This led to the initiation of NEPAD by Presidents Bouteflika (Algeria); Mubarak (Egypt); Obasanjo (Nigeria); Wade (Senegal); and Mbeki (South Africa).
"The NEPAD is a program adopted by the African Union focusing on political leadership and accountability of African leaders; to themselves, their people and their counterparts," said Dr. Reuel Khoza, Chairman of the NEPAD Business Foundation. "NEPAD aims to promote and sustain socio-economic development and foster the adoption of policies that are in line with global practices. Its purpose is to eradicate poverty, halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process; promote the empowerment and economic integration of women and to achieve the MDGs."
Added to this, the NEPAD structure provides leadership and management through the collective vision of African leaders seeking to promote a positive value system, norms and standards. This is done through various committees; Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC), NEPAD Steering Committee and the NEPAD Secretariat. The eight priority areas of NEPAD are; political, economic & corporate governance; agriculture; infrastructure; education; health; science & technology; market access & tourism; and environment.
The African Peer Review Mechanism, accepted by member states of the African Union as an African self-monitoring mechanism. It aims to foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration through sharing of experiences and best practices and is important to the sustainability of NEPAD.
In monitoring the progress made by NEPAD so far, African leaders have taken various steps to analyze its progress:
* What has the international impact of NEPAD been?
* Are conditions for African development being addressed?
* Are leaders, countries and organizations now conducting business differently?
* Are perceptions about the continent changing?
* Have African relations with development partners changed?
* Has implementation of programs and projects started?
There have been encouraging and significant results registered during the last few years in a number of areas such as:
1) The African Union (AU): It is leading in conflict resolution and peace building in several countries. Budgets, mandates and leadership of key organs of the AU are being reinforced.
2) Consolidation of democracy: Installation of democratic governments and improved macro-economic management on the continent has increased. Successful democratic elections and peaceful changes in leadership are more frequent with a reduction in unconstitutional changes in leadership. Post-conflict reconstruction initiatives are being developed. Good governance, democracy and the promotion of human rights are becoming the norm in Africa. African leaders have committed themselves to increasing national budget allocations.
3) African Peer Review Mechanism: The APRM has received international acclaim and the first set of reviews have been completed in Ghana, Rwanda, South Africa and Algeria. Twenty-six countries have acceded to the APRM. The APRM process is addressing corruption, poor governance and inefficient delivery of public goods and services to their citizens.
4) Priority Areas: Agriculture, infrastructure, ICTs, science and technology, environment and regional economic integration, which were not among top priorities of the development agenda of international partners, have now become core issues. Furthermore, the successful development and launch of the Investment Climate Facility (a public-private financial facility) has been implemented. This facility is aimed at making African countries more attractive to investment globally.
5) Health: The emergence of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria provides resources for the overarching strategy to address AIDS and its impact on development. Increased support for integrated health systems to deliver programs and new approaches to training and retention of health workers is emerging. Countries have moved to implement the NEPAD Health Strategy and the partnership with the World Health Organisation continues to yield positive results.
6) Infrastructural Development: In the past five years the African Development Bank and the World Bank have increased priority to projects under the NEPAD Short Term Action Plan for Infrastructure Development. A number of regional infrastructure projects have been brought to the implementation stage. Infrastructure development has also been given a further boost by the UN Millennium Project and the Commission for Africa recommending increased development partner support for infrastructure development. Development partners have established the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa to meet priority infrastructure needs on the continent.
7) African Economic Growth: The average economic growth rate for the continent in 2004 was 5.4% (the highest in eight years). According to the International Monetary Function, for 2006, it is projected to increase to 5.7%. The challenge is to maintain the trend and to increase the rate further towards the 7% target.
Khoza further added that NEPAD has also forged global partnerships with industrialized and developing countries and multilateral organizations. This has resulted in increased development assistance (ODA) flows to Africa. Over the past five years, NEPAD has ensured increased ODA to Africa. African leaders have placed the African Development Agenda high on their priorities. It has been well received by the United Nations - the Office of the Special Advisor on Africa, European Union, the Organization for Economic Cooperation, Development (OECD), Commonwealth and World Trade Organization.
"We face several challenges, such as strengthening and sustaining political leadership, capacity building, integration of NEPAD Priorities into national development programs, increase multi-country infrastructure projects, widening APRM participation, converting pledges by developed countries into concrete actions and making ODA more effective. “ says Khoza
Several African priority programs have been developed and are ready for implementation.
"We need to continue with the advocacy of NEPAD at national, regional, continental and international levels to promote more support for Africa's development. NEPAD is a long-term development program," stated Khoza. "Critical success factors are enhanced political leadership, ownership by the people, strengthening the institutional human and financial capacity of national, regional and continental development institutions and increased support by the international community."
