As the United Nations commemorates UNDay, the NEPAD Agency which is the development organ of the African Union has been highlighting the significance of its programmes and projects to representatives of UN Members States in New York.

NEPAD CEO, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki called on the UN to support Africa’s voice, participation and positions in global decision-making on trade, debt, and investment.

“We also request your partnership in the strengthening of UN structures such as the UN Development Programme and UN Economic Commission for Africa which are educated to advancing African issues,” said Dr Mayaki.

Dr Mayaki, a former Prime Minister of Niger, was speaking at a special briefing session on NEPAD Implementation and the 10th Anniversary of the Africa Peer Review Mechanism, (APRM) a political instrument designed to measure good Governance in Africa.

And in a media briefing to journalists accredited to the UN, Dr Mayaki unpacked a number of expected results for the NEPAD Agency such as Private sector commitments to finance 8 to 10 regional projects and Increased support for infrastructure project preparation in Africa.

In mid-December, NEPAD in partnership with the Government of Senegal and other development entities will host the Dakar Financing Summit on Africa’s Infrastructure, a rallying call for the private sector and governments to work together develop infrastructure in Africa.

The Summit will galvanise Africa’s influential leaders from government, industry and finance to accelerate investment into more than a dozen regional infrastructure projects.

Earlier in the week UN Secretary- General Ban Ki Moon said the UN remained committed to supporting the APRM and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).

He recounted that 10 years ago, the APRM was a bold initiative that showed the world that African leaders were ready to take action on difficult and sensitive problems of governance and democracy, adding that this approach has proven its value.