The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has brought hardship, disruptions and much pain in our lives.
2021 has been a challenging year, and the costs of this pandemic will be felt for many decades.
African development systems will never be the same after COVID-19. They cannot be. We must
emerge with greater resilience than ever before to confront and overcome the challenges borne or
exacerbated by the pandemic and future crises. It must not be business as usual.
I am proud of and inspired by how the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) has
risen to meet these challenges over the last 12 months – with agility, resilience and commitment.
As an institution, we have made continuous improvements as a development agency and most
importantly, for those we serve.
2021 was also a remarkable year. We expanded our footprint in all AU Member States and moved with
speed and scale to respond to the COVID-19 health crisis quickly and efficiently with programmes
and resources redirected to face the emergency to save lives. We also dealt with the socio-economic
impact of COVID-19 at the community level, nationally and regionally, to preserve lives and secure
livelihoods. Our signature solutions aim to respond to the effects of the pandemic and focus on
three priority areas: Health Systems, Food Systems and Economic Growth and Jobs. These plans and
actions are designed to realise Agenda 2063 and keep on track with the momentum of its Ten-Year
Implementation Plan.
2021 was an anniversary year for us – 20 years of NEPAD – and the occasion for retrospection and
prospection on Africa’s development trajectory. The presence of COVID-19, unwelcome as it is, gives
us a fresh impetus to reflect on the vision and values of NEPAD as an engine for regional integration,
inclusive growth and shared prosperity in Africa.
A global pandemic such as COVID-19 exposes, in a stark manner, the undeniable interconnectivity of
our world and should not cause countries to pull away and revert back into practices of isolationism
and xenophobia. Instead, this challenge presents an opportunity for Africa to stand in greater
solidarity between African countries and between Africa and the rest of the world. With greater
conviction and action than ever before, we must reaffirm our commitment to regional integration
and work towards the goals and targets of Agenda 2063.
This year has taught us many valuable lessons, and I am confident that as a development agency we
will emerge from this pandemic strengthened. I hope that 2021, albeit challenging, leaves us with
positive memories of what we have achieved.
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