THE FIFTH CONSULTATIVE FORUM OF THE POLICY INSTITUTES COMMITTEE IN KIGALI RWANDA FROM 21 TO 23 OCTOBER 2015.

1. Policy Institutes Committee
FIFTH CONSULTATIVE FORUM OF THE POLICY
INSTITUTES COMMITTEE
Kigali (Rwanda)
21-23 October 2015
Keynote Opening Remarks
Thomas Chataghalala Munthali, PhD
Director, Knowledge Monitoring and Evaluation
The African Capacity Building Foundation: 2 Fairbairn Drive, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +2634304649. Email: root@acbf-pact.org. Website: www.acbf-pact.org

2. The Minister of State for Economic planning Dr.Uzziel Ndagijimana.
The Executive Director of IPAR-Rwanda, Ms. Eugenia Kayiteshi
Chair and vice-chairs of the Policy Institutes Committee,
Distinguished Members of the Policy Institutes Committee,
Colleagues from University of Cape Town
Colleagues from ACBF
Members of the media
Distinguished guests from various partner institutions in Rwanda,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is such a pleasure to see you all at this Fifth Consultative Forum of the
ACBF Policy Institutes Committee (PIC) in this beautiful city of Kigali, which is
a modern metropolis at the heart of the emerging Rwandan economy. I
must add that the transformation being observed in Kigali and Rwanda
generally should be the pride not just of every Rwandese but all Africans
generally.
Let me begin by thanking you all for accepting to attend this fifth meeting.
You are ACBF’s strategic partners and the Foundation does appreciate your
time, your participation and your very strong commitment.
My special thanks go to the Authorities of Rwanda. But let me also single out
the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research-Rwanda (IPAR-Rwanda), for
accepting to co-host this very important Forum. We therefore express our
gratitude to IPAR-Rwanda (to Ms Eugenia Kayitesi, and her entire team) for
their efficiency, professionalism, hard work and commitment.
The aim during these three (03) days, other than updating each other on
progress around PIC activities and subsequent plans, is mainly: (1) to
dialogue and exchange on pertinent policy development questions, among
them the Tobacco Control issues. From the PIC perceptive, it is important to
reflect on the research gaps in tobacco control on the continent paying
particular attention to the capacity imperatives in addressing the issues; (2)
to share knowledge and experiences on how you, as think tanks, have been
able to manage knowledge for better policy impact; (3) to discuss the
findings of the Country Reviews and CPIA studies that you have been
undertaking; and (4) more importantly, to get your advice on which strategic
direction ACBF should be taking in the next coming 5 years and the role that
think tanks (PIC) can play.
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3. Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
This Fifth PIC Forum is happening at a very strategic moment for the world,
for Africa as well as for the Foundation. The year 2015 is a time of global
strategic transition from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); it is also the year when Africa
embarks in the implementation of Agenda 2063. Likewise, 2015 is the year
when ACBF starts consulting its stakeholders and partners on the strategic
direction to take in the coming years, mainly with respect to its Fourth
Strategic Medium term Plan (SMTP IV).
These changes directly call ACBF into action but also the think tanks which
play a unique and very determinant function in providing public policy
research, analysis and advice. Indeed, as widely discussed during the Second
Africa Think Tank Summit where most of you participated in, think tanks
have a role to play in moving Agenda 2063. The PIC has a role to play by
helping to ensure that African countries get to localize Agenda 2016 and
implement the plans. More importantly, think tanks should help continental
and regional institutions as well as individual countries in assessing the
capacity requirements for effective implementation of their plans
customized to Agenda 2063.
As you may know, ACBF has been mandated by the African Union
Commission and responded rapidly to the needs of African countries by
stepping-up its technical support for a successful implementation of the
Agenda 2063. I would like to mention the studies on the “Internal and
external risks associated with the implementation of AU Agenda 2063” and the
“Agenda 2063 Capacity Needs Assessment and Preparation of Capacity
Development Plan” conducted by the Foundation. Both studies which will be
soon published are critical in shaping future directions towards successful
implementation of the continental agenda.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
In its journey to strengthen capacities and support the successful
implementation of the continental agenda 2063, the Foundation will
strongly rely on think tanks by building on their comparative advantages.
For ACBF, think tanks are strategic partners in informing decision and policy
makers on the capacity issues that require to be addressed for inclusive and
sustainable development. Besides, think tanks will also serve as a very
important and efficient channel for reaching policy makers with the
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4. recommendations of the Country-reviews and CPIA studies that we will be
conducting every year via this network. Going forward, members of the
Policy Institutes Committee, in their respective countries, will be called to
help to disseminate the findings and recommendations of our Africa
Capacity Report and various knowledge products for implementation of
recommendations.
The PIC Network is an important institution for driving evidence-based policy
dialogue in Africa. The Continent’s leaders need you. Let us work together to
make this network highly powerful, efficient, relevant and impactful.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
ACBF will keep you updated on the in-house, continental and international
events and initiatives that would require your attention and your active
participation. In this regard, I am pleased to announce that as mandated by
the Africa Think Tank Summits, ACBF is in the process of launching the Pan
African Think Tank Network whose Secretariat is housed within the
Foundation. You are all members of the Network and its success will heavily
depend on your support and commitment. I strongly urge you to join ACBF
and support the launch and effective implementation of the activities of the
Pan African Think Tank Network.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen:
In conclusion, I wish to reaffirm the great importance that the Foundation
places on the PIC Network and on the presence of every one of you that has
gathered here. I am further hopeful that this meeting will achieve the
desired outcomes central to which is a fruitful exchange of experience and
knowledge for your own development and that of Africa, a renewed
commitment to capacity development on the continent, and the
enhancement of the network’s contribution to ACBF activities,.
I deeply appreciate your participation, cooperation and contribution for the
success of this Fifth meeting of the PIC, in advance, and feel certain that the
results will lead us to the next step in our endeavors – that of building
capacities in Africa for inclusive and sustainable development.
Last but not least, please take note of three key important events that are
coming: (1) the launch of the 2015 Africa capacity Report (ACR) next month
on 30th
November in Harare, Zimbabwe; (2), the Third Africa Think Tank
Network Summit to take place from 6th
to 8th
April 2016 at Victoria Falls
(Zimbabwe); and (3) the Third Pan African Capacity Development Forum
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5. which will be combined with the 25th
Anniversary of ACBF tentatively
planned for February 2015 at a venue to be communicated.
In relation to the 25th
Anniversary celebration, ACBF wishes to document
how your organizations have made impact in your areas of focus and the
role that ACBF has played in advancing your work. Members of our team
and the Africa Evaluation Association (AFREA) will be reaching out to you. So
I request your kind support as some of these interviews could be happening
after meeting hours.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Thomas Chataghalala Munthali, PhD
Director, Knowledge Monitoring and Evaluation, ACBF
21 October 2014
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6. which will be combined with the 25th
Anniversary of ACBF tentatively
planned for February 2015 at a venue to be communicated.
In relation to the 25th
Anniversary celebration, ACBF wishes to document
how your organizations have made impact in your areas of focus and the
role that ACBF has played in advancing your work. Members of our team
and the Africa Evaluation Association (AFREA) will be reaching out to you. So
I request your kind support as some of these interviews could be happening
after meeting hours.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Thomas Chataghalala Munthali, PhD
Director, Knowledge Monitoring and Evaluation, ACBF
21 October 2014
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