NEPAD has been showcasing its achievements to African leaders who make up the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC).

Chief Executive Officer Dr Ibrahim Mayaki spelt out fourteen key results achieved by the Agency and its development partners in the last twelve months

Among them Dr Mayaki announced a concrete roadmap on African rural transformation - The Rural Futures Programme- championed by President Yayi Boni of Benin, which targets 10 countries and will be implemented this year. Through the NEPAD-Spanish Fund, the Agency disbursed a total of 3.2 million Euro for thirty-two projects in over 20 countries to support the economic empowerment of African Women.

“In 2013 we collaborated with the AUC, REC’s state and non-state institutions to draw lessons from the first 10 years of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP). This has provided the strategic thrust and priorities for the next decade and beyond,” added Dr Mayaki.

Dr Dlamini Zuma with HSGOC delegates 

 Chairperson of the African Union Commission Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma called for a paradigm shift so that Africa could move forward in accelerating its priorities. She   heaped praise on NEPAD for energising regional economic development.

The HSGOC, a grouping of 20 and chaired by Senegalese President Mackey Sall meets twice a year on the margins of the AU Summit to take stock of the implementation of the NEPAD Programme. 

Senegalese President Macky Sall

 Ethiopian Prime Minter and Chairperson of the African Union Haile Mariam Desalegn said NEPAD had transformed the global debate on Africa’s development due in large part to the principled leadership.

Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Viola Onwuliri 

The meeting discussed the Agency’s 2014-2017 strategic plan which is consistent with that of the AUC and a report by Dr Carlos Lopez, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). South African President Jacob Zuma gave a progress report on the Presidential Infrastructure Champion Initiative (PICI), which he chairs.

The 22^nd African Union Summit will take place from January 30 to 31.