nepad

INTRODUCTION The new partnership for Africa’s development (NEPAD) is a vision and strategic framework for Africa’s renewal, the NEPAD strategic framework document arises from a mandate given to the five initiating heads of state (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, south Africa) by the organization of African unity (OAU) to develop an integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa. The 37th summit of the OAU in July 2001 formally adopted the strategic framework document. ORIGIN The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is an economic development program of the African Union. NEPAD was adopted at the 37th session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government in July 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia. NEPAD aims to provide an overarching vision and policy framework for accelerating economic co-operation and integration among African countries. It is in this regard that the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is the result of three parallel initiatives. The first is the Millennium Africa Recovery Plan (MAP), led by South African President Thabo Mbeki and unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2001. The second initiative is the Omega Plan, crafted by the President of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, and presented to the Summit of Francophone African leaders in Cameroon in January 2001. MAP and the Omega Plan were then combined to give birth to a third initiative the New African Initiative (NAI) that then led to NEPAD in 2001. All three initiatives shared a common interest in increasing the pace and impact of Africa's development. While these initiatives share common characteristics, there were also differences reflecting the regional and other priorities of the enactors. Compromises had to be made in order to merge the three proposals into one initiative. NEPAD thus reflects the compromises involved in arriving at a single initiative. Founding member countries of NEPAD included South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Egypt and Senegal. NEPAD was adopted by African Heads of State and Government of the OAU in 2001 and was ratified by the African Union (AU) in 2002 to address Africa's development problems within a new paradigm. NEPAD's main objectives are to reduce poverty, put Africa on a sustainable development path, halt the marginalization of Africa, and empower women. The mechanism for Africa's development – today and tomorrow Since its initiation, NEPAD has been promoted widely both within Africa and in the industrialised North. NEPAD is now recognised as Africa's development plan by all the governments of the North, and the international financial institutions, and by many international governance institutions like the United Nations. NEPAD is widely seen as the mechanism through which support to Africa's development efforts can be best delivered. Thus, the NEPAD process has come to be accepted not only by African countries and RECs but also by Africa's development partners as the framework mechanism for their development efforts. NEPAD is a merger of two plans for the economic regeneration of Africa: the Millennium Partnership for the African Recovery Programme (MAP), led by Former President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa in conjunction with Former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria; and the OMEGA Plan for Africa developed by President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal. At a summit in Sirte, Libya, March 2001, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) agreed that the MAP and OMEGA Plans should be merged. The UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) developed a "Compact for Africa’s Recovery" based on both these plans and on resolutions on Africa adopted by the United Nations Millennium Summit in September 2000, and submitted a merged document to the Conference of African Ministers of Finance and Ministers of Development and Planning in Algiers, May 2001.[2] In July 2001, the OAU Assembly of Heads of State and Government meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, adopted this document under the name of the New African Initiative (NAI). The leaders of G8 countries endorsed the plan on July 20, 2001; and other international development partners, including the European Union, China, and Japan also made public statements indicating their support for the program. The Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) for the project finalized the policy framework and named it the New Partnership for Africa's Development on 23 October 2001. NEPAD is now a program of the African Union (AU) that has replaced the OAU in 2002, though it has its own secretariat based in South Africa to coordinate and implement its programmes. NEPAD seeks to attract increased investment, capital flows and funding, providing an African-owned framework for development as the foundation for partnership at regional and international levels. In July 2002, the Durban AU summit supplemented NEPAD with a Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance. According to the Declaration, states participating in NEPAD ‘believe in just, honest, transparent, accountable and participatory government and probity in public life’. Accordingly, they ‘undertake to work with renewed determination to enforce’, among other things, the rule of law; the equality of all citizens before the law; individual and collective freedoms; the right to participate in free, credible and democratic political processes; and adherence to the separation of powers, including protection for the independence of the judiciary and the effectiveness of parliaments. The Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance also committed participating states to establish an African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) to promote adherence to and fulfilment of its commitments. The Durban summit adopted a document setting out the stages of peer review and the principles by which the APRM should operate; further core documents were adopted at a meeting in Abuja in March 2003, including a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by governments wishing to undertake the peer review. Current status Ever since it was set up there has been some tension over the place of NEPAD within the African Unity (AU) programs, given its origins outside the framework of the AU, and the continuing dominant role of South Africa—symbolised by the location of the secretariat in South Africa. Successive African Unity (AU) summits and meetings of the HSGIC have proposed the greater integration of NEPAD into the AU's structures and processes. In March 2007 there was a 'brainstorming session' on NEPAD held in Algeria at which the future of NEPAD and its relationship with the AU was discussed by an ad hoc committee of heads of state. The committee again recommended the fuller integration of NEPAD with the AU. In April 2008, a review summit of five heads of state—Presidents Mbeki of South Africa, Wade of Senegal, Bouteflika of Algeria, Mubarak of Egypt and Yar'Adua of Nigeria—met in Senegal with a mandate to consider the progress in implementing NEPAD and report to the next AU summit to be held in Egypt in July 2008. Structure The HSGIC to which the NEPAD secretariat reports comprises three states for each region of the African Union, with former President Obasanjo (Nigeria) as elected chair, and Presidents Bouteflika (Algeria) and Wade (Senegal) as deputy chairmen. The HSGIC meets several times a year and reports to the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government. There is also a steering committee, comprising 20 AU member states, to oversee projects and program development. The NEPAD Secretariat is based in Midrand, South Africa. The first CEO was Wiseman Nkuhlu of South Africa (2001–2005), and the second Mozambican Firmino Mucavele (2005–2008). On April 1, 2009, Ibrahim Hassane Mayaki accepted the position as the 3rd CEO. The NEPAD Secretariat is not responsible for the implementation of development programs itself, but works with the African Regional Economic Communities—the building blocks of the African Union. The role of the NEPAD Secretariat is one of coordination and resource mobilisation. Many individual African states have also established national NEPAD structures responsible for liaison with the continental initiatives on economic reform and development programs. Partners • UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) • African Development Bank • Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) • Investment Climate Facility (ICF) • African Capacity Building Foundation • Office of the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa • IDC (The Industrial Development Corporation) - Sponsor of NEPAD Programs The eight priority areas of NEPAD are: political, economic and corporate governance; agriculture; infrastructure; education; health; science and technology; market access and tourism; and environment. During the first few years of its existence, the main task of the NEPAD Secretariat and key supporters was the popularisation of NEPAD’s key principles, as well as the development of action plans for each of the sectoral priorities. NEPAD also worked to develop partnerships with international development finance institutions—including the World Bank, G8, European Commission, UNECA and others—and with the private sector. After this initial phase, more concrete programs were developed, including: • The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), aimed at assisting the launching of a 'green revolution' in Africa, based on a belief in the key role of agriculture in development. • The Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) which comprises numerous trans-boundary infrastructure projects in the four sectors transport, energy, water and ICT, aimed at boosting intra-African trade and interconnecting the continent. • The NEPAD Science and Technology programme, including an emphasis on research in areas such as water science and energy. • The "e-schools programme", adopted by the HSGIC in 2003 as an initiative to equip all 600,000 primary and secondary schools in Africa with IT equipment and internet access within 10 years, in partnership with several large IT companies. See NEPAD E-School program • The launch of a Pan African Infrastructure Development Fund (PAIDF) by the Public Investment Corporation of South Africa, to finance high priority cross-border infrastructure projects. • Capacity building for continental institutions, working with the African Capacity Building Foundation, the Southern Africa Trust, UNECA, the African Development Bank, and other development partners. One of NEPAD's priorities has been to strengthen the capacity of and linkages among the Regional Economic Communities. • NEPAD was involved with the Timbuktu Manuscripts Project although it is not entirely clear to what extent. Criticism NEPAD was initially met with a great deal of scepticism from much of civil society in Africa as playing into the 'Washington Consensus' model of economic development. In July 2002, members of some 40 African social movements, trade unions, youth and women's organizations, NGOs, religious organizations and others endorsed the African Civil Society Declaration on NEPAD[8] rejecting NEPAD; a similar hostile view was taken by African scholars and activist intellectuals in the 2002 Accra Declaration on Africa's Development Challenges. Part of the problem in this rejection was the process by which NEPAD was adopted was insufficiently participatory—civil society was almost totally excluded from the discussions by which it came to be adopted. More recently, NEPAD has also been criticised by some of its initial backers, including notably Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, who accused NEPAD of wasting hundreds of millions of dollars and achieving nothing. Like many other intergovernmental bodies, NEPAD suffers from slow decision-making, and a relatively poorly resourced and often cumbersome implementing framework. There is a great lack of information about the day-to-day activities of the NEPAD secretariat—the website is notably uninformative—that does not help its case. However, the program has also received some acceptance from those initially very critical, and in general its status has become less controversial as it has become more established and its programs have become more concrete. The aim of promoting greater regional integration and trade among African states is welcomed by many, even as the fundamental macroeconomic principles NEPAD endorses remain contested. ACHIEVEMENT NEPAD achievements during the first 5 years, NEPAD has come about as a result of the merger between the Millennium Partnership for Africa’s Recovery Programme (MAP) and OMEGA plan, which was finalised on 3 July 2001. Out of this merger, the New African Initiative (NAI) was formed. The NAI Policy Framework was finalised by the Heads of State and Implementation Committee of the OAU (now AU) on 23 October 2001 and NAI was renamed to NEPAD on the day. This brief makes a summarised assessment of the achievements by NEPAD as it has reached the age of five. It should however be noted that the short term action plan of NEPAD started later in 2002 and what is assessed here is NEPAD itself based on its far-reaching programmes. It is pointed out in this briefing that NEPAD has achieved a lot in terms of gaining international recognition; getting the African civil society on board; promoting good governance through peer reviews; developing regional infrastructure; and promoting agricultural activity. One notable event where NEPAD made its mark on the international stage was the G8 summit that took place in Canada in June 2002. At that meeting, four promoters of NEPAD, together with the UN Secretary-General were invited to discuss challenges facing Africa, and for the G8 to give its first response to the NEPAD plan. This has resulted in the adoption of the G8 African Action Plan as a framework to support African countries whose performance reflects the commitments of NEPAD. Under the plan, the G8 indicated their increased commitment to support Africa under various initiatives, including the HIPC, enhanced HIPC, ODA, and the Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB. The organisation of various regional workshops that brought together stakeholders from civil society, business and government sectors were another achievement. The main aim of these workshops is to increase awareness amongst all stakeholders about the plan and to urge stakeholders to implement it. Hanns Seidel Foundation has taken a lead in organising such workshops in Southern and Eastern Africa. Another achievement, which is also linked to the first two, is the extensive coverage of NEPAD in literature and media, in Africa and abroad, and from different disciplines of science. The African Peer Review Mechanism of NEPAD that works to promote democracy and good governance has already produced results. The review reports from Ghana and Kenya have been published, while the same process is at an advanced stage in further nine countries. NEPAD has done well in the area of regional infrastructure development since 2002. Over US$530 million has already been used in the development of roads, communications and energy networks, while projects worth around US$490 million were under consideration during 2005. Furthermore, NEPAD has formulated an Agricultural Development Plan whereby member states of the AU have committed themselves to develop pro-development policies and to allocate sufficient resources to the sector. Among its achievements, that are cited in the NEPAD Briefing 15, are gaining international recognition, getting African civil society on board, promoting good governance through peer reviews, developing regional infrastructure and also promoting agricultural activities. NEPAD PRIMARY OBJECTIVES • To eradicate poverty; • To place African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development; • To halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process; • To accelerate the empowerment of women; • To fully integrate Africa into the global economy OTHER OBJECTIVES NEPAD provides an historic opportunity to overcome obstacles to development in Africa. Our contribution to the initiative is the creation of NEPAD Council, designed to encourage the imaginative effort that underlies the NEPAD and to lay a solid foundation for future cooperation and sustainable development. The case for action is compelling. Despite its great potential and human resources, Africa continues to face some of the world’s greatest challenges. The many initiatives designed to spur Africa’s development have failed to deliver sustained improvements to the lives of women, men and children throughout Africa. NEPAD Council offers something different. It is, first and foremost, a common vision shared by African professionals to support and promote the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. Together, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make progress on our common goals of eradicating extreme poverty and achieving sustainable development. NEPAD Council will support African leaders’ efforts to encourage public engagement in the NEPAD and will consult with NEPAD members on how we can best assist their efforts. NEPAD Council will be committed to mobilize and energize global action, marshal resources and expertise, and provide impetus in support of NEPAD’s objectives. As NEPAD’s partner, NEPAD Council will undertake mutually reinforcing actions to help Africa accelerate growth and make lasting gains against poverty. The Agenda of NEPAD Council will focus on a limited number of priority areas where, collectively and individually, we can add value. NEPAD Council will focus particular attention on enhanced-partnership countries. It will also work with countries that do not yet meet the standards of NEPAD but which are clearly committed to and working towards its implementation. The objectives of NEPAD Council include: 1. Support the new partnership for Africa’s Development 2. Support African leaders’ efforts to encourage public engagement in NEPAD strategies and projects 3. Assist the Steering Committee and NEPAD 4. Secretariat in the implementation of NEPAD projects 5. Collaborate with NEPAD to undertake mutually reinforcing actions to help accelerate growth and make long-lasting gains against poverty 6. Encourage Africans in the Diaspora to actively participate in all efforts aimed at developing Africa "NEPAD Council offers something different. It is, first and foremost, a common vision shared by African professionals to support and promote the New Partnership for Africa’s Development." CONCLUSION Our interest in NEPAD is a simple one. It is a call that NEPAD should be accepted on the ground that Africa requires a development blueprint. This acceptance should not be uncritical. NEPAD must not be regarded as a finished and closed document that cannot accommodate the high points other pan-African and national development blueprints. Our suggestions point out to one problem NEPAD is bound to face. NEPAD has wholesomely and uncritically adopted ‘neo-liberal democracy’ cum Keynesian free market political economy. But Africa requires more of a social democracy, especially those practiced in States that were challenged with the task of revamping their economies and putting themselves on the path of development. Germany is a good example in this light. No development is possible in Africa except majority of its people who are rural dwellers and have been historically disconnected from the State and indeed productions are reconnected to these institutions and functions. Today, the African productive class is one that is unemployed, a hawker and loafer in the city, or one who is seeking to escape to Europe, the United States of America or some other developed societies. NEPAD is the appreciation of the fact that undue ‘economism’ has failed to deliver in Africa for over 40 years. REFERENCES Adedeji and T. Shaw, eds., Economic Crisis in Africa: Perspectives on Development Problems and Potentials (Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers) Adejumobi, Said. (2002): “Globalisation and Africa’s Development Agenda: From the WTO to NEPAD.” Proceedings of the 7th Annual Conference on the Challenges of Globalisation to Democratic Governance in Africa: What Role for the Civil Society And other Stakeholders? Addis Ababa: Development Policy Management Forum Agbu, Osita. (2002): “Nigeria and the NEPAD initiative.” Nigeria Forum: The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), vol. 23, Nos. 7-8. Bukarambe, Bukar. (2002): “Historical Overview of Africa’s Development Efforts: Problems and Prospects of NEPAD.” Nigerian Forum, ibid. Edward W. Blyden, (1995): “Africa and the African.” In Albert G. Mosley, ed., African Philosophy: Selected Readings, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Gambari, Ibrahim A. (2004): “The New Partnership for Africa’s Development: Challenges and Progress in Organizing International Support.” NIIA Lecture Series, No.85. Mosley, Albert G. ed. (1995): African Philosophy: Selected Readings, New Jersey:Prentice- Hall, Inc. Ogwu, Joy U. (2002): ‘Introduction.’ NIIA Lecture Series, No. 82. Ogwu, Joy U. (2004): “Partnership for human development in Africa.” NIIA Lecture Series, No. 85. Olukoshi, Adebayo O. (2004): “Governing the African Development Process: the Challenges of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.” NIIA Lecture Series, No.82. Omoweh, Daniel A. (2002): “The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD): A preliminary evaluative analysis, Nigerian Forum, NIIA, vol. 23, Nos. 7-8, July- August,2002.