About NEPAD

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) is a Programme of the African Union (AU) that seeks to eradicate poverty, place African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development, build the capacity of Africa to participate actively in the world economy and body politic, and accelerate the empowerment of women.

NEPAD was formally adopted as an integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa by the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) held in Lusaka, Zambia, in July 2001. The endorsement of NEPAD epitomized the commitment of African leaders and people to pursue new priorities and approaches towards socio-economic transformation and development of the continent. The NEPAD agenda was further guided by the recommendations of the 21st and 22nd NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) on the integration of NEPAD into the structures and processes of the AU. In February 2010, the 14th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the AU held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, adopted the Decision (Assembly/AU/Dec.283(XIV)) on the integration of NEPAD into the structures and processes of the AU. This included the establishment of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA) as a technical body of the AU to replace the NEPAD Secretariat.

Several principles have guided the implementation of NEPAD as a framework for the transformation and renewal of Africa to meet the above objectives. These principles, which will continue to guide NPCA, include: good governance as a basic requirement for peace, security and sustainable political and socio-economic development; African ownership and leadership, as well as broad and deep participation by all sectors of society; anchoring the development of Africa on its resources and resourcefulness of its people; partnership between and amongst African peoples; acceleration of regional and continental integration; building the competitiveness of African countries and the continent as a whole; forging a new international partnership that changes the unequal relationship between Africa and the developed world; and ensuring that all partnerships with NPCA are linked to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other agreed development goals and targets.

NEPAD Governance Structure

In reflecting the commitment to the AU/NEPAD principle of African leadership and ownership, the NEPAD Programme, since inception in 2001 has received due attention and considerable support of African leaders at the highest levels of political decision and policy-making on the continent.
The AU Assembly Decision on the establishment of NPCA re-affirmed the lead roles of African leaders and key stakeholders at the country, sub-regional and continental levels in NEPAD delivery. To this effect, the January 2010 Addis Ababa AU Summit approved the main features of the NEPAD Governance structures as shownbelow.

Main Features of NEPAD Governing Structure