Germany supports African Ombudsman Research Centre
On March 15, the African Ombudsman Research Centre (AORC) was launched at the University of Kwazulu Natal. Germany supports the AORC via the Trilateral Cooperation (TriCo) Fund, which is a mechanism for South Africa and Germany to assist and support African countries or regional activities.
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German Ambassador Dieter W. Haller
(© Corporate Relations, University of KwaZulu-Natal)
In 2009, the governments of Germany and South Africa agreed to jointly support the establishment of the AORC.
The Research Centre and the work of African Ombudsman and Mediators Association serve as keys to upholding and protecting democracy and human rights by developing clear standards of accountability, transparency and participatory governance.
The AORC should make a positive impact on the way citizens interact with their governments and how their rights are protected by the key institution of the ombudsman in Africa.
“Germany has a proud record of supporting the pursuit of governance in Africa and we have a long history of working at the level of the African Union and with individual states. Germany will continue to make its contribution and exercise its responsibilities in a manner that improves global governance,” said German Ambassador to South Africa, Dieter W. Haller at the opening event.
The German support will be managed by the GIZ (German Society for International Cooperation).
AORC launch speech, Ambassador Haller [pdf, 75,17k]
