Brussels, 25 February 2014/ ACP: Tanzanian Ambassador to the EU, H.E Diodorus Kamala addressed his peers for the first time on Friday 21 February since taking over presidency of the ACP Committee of Ambassadors earlier this month.

Ambassador Kamala outlined priority areas for the Committee – one of the main decision-making bodies of the ACP Group – which he planned to focus on during his six-month term at the helm.

This includes the projected ACP-EU joint strategy on private sector development, the ACP strategy for Intra-ACP programming in the 11^th European Development Fund cycle, the joint ACP-EU declaration on the post-2015 development agenda, the dialogue on migration and development, as well as certain working methods of the Committee.

“It is of utmost importance that the ACP ambassadors be consulted in the drafting process [for these strategies]… [Their] views should be taken on board from the outset,” he underlined.

The ACP Secretariat has been working to develop a strategy for private sector development within the ACP Group, including collaboration with the European Commission to define the areas for support under the 11^th EDF. Work is also underway to formulate the ACP’s proposal for programming the Intra-ACP envelope under the 11^th EDF, worth EURO 3.5 billion. Meanwhile, the ACP Council of Ministers recently approved a declaration on the post-2015 global development agenda, and an agreement on a joint declaration with the EU is expected by June 2014.

Ambassador Kamala further urged members to contribute to the ACP budget through innovative solutions such as using a “rolling plan and forward budget”, and establishing a partnership fund. He also called for closer monitoring by Ambassadors of intra-ACP projects funded by the EDF, including the nature and impact of these projects in ACP countries.

“An insufficient amount of focus has been placed on the tangible output that the ACP-EU partnership is meant to realise. The Committee of Ambassadors has not been kept informed adequately,” he said.

A regular “Decision Status Report” to monitor and evaluate the implementation of decisions by the governing organs was also deemed necessary to be able keep track of progress in carrying out decisions by ACP Summits, Councils of Ministers and Committee of Ambassadors.

Ambassador Kamala’s term as Chair runs from 1 February 2014 until 1 August 2014.

– ACP Press

(Photo top: H.E Ambassador Dr. Diodorus B. Kamala of Tanzania and ACP Secretary General H.E Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni; below, Ambassador Kamala addressing the ACP Committee of Ambassadors as Chair).