Landmark meeting between the African Management Development Institutes Network and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs in New York

The African Management Development Institutes Network (AMDIN) held a productive and fruitful inaugural meeting with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), at UN Headquarters in New York.

The meeting was aimed at exploring a strategic partnership and exploring areas of collaboration between the two institutions in support of education, training, development and research, focused on enhancing the capacity of public servants on the African continent.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 25th Session of the United Nations Committee of Experts on Public Administration (UN CEPA) at the UN Headquarters.

The President of AMDIN, Mr Tombola Muke led the AMDIN delegation, accompanied by the Vice-President of North African region, Ms Nada Biaz and Vice-President for the Southern African Region Prof Jacob Malungo. South Africa’s National School of Government (The NSG) is the secretariat of AMDIN and is responsible for the day-to-day operations and management of the network. The NSG was represented by Deputy Director-General Dr. Lakela Kaunda and the Director of Africa Affairs and AMDIN focal point, Ms. Pumla Nhleko. The UN DESA delegation was led by Mr. Juwang Zhu, Director of the Division for Public Institutions and Digital Government and Officer-in-Charge of the Division for Sustainable Development Goals at UN DESA.

AMDIN is a network of Management Development Institutes, Public Sector Training Institutes and other Public Administration Institutions based in Africa. Membership of the AMDIN is open to all public African Management Development Institutes and Schools, and research institutions within the scope of governance, public administration and public policy across the continent. Membership is per institution rather than at a country level and is open to all institutions operating in a country.

AMDIN and UN DESA share commitments to strengthen public administration and governance in Africa, to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically goals 16 and 17, to build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions, and to promote knowledge exchange and the dissemination of best practices.

UN DESA upholds the UN’s development pillar and brings the global community together to work towards common solutions to the world’s most pressing problems. It helps countries to translate their global commitments into national action in the economic, social and environmental spheres.

AMDIN expressed interest in cooperation with UN DESA on the following areas:

  • Joint design and delivery of capacity development programmes for African MDIs.
  • Co-development of training curricula aligned to governance and SDG priorities (goals 16 and 17).
  • Collaboration on research, policy dialogue and knowledge sharing platforms.
  • Support to implementation of the Agenda 2030 and Agenda 2063 frameworks.
  • Convening joint forums, workshops, conference and communities of practice.

The two institutions agreed to continue engagement towards a firm collaboration on the common goals and to build a strong the partnership, especially through the United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN).

Issued by the National School of Government

Enquiries: Dikeledi Mokgokolo at 082 888 2355 and email Dikeledi.Mokgokolo@thensg.gov.za