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AU to launch foundation to support Africa development

Xinhua, January 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

The African Union (AU) will officially launch the African Union Foundation on Friday during the 24th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, said an AU statement on Wednesday.

The AU Foundation will be launched following a decision taken by the Heads of State in May 2013 to enable voluntary contributions towards the financing of priority areas of the African Union, according to the statement.

The launch will be taking place in the form of a roundtable discussion, attended by Heads of States and foundation council members, who will be officially introduced.

"It is time for Africa to mobilize its own resources in support of its development and take charge of its own destiny," said Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, chairperson of the AU Commission, ahead of the launch.

The mission of the AU Foundation is to "mobilize resources in support of the African Union's vision of an integrated, people- centered and prosperous Africa, at peace with itself and taking its rightful place in the world."

To accomplish the mission, the foundation will focus on five key program areas in its first five years, including, skills and human resource development; women's empowerment and gender equality; regional integration; youth development and entrepreneurship; and advocacy and support for the African Union.

The foundation will strive to engage Africa's private sector, African citizens, communities, and leading African philanthropists to generate resources and provide valuable insight on ways in which their success can accelerate Africa's development.

The issue of domestic and alternative sources of funding has been an intrinsic element of the continent's commitments of the Pan African values of self-determination, solidarity and self- reliance.

Alongside the launch of the AU Foundation, the Africa against Ebola Solidarity Fund will be introduced after its inception at the AU-Private Sector Business Roundtable held on 8 Nov. 2014, according to the statement. Endi