Reflections on the "New Partnership For Africa" (NEPAD) 
 by David Kashangaki, CSC
Last updated 5/28/02

There is currently a lot of discussion on this New Partnership for Africa, and it is scheduled to have a day and a half of discussion at the upcoming G8 summit in Canada. It is the brainchild of four African Presidents: Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, Olusegen Obasanjo of Nigeria, Abdulaziz Bouteflika of Algeria and Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal. the major criticism of this Programme is that it is basically the work of political leaders looking for ways to continue receiving the support of Western Donors. There is very little grass roots input, or even discussion of the Programme in Africa. If the United States and other G8 countries blindly support just Africa's leaders, progress will not happen. Areas being tackled by the programme include, Economic growth and Sustainable Development, Governance and Democracy, and Social transformation. There is a need for more input at the grass roots level, otherwise this plan will go the way of some many  others over the last two decades. The G8 leaders should push the African leaders to open up discussion in their own countries before adopting the plan.

Under Economic Growth, the plan envisages a growth rate in all of Africa's economies of between 7 and 12% per annum; putting in place the equivalent of an African Marshall Plan, to revive industry; and steadier foreign investment in Africa. These are lofty goals, but not very practical. On a Continent where the average GDP rate is 3.4%, imagining a growth rate of between 7 and 12% is highly unrealistic. On a Continent riven by Corruption and faced with huge barriers to free trade established by some of the more developed countries (including the United States) having steady industrial development and increased amounts of foreign investment is a pipe dream.

Under Good Governance and Democracy, the plan envisages setting up a peer review mechanism to encourage African leaders to uphold democracy, and particularly the will of the people in elections. This mechanism is having its first tests with Zimbabwe and Madagascar, and so far seems to be making little progress. The big question is who is going to do the reviewing?

Under Social transformation, the major emphasis is to target the the problem of poverty, and weak infrastructural development. This means tackling the situation of women and children and all that relates to their well being. Unfortunately very little is publicly available on what the plan seeks to accomplish in this area.

It is too early for the G8 leaders to be committing themselves totally to this plan, but rather they should encourage it, and urge the African leaders to open it up for wider participation and discussion. This is what most of the critics are demanding, and as Secretary O'Neill hears discussion on the plan in Addis Ababa this week, he should insist on more participation.


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