Harare, 23 December, 2014 (ACBF) – The Africa Capacity Building Foundation’s (ACBF) flagship publication, the Africa Capacity Report (ACR) for 2014 has been published. This year the focus is on the capacity imperatives for regional integration, a priority area of focus for the ACBF. The 2014 ACR and its supporting indicators offer inputs for decisions on what to support in capacity development and the capacities needed to help move the African regional integration agenda forward.
The relevance and timeliness of the theme is that regional integration is a relentless reality of modern times, and it is even more important for Africa as well-featured in the continental Agenda 2063. Regional integration is considered as the way forward and a key driver for the structural transformation of African economies and the continental strategy.
The 2014 Africa Capacity Report demonstrates that there are many challenges associated with regional integration: overlapping memberships, financing, commitment to the process, and slow implementation. The surveyed regional economic communities (RECs) have indicated that they need institutional capacity building in the areas of fiscal policy, development of capacity building programs, energy and statistics; organizational capacity strengthening in the areas of fiscal policy, financial market development, development of capacity building programs, infrastructure and free movement of people; and individual capacity building in the areas of trade, agriculture and food security, industry, and free movement of people.
The capacity dimensions and imperatives for regional integration are crucial today as countries, RECs, specialized regional institutions, and regional development organizations, are developing strategic regional frameworks and building capacity to pursue regional integration across the continent. The 2014 ACR also points out the regulatory and institutional reforms needed to better support public–private partnerships in capacity investment and building—and to the investments needed to further strengthen public administration. It highlights the importance of political will to enhance social inclusion and development.
The 2014 ACR is meant to serve as a guide to African governments, development partners, RECs and continental bodies, non-state actors and civil society organizations on the capacities to strengthen for successful regional integration. The Report outlines what is needed to strengthen the RECs; integrate capacity building in wider efforts to achieve sustainable development; assure adequate administrative and financial resources; emphasize the retention and use of skills, not just their acquisition; and monitor and evaluate all efforts to develop capacity.
Each year, the ACR showcases an annual theme of key importance to Africa's development agenda. The 2014 ACR on the capacity imperatives for regional integration is available on the ACBF website for download on this link.
