From the headquarters

North Africa Experts call for Development Policies that Match Training with Employment Needs

Forum urges SADC countries to mainstream regional protocols in development plans

Issue 3, 15 - 31 May 2009

“NEPAD fundamental tenets of partnership still relevant despite current global economic crisis” - ECA official

African experts have just concluded a two-day workshop on public-private partnerships held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia under the auspices of the Economic Commission for Africa in collaboration with the African Union Commission and the African Development Bank. The main objective of the meeting was to examine the role of the private sector and civil society in the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

At the end of the workshop, ECA ECHO met Mr. Emmanuel Nnadozie, Chief of the NEPAD Support Section at ECA, for a detailed discussion on the usefulness of partnerships; best models for public-private-partnerships; concrete results such partnerships have achieved; the challenges and the way forward for the NEPAD partnership initiatives.

Excerpts:

Question: The implementation of NEPAD started seven years ago and today some observers are skeptical about concrete results achieved on the ground, in terms of poverty reduction in Africa. Do you think the way partnerships are forged is part of the problem?

Answer: NEPAD actually heralds a new partnership paradigm in which it calls for development partners to align, harmonize and integrate their development assistance programmes with Africa’s sectoral priorities identified in the programme. The problem is not the way in which partnerships are forged but rather a lack of awareness on the part of many segments of society of the results that have been achieved through the NEPAD programme. The Secretariat is conscious of this fact and is embarking on strengthening its communication and advocacy efforts. It has conducted a number of training workshops for the media as well as in conjunction with the UN Communication and Advocacy Cluster, organized a regional media dialogue from 19-20 February 2009, in an effort to increase understanding of and support for NEPAD as a development framework. The newly appointed CEO has also emphasized that communication is one of the key priorities of the Secretariat.

African countries have achieved many things under NEPAD:  The political environment has improved in many countries; the economic environment has also improved; many countries previously in conflict now enjoy peace; Africa has raised its voice and has been able to bring attention to its development efforts and challenges to the world at large through NEPAD. There are many more achievements in various sectors—agriculture, health, education, science and technology, etc.  One of the greatest achievements of NEPAD is improving governance through the APRM.

Question Do you buy the idea of establishing national business groups across the continent to promote effective public-private partnerships? I would like to note that this is still a challenge even at national level.

Answer: The establishment of organized national business groups would greatly facilitate the interaction between government and private sector. This would mean that the public sector would have an effective counterpart to engage on the issues of economic development and assist in undertaking development projects.  For sure, the private sector has a critical role to play in growth, employment and overall economic development.  However, it is necessary for the private sector to partner with the public sector to implement large infrastructure projects or deliver goods and services to the population, especially when neither of them is in a position to undertake such projects alone.

Question Right from the beginning the NEPAD strategic framework document emphasized the need to ensure that all partnerships are aimed at the attainment of the MDGs. The current financial and economic crisis has not made things easy. Priorities are shifting. Do you think there is need to rethink the role of partnerships in the light of the current situation? What is ECA advocating for?

Answer: I believe that the fundamental tenets of partnership are still relevant despite the current global economic situation, but the focus needs to change to address pressing issues, the global financial and economic crisis being one of them.  This is because if the impact of the crisis is not urgently addressed, the risk of non-attainment of the MDGs becomes higher.  I am saying that in addition to maintaining partnerships that address a broad spectrum of development objectives, there is need to forge credible and effective partnerships to address emerging and overarching challenges, including the impact of food crisis, energy crisis and climate change on African people.

Question Civil society and private sector development always go hand-in-hand. What would be the best strategy to harness their joint contribution to the implementation of NEPAD programmes and projects?

Answer: Anchored on a notion of partnership NEPAD is a participatory programme that requires the full participation of all sectors of the society. As a major stakeholder in Africa's development, the private sector and civil society have a key role to play in the successful implementation of NEPAD. The NEPAD Framework Document itself explicitly recognizes this. ECA last week organized an expert group meeting to review and enhance the role of both of these stockholders in the implementation of NEPAD programme.  Both of these groups need to own the programme and be consulted more proactively in there engagement with the programme. Some suggestions that came out of the meeting include: convening a Business Leadership Summit to create greater awareness and investment interest for the private sector for business interest on AU/NEPAD Projects; and to hold a Civil Society Forum/Congress, to engage the CSOs and map out the specific areas for immediate interaction on NEPAD priority sectors.

Question: Are there any success stories related to sound partnership in the implementation of NEPAD programmes and projects?

Answer: A number of sound partnerships exist in the implementation of NEPAD. One such partnership is the UN Delivering as One in support of the NEPAD programme at the regional and sub regional level. The UN uses the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) in partnership with the AUC, NEPAD Secretariat, RECs and AfDB coordinate its support to NEPAD. The RCM has made significant contribution to the implementation of NEPAD priorities including the APRM and the Mutual Review of Development Effectiveness as well as to increased advocacy and strengthened communication in support of the AU and NEPAD at the regional and subregional levels. 

Some of the NEPAD sectoral projects also serve as good examples to showcase these. These include the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) and the Consolidated Plan of Action where NEPAD Secretariat, AU, UN agencies, and various African regional organizations work closely in the development and implementation of these plans.

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