ACBF and of Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP) in March held a workshop in Harare, Zimbabwe to explore areas for future partnership. PEP is an international organization that links researchers globally to enhance capacity for development policy analysis in developing countries. Its focus includes contributing contextualized policy solutions to socioeconomic development challenges. PEP’s research contributes to informing national and international debates related to economic policy, poverty, gender and sustainable development – an area that is also strategic for ACBF.
In his welcoming remarks, ACBF Executive Secretary, Prof. Emmanuel Nnadozie said that PEP’s visit to ACBF was timely as Africa’s renewed push for development – through the African Union Agenda 2063 – and the upcoming international negotiations around the post-2015 agenda made it imperative for continent-based policy institutions to increase collaboration on areas of mutual interest. “Only true partnerships will contribute to resolve African countries’ difficulties. Supporting research is important and so is supporting men and women as well as institutions whose work it is to contribute to policy making,” said Prof. Nnadozie.
PEP Executive Director, Dr. Bekele Shiferaw said that his institution had always held ACBF in high esteem and considered the Foundation as a potential partner in the fields of research, capacity building and the facilitation of north-south and south-south collaboration in policy making. “We value partnerships as they help enhance your performance and ability to achieve institutional goals,” he said.
Discussions by the two organizations revolved around research, capacity building, knowledge management and communication. Both PEP and ACBF expressed their satisfaction at the outcomes of the meeting and agreed to continue the consultation towards developing and signing the Memorandum of Understanding.
