Press Release Nº 99/2014

African Union signs a twenty million euro (EUR 20,000,000) financing agreement with the German Development Bank

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 12th May 2014: The Commission of the African Union has signed a twenty million euro (EUR 20,000,000) financing agreement with the German Development Bank (KfW) Country Manager for EthiopiaMr HelmutSchönein support of the Pan African University (PAU),especially for its Institute of Water and Energy Sciences, including climate Change based at the AbouBakrBelkaïd University of Tlemcenin the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria (PAUWES). The agreement, signedon Monday 12th May 2014, at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) will ensure the continual growth of the PAU and strengthening of the partnership between the Federal Republic of Germany as a lead thematic partner and the African Union Commission.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Dr. Martial De-Paul Ikounga, AU Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, stressed that the signing of the financing agreement was anothermilestone to ensuring that the PAU fully grasps its goal of being an institute of excellence.

The Pan African University was conceived as a response to the need to revitalize higher education and research as major tools for ensuring high level human resource and intellectual capital for Africa’s development, while promoting world class yet locally relevant and responsive research, to provide an exemplar for excellence in African higher education and research. The PAU consists of a network of institutes and centres in five thematic areas distributed across the five regions, and administered from a central rectorate. The PAU serves all of Africa, and is supported by all Member States and a number of committed partners.

For further information contact
Directorate of Information and Communication | African Union Commission I E-mail: dinfo@african-union.org I Web Site: www.au.int I Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

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