P
Four major European partners commit to ECA 2010-2012 Business Plan
ECA Press Release No. 57/2010
Addis Ababa, 19 July 2010 (ECA) -In a major expression of partnership with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), four European funding partners – Denmark, Norway, Sweden and the UK – have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under the Joint Financing Arrangement (JFA) to provide substantial support to the ECA Business Plan 2010-2012.
The JFA is designed to avail ECA the extra-budgetary resources needed to carry out its planned programmes effectively, thereby achieving the outputs, results and outcomes stipulated in its Business Plan. ECA officials say the JFA is a symbol of the positive step by the four partners towards fulfilling the Paris Declaration commitments to increase efforts to harmonize, align and manage aid for results.
The Partners’ commitment was in response to ECA’s request for a long-term predictable partner support for projects and programmes in its Business Plan 2010-2012, and complements programmes funded through its regular UN budget.
According to the MoU, the partners would, among other things, strive for the highest degree of budgetary alignment and legislation of ECA and also enhance effective implementation, in line with the principles of aid effectiveness set out in the Paris Declaration.
During a short signing ceremony on 12 July in Addis Ababa, ECA’s Executive Secretary and UN Under-Secretary-General, Mr.
Abdoulie Janneh, expressed gratitude to the four countries for their “trustworthy partnership”, stating that the JFA “is not only providing us resources, but also entrusting ECA with the management of the resources.”
Janneh said “the agreement would enable ECA to implement programmes outlined in its 2010-2012 Business Plan in support of Africa’s development agenda including the MDGs, Regional Integration, and Poverty Alleviation. It will also deepen ECA’s partnership with the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank in promoting socioeconomic development and good governance in Africa”.
The agreement was signed by Ms. Pernille Dahler Kardel, the Ambassador of Denmark; Jens Odlander, the Ambassador of Sweden; Jens-Petter Kjemprund, the Ambassador of Norway; Norman Ling, the Ambassador of UK; and Mr. Janneh.
H.E. Mr. Jens Odlander, speaking on behalf of the partners, said that the event signified an important step forward, and described the MOU as a tool which shows the constructive cooperation between ECA and its development partners.
Issued by:
ECA Information and Communication Service P.O. Box 3001
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Tel: 251 11 5445098 Fax: +251-11-551 03 65
1 of 2 3/4/2014 3:57 PM
E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.uneca.org
