Date
14 June 2024
AFRODAD AND AFROPAC JOIN HANDS TO SUPPORT AFRICAN PARLIAMENTS’ OVERSIGHT ROLE IN SOUND DEBT MANAGEMENT
[HARARE, ZIMBABWE] - June 20, 2024 - The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development (AFRODAD) and the African Organisation of Public Accounts Committees (AFROPAC) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing financial and debt management within African parliaments.
The MoU, formalised on June 14, 2024, underscores the crucial role of Public Accounts Committees in overseeing public debt in African parliaments, in alignment with the principles outlined in the African Borrowing Charter. Beyond providing technical support, the agreement includes an internship exchange program to bolster the AFROPAC secretariat's research capabilities and communication strategies.
In response to the collaboration, AFROPAC expressed enthusiasm about solidifying its partnership with AFRODAD, highlighting AFRODAD’s pivotal role in enhancing the understanding of public accounts committees on debt dynamics in Africa and exploring viable solutions to alleviate the same. Both organisations are eager to engage in concerted efforts, including joint activities and research initiatives, to fortify parliamentary oversight and advance a more equitable Africa.
Jason Braganza, the Executive Director of AFRODAD, stressed the significance of this partnership in enhancing parliamentary scrutiny of public debt through the Public Accounts Committee and empowering lawmakers to hold governments and lenders accountable for their borrowing practices. The MoU signing signifies a critical milestone in AFRODAD's ongoing mission to reinforce parliamentary oversight and promote responsible lending and borrowing norms within African governance structures.
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AFRODAD is a Pan-African organisation committed to assisting the long-term development of the continent; by promoting prudent debt and resource management, while also supporting the development of solutions to multiple intersecting crises
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AFROPAC is a Pan-African organisation comprising Public Accounts Committees of African Parliaments. It creates necessary tools from common practice by regional public accounts committees (PACS) organisation to strengthen accountability and transparency in public use by involving elected representatives.