The establishment of the Project Management Office (PMO) emanates from the NBF's quest to create invaluable linkages within Africa that will benefit all sectors, with the aim to provide information and knowledge on NEPAD projects, facilitation and co-ordination of projects, partners and programmes across sectors. Professional project management capability will ensure that proper planning and budgeting of resources, finances and time are carefully allocated. Administrative support provided by the project office will ensure that all projects have a much greater chance of success as terms of reference, project charters, assistance in raising funding, interaction with NBF partners and cross-sectoral interaction will be facilitated by the PMO. When good project management procedures are followed, stakeholders are able to receive better progress reports and can influence the direction and pace of their projects more effectively.

Corporate companies joining the NEPAD Business Foundation will have access to the PMO for any large projects they are establishing in Africa. Unlike most project offices, the NBF PMO will also double-up as the centre for knowledge management for all sectors within the NBF, thus helping to co-ordinate and support sector activity.

In addition, the PMO will assist each sector by tracking and reporting on sector progress, as well as driving and monitoring NBF-driven initiatives. The PMO will be financed through sponsorships initially, but the long-term intention is to be self-funding through facilitation fees and service fees and thereby contributing to the NBF's sustainability in the years to follow.

We envision the establishment of the PMO as the vital link to facilitate projects between government and private sector, which will provide tremendous added value to NBF members. John Rocha has been appointed as the Senior Project Manager as of 1 February 2008 to fill this role. He may be contacted on tel: +27(0)11 884-1888 or john.rocha@thenbf.co.za

John Rocha – short bio relating to recent years

John has a BA in Human and Social Studies with specialization in Government, Administration and Development from the University of South Africa (UNISA)

Position:
Senior Project Manager
Employer:
NEPAD Business Foundation (NBF)
Period:
1 Feb 2008 –
Responsibilities:
Responsible for running and managing the NBF Project Management Office.

Position:
Consultant
Employer:
NEPAD Secretariat
Responsibilities:
Managing the implementation of the NEPAD Capacity Development Strategic Framework and the integration of NEPAD into national development plans.

Position:
Director of the Central and Southern Africa Office
Employer:
Africa Policy Institute (API)
Responsibilities:
Support API's objectives as an independent, pan-African organization committed to the use of field-based research and analysis to generate viable policy options and alternatives on issues of peace, security, democracy and governance (political, economic and corporate) as enablers of development.

Position:
Senior Analyst/Researcher
Employer:
Peace and Security Programme at SaferAfrica
Responsibilities:
Lead and manage a process of generating norms and standards for the management and exploitation of natural resources. Act as an in-house expert on analysing and studying trends in Africa's natural resources sector focusing particularly on the evolving role of China as a significant player.

Position:
Committees Secretary
Employer:
NEPAD Secretariat
Period:
March 2005 - May 2006
Responsibilities:
Coordinating and managing the activities of the Management Committee, Steering Committee as well as the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC). Strengthening partnerships within the framework of NEPAD, through initiatives that include the Africa Partnership Forum.