The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has paid tribute to the work that has been achieved by the APRM and NEPAD in trying to eradicate poverty and improve development in Africa. Mr. Ban Ki-moon delivered opening remarks at the High-level discussion on Africa’s Innovation in Governance through 10 years of the APRM at the margins of the Africa-NEPAD Week 2013, in New York. The event is co-organized by the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), the Permanent Observer Mission of the African Union to the United Nations, the APRM Secretariat and the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency.

“What the APRM does for governance, NEPAD does for development. Together, they help Africa to advance along the path of democracy and development to benefit the continent’s people. Today, a few African countries have abject poverty. African countries are trading amongst themselves; there are more women in positions of power. I thank NEPAD and the APRM for taking the lead in supporting the processes that are enabling these developments,“ said Mr Ban Ki-Moon.

Ambassador Maged Abdelaziz, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa chaired the discussion which is the first in a series of activities at UN Headquarters marking “Africa Week,” during the 68th UN General assembly Debate on Africa. APRM Panel of Eminent Persons, Ambassador Fatuma Ndangiza Nyirakobwa, Ambassador Ashraf Rashed and Dr. Mustapha Mekideche will address the APRM@10: Perspectives on Transformative Governance and the African Agenda 2063, high-level discussion on 24 October.