Nardos BEKELE-THOMAS

Today I had the honour of sharing an informal tea with my dear brother, Ambassador @Swelamiat As always, our conversation ranged far and wide — touching on the state of the continent, the role of diplomacy in unlocking Africa's potential, and the kind of long-term thinking that transcends political cycles. In a world that moves fast and often prioritises transactions over relationships, it is the bonds forged over time — built on mutual respect, shared vision, and genuine friendship — that ultimately drive meaningful and lasting change. Grateful for the brother, the diplomat, and the visionary. #Africa #Diplomacy #Leadership #Partnership #AfricaRising

I was pleased to meet with Chantelé Carrington, CEO of Invest Africa, to discuss strategic collaboration and investment across the continent. What stood out most in our discussion was the deliberate shift away from development aid dependency — towards investment-led growth, bankable projects, and private sector integration that puts Africa firmly in the driving seat. The appetite for investment in Africa has never been stronger. What's needed now is coordination, conviction, and the right partners at the table. We're proud to be part of that conversation. #InvestAfrica #AfricaInvestment #Infrastructure #Agriculture #Industrialisation #PrivateSector #EconomicDevelopment #AfricaRising #StrategicPartnership #TradeAfrica

From Vision to Action: AUDA-NEPAD at ATC 2026 The journey of African development reached a pivotal milestone in 2001 with the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). In 2018, this vision evolved into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)—the AU’s first dedicated agency for driving Agenda 2063. Our mission is clear: to forge a self-reliant and prosperous continent through inclusive, sustainable development. As our CEO, Ms. Nardos Bekele-Thomas, @nardosbthomas, states: “From Vision to Action: The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) is Forging Africa’s Future!” In an era defined by global disruption, Africa’s path is a strategic choice. We are prioritizing foresight planning, domestic resource mobilization, and institutional integrity to secure true economic independence. By 2040, our targets for infrastructure and energy sufficiency will require the collective investment and innovation of the entire continent. Today and tomorrow, May 23rd, 2026, We will join the Cambridge Africa Together Conference (ATC) at The Cambridge Union. Alongside H.E. Julius Maada Bio, @julius_maadabio, President of Sierra Leone and Mr. Armando Manuel, @fsdea_angola of the Angola’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, we deliberated and will continue to discuss on the practical steps to transform these ambitious goals into reality. Join us in Cambridge to engage in the dialogue defining Africa’s global future. 🔗 Register Now: africansocietycambridge.co.uk/atc #Agenda2063 #ATC2026 #AfricaRising #SelfReliance #EconomicIndependence #AfricanDevelopment #NardosBekeleThomas #FutureOfAfrica #GlobalLeadership

The CEO of @AUD-NEPAD Nardos Berkeley-Thomas has challenged the African Heads of State and Government to fund NEPAD. #sabcnews

The South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile and the former President Thabo Mbeki at the NEPAD@25 breakfast. #sabcnews

This morning, I will deliver a keynote address at the NEPAD @ 25 Business Breakfast held at the Marriott Hotel, Century City, Cape Town. This marks the start of a year-long continent-wide commemoration of Africa's foremost development agency. #NEPAD25 #PaulMashatile

We are proud to announce that our CEO, H.E. Mrs @nardosbthomas, will be speaking at the Cambridge Africa Together Conference 2026! Join us for Africa in the Age of Disruption, a two-day conference bringing together Africa's foremost leaders, innovators, and changemakers. 📍 The Cambridge Union, Cambridge, UK 📅 22–23 May 2026 H.E. Mrs Bekele-Thomas will join an expert panel on "Beyond Debt and Dependence: Africa's Path to Development and Industrial Transformation", a conversation that couldn't be more timely. 🔗 africansocietycambridge.co.uk/atc

✨ Celebrating 25 Years of African Renaissance! ✨ Our visionary CEO, @nardosbthomas recently sat down with Dr. Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, @MbuyiseniNdlozi of the African Renaissance Podcast for a truly inspiring MasterClass! They unpacked the incredible journey of our institution, from its inception to its silver jubilee, highlighting monumental successes and charting an exciting course for the future. Over the past quarter-century, we’ve witnessed a transformation driven by a profound philosophy of African self-reliance. From mobilizing $86 billion for critical infrastructure projects to harmonizing regulatory frameworks that led to the African Medicines Agency (AMA) @AU_AMA_, our impact resonates across the continent. Our CEO’s consultative leadership, engaging directly with all 55 member states, has fostered a mind shift towards trusting and investing in our own institutions. Looking ahead, the focus is on implementing the second 10-year plan of Agenda 2063, closing a $3.3 trillion funding gap by unlocking domestic capital, and prioritizing industrialization, especially in the pharmaceutical sector. We are committed to fostering a “Team Africa” integration, harmonizing frameworks across all Regional Economic Communities. Join us in celebrating our past achievements and looking forward to a future where Africa finances its own development and thrives! Watch the episode here, youtu.be/GEnCOtUZ-5A?si…. @EU_Commission @WorldBankGroup @noradno @Sida @_AfricanUnion @AECID_es @giz_gmbh @cidcaofficial @AfDB_Group @afreximbank @jica_direct_en @SADC_News @ecowas_cedeao @jumuiya @COMESA_HQ @amibiaka @SymerreGrey @EstherineF #AfricanRenaissance #SilverJubilee #Leadership #FutureOfAfrica #Innovation #Development

25 years ago, African leaders chose to take responsibility, not to wait for the world to develop Africa, but to build a plan of their own. That decision became NEPAD. Today, we ask what must come next. ▶️ Watch our CEO, @nardosbthomas opening address at the AUDA-NEPAD at 25 High-Level Business Breakfast.

This morning in Cape Town, we marked 25 years of AUDA-NEPAD with the @TMFoundation_ and @unisa at a High-Level Business Breakfast that brought together government, business, and development finance institutions. Deputy President of South Africa, @PMashatile delivered the keynote and Former President of South Africa, Thabo Mbeki, who helped build this institution, closed the session with reflections on where AUDA-NEPAD started and where it needs to go. 25 years in, AUDA-NEPAD has connected electricity grids across six East and Central African countries, reaching nearly 200,000 people. One-Stop Border Posts have cut crossing times by up to 98 percent in some corridors. African-owned innovations have been scaled across 36 countries, reaching 48 million people annually. Medicine registration timelines in the East African Community have been cut from up to three years to under twelve months. CEO, @nardosbthomas was clear about what the next phase requires. "If we want African institutions, we must fund them. If we want infrastructure, we must prepare and finance it differently. If we want industrialisation, we must invest in production." #AfricaDay2026

Our CEO, @nardosbthomas spoke to @SABCNews TV News on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of AUDA-NEPAD. She highlighted the importance of Africa continuing to fund its own developmental programmes, underscoring the agency's founding principle of African ownership and self-determination. As AUDA-NEPAD marks this milestone, the continent's challenges remain significant, including infrastructure gaps, conflict, and climate change. Twenty-five years on, the agency remains committed to driving sustainable development across the continent. youtube.com/watch?v=QbyfRG…

Last night, AUDA-NEPAD officially launched its Silver Jubilee celebrations at a Gala Dinner in Johannesburg, marking 25 years of shaping Africa's development trajectory. Since 2001, the African Union Development Agency has worked across all five regions of the continent to connect communities, strengthen economies, and improve lives. From agriculture and infrastructure to health, trade, and youth empowerment, the impact of this institution spans generations. This Silver Jubilee is not just a celebration of time passed. It is a recognition of what becomes possible when Africa leads its own development. Find out more: nepad.org/news/auda-nepa…

Amb. Dr. Samori Okwiya, @ModestThinkin CEO of NEPAD/APRM Kenya Secretariat, led a delegation on a courtesy call to H.E. Nardos Bekele-Thomas @nardosbthomas at the AUDA-NEPAD @NEPAD_Agency continental offices in Midrand. The meeting highlighted key AUDA-NEPAD programmes in Kenya, including Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, the African Union Agenda 2063, Midwifery Programme, and Centres of Excellence. H.E. Nardos noted AUDA-NEPAD’s commitment to supporting implementation through collaboration, including joint workshops to address bottlenecks and accelerate sustainable development.

Drawing on AUDA-NEPAD’s partnership with Statistics South Africa, today’s engagement with Statistician-General, Mr Risenga Maluleke, focused on strengthening Africa’s statistical and data systems to accelerate implementation of #Agenda2063 and the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan. Discussions underscored the importance of quality, evidence-based data systems to support policy formulation, investment planning, and effective programme delivery across the continent. The meeting further emphasised the importance of building resilient statistical institutions, strengthening coordination across national data systems, and advancing evidence-based governance to support effective implementation and accountability under Africa’s development agenda. Africa’s transformation will increasingly depend on strong institutions that can generate, manage, and utilise data to translate policy ambition into measurable implementation and impact. #DataForDevelopment #Agenda2063

Today, H.E. Ambassador Usman Abu Fatima Adam Mohammed, Ambassador of Sudan to South Africa, paid a courtesy visit to our CEO H.E. @nardosbthomas, reaffirming the importance of strengthened cooperation. The visit served as an opportunity to formally introduce the newly appointed Ambassador, while also providing a platform to explore potential areas of collaboration between the Government of Sudan and AUDA-NEPAD, particularly in advancing development priorities aligned with continental frameworks. #Agenda2063

A Vision for Africa: Chairperson Mahamoud Ali Youssouf Visits AUDA-NEPAD & APRM The new offices of AUDA-NEPAD and APRM l @APRMorg recently hosted a distinguished guest as the Chairperson of the African Union Commission l @_AfricaUnion , H.E. Mahamoud Ali Youssouf | @ymahmoudali, arrived for an official visit. He was warmly received by our CEO H.E Nardos Bekele-Thomas l @nardosbthomas and the dedicated staff of both institutions, marking a day of reflection on the continent’s shared goals. During his address, Chairperson Youssouf spoke with conviction about the vital role each staff member plays in the broader context of Africa’s development. He urged the teams to remain steadfast in their belief in the importance of their work, noting that their daily contributions are the building blocks of the Africa we want. The Chairperson also took a moment to express his deep appreciation for the significant milestones achieved under the leadership of Nardos Bekele-Thomas, warmly congratulating her on the commencement of her second term. In response, our CEO Nardos Bekele-Thomas thanked the Chairperson for his time and his encouraging words, which serve as a powerful motivator for the entire organization. She also extended her sincere gratitude to the South African government l @GovernmentZA, as the host country, for its continued support and partnership in providing a home for these critical institutions. This visit serves as a powerful reminder of the unity and leadership driving the African Union’s mission forward. Together, through dedication and collaboration, the vision of a prosperous and integrated Africa continues to take shape. #AUDA_NEPAD #APRM #AfricanUnion #AfricaDevelopment #Leadership #Agenda2063

At the 5th STC on Transport & Energy, I underscored a central message: Africa’s infrastructure challenge is not only about identifying needs—it is about structuring the right projects, at the right scale, in the right sequence, with financing models that unlock investment and sustain delivery. Through initiatives like the Africa Ten-Year Infrastructure Investment Plan for Cross-Border Interconnectivity and the Continental Power Systems Master Plan, AUDA-NEPAD is advancing a more integrated, portfolio-based approach to delivery—connecting infrastructure directly to production and trade. But the challenge is also financial. Africa does not lack capital. Domestic resources exist, yet too little is channelled into long-term productive infrastructure. The priority is clear: strengthen project preparation, accelerate implementation, and unlock domestic capital at scale. This STC must mark a shift—from infrastructure as projects to infrastructure as production platforms; from coordination to execution; from ambition to delivery. #AfricanUnion #Agenda2063 #PIDA #Infrastructure #Energy #Transport #AfCFTA #Industrialisation #RegionalIntegration #STC

Development cooperation cannot keep answering today’s problems with yesterday’s architecture. That was the focus of our panel at AfricaXchange 2026. The next era must be built around African priorities, African institutions, African capital, and African delivery systems. That is the shift. #AfricaXchange2026 #DevelopmentCooperation #AfricanDevelopment #Agenda2063 #AUDA #Partnerships