Sound finances first! Partnerships second!
The OEACP Resource Mobilization Roundtable, to be held on March 28, 2026, in Malabo, sends a clear message : “Sound finances and unwavering commitment from the 79 member states must come before any appeal to partners.” Faced with a debt that is becoming an increasingly heavy burden, His Majesty King Mswati III, the OEACP’s champion of resource mobilization, sets forth this essential prerequisite for the Organization’s future.
The future of the OEACP depends first and foremost on sound finances and the unwavering commitment of all its member states
The Roundtable on Resource Mobilization, to be held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Malabo (Equatorial Guinea) during the 11th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS), is not just another meeting. Not just another one. It is a moment of truth. The 18-member Organization is facing a structural financial crisis: accumulated arrears, declining mandatory contributions, recurring payment delays, and more. This situation jeopardizes the operational continuity of the Secretariat, compromises the implementation of its strategic mandate, and undermines the Organization’s credibility with its partners.
A commitment from within
His Majesty King Mswati III, a champion of resource mobilization, and Moussa Batraki, Secretary-General, had the courage to place this issue at the center of the Summit. The Roundtable aims to urgently mobilize funds to put operations on a sound financial footing and repay the debt, while laying the groundwork for a sustainable trust and endowment fund. This is necessary.
But all these efforts and initiatives will not be enough unless the commitment comes from within. For the organization’s Secretary-General, the order of priorities is clear and hinges on two prerequisites:
- Member States must first fulfill their commitments.
Settlement of arrears, regular payment of mandatory contributions, additional voluntary contributions, and active participation in the Trust and Endowment Fund (FFD). Without this collective discipline, no promises will be credible.
2. Only then will it be appropriate to approach our partners.
International financial institutions, bilateral donors, philanthropic foundations, and the private sector will only provide long-term support to an organization if its own members demonstrate that they view it as a strategic priority rather than as an external dependency.
Achieving independence
The OEACP is not like other organizations: it is the largest transcontinental alliance of developing countries. Its political clout and its role in the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the Samoa Agreement depend directly on its financial sustainability. A weakened Secretariat cannot effectively defend the interests of 79 countries on the international stage. The message that Heads of State and Government must convey in Malabo is crystal clear: “We take responsibility first. We put our finances in order. We lead by example. And only on this condition will we ask for—and obtain—massive and sustainable support from our partners.”
The future of the OEACP will not be decided in Brussels, Washington, or Beijing. It will first be decided in Malabo on March 28, 2026, during the second phase of the Resource Mobilization Champion’s roadmap, which will focus on programmatic aspects, driven by the collective commitment of its 79 member states to make the financial health of their Organization a priority. This is the price of sovereignty. This is the price of credibility. And it is the only path that will allow the OEACP to transform itself from an organization in difficulty into a strong, autonomous, and respected alliance.