By: Nana Appiah Acquaye
The African Union Commission
(AUC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
have explored areas of cooperation on infrastructure connectivity and regional
integration, including cross-border regulatory harmonisation, infrastructure
project preparation, workforce skills development and evidence-based
policymaking.
The discussions took place in
Addis Ababa during a bilateral engagement between African Union Commissioner
for Infrastructure and Energy H.E. Lerato D. Mataboge and OECD Deputy
Secretary-General H.E. Frantisek Ruzicka.
The engagement took up the
Enhanced OECD–Africa Partnership, with Mataboge setting out the Commission’s
priorities on infrastructure connectivity and regional integration across
energy, transport and an African-led digital transformation, anchored in the
Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA).
Discussions explored where
the two institutions could work together to harmonise regulation across
borders, prepare bankable infrastructure projects and build the skills of the
workforce of tomorrow, including in artificial intelligence.
The two sides also explored
strengthening data and analysis to support evidence-based policymaking.
The African Union
Commission’s Infrastructure and Energy Department is carrying the engagement
forward as part of the implementation of Agenda 2063.
