The African Community of Practice on Managing for Development Results (AfCoP-MfDR) in Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) with the support of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) conference which was held in Lilongwe has finally resolved to nurture integration as a key element to develop Africa. AfCoP-MfDR, COMESA, and African Development Bank (AfDB) organised the Africa for Results (AfriK4R) learning and Knowledge Sharing Forum with an aim of providing platform for countries to take stock of MfDR implementation among COMESA member states in the three regional policy areas of trade facilitation, business climate promotion and public financial management.
The meeting discussed the member country successes, challenges and ultimately map the way forward for building capacity in these areas, with regional integration being high on the Agenda.
African Capacity Building Foundation Director of monitoring and Evaluation, Dr Thomas Chatangalala Munthali said regional intergration is important because it makes African markets more accessible.
“One of the key push factors for regional economic integration is to improve cross-border trade and movement of skills within the region, as well as being able to speak with one voice in negotiating trade agreements with major global powers. Individual countries are often seen as too weak to get favourable deals in negotiations with big powers – even under the aegis of the World Trade Organisation.” said Munthali.
Munthali urged African countries to domesticate regional directives.
“In this light, a conducive business climate facilitated by sound public financial management policies is key. Identifying and building requisite capacities in managing for results in these areas is hence an area of concern for COMESA member countries.” Said Munthali.
Munthali said the AfCoP- COMESA meeting, was very important because it focused on sharing and linking knowledge on MfDR and creation of synergies between regional and national processes across COMESA member countries.
The meeting also identified and agreed on specific areas of knowledge sharing and strategies and the effective use of the COMESA regional platform.
More that 40 senior policy makers, managers and practitioners from COMESA members states (Burundi, Union of Comoros, Congo DRC, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Sudan, Swaziland, Seychelles, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe attended the meeting.
The AfCoP is a community supported by the African Development Bank and the African Capacity Building Foundation.
The African Capacity Building Foundation was Established in 1991 with an aim of builds human and institutional capacity for good governance and economic development in Africa.
To date the Foundation has empowered people in governments, parliaments, civil society, private sector and higher education institutions in more than 45 countries and 6 regional economic communities.
ACBF supports capacity development with grants, technical assistance and knowledge across Africa.
The establishment of ACBF was in response to the severity of Africa’s capacity needs, and the challenges of investing in indigenous human capital and institutions in Africa.
Chief Secretary, George Mkondiwa opened the meeting alongside senior Government officials.