We, participants (comprising high level officials and leaders from government, diplomatic community, private sector, think tanks, civil society, media, and development partners) to the 25th anniversary celebrations of the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) held from 3 to 5 May 2016 in Harare, Zimbabwe:
1. Commend the African Capacity Building Foundation for successfully organizing the 3rd African Capacity Development Forum in Harare, Zimbabwe on the theme “Developing Capacity for Africa’s Economic and Social Transformation”. We re-affirm our belief that providing a platform and opportunity for stakeholders to come together and discuss Africa’s development challenges and their capacity imperatives is important.
2. Would like to express our deepest and sincere appreciation to the Government of Zimbabwe for the strong support provided and for partnering with ACBF in the organization of this High-Level Capacity Development Symposium and the 25th ACBF Anniversary celebrations. Specific appreciation to the two distinguished Zimbabwe Vice Presidents, Hon Phelekezela Mphoko and Hon Emmerson Mnangagwa for taking time off their busy schedules to grace the event. This is clear testimony of the value the leaders see in ACBF’s role not just in Zimbabwe but the continent.
3. Note with satisfaction the significant contribution by ACBF in addressing the continent’s development priorities, in particular the evident achievements in establishing and supporting evidence-based policy formulation, implementation and evaluation.
4. Recognize that despite the economic and social progress achieved across the continent, the results have been differentiated and many countries continue to face human and institutional capacity deficits, which prevent them from achieving their full development potential.
5. Note that Africa still faces the task of addressing critical challenges associated with unsustainable and non-inclusive growth, youth unemployment, climate change, worsening security, gender inequality, excessive reliance on primary commodity exports, inter alia.
6. Recognize that capacity remains the missing link in dealing with the critical development challenges facing Africa as well as implementation of the development priorities (Agenda 2063, Sustainable Development Goals, RECs Development Strategies and Country Development Strategies).
7. Considering Africa’s transformation within the framework of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030, recommend African Governments and development partners to pay attention to the capacity imperatives for successful implementation of the continent’s development priorities.
8. More specifically, reaffirm our conviction that continent needs to build (1) the operational capacity for holistic and effective results; (2) the change and transformative capacities; and (3) the critical, technical and sector-specific skills for implementing the flagship projects under the First Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.
9. Recognize that capacity development is a long term process. We hence reiterate that more efforts and special attention should be devoted to not only developing the capacities but also retaining, harmonizing and utilizing the capacity built on the continent.
10. Mindful of the continued relevance of effective capacity development interventions, reaffirm the importance of strong and sustainable institutions such as ACBF to coordinate the development of institutional and human capacity necessary to bring about transformational change on the continent.
11. Recognize the importance of paying attention to the capacity dimensions of Agenda 2063 and Agenda 2030 especially the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation aspects. We hence applaud the African Capacity Building Foundation for its leadership in addressing these capacity challenges.
12. Unanimously note with deep concern that capacity is clearly the missing link in the continent meeting its development agendas. More specifically, some critical technical skills are needed to implement the flagship programs and projects under the Agenda 2063 First 10-Years Plan. Concerted efforts by all stakeholders especially Governments, development partners, private sector and training institutions is needed in building the required capacities.
13. Recognize that Africa faces the serious challenge of developing the required capacity in key sectors that are fundamental for the continent's economic and social transformation. There is need to develop the necessary capacities in strategic areas such as health, education, infrastructure, agriculture, industry, resource mobilization, trade, and regional integration.
14. Mindful that strengthened human and institutional capacity as well as the need for mind-set change and coherence in economic policy-making are important in order to successfully implement Africa’s economic and social transformation process. Moreover, we advise African countries to maintain sound macroeconomic policies that support sustained and inclusive economic growth for real structural transformation.
15. Reaffirm our conviction that the development of Africa is ultimately the responsibility of Africans themselves, suggesting putting more efforts on building capacity for effective domestic resources mobilization and utilization. We therefore recommend on widening the tax base, exchanging and developing technical expertise and capacity training, increasing level of intra-African mutual assistance, peer-learning and creation of conditions for further support from international partners.
16. Encouraged by the continued collaboration between the African Union Commission, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Development Bank, and the Regional Economic Communities in operationalization of Agenda 2063, further call on all key stakeholders to implement capacity development interventions in a coordinated approach.
17. Applaud ACBF for launching a Capacity Development Platform, and encourage the Foundation to take leadership in spearheading this platform for coordinating the capacity development efforts on the continent.
18. Pledge the support of African governments, continental and international partners to provide the necessary political and financial support to capacity building institutions such as ACBF in pursuance of their capacity building mandate across the continent.
19. Commit to support the upcoming ACBF Strategic Plan for 2017-2021 which builds on the experience accumulated and the lessons learned by the Foundation over the past 25 years as a leading expert institution in capacity building. We note that in order to meet the most pressing capacity development needs of Africa, the 2017-2021 ACBF Strategy has been developed along four key strategic pillars: (1) enabling effective delivery of continental development priorities; (2) supporting countries to achieve their development results; (3) enhancing private sector and civil society contribution to sustainable development, and; (4) leveraging learning and knowledge to reach greater development effectiveness on the continent.
20. Express, once again, our deep appreciation to the government and leadership of the Republic of Zimbabwe, the host of ACBF headquarters since 1991, for their sustained political and financial commitment to the Foundation and for hosting these celebrations and for the warm hospitality extended to all delegates.
Thus done on this 5th Day of May 2016
Harare, Zimbabwe
