Human Capital Development

Overview

One of NEPAD's primary objectives is to work towards greater economic growth and poverty eradication on the African continent. This is achieved through linking together key areas of human development, including education, science and technology and healthcare.

Aims and goals

NEPAD's human development work is aimed at:

• Enhancing access to essential, affordable medicines and vaccines;
• Overcoming human resource shortages in the health, education and science and technology sectors;
• Advocacy, monitoring and partnerships to ensure that Africa's health, education and sciences agenda is determined by and driven from within the continent;
• Improving education to increase employment opportunities for Africa's citizens;
• Promoting relevant frameworks and reports, survey results to guide country and regional development strategies; and
• Encouraging partnerships to establish and strengthen regional networks of knowledge.

What is being done?

Education
Stronger and better education is a key objective for human resource development. NEPAD is working towards Education for All (EFA) in Africa, a programme designed to fit within the framework of the AU Second Decade of Education for Africa (2006–2015) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). NEPAD also promotes teacher training, including nursing and midwifery education to promote maternal and infant well-being.

Health
NEPAD's work in the health sector is aimed at making positive interventions into healthcare to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Science and Technology
In the area of science and technology NEPAD is working to establish and consolidate networks such as the Africa Mathematics Institutes Network (AMINet) and the African Bio-safety Network. NEPAD also conducts science and technology surveys, publishes and disseminates frameworks and reports on science and technology, facilitates research on socio-economic issues and builds capacity in the area of science and technology.