By Saul Molobi
In a forceful call for unity and delivery amid an “unclear and alarming” global landscape, the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) used its annual ambassadorial dinner hosted in Pretoria, South Africa, to outline a packed execution agenda – spanning infrastructure corridors, a proposed AU Development Fund, skills alignment with industry, medicines regulation, and an expanded in-country footprint – while urging partners to convert solidarity into results on the ground.
“Times like this, when rising protectionism is disrupting access to essential goods… we need new global solidarity,” the AUDA-NEPAD chief executive officer (CEO), Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas, told diplomats gathered in Pretoria. “Priority and first and foremost is an African solution for our own challenges,” she added, linking development, peace, and security as inseparable pillars.
Calls for continental unity – and pragmatic partnerships
Echoing conclusions from recent consultations with African finance and planning ministers, the CEO said the consensus is “very clear: Africans must act in unity while leveraging external partnerships.” She pressed for stronger regional integration, tighter coordination between fiscal and trade planning, and a renewed push to unlock the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“We have almost everything we need… and whatever else we need is within our reach,” she said. “Yes, we need development support from others… but what happens in Africa touches the rest of the world.”
From projects to corridors: Rwanda summit set for 28–31 October 2025
AUDA-NEPAD said it has advanced the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Phase II and is intentionally shifting “from isolated infrastructure projects to integrated economic corridors” – building economies around transport, agriculture, logistics facilitation, and community livelihoods.
Building on this pivot, the agency announced the Rwanda Financing Summit on Africa’s Infrastructure Development, scheduled for 28–31 October 2025, under the theme “Capital Corridors: Trade, Investment and Infrastructure for the AfCFTA and Shared Prosperity.” Sovereign funds, DFIs, policymakers, and private investors are expected to convene to mobilise capital and political will for priority corridors.
Financing Africa’s transformation: AU Development Fund heads to AU Summit
The agency confirmed it led the feasibility study for an African Union Development Fund – developed with the AU Commission, the Committee of 15 Ministers of Finance, AUDA-NEPAD’s Steering Committee, and the PRC Subcommittee on NEPAD. The revised study passed expert review in April 2025 and is now being validated for submission to the AU Summit in February 2026.
Framing the instrument as “an investment fund, not a grant facility,” AUDA-NEPAD said it is designed to complement existing mechanisms and to help close an estimated $3 trillion implementation gap in the current Agenda 2063 plan. The agency is also working with an alliance of African multinational financial institutions and sovereign wealth funds to serve as anchor partners for operationalisation, while launching a consolidated resource mobilisation campaign with member states and RECs.
Youth, MSMEs, and skills: aligning supply to industry demand
On inclusive growth, AUDA-NEPAD highlighted:
- Energise Africa (launched in 2022) to harness youth potential and jobs.
- The 1 Million MSMEs initiative to integrate small enterprises into regional value chains and expand access to sustainable finance.
- The inaugural Industrial Skills with Africa platform – hosted by the Government of Zambia in September – to connect training systems with Africa’s industrialization agenda: “We’re aligning the supply side (skills providers) with the demand side (manufacturing), to define the skills Africa needs today and in the future.”
Health sovereignty and regulation
On health systems, the agency reported it has championed the African Medicines Agency and advanced regulatory harmonisation, while its Demographic Dividend and Sexual & Reproductive Health program secured $100 million in funding this year.
Climate resilience centre operational in Egypt
AUDA-NEPAD noted operationalisation of the Centre of Excellence on Climate Change, Resilience and Adaptation hosted by Egypt – part of a growing portfolio on resilience and adaptation.
Footprint Presence Initiative: 12 countries signal interest
To speed delivery and ensure support is tailored to national priorities – without adding fiscal pressure to host budgets – the agency is establishing national Footprint Offices upon request. Twelve member states have expressed interest, including Congo, Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, Uganda, Angola, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Tunisia, Chad, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Libya.
“These offices are established without financial implications for member states’ budgets,” Ms Bekele-Thomas said, noting governments would provide offices and cover operational costs.
Governance muscle and growing budget
The agency credited its “unique governance structure” for agility and responsiveness, underscoring the role of the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) – currently chaired by Egypt – and the Steering Committee of presidential representatives that oversees technical work.
Reflecting partner confidence, AUDA-NEPAD’s approved budget has grown from $36 million (2020) to $95 million (2025), in addition to more than $300 million mobilised over the past three years. “Africa’s ambitions still exceed available resources,” the CEO cautioned, urging Africans to invest even more in their priorities while welcoming global partners.
Global engagement: G20, TICAD, Europe, Brazil – and Pretoria dialogues
The CEO detailed a busy diplomacy calendar:
- TICAD (Japan) engagements with JICA on infrastructure, resilience, and human capital.
- UK dialogues on trade, education, and innovation.
- Spain’s Financing for Development Conference on mobilising resources for Africa’s priorities.
- Portugal’s EuroAfrica Forum spotlighting the shift to corridor development.
- Brazil’s second Brazil-Africa Dialogue on Food Security to transform agriculture into “a driver of growth and inclusion.”
AUDA-NEPAD also works closely with South Africa’s G20 Presidency, contributing to finance and sherpa tracks and participating in T20 and B20 processes. In April 2025, the agency co-organised a Pretoria policy dialogue on “Strengthening African Agency in the G20 within the Emerging Global Order.” The CEO also met President Cyril Ramaphosa at the AU Africa Water Investment Summit, thanking him for inviting her to serve as Champion of the Global Outlook Council on Water Investment.
Diplomatic corps: Audacity, accountability – and proximity to citizens
Responding on behalf of the diplomatic community, Ambassador André Nzapayeké of the Central African Republic and Dean of African Diplomatic Corps in South Africa – hailed the founding “audacity” of NEPAD’s architects and urged that AU institutions remain “people’s institutions.” The ultimate metric, he argued, is whether “the poor woman farmer… and the street vendor” can feel NEPAD’s presence in daily life.
He recalled July 2001, when leaders including Thabo Mbeki, Abdoulaye Wade, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and Hosni Mubarak had the courage to found NEPAD. He recognised CEO Nardos Bekele-Thomas and the diplomatic community. He emphasized that NEPAD was created by Africans and must serve Africans. Infrastructure, industrialization, agriculture, health, and human capital are central. The coming decade will be decisive; challenges remain in connectivity and operationalizing the AfCFTA. NEPAD is our best instrument. Ambitions require political will, investment, and commitment. Institutions must serve ordinary Africans – the farmer, the street vendor – who must feel NEPAD’s presence.
He praised the CEO for championing Africa’s interests globally, stressing Africa’s transformation requires international solidarity, but also Africa proving its own capability. Ambassadors must deepen advocacy and cooperation. South Africa deserves commendation for hosting AU institutions. Diplomats in Pretoria are well-placed to bridge the agency and capitals. Africans must build the Africa they want, not wait for others.
He commended AUDA-NEPAD for broadening partnerships beyond the continent while stressing Africa must “show to partners that we are able.” Pretoria-based diplomats, he said, are uniquely positioned to bridge AUDA-NEPAD and their capitals, “not to wait for others,” but to help build the Africa we want.
In closing, he encouraged all to treat this gathering as inspiration for stronger cooperation, working hand in hand to secure Africa’s rightful place on the global stage.
Next milestones
- September 2025: Industrial Skills with Africa (Zambia).
- 28–31 October 2025: Rwanda Financing Summit on Africa’s Infrastructure Development.
- February 2026: Submission of the AU Development Fund proposal to the AU Summit.
Closing the evening, the sassy and capable programme director, Lerato Pooe, quipped that “AUDA” begins with the letters of “audacity,” noting it took exactly that for African leaders to reset the continent’s development agenda. The program then moved to a concise highlights presentation by Mr. Mohamed Abdul Saul of AUDA-NEPAD, with the CEO reiterating a simple charge to partners: translate solidarity into delivery.