduction practices, and Climate Change Adaptation mechanisms, while support for women will include developing the Commission’s Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Guidelines and Scorecard and related activities over and above the support towards the AU’s institutional reform.

The African Development Bank being a long-term partner to the African Union’s development agenda, a portion of the funds will be allocated to the AUC’s Disaster Risk Reduction practices, and Climate Change Adaptation mechanisms. Furthermore, support for women will include developing the Commission’s Gender and Youth Mainstreaming Guidelines and Scorecard and related activities over and above the support towards the AU’s institutional reform.

The total cost of the project is $12.6 million, including an in-kind counterpart contribution from the African Union. Success of the project is expected to encourage similar contributions from other development institutions.