Background

ADF IV on "Governance for a Progressing Africa" is being organized in partnership with the African Development Bank (ADB) and the African Union (AU) at a historic time. In the past decade, the transition of many states from authoritarian regimes to pluralistic and democratic systems has created demands from citizens for effective, participatory governance structures and services. ECA seeks to support and strengthen the "capable state"-one with transparent, accountable political and economic systems, and efficient public institutions providing an enabling environment for the private sector and civil society to play their respective roles in national efforts.

A widespread consensus has been building throughout the continent that good governance is essential for transforming Africa's economy. Indeed, it is one of the key pillars of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). There is an imperative to build upon NEPAD and the framework of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), which ensures that national policies and procedures conform to agreed-on political, economic and corporate governance codes and standards.

The nexus between strong institutional capacities and sustainable development has been central in the development discourse for quite some time. Good governance is important and necessary for effective institutional growth, and, at the same time, institutional effectiveness is not possible without good governance. The Forum will present an opportunity for all participants to gain a deeper understanding of the dimensions of governance, address key challenges, coordinate initiatives, and develop plans. One of the objectives of the ADF IV is to generate realistic strategies for good governance practices, mainly addressing the capacity building challenges, at the national, sub-regional and continental levels.