NEPAD Steering Commitee

The NEPAD Steering Committee (SC) is primarily responsible for developing the terms of reference for identified programmes and projects, and for overseeing the work and programmatic activities of the NEPAD Agency.

This committee consists of the Personal Representatives nominated by the Heads of States and Government on the HSGOC to serve on the committee. The SC normally meets about four times per year, usually once a quarter. The Steering Committee also provides policy guidance and strategic advice to the NEPAD Agency. Overall, the SC is the policy organ which acts on behalf of the HSGOC in translating policies and decisions into implementation.

The AU Commission participates in all Steering Committee meetings.

Membership - The NEPAD five initiating countries have two Personal Representatives appointed by the Heads of State and Government who sit on the NEPAD Steering Committee, while other elected member states have one Personal Representative each. In addition, Representatives of the eight AU-recognised RECs, the African Development Bank (AFDB), UNDP, UN Office of Special Adviser on Africa (UN-OSAA) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UN-ECA), also participate in this meeting.

The Steering Committee considers the following reports:

- Strategic vision, work plans and annual budgets of the NEPAD Agency;
- Quarterly progress reports and performance on the activities of the programmes and projects of the Secretariat;
- Reports to be tabled in the NEPAD HSGOC; and
- Annual reports and the annual financial statements of the organisations.

Frequency of Meetings - The Steering Committee usually meets quarterly. The 40th meeting of the NEPAD Steering Committee was held in Pretoria in July 2010. The SC meeting was co-hosted by the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) and Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in South Africa. Being the first SC meeting since the landmark 14th AU Summit decision to establish the NEPAD Agency, session discussed progress on the transition to the NEPAD Agency, with specific reference to the Agency's strategic direction and the adoption of AU rules, regulations and practices for human resources and finance.