Nardos Bekele-Thomas is an Ethiopian development expert of great distinction. She leads the African Union Development Agency during a period when Africa faces both ongoing structural challenges and new opportunities for cooperation and growth. She was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) in May 2022, receiving unanimous endorsement from the African Union (AU) Heads of State and Government during the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU. Since then, Bekele-Thomas has been responsible for advancing some of the continent’s most critical development priorities.
Under her leadership, the agency has focused on enhancing regional integration and improving cross-border systems, particularly in trade and energy. One of the agency’s most visible projects in recent years has been establishing 32 One-Stop Border Posts (OSBP) across the continent. This project is designed to simplify and streamline border procedures by bringing together the customs and immigration services of neighbouring countries in a single location.
Previously, border crossings in Africa were often marked by long delays, inconsistent documentation requirements, and high costs that discouraged trade. The OSBP initiative aims to resolve these issues. By harmonising customs procedures and improving infrastructure, the programme has reduced wait times and transportation costs while contributing to job creation and boosting local economies.
Bekele-Thomas has repeatedly emphasised the importance of African ownership in driving development agendas.
In 2023, while speaking at the 8th Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Week, she noted that while progress has been made, “Infrastructure development in Africa continues to face substantial financing gaps, with only $82 billion mobilised out of the $360 billion required by 2040.”~Bekele-Thomas
Another significant focus under Bekele-Thomas’ leadership is the Continental Power Systems Masterplan (CPSMP), an ambitious energy framework to connect African countries through a network of integrated, renewable power systems. With over 600 million people on the continent lacking access to electricity, the Masterplan aims to provide electricity to 80% of Africans by 2040.
A standout projection from the CPSMP is its potential to create an intra-African electricity market valued at $136 billion annually. This would allow countries with energy surpluses, particularly from renewable sources, to export power across borders, thereby strengthening energy security and economic interdependence.
The Masterplan also aligns with the goals of the African Single Electricity Market (AfSEM), launched in 2021. This market seeks to promote energy trade and enhance grid resilience on a continental scale.
AUDA-NEPAD has thus concentrated on mobilising partnerships, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and identifying strategic projects to unlock broader benefits for regions and the continent.
Through her leadership, Nardos Bekele-Thomas advances the broader goals of Agenda 2063, the African Union’s long-term vision for a peaceful, integrated, and prosperous continent.
