Addis Ababa, March 7, 2024 (FBC) – The United Nations in Ethiopia and the African Leadership Excellence Academy (AFLEX) have signed a letter of intent (LOI) to collaborate in advancing academic and thought leadership and the production and exchange of ideas to drive progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ethiopia and the wider African context.
United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Ramiz Alakbarov, and the African Leadership Excellence Academy President Zadig Abreha signed the Letter of intent (LOI) on Wednesday, ENA reported.
The collaboration will focus on 6 transformative entry points with the potential for catalytic and multiplier effects on the SDGs, significantly contributing to their achievement.
These entry points encompass food systems, energy access and affordability, digital connectivity, education, jobs, social protection and climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, it was learned.
A key aspect of the collaboration involves jointly enhancing the capacity and skills of civil servants and other stakeholders in social policies.
The ultimate aim is to nurture a new generation of transformative leaders who will champion the achievement of the SDGs in Ethiopia and Africa.
Speaking about the significance of the collaboration, Alakbarov said “the partnership will serve as a framework for identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders who must lead Ethiopia’s development narrative, particularly with a focus on young people and marginalized groups leadership grounded in the African context and for realizing the SDGs in Africa.”
African Leadership Excellence Academy President, Zadig Abreha said “AFLEX aspires to become a place where academic rigor meets worldliness.”
Also, “here in AFLEX we aspire to become bridge builders amongst the academia, civil society, the public and private sector, the leaders of African countries, generation of African leaders and Africa and the globe,” he added.
With this view in mind and together with institutions like the UN systems the academy will work towards generating world-class leaders for both Ethiopia and the continent at large, the president elaborated.
Zadig finally expressed his deep gratitude for the invaluable support and unwavering dedication displayed by Alakbarov in the process of formalizing the ground-breaking letter of intent, “which is more fittingly referred to as a memorandum of action.”