Addis Ababa 20 May 2019: The African Union Commission (AUC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the African Library and Information Associations and Institutions (AfLIA) to foster cooperation in order to ensure closer collaborations between AUC and AfLIA to ecourage the reading habit acros the African continent.

On behalf of the two organizations Mr. Mesfin Tessema, Director of Strategic, Policy, Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Resource Mobilization (SPPMERM) and Mr. John Tsebe, President, African Library and Information Associations and Institutions(AfLIA) have signed the MoU. During the signing ceremony the two parties pledged to maintain a close and continuous workimg relationship for the achievement of their common objectives and the implementation of the MoU.

The purpose of the MoU aims to facilitate co-operation and collaboration between the AUC and AfLIA to ensure effective cooperation between the two organizations in areas of mutual interest. The main objectives are:

1. Enter into a reciprocal free of charge agreement towards the development of African Information and Knowledgem Society,National,Academic and Community Libraries with a view to enhancing delivery of the right information to the right person at the right time.

2. Development of Library and Information professional associtaions as promoters and driviung force for equitable access to information,Knowledge,and innovative services in Africa.

Mr. Tessema, stated that the MoU came at right time as this will help encourage people to read. “In this era, we need to encourage people to read and that is what we are missing in the world particularly where people are focused more on the internet than the books,we need to educate our young people to take the advantage of reading” he said.

In the same vein, Mr. Tsebe expressed satisfaction to the partnership between the AUC and AfLIA. He said, the AfLIA is ready to support AU in the reliazation of the Agenda 2063 aspirations by using libraries to contribute in creating the Africa we want for sustainalbility. “Libraries are drivers of information and knowledge and as you know, knowledge and information is a strategic resources for development” he noted.

For media inquiries, contact:
Mr. Molalet Tsedeke, Media Center Coordinator; Directorate of Information and Communication; AU Commission. molalett@africa-union.org; Tel: 0911 630631.
Mr.Stephen Kwaku Darko| Information and Communications Officer, Directorate of Information and Communication, African Union Commission | Tel: +251(0) 953406832 | E-mail: DarkoS@africa-union.org