Kigali, Rwanda April 13, 2021

On 15 March 2021, AKADEMIYA2063 and the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their collaboration to support evidence-based policymaking and economic transformation in Africa. Under the agreement, AKADEMIYA2063 and AERC will establish and implement joint capacity building and training programs in applied economic analysis and modelling targeted at African students, researchers, and policymakers. The two organizations will leverage opportunities to carry out joint research, outreach, and events that help to advance Africa’s economic growth and development agenda.

“By bringing together two well established networks with solid expertise and a rich tradition in dealing with macroeconomic as well as a wide range of sector specific economic development issues, the partnership being sealed here constitutes a major step forward in consolidating African capacities for data and analytics in support of improved policy planning and outcomes.” said Dr. Ousmane Badiane, Executive Chairperson of AKADEMIYA2063.  With both institutions at the forefront of conducting cutting edge research, capacity building, and policy outreach activities in Africa, the MOU will enable AKADEMIYA2063 and AERC to leverage their comparative advantages and align their respective missions to enhance evidence-based policymaking and technical capacities across the African continent.

“AERC’s long term strategic relationships with various institutions such as AKADEMIYA2063 has provided some valuable lessons on how steady investment in capacity building in economic-policy research can help African governments to achieve sound management of their economies and to build strong institutions,” said Prof. Njunguna Ndung’u, Executive Director of AERC.

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