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NePAD - New Partnership for Africa’s Development Cluster of NiZA's Economic Empowerment Programme “Africans must not be wards of benevolent guardians; rather they must be the architects of their own sustained upliftment.”
In 2001 the ‘New Partnership for Africa’s Development’ (NePAD) was launched. African leaders who wanted to take decisions themselves about the sustainable growth and development of Africa undertook the initiative. In 2002, by the African Union (AU) NePAD was adopted as an economic network within the AU. The countries of the AU are all members of NePAD.
Objectives of NePAD
NePAD has formulated the following objectives and points of emphasis:
- The improvement of necessary conditions for investment and economic growth: peace, security, democracy and good governance;
- The promotion of an integrated economy in the diverse African regions (through means of the private sector);
- The promotion of an integrated regional African economy and the integration of Africa in the global economy (through means of the private sector);
- The promotion of the development of the poor: education, health and agriculture; and,
- The promotion of productive co-operation relations between Africans, the private sector, industrialised countries and multilateral organisations.
The Role of NiZA
NiZA’s Economic Empowerment Programme focuses mainly on organisations in southern civil society that NePAD should involve, but that do not play a role as yet. Where necessary, NiZA supports these organisations through capacity development. The stronger the organisation, the more prepared they are. Through lobbying, NiZA ensures that the voice of civil society is more loudly heard in the debate around NePAD than it has been to date. For the time being, NiZA will focus on organisations in Zambia, South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.
Discussion
The big question surrounding NePAD is whether, and to what extent, NePAD can meet its objectives. Critics say that NePAD is differs little from earlier – failed – development plans. They also note that NePAD cannot succeed because the West does not want any changes in the current economic relations.
Supporters of NePAD are of the opinion that NePAD, as a new proposal, should at least be given the benefit of the doubt. NiZA also views NePAD as a worthwhile African initiative with great chances and therefore also gives it its support. This support is focused on the involvement of civil society in the NePAD countries. NePAD is current largely still a top-down initiative with little involvement of civil society organisations.
NePAD in Europe
The European Union is an important partner for NePAD member states. NiZA therefore applies itself to increasing the commitment of the Dutch and European governments in NePAD. Moreover, NiZA ensures that there is continual attention for NePAD in Europe by informing people, governments and organisations about NePAD.
NePAD Conference
On February 21st, 2003 NiZA organised the conference NePAD: A New Partnership? Speakers from Africa and Europe were represented. During this conference the role that Dutch and European civil society organisations can take up within NePAD was discussed. In connection with this, a public debate of NePAD, organised in collaboration with the National Commission for International Co-operation and Sustainable Development (NCDO), was held on February 24th, 2003.
More information
Please write your questions about the cluster NePAD to economie@niza.nl (Sihle Winter-Dube and Elizabeth Wiebrens).
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