The achievements and challenges of the New Partnership for Africa's Development

Abstract

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is a fairly recent African programme aimed at both general renewal and economic recovery through strategic endeavours by African governments with identified development partners. The author argues that NEPAD has already made significant progress in reaching some of its aims, particularly in the area of African ownership and leadership, and debt cancellation. However, NEPAD also faces formidable challenges: forging new partnerships, dismantling trade barriers, political dictatorships, the role of the African Peer Review Mechanism, possible polarisation, human resource investment, development and diversification of industries, and the eradication of a foreign aid mentality. Nevertheless, the author concludes that NEPAD is firmly based on clear principles, which are mandatory to its success in future.

Africa Insight Vol. 36 (2) June 2006: 25-34