From June 19-20, AUDA-NEPAD and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa (DIRCO) are holding a retreat to discuss South Africa's critical role in AUDA-NEPAD's strategic work, including its implementation of the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063.

South Africa plays multiple roles in AUDA-NEPAD: as the host country, as a member of its governance structures, and as one of the five founding countries of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). In this regard, South Africa has significant responsibility and influence in guiding AUDA-NEPAD to ensure the realization of Agenda 2063.

At the opening session, Dr. Msingathi Sipuka, Chief of Staff of AUDA-NEPAD, emphasized the various roles the Government of South Africa should play in shaping AUDA-NEPAD's strategic direction, including providing necessary operational support. "As we envision the future of AUDA-NEPAD, South Africa is an integral part of that future," said Dr. Sipuka.

Over the next two days, the retreat will address different areas of AUDA-NEPAD's mandate, including accelerating the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative, implementing the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan, strengthening national statistics data and systems with South Africa's support, collaborating through AUDA-NEPAD Centres of Excellence, and discussing operational issues such as the host agreement.

In his remarks, Mr. Luvuyo Ndimeni, Chief Director of the African Union, Branch: Global Governance and Continental Agenda at DIRCO, commended AUDA-NEPAD for its role in the Second Ten Year Implementation Plan (STYIP) of Agenda 2063 and expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming discussions on how South Africa can best support AUDA-NEPAD.