From right to left, H.E.Mrs. K. UMUTONI, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Kingdom of Morocco, and Dr. C. Dieudonné ASSOUVI, Director General of CAFRAD

At the end of his election on July 9, 2024 by the 59th session of the Board of Directors, Dr. Coffi Dieudonné ASSOUVI, was committed to making CAFRAD an institution of the African Union, a leading Center, a unique unifier in terms of harmonization of training and research for all African countries in accordance with the vision of the Founding Fathers. This is an ambition which implies that all African countries are members of CAFRAD. The new Director General has put in place a membership policy for this purpose. It is within the framework of the deployment of this policy that Dr. ASSOUVI began touring the Embassies of non-member countries.

Friday January 10, 2025 was marked by an unprecedented agenda for the new Director General of CAFRAD, Dr. Coffi Dieudonné ASSOUVI. Indeed, the Head of the Pan-African Intergovernmental Organization was received in solemn audience by Her Excellency, Mrs. Shakilla K. UMUTONI, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Kingdom of Morocco.

From right to left, H.E.Mrs. K. UMUTONI, Ambassador of the Republic of Rwanda to the Kingdom of Morocco, and Dr. C. Dieudonné ASSOUVI, Director General of CAFRAD

Rwanda is not yet a member of CAFRAD, but Her Excellency, Madam Ambassador was particularly keen to receive the Director General of CAFRAD given the importance of this Organization both for Africa and for all African countries. CAFRAD is an intergovernmental organization of a scientific, cultural and technical nature, responsible for the public service of training and research and supporting transformations in public action and public innovation.

The two personalities therefore recognized the need for Rwanda, whose development model is emulated and admired, to use CAFRAD to share innovative practices, benchmarking, best practices in all areas of administration and governance with other African countries. CAFRAD appears, without a doubt, to be the appropriate framework since it is the second African organization after the African Union with more than 36 member states.

CAFRAD is the first African Center intended to ensure harmonization (serving as a common framework for training in African ENAs) and Africanization (common crucible for the exchange of information, sharing of experiences, innovative practices and expertise between actors from various administration systems) and the training of senior executives of senior public administration, leaders and builders of tomorrow’s public action.

There are many successes and failures in Africa today that can serve as lessons for building strong and effective public institutions to promote good governance and sustainable and inclusive development. However, many African countries continue to seek foreign best practices overlooking endogenous ones. It would be appropriate for African countries to make the best use of African resources while drawing inspiration from countries outside Africa. Promoting African knowledge and practices as well as transformational and adaptive leadership would enable Africa to drive transformational changes throughout the continent.

While waiting to initiate the dialogue for Rwanda’s accession to CAFRAD, Her Excellency, Madam Ambassador recommended starting with a study mission of the Director General to the country, then the establishment of a collaboration framework which will allow Rwandan Experts to use the CAFRAD platform for the sharing of experiences, practices and expertise. The development of Africa requires above all the development of skills and talents and the production of innovative ideas.