The African Delivery Units Network, a unique platform for government delivery units across the continent, has been launched in the Senegalese capital Dakar.

The new network, spearheaded by the African Development Bank was launched mid-January at a ceremony held on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Emergence of Africa. Its purpose is to provide a unique platform for peer learning and sharing of best practices and expertise in the field.

Delivery units are small highly skilled teams working at the center of government to help line ministries accelerate delivery of top priority programs and initiatives – have become increasingly popular in recent years.

In Uganda the Office of the Prime Minister runs the delivery unit headed by former Finance minister Ezra Suruma. The unit coordinates ministries in the delivery of government plans and programmes.

The launch in Senegal was preceded by a lively panel discussion in which delivery unit heads from Benin, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, and Idris Jala, CEO of the Performance Management and Delivery Unit of Malaysia (PEMANDU), shared insights and lessons on setting up and running delivery units within the context of ambitious economic transformation targets.

Jala presented PEMANDU’s delivery model: “Big Fast Results,” generating rich discussion about its relevance to the African context and circumstances. Panel members also shared their experiences, achievements and challenges in tracking and reporting results, organizing delivery labs and instilling a high performance culture.

The panel also highlighted the critical success factors to establishing delivery units, including: strong leadership focused on a limited set of top level priorities, tight budget alignment with key priorities, relentless focus on execution through routine tracking and reporting, strong analytical capability and effective relationship management.

Government delivery units are critical in driving high impact flagship programs and reforms in support of national development plans.

“Delivery Units respond to rising public expectations for faster results, tangible benefits, effective accountability in the use of resources and greater value for money, official said.

The African Delivery Units Network is made up of government delivery units established on the continent and development partners.

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The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, over the weekend received credential from the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Republic of Tanzania Mohamed Gaber Abulwafa, who is also assigned as the Permanent representative of Egypt to EAC.

The Secretary General briefed the Egyptian diplomat on the current achievements in the pillars of the regional integration and development process. He described Egypt as an important trading partner for the EAC and praised its outstanding role in promoting negotiations for the Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) between the EAC, COMESA and SADC.

Mfumukeko and the Egypt envoy discussed several issues including the status of the EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and also explored areas of collaboration in trade and investment.

On his part, Abulwafa said his country was eager to boost trade and technical cooperation with the EAC Partner States. He informed the Secretary General that Egypt has committed to improve areas of cooperation with the East African Community.

The EAC Secretary General also received the credentials from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mousa Farhang who also serve as representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the East African Community.

The Iranian envoy expressed delight at the accreditation commenting that Iran has very good relations with the EAC member states.

“In spite of the good relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the EAC Partner States, I believe a lot of the potential has not yet explored noting that untapped opportunities abound in trade and investment,’’ remarked Farhang.

Mfumukeko on his part, informed the Iranian Envoy that EAC is open to investment in areas of infrastructure, especially in roads, railways, ports and energy as well as technical and financial support from the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Also present at the accreditation ceremonies was EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge and officials at the EAC Secretariat.

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The Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF)’s flagship annual event, the Ibrahim Governance Weekend (IGW), will be held from April 5-7, 2019, at the Sofitel Hôtel Ivoire in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

The IGW brings together a coalition of decision makers from across the continent and beyond, encouraging informed and frank discussion about leadership in Africa, while celebrating progress in governance.

According to a press statement, the theme of the 2019 IGW will be the subject of African migrations, featuring an African-led conversation about the challenges and opportunities it poses, and its relationship with youth, mobility and jobs.

Key moments at the 2019 IGW will include the Ibrahim Leadership Ceremony, Ibrahim Forum, Now Generation Forum and Ibrahim concert. The 2018 IGW took place in Kigali, Rwanda.

Ibrahim Leadership Ceremony

On Friday, 5 April, we will dedicate an evening to African leadership and explore challenges to governance during the Ibrahim Leadership Ceremony. This year’s ceremony will feature a celebration of the life of Kofi Annan.

Ibrahim Forum

On Saturday, 6 April, a high-level Forum will focus discussion around this year’s theme: African migrations. Migration, whether referring to economic migrants, or refugees and related issues, is often the subject of much political discussion and debate, especially outside the continent. The conversation is often fragmented or overlooks the real dynamics.

Published ahead of the IGW, the annual Forum Report compiles the most relevant and recent data and insights on the selected topic. With facts and figures on migrations, youth, mobility and jobs in Africa, the Report will provide an evidence-based picture on the reality on the continent and will present the African perspective on these topics, thus offering a different narrative. The Report will analyse the specificity of Africa’s context.

Now Generation Forum

Ahead of the Ibrahim Forum, and following its success in 2018, emerging African leaders and young professionals convene for the Now Generation Forum (NGF) on Friday, 5 April. The NGF seeks to gather youth perspectives around the theme of the Ibrahim Forum. Outcomes from these discussions will be actively shared at the Ibrahim Forum by selected representatives from the group.

Ibrahim Concert

The weekend will conclude on Sunday, 7 April, with a live music concert featuring various African artists, such as Fally Ipupa.

Guest events

During the Ibrahim Governance Weekend, the Foundation will also welcome a number of global and African guest organisations. Various events will be hosted by the likes of the International Crisis Group (ICG); Open Government Partnership (OGP); The Africa Report (TAR debates); The B-Team; The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) Residential School; and the EU/Africa High-Level Group.

The 2019 IGW promises to be a memorable occasion and we look forward to welcoming you in Abidjan.

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A new report from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) showed that 2018 was a very good year for global tourism, with 1.4 billion worldwide traveler arrivals.

The UNWTO didn’t expect that figure until 2020, and it occurred in part due to stronger economic growth, greater visa facilitation, and more affordable air travel.

“The growth of tourism in recent years confirms that the sector is today one of the most powerful drivers of economic growth and development,” said UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.

According to the report, tourism to the Middle East and Africa grew above the six-percent world average, year over year, with a 10-percent increase in the Middle East and a seven-percent jump in Africa. Asia and the Pacific and Europe both grew by six percent.

Statistics also showed the Americas growing below the world average, with a three-percent increase. International arrivals in Central America and the Caribbean both slid by two percent, with the Caribbean hit hard by the impact of the September 2017 hurricanes Irma and Maria.

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The agency’s forecast for this year is expected to be more in line with international tourism’s historical growth trends of 3-4 percent.

It said that Brexit uncertainty, an economic slowdown, geopolitical and trade tensions may mean more of a “wait and see” approach to travel in 2019. However, stable fuel prices, improved air connectivity, and strong outbound travel from emerging markets will be positive indicators for the year.

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Lt. Gen. Ivan Koreta, one of the NRM/A bush war heroes angered many viewers of NTV Uganda on Saturday when he declined to take a few questions from a journalist about the liberation struggle that brought the National Resistance Movement (NRM) to power in On January 26, 1986.

The NTV Journalist Ali Mivule had been sent to Tororo District to cover the 33rd NRM Victory Day Anniversary, presided of by President Yoweri Museveni, the Chairman of NRM.

The NTV journalist successful had brief talk with Gen. Elly Tumwiine, Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng and NRM Secretary General who all talked about the successes of the liberation as well as the future of the country.

But when the journalist reached out to Gen. Koreta, the decorated army send the reporter away without opening his mouth.

An NRM cadre and a retired General said when contacted to give his view on Gen. Koreta’s action said his comrade’s reaction towards the reporter indicated that he aloof of Ugandans. “NTV is a national media. What Gen. Koreta did should be condemned. But he also missed chance to talk to Ugandans about the importance of our liberation. He knows very well that we lost many comrades who contributed to the success of the liberation. At least he should have posthumously lauded them live on television.

Another top politician said what Koreta did doesn’t resonate with the liberation of the country. “If you tell Ugandans that you went to the bush to liberate them and on one side you refuse to talk to a journalist covering the live broadcast the liberation day celebrations, you are telling Ugandans that you are no better than the leaders of past regimes you blame for suffocating democracy,” he said of Koreta who is set to retire this year alongside other senior officers of Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF).

He said added the general’s action defeats the suggestion that the UPDF is a pro-people army. “If a senior army at General’ Koreta’s level undermines the work of a journalist who gathers information for the people, then we cannot say UPDF is a pro-people army,” he said.

The politicians said Gen. Koreta is diplomat and legislator and should not have done what he did. “Are you not aware that he is a UPDF representative in the Parliament of Uganda; where he serves as a member of the Public Accounts Committee and the Committee on Presidential Affairs?” I am surprised that he did what he did on national television. Uganda right now does not need such leaders,” he said.

Koreta has been a member of the armed forces since 1981 and most recently served as the deputy chief of defence forces, the second-highest position in the UPDF, from 2005 to 2013. He also served from 2006 up until 2009 as the chairman of the General Court Martial, the second-highest military court in Uganda.

As a diplomat, Koreta led a Ugandan peace-keeping force to Liberia in the late 1990s.

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