Harare, 27 April 2017 (ACBF) – As the Executive Board of the African Capacity Building Foundation sits for its 62nd regular meeting, in Harare – Zimbabwe from 27 to 28 April 2017, the Secretariat of the Foundation is proud to note the nomination of its Acting Executive Board Chairperson - Ms. Charlotte Kesson-Smith Osei (who doubles as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana) to the prestigious Chatham House Prize for 2017.
According organizers of the Prize, Ms. Osei’s admirable work to reform the Electoral Commission of Ghana within a difficult political climate to guarantee a fair and credible Presidential poll in that West African country in 2016, is the main motivation for her nomination. She has been nominated alongside two other well-known global figures: Juan Manuel Santos who is President of Colombia and Jens Stoltenberg who is Secretary General of NATO.
“We are extremely proud of the achievements of Ms. Osei who has been a major contributor to the new strategic policy direction of the African Capacity Building Foundation in its quest to support Africa in attaining the highest institutional and human capacity standards it needs to achieve sustainable development agenda,” said Prof Emmanuel Nnadozie, Executive Secretary of the Foundation just ahead of the ACBF’s spring Executive Board meeting.
“The confidence that Chatham house is bestowing on Ms. Osei, just like that of the people of Ghana whom she has diligently served towards the country’s electoral success, is the same confidence our Board of Governors have exuded in her as Vice Chairperson of the Foundation’s Executive Board, which she is now leads in the interim following the passing of the former Executive Board Chair - the highly acclaimed Prof. Callisto Enias Madavo last January” he said.
“This nomination is also very telling of the caliber of people who have been working tirelessly as members of our Board of Governors, our Executive Board and our Secretariat staff to give Africa the strategic nudge needed for its transformation.”
The nominating institution – Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a well-known London-based Think Tank that engages governments, the private sector, civil society and its members in open debate and confidential discussion on the most significant developments in international affairs. Its experts make policy recommendations and regularly brief governments, law makers and other decision-makers conclusions of its findings.
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For more information, please contact:
Abel Akara Ticha – Senior Communication Officer
The African Capacity Building Foundation
Harare, Zimbabwe
+263 7+263-4 304663, 304622, 332002, 332014; Ext. 279
Email: A.Ticha@acbf-pact.org
About the African Capacity Building Foundation
Established in 1991, ACBF builds human and institutional capacity for good governance and economic development in Africa. To date the Foundation has empowered people in governments, parliaments, civil society, private sector and higher education institutions in more than 45 countries and 6 regional economic communities. ACBF supports capacity development across Africa through mobilization and leveraging of resources for capacity development; grants, investments and fund management; knowledge services; promoting innovation in capacity development and capacity development advisory services. The establishment of ACBF was in response to the severity of Africa’s capacity needs, and the challenges of investing in indigenous human capital and institutions in Africa. ACBF interventions are premised on four principles: the centrality of capacity to the development process in Africa; the critical role of a partnership and demand-driven approach in tackling capacity challenges; African ownership and leadership in the capacity development process; and a systematic, sequenced and coordinated approach to the capacity development process that pays attention to capacity retention and utilization. For further information go to: www.acbf-pact.org
