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NEPAD: Our collective action is only the first chapter of the story

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NEPAD: Our collective action is only the first chapter of the story

NEPAD: Our collective action is only the first chapter of the story
Photo credit: CIFOR

Addis Ababa, 29 January 2016

Today, on behalf of the NEPAD Agency, I have had the privilege to address a speech to the 34th NEPAD HSGOC in Addis Ababa. I have presented some of the major results the Agency has delivered in 2015 across national, regional and continental levels.

Within our priorities and in line with our long term vision, Agenda 2063, the Agency operated over 20 projects and has executed 9.05 M USD as of September 2015.

NEPAD was founded on the idea that only a unique Agency with a global and holistic approach could organize and lead the way for Africa’s development. 2015 brought us closer to that goal of coordinating and catalysing our energies towards that goal.

At the continental level, I would like to emphasize that despite the low cycle that is now engulfing commodities, natural resources remain a major source of revenue for African states and contribute substantially to job creation.

That is why getting better value from extractive industries has long been a key goal for African governments. In accordance with the 25th AU decisions, the NEPAD agency undertook capacity development exercise in Tax Policies and Contract Negotiation in the extractive industries. A first regional dialogue and training was held in Dakar in September 2015. In this domain like in so many others, we identified the absolute necessity to work closely between member states.

Also, from a regional point of view, undoubtedly, infrastructure remains Africa’s top challenge and priority.

With low levels of intra-regional trade and the smallest share of global trade, Africa remains the least integrated continent on earth. We continue to build upon the achievements of the first ever Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa and what we achieved in Dakar on the occasion of the Financing Summit that took place in June 2014.

We could then prioritize the transformative “16 mega PIDA projects”. Thus far, the NEPAD Agency has actively developed facility instruments that are directed at making those infrastructure projects bankable.

From coast to coast, we are beginning to break ground on the first of those projects. I would like to single out five of these initiatives that will be completed in a matter of years: the Abidjan-Lagos corridor; the Dakar-Bamako rail link; two hydroelectric dams, Sambangalou in Guinea and Ruzizi III in Rwanda; and the road from Serenje to Nakonde in Zambia.

Similarly, in June 2015, the NEPAD launched the Continental Business Network (CBN), an initiative we are particularly proud of. We need to improve the dialogue between the public and private sectors and this high level platform does just that by bringing together top global and African CEOs and institutional leaders.

The other field of choice for our Agency’s action has been Agricultural transformation and food security. They remain of crucial importance for the continent and require collective and regional actions.

At the country level the Agency continued to support members state in various areas such as the blue economy, climate change and human development.

The NEPAD also played an extensive role in defending better agricultural practices, notably through the NEPAD Climate Smart Agricultural (CSA) program.

Our action is also targeted at science, technology and innovation: we successfully undertook Capacity development for AU Member States by collecting, managing and analysing African Science, Technology and Innovation Indicators. Countries that have so far benefitted from the training include Côte d’Ivoire, Namibia, Niger, DRC, Togo, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Cape Verde and Sudan…

Finally, with regard to education, students from the Republic of Congo commenced specialised training in child and maternal nursing. The training is offered as part of the package provided by the NEPAD Agency’s project on Nursing and Midwifery Education in Africa.

Our collective action through the NEPAD Agency is only the first chapter in a story that we shall write together. Together we will realise our dream of an African continent whose countries are open both to each other and to the world. This is the only way ahead to face an uncertain future.

Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki of the Republic of Niger is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency, head-quartered in Midrand, South Africa.


NEPAD Key Development Results Annual Progress Report 2015

Executive Summary

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency is central to the continent’s transformation efforts. The necessary political determination has been renewed by African leaders to deliver the accelerated implementation of the NEPAD Programme under the African Union (AU). Furthermore, the resounding commitment of African leaders to a Sustainable Development Agreement for the next 15 years, that is transformative and global, is proof that the African continent is ready to eradicate all forms of marginalisation and underdevelopment.

As the technical body of the AU, the NEPAD Agency focuses on the strategic development coordination of the implementation of the continent’s priority programmes and projects. This role is now more critical in the context of the African Union Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The AU declared 2015 the Year of Women’s Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063. Agenda 2063 envisages the effective participation of women in public and private life, through a full and fair share of economic, social, cultural and political opportunities and decision-making. The NEPAD Agency recognises that promoting gender equality is one of the most effective ways to drive inclusive growth and reduce poverty, and supports countries, women’s organisations and civil society organisations to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment.

In order to ensure that there are additional resources to support development projects that address gender concerns in Africa, the NEPAD Agency, with the goodwill of the Spanish Government, established the NEPAD-Spanish Fund for African Women’s Empowerment. Since its inception in 2007, the Fund has contributed to women’s economic empowerment through skills transfer, access to finance and the set-up of businesses, and access to land. More than half a million women have benefited directly from the Fund. At an institutional level the capacities of government institutions and civil society organisations, including grassroots women’s organisations, have been empowered.

Africa faces a large and growing unemployment challenge; half of Africa’s population of 1.1 billion people is under the age of 25 years, with this population expected to double to 2.4 billion people by 2050. While youth currently constitute approximately 40% of the working age population, over 60% of them are unemployed. The design of a continental youth employment programme is under way. The programme, while aiming to enhance the engagement of youth in gainful employment, will have a dedicated focus on building skills.

Infrastructure remains Africa’s top priority. This notwithstanding, the low levels of intra regional economic exchange and the smallest share of global trade position Africa as the least integrated continent in the world. Infrastructure inefficiencies are costing Africa billions of dollars annually and are stunting growth. Bridging the gap in infrastructure is thus vital for economic advancement and sustainable development. However, this can only be achieved through regional and continental cooperation and solution-finding.

Under the leadership of His Excellency, Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chair of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC), and following the Dakar Financing Summit, the implementation of the ‘NEPAD 16 Mega Projects’ commenced. Firstly, the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) Service Delivery Mechanism was established, to endow project owners with the required capacity for early-stage project preparation. Secondly, in collaboration with the Infrastructure Consortium for Africa, the Roundtable of Project Preparation Funds was set up to enhance cooperation on the funding of continent-wide initiatives such as PIDA. Thirdly, ‘Africa50’ was established to finance infrastructure projects, including PIDA projects.

The fourth milestone was the Continental Business Network (CBN), which serves as a high level platform for private sector involvement in the PIDA projects. The CBN, endorsed by the 24th AU Assembly, was launched in June 2015 on the side-lines of the World Economic Forum on Africa in Cape Town. The CBN is seen as an African-led movement to fast-track high-level private sector investment in Africa’s regional infrastructure development.

The High Level Panel Report on Illicit Financial Flows from Africa observed that Africa loses 50 billion US Dollars per annum through illicit financial flows. In order to commence with the implementation of the recommendation on the report and the decision of the African Union Summit of June 2015, the NEPAD Agency organised the first regional dialogue on capacity building for tax and mining administration officers in the West and Central African region. It is envisaged that this programme, designed for senior government officials, will contribute to improved tax policy design and better contract negotiation for the extractive industries.

The Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa in July 2015 came at a critical time. A central issue is how to reform the global financing system to allow the achievement of the SDGs by 2030. Having actively participated in the negotiation process and strengthened the African voice, the NEPAD Agency is fully involved in advancing the SDGs and helping African countries to meet the SDG targets, towards achieving the 17 SDGs by 2030. Of utmost importance is the need to maintain the coherence and alignment of the 2030 Agenda with the vision outlined in the AU Agenda 2063 and its 10-year Implementation Plan.

The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is the epicentre for deepening democracy and the dissemination of best practice among African Union Member States, reflecting their commitment to improving governance at all levels. To date, 35 Member States have voluntarily joined the APRM; 17 countries have been peer reviewed and the second-cycle review process is in the pipeline. Going forward, the urgent task for the APRM is the effective implementation of the National Programmes of Action (NPOA) arising from the peer review exercises.

At an institutional level, the APR Secretariat is being strengthened through its integration into the AU and through the development of stronger collaboration and synergy with the NEPAD Agency and other relevant organisations. In this regard, the APRM is being re-positioned to effectively serve as the monitoring tool for AU Agenda 2063.

The African group of negotiators at the Conference of the Parties in Paris (COP 21) received technical and financial support, provided in collaboration with the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN). Furthermore, the Agency, in collaboration with the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the African Development Bank (AfDB), set up the Africa Pavilion Hub at the conference.

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