Annual Report REGIONAL PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA REGIONAL PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA Annual Report 2020 1 Contents 01 Foreword 03 A Year in Stories 05 Executive Summary 06 Responding to COVID-19 11 Strategic Priorities 13 Regional Programme Work in 2020 13 Priority Area 1 19 Priority Area 2 31 Priority Area 3 Acknowledgements 37 Inter-Project Collaborations The Annual Report 2020 was produced under the leadership of Jide Okeke, Coordinator of the Regional Programme for Africa. Jelena Raketic, Fatma Ahmed and Michelle Mendi Muita provided valuable technical insights and inputs to the 39 Partnerships report, with additional support from Moges Abreham, Betelihem Teklu and Aisha Jemila Daniels. All RSCA teams and hub focal points provided significant inputs from their various regional projects and initiatives. Natalia Voronova, Paul VanDeCarr and Amandine Gillet compiled, edited and translated the report respectively. 41 Implementation During COVID-19 We would like to extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude for the remarkable efforts of all involved. 45 Financial Report About UNDP UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP’s Regional Programme for Africa contributes to regional development by addressing challenges facing the continent and amplifying opportunities related to the priorities and aspirations defined by the African Union and other regional entities. Copyright 2021 Photo Credits: Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Pexels 1st 2020 Overview 100% 31 African Young Core delivery Regional projects Women Leaders in 2020 and initiatives Fellowship UNDP Regional 2,000+ 20,000 3,000+ Bureau for Africa (RBA) Youth enrolled SMEs Women in training supported empowered as NEW YORK programmes during COVID-19 critical stakeholders 400% 20,000+ Growth in non-core/ 17 PPEs supplied to donor investments Knowledge regional COVID-19 totalling products response $92 million published Top 8 Non-Core Financing Donors DAKAR HUB $26.3m SIDA Regional Service NAIROBI Centre for Africa (RSCA) HUB ADDIS ABABA $10m The Netherlands $10m EU PRETORIA HUB $6.3m 50.8m Canada Germany $0.5m $2.9m IFAD MPTF Following the determination of African people and governments, UNDP’s own response stood on the side of staying the course. Foreword The year 2020 was one like no other. With the blow of the Our teams deftly adapted to the new logistical constraints. In these programmes, we kept an eye beyond recovery, As we approach the mid-point of 2021, we start to look COVID-19 pandemic, everything we know about how to do We deepened our engagement with the African Union and towards 2030 – keeping a foot on the peddle of ahead envisaging our new 2022-25 Regional Programme development was questioned. Yet, Africa neither relented Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to deliver against their transformation, reducing inequalities in gender, promoting for Africa. We will be shifting from a problem to a promise nor surrendered in defeat. The continent demonstrated its institutional mandates. We contributed to the advancement social protection including for the most marginalized, and lens that embraces and nurtures Africa’s potential and innovation, resilience and grit – bringing its talents to bear in of regional economic growth that is transformative and emphasizing youth as a central spine of our programming. wealth by delivering, expanding, and deepening structural responding to a most gruesome and still unfolding pandemic. reduces inequalities, with a particular emphasis on regional UNDP initiated a transformative partnership in support of the economic transformation and inclusion, and harnessing digital gender equality. We supported African states to deliver OneAfricaMarket in the African Continental Free Trade Area opportunities, while prioritizing women and youth. And while, like other institutions, our capacity to respond social protection including to the most marginalized; and (AfCFTA), which promises to revolutionize Africa’s industrial swiftly to a pandemic unprecedented in both its public health we significantly expanded our partnerships focused on prospects and its socio-economic development trajectory. I am proud of our teams and of their contributions. None of this and socio-economic impacts was put to the test, we did supporting youth entrepreneurship as well as empowering work would be possible without the spectrum of partnerships not relent. I am pleased to say that our reinforced and new women in transitional contexts. These are just some of the many impact stories and results with governments, businesses, civil society, development partnerships enabled us to stand with Africa – stalling what that were achieved amid the pandemic. With an initial banks, community groups, regional institutions, and other UN could have been a much worse outcome. We also invested in creating a peaceful and resilient Africa investment of US$4.8 million, we received an additional agencies – for which we are extremely grateful. through the launch of the Africa Borderlands Centre, a flagship $91.6 million in non-core investments - enabling us to This Annual Report speaks to the successes and impact of initiative focused on the unique challenges of the over 270 implement 31 projects and initiatives across 4 sub-regional As you, our partners and stakeholders, read through the UNDP’s Regional Programme for Africa during a difficult year. million Africans living in borderlands. We worked across the hubs, engage with over 99 partners, and contribute to global results highlights of 2020, I continue to count on your It chronicles successes and the impact of UNDP’s Regional UN system to pool capacities in an integrated response in the thought leadership through the publication of several flagship engagement, collaboration and support as we take on the Programme for Africa, detailing how we pivoted towards Sahel; and deepened our work on stabilization, preventing knowledge products. mantle to dig even deeper – until we unlock Africa’s promise. support for implementation of the AU’s own strategy in violent extremism and early warning, with a particular focus on response to the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, UNDP’s the Lake Chad Basin region. The successes recorded in this work with the African Union Commission’s Africa Centres for region informed the establishment of a stabilization facility in Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) speaks to this. the Liptako-Gourma region. As does UNDP’s investment in support for a safe reopening of Africa through home-grown technology solutions. Ahunna Eziakonwa UN Assistant Secretary General and UNDP Regional Director for Africa 1 REGIONAL PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA Annual Report 2020 2 Report: Impact of COVID-19 on governance, creates opportunities for increased solidarity A Year in Stories African business leaders Launch of interactive commit to fighting website on AU treaties COVID-19 JAN FEB MAR APR EU scales up support for Partnership engagements on climate change adaptation stabilization in the Lake Chad Basin and Liptako Gourma 2020 FEB region Report: Violent extremism Report: Impact of COVID-19 costs African countries $97 on governance creates billion each year opportunity for solidarity AUG JUL JUN MAY Elevating the voices of women Partnering with Africa CDC in borderland areas in the Horn to strengthen COVID-19 of Africa response and recovery Accelerating the women, Pan-African digital solution peace and security agenda PanaBIOS enables cross- in the Sahel border travel and trade SEP OCT NOV DEC Designing clinics on social Flagship report spotlights protection for UNDP trade opportunities for Country Offices women and youth OCT 2021 3 REGIONAL PROGRAMME FOR AFRICA Annual Report 2020 4 Executive Summary sustainable, with reduced economic inequalities, UNDP was built to take on and characterized by structural transformation. The the toughest challenges. And RP provided support to strengthen gender equality and the empowerment of women; build capacities in 2020, UNDP’s Regional to deliver on Nationally Determined Contributions Programme for Africa pivoted (NDC) commitments; bolster social protection systems; quickly to COVID-19, while also enhance youth development; advance implementation of the Great Lakes Regional Strategic Framework, continuing work in our three increase advocacy around the African Continental Free primary priority areas. Trade Area (AfCFTA); and ensure support for initiatives for structural and inclusive transformation. • On Priority Area 3, the Regional Programme 2020 was a challenging year for Africa. Across the helped regional institutions sustain peace and continent, the COVID-19 pandemic caused illness and build resilience to crises and shocks. The RP helped death, led to a socioeconomic crisis, and made already support efforts to prevent violent extremism; develop marginalized people even more vulnerable to poverty and tools on environmental hazards, environmental violence. The pandemic also prompted Africans to come degradation and resilience to climate change in the together for the collective good. In all corners, people Horn of Africa cross-border areas; raise awareness on looked in on their neighbours, wore masks and socially existing cross-border MoUs, policies and agreements; distanced, and generously gave of their time and resources. stabilize the Lake Chad Basin; and chart future UNDP