2023 marks 32 years since the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) was established in 1991 to address Africa’s severe capacity gaps. Since inception ACBF has gained a robust track record which solidifies its position as the premier partner for capacity development on the continent. The Foundation contributes to Africa’s development process through human capital development, institution building and knowledge sharing.

ACBF’s focus is on human capital development and institution building to address current and future development challenges.  While it provides services to all sectors; public, private, civil society and academia, to name a few, ACBF pays attention to improving the effectiveness of Africa’s public sector institutions at country, regional and continental levels to become effective systems’ integrators and catalysers of sustainable and transformative change.

To date, ACBF has supported over 70 higher education institutions, including universities across all sub-Saharan Africa regions, to reform curriculums that address the economic requirements of their countries and equipped universities with libraries which enabled students to carry out research online. The Foundation has trained more than 50,000 personnel in civil service, most of which hold key positions in Ministries of Finance, Planning or Economic Development and Central Banks across the continent.

ACBF has also established a network of over 35 think thanks that support evidence-based policy making across Africa and produce critical policy research/analysis which inform economic management and help establish benchmarks for success.

As a thought-leader, ACBF has generated over 500 knowledge products in the forms of research, studies, and publications covering over 200 development topics.
The Foundation is launching a new five-year strategy (2023-2027) which will focus on human capacity development and institution building in four impact areas, which are Climate Change & Energy, Economic Governance, Agribusiness & Food Security, and Trade as an engine of growth.

In line with the new Strategy, ACBF will offer two signature products which support institutional building and human capacity development. The Institutional Accelerator Model (IAM) will offer a unique package of interventions to assist with institutional development. The package will include a range of tools such as organizational restructuring advisory, embedded advisory, technical assistance, leadership development, management and team building support. On the other hand, ACBF’s Africa Capacity Building Academy (ACBA) will focus on developing the hard and soft skills of target officials in the public sector, civil society, think tanks and the private sector. This will be done through delivery of short courses, training, coaching, and mentoring.

The Foundation has grown its membership from 12 African countries to 40 since inception. In January 2017, ACBF was granted specialised agency status for capacity development by the African Union. ACBF remains resolute in its mission to develop the human capital and build the institutions required, primarily in the public sector, to create the enabling environment for an inclusive and sustainable development in Africa.
For further information please contact:
Tsitsi Chakonza | African Capacity Building Foundation | African Union | E-mail: t.chakonza@acbf-pact.org | Harare, Zimbabwe
Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org 
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