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ACBF Strategic Studies Group key to political and social stability for transformational change in Africa - ZIPAR

Lusaka
Zambia
07 Mar, 2014
The Strategic Studies Group members pose for a group photo at Intercontinental Hotel in LusakaThe Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) says the inauguration of the Strategic Studies Group (SSG) is one of the major milestones in the work of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) in promoting political and social stability for transformational change in Africa.
 
In her welcome remarks during the opening session of the SSG inaugural workshop at Hotel Intercontinental in Lusaka on 7th March 2014, the ZIPAR Executive Director, Dr. Pamela NakambaKabaso noted that while it was undeniable that most African countries had recorded high economic growth rates over the last years; nagging poverty, inequality, increasing conflicts and terror, high levels of youth unemployment, climate change and increased natural disasters remained a challenge.
 
ZIPAR emphasized that decision makers on the continent more than ever before needed evidence based on high quality studies to undertake policy and development reforms to tackle the challenges faced by countries, hence the SSG was one of the milestones in promoting political and social stability for transformational change in Africa because it would enhance capacity to engage and regulate the productive sector and to track policy impact on the continent.
 
The commencement of the operations of the SSG brought new hope to the African continent because the impact of development research on policy action could not be assumed but had to be consciously and concertedly developed.
 
The SSG will be invaluable in contributing to the identification of key policy and emerging issues that are relevant to Africa’s development agenda.
 
ZIPAR commended the ACBF for the exceptional gesture of setting up and initiating activities of the SSG which made it possible to have diverse voices and experiences proactively engaged to identify critical capacity issues facing Africa and also propose good fit solutions centred on evidence-based research.
 
ZIPAR stressed that the increasing importance of the use of evidence based policy implementation and practice in Africa could not be over emphasized. The SSG was aware that it will not only work with ACBF to identify research themes, but will also serve as a ‘review panel’ that shapes, examines and evaluates the high level studies that will emanate from competitive calls for proposals commissioned by the Foundation in line with ACBF’s strategic objectives.
 
The divergent views and experiences that the knowledge experts in the SSG brought to the fora will facilitate the adoption of high level studies that will produce evidence that can dramatically change the face of the African continent for the better.
 

Read More on The ZIPAR Quarterly Issue 1, April 2014

Thomas Kwesi Quartey

ACBF has been granted the status of a specialized agency because of the potential to transform Africa through capacity development.


H.E. Thomas Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson, AU Commission
Erastus Mwencha

The recognition of ACBF as the African Union’s Specialized Agency for Capacity Development launches the beginning of a new era for capacity building by ACBF, which will require an appropriate level of political commitment and financial support from all stakeholders.


H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Chair, ACBF Executive Board
Lamin Momodou

The remarkable achievements ACBF has registered over the past 26 years is not by accident in our opinion. They have come through hard work, dedication, commitment, purposeful leadership, support from the member countries as well as productive partnership building.


Mr. Lamin Momodou MANNEH, Director, UNDP Regional Service Centre for Africa
Goodall Gondwe

Africa needs ACBF as much, probably more now, than at the time it was created in 1991.


Hon. Goodall Gondwe, former Chair of the ACBF Board of Governors and Minister of Finance – Malawi
Ken Ofori Atta

Ghana’s partnership with ACBF is a tremendous blessing for us and therefore the opportunity for Ghana to host the 26th ACBF Board of Governors Meeting is something that we treasure.


Hon Ken Ofori Atta, Chair of the ACBF Board of Governors and Minister of Finance - Ghana
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