THE NEW PARTNERSHIP FOR AFRICA'S DEVELOPMENT
Amb. L. Aluko-Olokun
Head, Nigeria NEPAD Team
Addis Ababa
7th March 2002
1. The thought of a concerted effort for African recovery which eventually crystallized into the New partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) dates back to 1999. President A. Bouteflika, President T Mbeki and president 0. Obasanjo were at the time the Chairmen of the OAU, the Non-Aligned Movement and the G-77 respectively,and they seized the opportunity of their unique positions to address the problems of peace and security, as well as poverty and underdevelopment in Africa. First, President Mbeki became the arrow head of MAP. Soon after, President A. Wade of Senegal sponsored the OMEGA Plan. Following the directive of the OAU, both initiatives were merged into NEPAD and President Obasanjo is now the Chairman of the 15-member Implementation Committee of Heads of State and Government.
2. Before NEPAD, the African landscape had been littered with failed initiatives, development plans and programmes of action. Of note were the regional initiatives of the Lagos Plan of Action (early 80's) and the Abuja Treaty establishing the African Economic Community (early 90's). For a variety of reasons including lack of capacity, lack of political will, outside interference and lack of resources these past initiatives were unsuccessful. However, a fortuitions convergence of circumstances, both within and outside the continent, has created the opportunity for the latest initiative.
3. The New partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) consists of three essential and inter-related elements, all rolled into one. First is the vision of the future shared by African leaders. Next is a full-blown development agenda, laying out the strategy to translate their vision into reality. And the third part is a programme of action flowing from the strategy.
4. Broadly, the goals of NEPAD are to:
(i) eradicate widespread and severe poverty;
(ii) promote accelerated growth and sustainable development;
(iii) halt the marginalisation of Africa in the globalisation process; and
(iv) restore peace, security and stability
5. Although Africa is one of the most endowed regions of the world, it remains today the poorest continent with not less than half of its peoples living below the poverty line on less than $1 a day. Africa is also the most aid-dependent, the most indebted, as well as the marginalized region.
6. The world is at present passing through an economic revolution, otherwise known as globalisation. True enough, globalisation has increased Africa's marginalisation, but at the same time it provides the means for the continent's rejuvenation. Africa today offers the world critical resources, markets, labour/skills and investment opportunities and its continued marginalisation (with 53 countries) poses a serious threat to global stability
7. It is in the face of the above gloomy scenario that African leaders have boldly resolved to launch their initiative in order to recapture the glory of the past, regain the identity and self-confidence of its peoples and put the continent back on the path of political stability, economic prosperity and sustainable development.
8. The philosophical underpinnings of the new partnership are anchored on the rich cultural heritage of Africa. In NEPAD, African leaders are seeking renewal, a new beginning and the strategic direction for their continent in the 21st century. In spite of all odds, they see the future as a place of immense possibilities for their largely impoverished peoples. NEPAD embodies a message of hope, and the spirit of the new corps of progressive leaders on the scene.
9. What are the strategic issues and key development challenges which confront Africa leaders at this historical juncture? Below, NEPAD identifies the following:
{a) restoration of peace, security and stability;
(b) entrenchment of good governance;
( c ) resumption of accelerated growth and sustainable development;
( d) reduction of poverty and income inequality;
(e) consolidation of democratic gains and strengthening of democratic institutions and structures;
(f) rehabilitation and construction of infrastructural facilities;
(g) redefinition of relationship with partners;
(h) reconfiguration of global financial architecture; and
(i) bridging the digital divide between the North and the South. Needless to stress, all the above cannot be resolved effectively by individual African nations, hence they have opted for concerted and coordinated efforts. This, precisely, is the sense in the New partnership.
10. In order to reduce the population of Africa living under the poverty line by half by 2015, the GDP growth must be 7 per cent per annum on a sustained basis. This International Development Goal (IDG} and others in respect of health, education, gender equality and environmental sustainability have become the benchmark for African countries. In order to achieve the IDG, African leaders must learn to build political consensus for reform; speak with one voice on Africa; expand political ,participation to cover previously marginalized segments of society; and adopt sound economic management and a private sector-led growth strategy.
11. The major elements of their development strategy include the following:
(i) Ensuring the ownership, management and leadership of the New partnership process by Africans, thus ,presenting it as an entirely autonomous impulse for change and reform in Africa.
(ii) Ensuring that the new partnership reflects, in all respects, the transformed partnership between Africa and the rest of the world, based on mutual benefits and accountability, mutual commitments, shared responsibilities and well- defined obligations.
(iii) Recognizing the immense diversity of Africa and the consequent need for multi-track modalities in operationalising NEPAD.
(iv) Securing predictable long-term capital flows to close a huge resource gap, estimated to be $64 billion per annum or 12 per cent of the GDP of Africa.
(v) And demanding an overhaul, of the aid (ODA) relationship; an outright cancellation or substantial reduction of Africa's debt and increased market access in the industrial economies.
12. As part of the strategy to operationalise the New partnership for African Development, certain priority areas have been identified. The priority areas are peace and security, good governance, human resources development, enhanced market access and diversification of production and exports, infrastructural development, especially ICT maximum resource mobilization, regional cooperation and integration, creation of appropriate financing mechanisms, diversification of economic structures and preservation of the eco-system. Each of the above priority areas is elaborated upon in .the main report of NEPAD.
13. The New partnership for Africa's Development seeks for the transformation of relationship between Africa and her development partners. However, African leaders recognize, ab initio, that they must carry their partners along. The objective of the new relationship is to exert concrete commitment from these partners on the priority areas identified above without loss of self-respect and dignity.
14. As further conceived, the new mode of partnership will operate on three levels:
(I) On the global level will be Africa against donors, development partners, international institutions and so on; (ii)On the regional level will be African states cooperating in joint ventures and integration, cross border projects, etc. and (iii)On the national (domestic) level will be revitalized partnership among the public sector, the private sector and the civil society.
15. If the New partnership for Africa's Development expects so much from Africa's partners, the logical question is how many commitments are African countries themselves making? There had been some failed partnerships in the post-independence era, so what is new this time around? What commitments are African leaders making to ensure the success of the New partnership? Below are some observations in this regard.
16. On the ascendancy in Africa at this fortuitous moment is a corps of like-minded, bold and assertive leaders who are committed to democracy, good governance and the integration of Africa with the global economy on equal footing. These leaders have mustered the political will to sponsor the New partnership for Africa's Development.
17. The process adopted under the New partnership for African Development is equally noteworthy. From the onset, there is a clear vision and realization of the need to carryall stakeholders along. The goal must be a win-win formula, which would go a long way in ensuring the success of NEPAD.
18. Needless to say, carrying African partners and donors along and the accent on the new relationship based on mutual benefits, commitments and shared responsibilities would also augur well for NEPAD
19. In recent times, the initiating African leaders have been demonstrating more commitment and sensitivity to good governance, and democracy, as well as appearing more resolute about the goals of 6 economic integration and cooperation in the continent. The peer pressure mechanism is working and a code of conduct may soon be developed.
20. Unlike past partnerships allegedly conceived abroad, this new one is a product of indigenous efforts as African leaders are determined to convince skeptics and Afro-pessimists that they have indeed become the architect of their own destiny, offering African methodology, solutions to African problems.
21. As revealed at the UN Millennium Summit in September 2000, the world j community was willing to address and resolve the lingering problems of Africa's poverty, underdevelopment and marginalisation. This has been further confirmed by the endorsement of GNP AD by the last GB Summit at Genoa and its enthusiastic acceptance by the international Community and the world media.
22. Recognizing that implementation has never been Africa's forte, the initiating Presidents have been giving considerable thoughts to this area. Among others, they have proposed to fast track the following programs, in collaboration with development partners:
(a) HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases,(b) ITC, (c) Debt reduction (d) Market access and (e) Conflict resolution, peace and security. A variety of international partners and institutions have worked in this area, but it is necessary to strengthen Africa's participation and leadership for better outcome.
23. Participation in the New partnership for Africa's Development is open to all African countries. No automatic exclusions. Essentially, its execution will be directed by Heads of State Implementation Committee, which will be appointed by and responsible to the African Union Summit. The Committee of the Heads of state will guide the process of the New partnership for African Development in its entirety. The Steering Committee will continue to function only as directed by the Committee of Heads of State and Government.
24. Overall, the New partnership for Africa's Development constitutes a bold and imaginative attempt to launch a total war on the endemic problems of widespread poverty, severe under-development, peace and security in Africa. NEPAD at once offers a vision of the future, a full-blown development strategy and a detailed Program of Action. While redressing centuries of unequal relations between Africa and the rest of the world, the New partnership for Africa's Development also seeks to consolidate and deepen recent gains in democracy in Africa.