New CEO of African Union Development Agency-NEPAD assumes office on 1 May.

Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas' appointment as the new Chief Executive Officer of AUDA-NEPAD was endorsed by the African Union Heads of State and Government during the Thirty-Fifth Ordinary Session of the African Union held Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in February 2022. She is the first woman to lead the African Union's development agency.

The former Head and Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in South Africa, Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas succeeds Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki as CEO of AUDA-NEPAD. She assumed office on May 1st and a CEO handover retreat was convened in Johannesburg, which took place over a period of two days (6 - 7 May), with members of the NEPAD Steering Committee.

Members of the NEPAD Steering Committee recognised Dr. Mayaki's role in the transformation of the NEPAD Secretariat into the continent's development agency - AUDA-NEPAD, as well as his sterling role in supporting the development of Africa through various interventions. They welcomed the appointment of Ms Bekele-Thomas, noting that she has consistently, over the years, been promoting human development on the continent that is underpinned by principles of economic, social, and political rights for all.

'Ms. Bekele-Thomas brings with her extensive experience in multilateralism, which will be of great value to AUDA-NEPAD,' the Co-chair of the NEPAD Steering Committee, Ms. Diyana Gitera, Rwanda's AUDA-NEPAD and APRM Advisor in the Office of the President stated.

'We must continue to provide support to AUDA-NEPAD through its programmes for the continent's transformation,' she said.

Ms. Gnounka Diouf, Co-chair of the NEPAD Steering Committee and Ministerial Advisor to the President of Senegal, also welcomed Ms. Bekele-Thomas and assured her of the support of Senegal, pointing out that, 'The value to NEPAD is especially through the leadership from Heads of State.'

'Dr Mayaki has been instrumental in transforming NEPAD Secretariat to AUDA-NEPAD, and as we welcome Madam Bekele-Thomas, we assure you of our greatest support,' H.E Elhmadi Salah, Chair of the NEPAD Permanent Representatives Sub-Committee reiterated.

The Thirty-Fifth Ordinary Session of the African Union (which took place from 5 - 6 February 2022) welcomed and endorsed the appointment of Ms Nardos Bekele-Thomas of Ethiopia, as the new CEO and entrusted her to take full and effective charge of AUDA-NEPAD as the legal representative of the institution.

'We are faced with current challenges, but we must be ready to...