speciosa wandira - candidate for au chair

7/26/2019 Speciosa Wandira - candidate for AU chair

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For ChairpersonAfrican Union Commission

2016 ~ 2020

Te Republic of Uganda

Proudly Presents

[email protected] @SpeciosaWwww.speciosawandira.com


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The African Union

AGENDA 2063www.au.int


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As a proud OAU Founder Member, Uganda is proud to present and supportthe candidacy of Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe Wandirafor the positionof Chairperson, African Union Commission, 2016 - 2020.

Like was the case on 25th of May 1963 when the OAU was founded, ourhopes still stand with the African people as they strive to achieve theiraspirations. Our country further committed to Africas aspirations byhosting the 1975 Extraordinary OAU Summit. Since then, Ugandans haveserved alongside other gallant Africans in various avenues, including peacekeeping, health intervention and support to regional integration.

As our latest contribution to the African Union, Dr. Wandira, is an outlier; atrue herald of the path Africas women have taken to hold high offices intheir respective countries. When she served as the continents first femaleExecutive Vice President, Dr. Wandira excelled not just at building consensus- a key skill for the top position at the AU - she also leveraged her hands-onknowledge of management and enterprise to enrich both the public andprivate sectors in Uganda.

Attesting to her capacity, Dr. Wandira not only served the United Nations;she also represents eastern Africa on the African Unions Panel of the Wise[PoW], one of the 5 eminent individuals working to prevent and resolveconflict in Africa. On this panel, she advises both the AU Chairperson andCommission on impunity, justice, women, children and threats to peace andsecurity.

On a personal note, I am proud to evoke Dr. Wandiras loyalty to both Ugandaand Africa; shes an astute advisor like no other, and above all, a competentand thorough executive. Tus, my hope is that Africa will, once again, allowUganda to contribute to our i ntegration with Dr. Wandiraas Chairperson ofthe African Union Commission.

Yoweri K. MuseveniPresident of the Republic of Uganda

Ugandas Contribution to the African Union

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Operationalization of the Vision

Africa must and will be transformed.

Tis requires sustained unity of purpose,

focus, determination and resilience; with

each AU related institution focusing on

the execution of its mandate within the

framework of Agenda 2063. Priority must

be given to ensuring peace and security

for our people; connecting and energizing

Africa.

However, if Africas better-planned,

better-educated and even better-tooled

human resource is to exploit its full

potential through increased production,

productivity, value addition and trade, we

must never forget the unique challenges

faced by these islands of states.

Te sustainability of AU Agenda 2063

actions depends upon building Africas

financial security, changing our peoples

mindset, nurturing the environment and

reclaiming our cultural identity to become

a true player in global affairs.

A strong implementation framework

is already in place at the African Union

Commission, and as Chairperson, I will

ensure that the AU system - optimized by

Dr. Nkosazana - Zumas Administration

- is underpinned by accountability and

also transparency; further implement-

ing, monitoring & evaluating progress

towards AU Agenda 2063.

While I expect challenges in increasing

the pace of change and expectations; in

changing perceptions, managing a highly

professional workforce in a changing

environment of technology, focus will

be on building teams, recruiting active

collaboration and synergy from Heads of

State and other stakeholders at all levels,

and through providing policy guidelines

and apportioning responsibility for

implementation.

As Chairperson, I hope to catalyze Africas

capacity and inherent potential to reach

its true destination.

Enormous as this task may be, my role as

Ugandas Vice President from 1994

to 2003 taught me that nothing is

insurmountable, given the many capable

stakeholders and partners already com-

mitted to Africas success.

Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe Wandira

Candidate for Chairperson

Te African Union Commission

2016 - 2020

I was 8 years old when the OAUwas born

in 1963. Many did not know that the then

32 independent states would ultimately

unshackle Africa.

53 years later, Africa is different; home

to 54 countries with a demographical-

ly dynamic population, challenged to

structurally transform Africa for both our

nations and the rest of the world.

Tis emboldens me tobelieve that Africa has themost essential ingredient totake charge of its destiny;its People.

Te ask Ahead

Each previous OAU/AUChairperson or

Secretary General faced a unique set of

challenges; each was up to the task -

appropriately responding to Africas need

during their time in office. Tus, the next

Chairperson of the African Union Com-

mission will be no different:

My candidacy for the AUC Chairperson

position comes at a time when Africaknowswhere it wants to go; when it

wants to get there, and how it wishesto

get there; in a road map envisioned by our

leaders and clearly laid out in AU Agenda

2063.

As AUC Chairperson, I will be the Chief

Executive to the collective of 54 African

Heads of State; work with governments

and other institutions to promote,

popularize and implement AUs Agenda

2063for over one billion Africans.


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Placing your Confidencein my Candidacy

Te African Union Headquarters

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

At the forthcoming African Union Summitscheduled for 16 - 17 July 2016 in Kigali,Rwanda, the Assembly of Heads of Stateand Governments of the African Union willelect a new African Union Chairperson.

Tis high profile position comes with bothcontinental and other international obliga-tions, duties and responsibilities that willhave a direct impact on the lives of over abillion people from 54 African countries.

I am asking the Member States to giveme their vote to execute the mandateand carry out the functions of the office ofChairperson of the AU Commission.

My vision is that of an AU taking chargeof Africas Destiny. As Chief Executiveof the African Union Commission, I willfocus on the following areas to supportmember states and further ground and

put on course implementation of the AUs

Agenda 2063.

Tese are: i) Peace building and conflictresolution; ii) Infrastructure development;iii) Resource mobilization; iv) Research,communication & people empowerment;v) Member State & Partner Engagement;and, vi) reinforcing existing AU Systemsto deliver.

1. Peace Building and Conflict ResolutionPeace is the bedrock of sustainable socialand economic development. Mediationand dialogue between disputing partiesmust be given space and time to matureinto sustainable resolution of conflicts andto pave the path to building peace.

While working with politicians and rebelsor insurgents is i mportant in resolvingovert conflicts, mobilizing the people to

participate in owning peace in theircountries is crucial to sustaining the peace.My engagement in conflict-ridden areas inEast Africa, Central and West Africa - since1995 to date, has convinced me this is theway to go.

Te initiatives already in place to strength-en Africas Peace and Security Architec-ture, especially the Panel of the Wise,Friends of the Wise and the PANWISEnetworks, will be augmented to supportmediation efforts and to reinforce mo-dalities for the socio-economic initiativesthat address structural dysfunction of oureconomies.

Member States will be supported to buildpeace infrastructure as necessary founda-tions for democratic governance.

2. Infrastructure Development:A prosperous Africa will be a consequenceof policies that result in the correct infra-structure to spur investment. While re-sources are said to be scarce, prioritizationand focus produces results. Te regionaleconomic communities (RECs) buildingblocks for a United Africa, will be supportedand coordinated to plan, strategize andmobilize resources for roads, rail, waterand air transport; power generation and

distribution; and, information and commu-nication infrastructure.

Te Commission will work with privateAfrican enterprises to play a more activerole in becoming Pan African in investmentand outreach to support the nurturingof innovation and investments in health,education and agriculture and Informationechnology. Tis will result into increasedproductivity in all sectors - a pre-requi-site for job creation thus generating andsustaining the required momentum forAfricas transformation.

3. Resource MobilizationSelf reliance and self determination willresult from timely sawing of good seed fora bumper harvest. Te required consump-tion levelsto generate needed taxes forthe Member States, come from mobilizingthe private sector to invest more. Our peo-ple must save moreto pool the requiredresources for investments. Member-Stategovernments must reciprocate by beingtransparent, weed out corruption and ex-travagance and spend in accordance withagreed priorities for impact. It is then, thatwe shall get true partners to help us on theway to destination 2063.

Te Commission, in collaboration with AUorgans and institutions will develop tools(knowledge, human, financial, technology)to be used to promote, engage, support

and incentivize participation by seriousplayers across Africa and in the Diasporafor this quest. Lessons learned in steeringUgandan socio-economic ministrieshave equipped me on the realities on theground. Working with the financial sectorhas augmented my understanding of theuntapped capacities in our people to saveand invest appropriately.

4. Research, Communication and People

EmpowermentAfrica desires development that is peopledriven and relies on the potential of Africanpeople. Productivity is not only a factor of

external inputs but requires an appropri-ately skilled and healthy population. oget this right requires attention directedto Africas education, health systems andrelated institutions. Research and Com-munication are crucial for generating therequired information supporting AU policydevelopment, strategic planning, programprioritization, monitoring and evaluationand information dissemination as wemobilize African peoples and disseminatePan African values.

Validated information is also key to keep-ing affirmative programs on course forthe marginalized - women, persons withdisability, youth and forgotten peoples.Special attention will continue to be direct-ed towards supporting girls and womens

education and empowerment. Betterunderstanding of genders role, mensinvolvement and affirmative action for anymarginalized group will be promoted sothat no ones left behind on our way to2063.

My previous experience and my Harvarddoctorate in Population and Global Healthas well as my current deployment as aPresidential Advisor have imparted onme the required skills and experience tomentor researchers and programmers ina policy programming as well as imple-menting environment.


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Te Kwame Nkrumah Statue

African Union Headquarters

Addis Ababa | Ethiopia

5. Member-State & Partner EngagementAdequate attention will be devoted toengaging Member States consultationsand dialogue to generate the desired con-sensus in the course of implementing AUprograms. International engagement willbe a priority to situate Africa in its rightfulplace on the Global scene. Te roles I have

played in Africa as an advocate for socialand economic causes and my engage-ment on the international scene haveprepared me well for this activity.

6. Reinforcing Existing AU SystemsResults and impact will not be seen andfelt, respectively, when Commissionersand Staff are not empowered to do theirwork. I will dispense the required lead-ership and stewardship, nurture team-workby engaging the existing and futureCommissioners and staff at the AU Com-mission to generate, nurture and build therequired competencies to execute thefunctions of the Commission.

Tis will be done through reinforcing theexisting efforts to put in place sys-temsunderpinned by strategic planning,accountability and transparency, to im-plement, monitor and evaluate for impact,the progress of Africas journey towards

achieving Agenda 2063, within the givendirection and support from the AU Organs.

My administration and leadership will bebased on teamwork, trust and account-ability. It will be result oriented, up tospeed, technocratic and in tune with thetasks and challenges at hand.

My competenciesas a strategic &institution buildingtechnocrat, andexperience instrategic planningand structuring ofgovernment forfocused resourceapplication for

impact will serveme well in thisexercise.Africa has many institutions & partners,ready to give their all in supportingactivities to carry us to 2063 - the UN,bilateral partners, RECS, Academia, Privatesector, Civil society and philanthropists.Te Commission will continue to work withthem, each focusing on what they do bestto support the designated programs ofthe AU.


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Refer to her as the Herald of the AfricanWomans journey to the apex of the politicalarena; and that will just about sum up thereality of the first woman to ascend to theExecutive Vice Presidency of any country inAfrica. oday, Dr. Speciosa Wandirais proofthat it is indeed possible and so desirablefor women to take top political leadershippositions in Africas governments - a thingthat seemed unimaginable only a few shortyears ago.

Current positions:African Union Panel of the Wise:Dr. Wandira is a Member of the African UnionPanel of the Wiseone of the Pillars of theAU Peace and Security Architecture (PoW).She has participated in strategic Peaceinterventions including mediation in theBurundi conflict. Her participation in variouspeace and conflict resolution meeting andchairing of the PanWise Network helpedher internalize Africas security and how tosilence guns.

Senior Presidential Advisor:A Surgeonwith a Harvard Doctorate in Global Healthand Population from the Harvard School ofPublic Health, Dr. Wandira is highly skilledwith the capacity to triangulate social, eco-nomic and biological data for policy, plan-ning, and resource mobilization. She has leda team of planning experts and technocrats

to mobilize Ugandans for the requiredhealth system changes for a healthier andproductive Ugandan population.

Dr. Wandira has also made recommen-dations to government on the use ofmicrofinance as infrastructure for buildingsustainable social security networks forcommunities and the informal sector.

Tis position has further deepenedDr. Wandiras understanding and apprecia-tion of the modus operandi of public serviceand the inherent capacities of communitieswhen appropriately mobilized for develop-ment.

Previous leadership experienceVice President:As Executive Vice President of the Republicof Uganda for ten years, Dr. Wandira pre-sided over the formulation of governmentpolicy, and facilitated sectoral planning fortargeted budgeting for impact. Tis positionenabled her improve her leadership skillsthrough chairing Cabinet meetings andparticipating in high profile national, regionaland international gatherings in her capacityas Vice President or representative capacityas head of state.

She was responsible for the restructuringof government departments, and chairedthe Presidential Economic Council (PEC) - abody comprised of the private sector, keyeconomic departments of government andthe academia. Te Forum guided decisionmaking for fast tracking economic pro-grams that resulted in the commendablegrowth of Ugandas economy from then todate.

Ministerial positions:Industry and echnology minister (1989):Dr. Wandira was responsible for the revivaland restructuring of the industrial sec-tor, bringing good corporate governance,knowledge and skills to Boards of govern-ment parastatals, and rehabilitation anddivestiture of industrial enterprises.

Caretaker Minister ourism, Wildlife andAntiquities (1991):Dr. Wandira spearheadedthe drafting of a ourism Master Plan andwas subsequently elected Chairperson ofEastern and Southern Africa Ministers ofourism and Wildlife. A joint wildlife man-agement plan was drafted for the wildliferesources in the eastern and southernAfrica regions.Caretaker for the Ministry of Lands,Water and Mineral Development:Dr Wandira initiated the policy of reservingpositions for women on national and localland boards.

Dr. Speciosa Kazibwe WandiraA Competent & Torough Executive

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Ownership of titled land by womenincreased by 100% - from 4% to 8% in aperiod of 4 years.

Caretaker Minister for the Ministry ofPublic Service: Tis helped her to under-stand the rigidities inherent in the workingof government bureaucracy and furtherboosted her capacity to better overseethe structuring of Government as VicePresident.

Cabinet Minister for Agriculture, AnimalIndustry and Fisheries (1996 -1998):Dr. Wandira presided over the restruc-

turing of the Ministry, leading its reorga-nization and downsizing. She initiated,coordinated and contributed to thefirst-ever country wide consultativeprocess involving all sector stakehold-ers with the drafting of the Plan for theModernization of Agriculture (PMA) andits funding. She also led the planning andoversaw a multi-sectoral strategy for thecontainment of the water hyacinth onLake Victoria. She spearheaded the for-mation of the Lake Victoria ManagementOrganization (LMVO) - comprised ofUganda, Kenya and anzania, and servedas its first Chairperson.

Resources were mobilized for researchand the construction of the organizationsheadquarters. Te Food and Agriculture

Organization of the United Nations (FAO)awarded her the 19 98 Ceres Medal inrecognition of her work.

Cabinet Minister for Women inDevelopment, Culture and Youth(1991-1993):Dr. Wandira ensured a new strategic focusfor the Ministry that resulted in it being re-structured with a wider social mandate ofGender, Labor and Social Development.Vulnerable and disadvantaged groupswere fully recognized in Ugandas Con-stitution and new policies and programson culture, women, youth and people withdisability were put in place.

She was elected Chairperson of theCommonwealth Mini sters responsiblefor Youth, and charged with the respon-sibility of taking the Youth Agenda to theCommonwealth Heads of Government,resulting in more resources for youth ca-pacity building in leadership and technicalskills development.

She was Member of the first HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee whichdrafted the internationally- acclaimedmulti-sectoral strategy that resulted incontainment of the spread of HIV/AIDS inUganda.

Cabinet Minister for Gender and Com-munity Development (1993 and 1996):Dr. Wandira traveled extensively withinUganda, Africa and the rest of the worldto raise awareness on the inclusive-ness of women, youth and persons withdisability in socio-economic activities intheir countries. She was elected by AfricanWomen leaders to take charge of theAfrica Plan of Action for Women whichplaced emphasis on peace and girl childeducation.

She initiated dialogue and participat-ed in the conflict resolution efforts forSudan, Burundi, Rwanda, the DemocraticRepublic of Congo, Liberia and Somalia.Mobilized resources for bringing together

women from conflict zones in Africa todialogue with their adversaries on howpeace could become a reality for thesecountries. Te resources were also usedto train women in conflict resolution skills.

Constituent Assembly:In 1994, Dr.Wandira was elected a Member of theConstituent Assembly that drafted Ugan-das 1995 Constitution, the first gendersensitive constitution in Africa.

International engagement:Dr. Wandira is a founder and sittingmember of the Board of the Coalition forDialogue on Africa (CODA)an indepen-dent Africa-owned think tank that identi-fies and discusses issues of importanceto Africas development, within a globalcontext.

Dr .Wandira is also a Champion for anHIV free generation in Africa as part of anorganization of African leaders whosegoal it is to mobilise and support Africanleadership and global policy makers torenew and intensify the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Between 2013 - 2014, Dr. Wandira servedas a Special Envoy of the Secretary Gen-eral of the United Nations for HIV/AIDS inAfrica.

She served on the World Forestry andWorld Water Commissions, and fora long time on the Advisory Board ofthe International Food Policy ResearchInstitute (IFPRI) and the Canadian Inter-national Development Agency (CIDA). DrWandira was Co-Chair of the Kofi AnnanInter-Academy Council Panel that drafteda report on Realizing the Promise andPotential of Africas Agriculturetheprecursor to CAADP.

Support for NGO WorkArising from Dr. Wandiras compassion forthe disadvantaged, she has served andcontinues to serve on many local (Ugan-da), regional (Africa) and internationalBoards, Commissions and developmentagencies.

Dr. Wandira is a member of the Leader-ship Search Committee of the UgandaCooperative Alliance; a founding memberand first President of the African WomenCommittee on Peace and Developmentwhich advocated for the change in policythat has seen an increasingly gender

sensitive Africa; a long time board mem-ber of Te Hunger Project (HP) - a US-based non-governmental organizationwith priority programs in Africa committedto the elimination of hunger and genderdiscrimination in developing countries.In Africa, HP works in Ethiopia, Malawi,Ghana, Mozambique, Burkina Faso andUganda.

Trough these engagements, Dr. Wandirahas mastered the alternative pathways todevelopment i n environment, agriculture,private sector, gender, et al.

She has also been able to understandhow the international development agen-cies, foundations, research institutions,and financing agencies operate in termsof resource mobilization - human, tech-nical and financial.

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... Africa has themost essential

ingredient to take

charge of its destiny;

its People ...

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speciosa wandira - candidate for au chair

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