#SaveTheDate: selected upcoming events in the ECOWAS/AU agenda

Demystify. Unpack. Explain

#SaveTheDate

1. An interview about #AfCFTA on Johannesburg-based radio station *Kaya FM* @9am GMT...on 4 June, 2019 ...with *E K Bensah Jr*, Independent ECOWAS & AU Policy Analyst /AU Service provider

2. The Ghana National Bureau has resolved to celebrate the "ECOWAS Brown Card Day'', an insurance scheme protocol signed on 29th May, 1982 in Cotonou.

The scheme was designed to aid free movement of persons and goods and services across national boundaries of ECOWAS member states.

3. This Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is originating its Regional Competition Authority, on the 31st of May 2019, in Banjul, The Gambia.

The ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA) is organised to perform the Regional Competition Rules affirmed by the ECOWAS Authority in 2008. The Rules are fundamental to develop, manage and support competition and enhance economic efficiency in production, trade and commerce at the regional level.

Being a specific agency with adjudicatory and investigative powers, ERCA also has a core charge of keeping under review commercial activities in the Community market with a view to ascertaining practices which may distort the efficient operations of the market conduct or which may adversely affect the economic interest of consumers.

ENDs

Africa in Focus Show seeks to demystify, unpack, and explain developments within institutions of ECOWAS; the African Union; East Africa; & South-South cooperation.First airborne in 2014, and with 5 Seasons under its belt, the Show is known as a reference for quality analysis on Africa.

@ekbensah | africainfocusshow.blogspot.com | www.instagram.com/africainfocusshow | +233.268.687.653 /+233.243.111.789*

NEWS: DIDIGU named interim executive director for ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority

The ECOWAS Commission has announced the appointment of Mrs. Henrietta Uzoamaka Didigu, as the first Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority (ERCA).

According to a statement by the ECOWAS Commission on Monday in Abuja, the appointment, which is at the instance of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, is for an interim period of 12 months, allowing the appointee to undertake crucial establishment activities that would lead to the full operationalization of ERCA in the shortest possible time.

Prior to her appointment, Didigu, was the Technical Adviser on Institutional Reform to the President of the Commission.

She brings on board, over 28 years' experience in regional integration and chaired, during the period, numerous high level negotiation missions, meetings and projects for country and region.

Before joining the Commission in 2000, Didigu, who holds a Master's Degree in Law (LLM) from the prestigious Duke University of Law, North Carolina, U.S.A, having earlier graduated from Nigeria's elite Ivory Tower, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, worked with the Nigerian Ministry of Justice, where she rose to the position Assistant Director.

In a period spanning 19 years at the ministry, she was involved in international negotiations, including the process that led to the adoption of the model Competition Rules for the Commonwealth of Nations.

Previously, she held various strategic level positions in the Commission, including Acting Director of the Legal Affairs Department for four years during which she was involved in the conceptual stages of the ECOWAS Regional Competition Policy Framework as well as in the drafting of the legal documents for the establishment of the regional Competition Authority.

Didigu also served as Acting Director of the Humanitarian and Social Affairs Department. One of her notable missions for the Community was as the legal adviser to the 2003 Liberian Peace Talks under the leadership of the former Nigerian Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. The peace talks ended the country's civil war in 2003 and restored democratic governance to Liberia.

Based in Banjul, The Gambia, ERCA was established in 2008, subject to the approval of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS to implement the ECOWAS Regional Competition Rules in aid of regional economic growth, consumer welfare and social stability through the promotion of competition and efficiency amongst enterprises within the ECOWAS common market

Source: https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/didigu-named-interim-executive-director-for-ecowas-regional-competition-authority/

Head of AIF Research & Comm’s Unit Visits Association of African Universities on “Agenda2063 Youth Engagement Series”

Demystify. Unpack. Explain

Head of AIF Research & Comm's Unit Visits Association of African

Universities on "Agenda2063 Youth Engagement Series"

Although Agenda2063 remains a working African vision since  2013, African activists continue to reference the UN's SDG in their discussions at the expense of Agenda2063.

Failure to do so now will affect how young people appreciate the document as helping shape a better future for them, including the important role the AU has in the prosecution of this.

It is to this end that the Accra-based Association of African Universities, an agency of the AU, has resolved to change the script with the creation of "Agenda2063 Youth Engagement Series".

The series will involve educational tours of Agenda2063 around selected educational institutions all over Ghana. The format will be three-fold, and will include a training; a plenary showcasing Agenda2063's aspirations with a moderator; and a pitch to.explore which students possess the most interesting community-based projects for funding. Over time, this format will.be exported to all African countries.

Presentations have already commenced at the University of Education in Winneba, located in Ghana's Central region. In Accra, the University of Professional Studies has already been paid a visit.

With exam period coming up, it is prudent to wait till September before resuming the field visits. However, as the visit with AAU confirmed, the Series will most definitely be launched in July 2019.

Africa in Focus has expressed an interest in being a strategic media partner, alongside its sister ECOWAS Business News. The partnership will help facilitate greater synergy and engagement with other relevant AU sister organisations to help amplify the ideals behind the Series.

This is consistent with AIF's membership of the Agenda 2063 Media Network (facilitated by NEPAD-AU Development Agency) that is seeking to mobilise a constituency of media practitioners reporting actively about Agenda2063.

ENDs

Africa in Focus Show seeks to demystify, unpack, and explain developments within institutions of ECOWAS; the African Union; East Africa; & South-South cooperation.First airborne in 2014, and with 5 Seasons under its belt, the Show is known as a reference for quality analysis on Africa.

@ekbensah | africainfocusshow.blogspot.com | www.instagram.com/africainfocusshow | +233.268.687.653 /+233.243.111.789*

AU Launches Call for Proposals on Consultancy Services to undertake Gender Mainstreaming Study in the Energy Sector in Africa

Demystify. Unpack. Explain

#OPPORTUNITY:

AU Launches Call for Proposals on Consultancy Services to undertake Gender Mainstreaming Study in the Energy Sector in Africa

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Monica Maduekwe <MMaduekwe@ecreee.org>
Date: Mon, 6 May 2019, 11:39
Subject: AU Launches call for proposals on Consultancy Services to undertake Gender Mainstreaming Study in the Energy Sector in Africa
To: Forwgender <gender@ecreee.org>


Dear All,

The African Union (AU) has launched a call for proposals for Consultancy Services to undertake Gender Mainstreaming Study in the Energy Sector in Africa. The study will inform the development of a Harmonised Policy for Gender & Energy in Africa, as well as guide the AUC in designing a Programme for Mainstreaming Gender in Energy.

Kindly find attached the bid document. More information can be gotten here: https://au.int/en/bids/20190423/terms-reference-consultancy-services-undertake-gender-mainstreaming-study-energy

Please circulate the information.



Chers tous,

L'Union africaine (UA) a lancé un appel à propositions pour que les services de consultants entreprennent une étude d'intégration de la problématique hommes-femmes dans le secteur de l'énergie en Afrique. L'étude éclairera l'élaboration d'une politique harmonisée pour le genre et l'énergie en Afrique, et guidera la CUA dans la conception d'un programme d'intégration de la dimension de genre dans l'énergie.

Veuillez trouver ci-joint le document de candidature. Plus d'informations peuvent être obtenues ici: https://au.int/en/bids/20190423/terms-reference-consultancy-services-undertake-gender-mainstreaming-study-energy

Veuillez faire circuler l'information.



Cordialement,



Monica

ENDs

Africa in Focus Show seeks to demystify, unpack, and explain developments within institutions of ECOWAS; the African Union; East Africa; & South-South cooperation.First airborne in 2014, and with 5 Seasons under its belt, the Show is known as a reference for quality analysis on Africa.

@ekbensah | africainfocusshow.blogspot.com | www.instagram.com/africainfocusshow | +233.268.687.653