Press Release Nº 33/22ND AU SUMMIT
Deputy Chairperson of the AUC H.E. Mr. Erastus Mwencha briefed the press on Institutional Capacity Building
Addis Ababa, 30 January, 2014: Mr. Erastus Mwencha Deputy Chairperson of the AUC held a press conference on January 30, 2014 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. In the briefing he discussed issues related to capacity building and financial independence of the AU and the alternative sources of funding that are being explored.
He kicked off the meeting by explaining how capacityshould be understood according to the African Union. In his explanation, the first type of capacity concerns having the mandate, structure, and sustainable funding, while the second type is the capacity to develop institutions in Africa that outlive individuals and the last one is the capacity to implement which as he explained includes capacity to mitigate disasters.
While talking about the Commission itself, Mr. Mwencha said that different activities are being undertaken to improve internal and external communication, improve systems and methods of engagement to improve stakeholder management and most importantly to strengthen the Commission to be more responsive to the needs of the continent.
In order to achieve this, the Deputy Chairperson said a series of actions will be taken, including human resource exercises, increasing the Union’s execution rate, improving communication and corporate governance and work on alternative sources of funding for the AU institutions. In his briefing, Mr. Erastus Mwencha, stressed the need for integration to move forward with the flexibility of taking in member states that are ready, and giving the alternative for the others to join later. As an important driver for the integration, the Commission in collaboration with Council for Infrastructure Development will endeavor to facilitate the implementation of the PIDA projects, aimed at boosting infrastructure and energy.
In conclusion, Mr. Erastus Mwencha said that all the actions taken will feed into the new long-term strategic framework for the continent also known as the AU agenda 2063. He also stressed the need for inputs from all stakeholders for its successful completion as the foundation laid in 2014 will set the tone and determine whether a paradigm shift towards the realization of African renaissance is achieved.

NTH/wzm

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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