Representatives of African Heads of state assess NEPAD’s effectiveness and propose new structure

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Mr Victor Mengot, Minister, in the Presidency of Cameroon (left) and NEPAD's CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki.

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - July 11, 2012: Representatives of African governments, international organisations and development partners are in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, for the 44th Meeting of the New Partnership for Africa Development - NEPAD - Steering Committee, ahead of the African Union Summit on July 15.

The Steering Committee, which is a grouping of personal appointees of African heads of state, is responsible for developing the terms of reference for identified NEPAD projects, and for overseeing the work and activities of NEPAD’s programmes.

Addressing the over 50 delegates from 20 countries, NEPAD Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki highlighted some of the Agency’s achievements since the last meeting which was held in Addis in January this year.

Key among them is the effective mobilisation and use of 130.000 Euro from Irish Aid for the planned 2012 Food and Security Day scheduled for October 2012. With the support of the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the development agency UNDP as well as the African Capacity Building Foundation, NEPAD mobilised US$137.000 in support of the South Sudan Development Initiative (SSDI); and US300.000 mobilised from Norway in support of NEPAD sustainable land and water management and agriculture climate change programme.

Said Jean Yves Adou, in a speech read on behalf of the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Economic Affairs, Dr Maxwell Mkwezalamba, “We would like to commend NEPAD on the effective running of its programme and also note improvement of administrative and financial management. The AUC and NEPAD are turning a significant corner on their working relations, and we commend the Agency for the positive progress made by so far.”

The NEPAD CEO also presented a report on the previous steering committee meeting in which he discussed the challenge of NEPAD relying on donors for funding. 

“We cannot talk about ownership when we depend a lot on outside sources for resources. Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is not an option due to economic factors in Europe and the United States.  The result or alternative is domestic financing. Private investment is important and has to be framed within the tools and frameworks that have been put in place by NEPAD,” said Dr Mayaki.

The Steering Committee Meeting is expected to make a decision on the proposed structure of the NEPAD Agency, so as to ensure its effective management and implementation.