Obasanjo convenes workshop to speed up implementation of key NEPAD projects
The New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD)
President Obasanjo, Chairperson of the NEPAD Heads of States and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) will be convening a workshop from the 7th to 8th March 2005 in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss mechanisms to speed up implementation of key NEPAD infrastructure projects. The workshop organized by the NEPAD Secretariat, the African Development Bank (ADB), and with assistance from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Secretariat will be attended by the African Union, all RECs and development partners.
The workshop will be officially opened by President Obasanjo. The following dignitaries will deliver statements at the opening:- Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr. Konare, President of the ADB Mr. Kabbaj, and Head of the NEPAD Secretariat, Prof. Nkuhlu.
The workshop will explore mechanisms for building the capacity of the RECs to implement NEPAD, and draw up action plans to accelerate the implementation of key NEPAD infrastructure projects. The focus will be on harmonising priority programs in each region to ensure that only one definitive set of priority programs exist in each of the regions. In this regard, approximately five top priority infrastructure projects for each REC will be given special attention within the next 18 – 36 months with the support of the development partners.
The RECs will submit reports to the workshop in which they are expected to identify and/or reconfirm the top five priority infrastructure projects/programs in the respective region that are ready for implementation, including capacity and resource requirements and other support required to enhance project/ program implementation within the envisaged time frames.
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