Royal decoration for Dr. Jeff Balch in Amsterdam

It was all accolades for Dr. Jeff Balch, the Director of AWEPA, an international association of European Parliamentarians for Africa as he was honoured by the organization after 25 years of meritorious service to the organization having joined it in 1987. Dr. Jeff works include that of working in cooperation with African Parliaments to strengthen parliamentary democracy in Africa, to keep Africa high on the political agenda in Europe, and to facilitate African-European Parliamentary dialogue.

After 25 years coming in a volunteer and a year later, he became a staff working in various departments and rose to become the Director of the organization.

Dr. Jeff is originally from California, USA and became a Dutch citizen. Dr. Balch was being recognized having served for 25 years with The Association of West European Parliamentarians for Action Against Apartheid (AWEPAA). The ceremony was held at De Industrieele Groote Club, Dam 27 Amsterdam with dignitaries such as Dr. Jan Nico Scholten, AWEPA Honorary President & member of the AWEPA Eminent Advisory Board, Minister Brendan Howlin, Irish Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform; a former Vice President of AWEPA, Mr. George Balch, a brother to Dr, Jeff Balch, Mr. Theo Kralt, Chief Administrative officer at AWEPA, Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam representing Her Royal Majesty, Freek Ossel among other distinguished guests. The Voice magazine was represented by Elvis Iruh and Johnson Adesida of 9jaTV captured the event both on video and camera.

Jeff Balch is Director of Research and Evaluation at the Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA), and is currently responsible for managing the project team, with responsibility for thematic areas of parliamentary capacity building in Africa and the aid effectiveness program.

Dr. Balch joined AWEPA in 1987, where he was first the Program Officer for Namibia, then South Africa, coordinating the historic AWEPA electoral observation missions in those countries, then for Southern African Development Community (SADC), where he coordinated the program for the establishment of the SADC Parliamentary Forum. He was subsequently Head of the Research Department, before becoming Director of AWEPA in 2000. During this period he was Editor of the AWEPA Bulletin and numerous publications, and has written on issues related to gender equality, democratization, conflict management, HIV/AIDS, and sustainable development in Africa.

Dr. Balch obtained BA and MA degrees in California, and a PhD in International Relations at the University of Sussex (UK).

He has 19 publications till date and he has not stopped writing. Some of his publications include: "The New Parliamentary Peace-Building Paradigm in Africa," Conflict Trends, No. 1, 2007, "Briefing: Parliamentary ODA Oversight Pilot Program," New Agenda, Issue 26, 2nd quarter 2007, with Ben Turok and “ No Time to Waste: Sustainable Environmental Management in a Changing Southern Sudan, with Mark van Dorp, AWEPA, 2010.

Twenty five years later as one of its directors, Dr. Balch is still representing the vital mission of the now named Association of European Parliamentarians with Africa (AWEPA). The mission of AWEPA is to promote democracy and human rights via strong parliaments in Africa.

As former Dutch Minister for Development Cooperation and AWEPA member Mr. Bert Koenders said; “AWEPA has given great service in the fight against Apartheid and thereafter in strengthening parliamentary democracy in Africa.” In 1984 AWEPA was founded by former Dutch parliamentarian and Honorary President of AWEPA, Dr. Jan Nico Scholten who has worked closely with Dr. Balch since he joined AWEPA. AWEPA's first mission was to mobilise politicians in democratically elected European parliaments to end apartheid. Very soon Members of Parliament from the European and national parliaments throughout Europe became members of AWEPA growing to the 1800 strong membership of today. For almost 30 years now AWEPA has been a pioneer in implementing parliamentary capacity building programmes in Africa. “Dr. Balch played an invaluable role through these formative years helping to bring AWEPA from an anti-apartheid activist movement to become a unique player on the African stage. His efforts in helping promote democracy, peace, human rights and democratic governance in many African regions stems from a great commitment and belief in the core fundamental mission of AWEPA; that democracy is a vital step in ensuring human rights,” said Minister of State, Ms. Miet Smet, current President of AWEPA.

For many people, freedom from Apartheid is something to be learnt about from history books, but for AWEPA and Dr. Balch it was a reality in which they were involved. Even before the end of apartheid AWEPA and Dr. Balch were involved in making of history as they helped in Namibia's transition to independence. Since then AWEPA has been asked to assist throughout the continent in a kaleidoscope of programmes aimed to strengthen democratization of Africa. Within this Dr. Balch played an important role in AWEPA's thematic programmes such as in bringing HIV-AIDS onto the political agenda in Africa and Europe, as well as the mainstreaming of gender issues from the role of women in parliament to the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation. Dr. Balch is strongly involved in AWEPA's programme on promoting the importance of the role of parliamentarians in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. He feels strongly about the vital role of parliamentarians in Aid Effectiveness.

“Throughout my years of collaboration with AWEPA, Jeff has provided support of the highest caliber, research at the highest international level and has always been a strong and coherent voice for Africa.“ Brendan Howlin, T.D. (M.P.) Irish Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and former Vice President of AWEPA declared.

Most of these persons who spoke about Dr. Jeff Balch where there to witness the recognition and the honour bestowed on him by Her Royal Majesty, Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands accepted his nomination for recognition.

The Deputy Mayor of Amsterdam, Freek Ossel read the citation before confirming on Dr. Jeff Balch with The Order of Orange-Nassau (Dutch: Orde van Oranje-Nassau) by Her majesty Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands.

In appreciation, Dr. Blach thanked Her Majesty for the trust and honour and promise to work even harder to create a better society where there is no colour but one people. He said he is an African by heart; he loves Africa and ready to work the rest of his life for the betterment of Africa.