Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, kicked off a panel discussion on the continent’s future, saying that since its inception in 2001, the Partnership had promoted innovative approaches to improving African economies. He was accompanied by Amos Namanga Ngongi, President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa; Cheikh Sidi Diarra, United Nations Special Adviser on Africa and High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States; and Amos Sawyer, a member of the NEPAD African Peer Review Mechanism’s Panel of Eminent Persons.

Describing a number of NEPAD successes in response to questions, Mr. Mayaki cited a centre in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, that provided policy inputs for the use of biotechnology in the health and agriculture sectors. The Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) focused on that sector as the best way to reduce poverty and create jobs, he said, recalling that before the Programme’s creation, agriculture had been neglected for 30 years and left off the agenda of donors. Additionally, the NEPAD-led Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, in which the African Development Bank was involved, had designed a strategic framework for the development of regional and continental infrastructure.

Complementing those efforts, Mr. Sawyer added, was the African Peer Review Mechanism, an instrument born in 2003 and to which African Union member States had and voluntarily acceded. It encouraged conformity of political, economic and corporate-governance standards among African countries, he said, describing the Mechanism as a scientific, action-focused process that had culminated in a plan of action for each country, in the belief that self-assessment and good governance were closely linked to institutional development. “We go beyond words,” he added.

For its own part, Mr. Diarra said, the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa had provided an entry point for the United Nations to support NEPAD processes, notably through the interdepartmental Task Force on African Affairs, which worked with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) to ensure coherence.

Mr. Ngongi said: “There is no challenge greater for Africa than the capacity to feed itself.” As a NEPAD partner, the Alliance for a Green Revolution was a non-State actor working with farmers to transform the continent’s agriculture, he said, adding that the sector was vital to increasing the income of 70 per cent of Africa’s population.

Responding to a series of questions, Mr. Mayaki described a planning commission created in reaction to the “erosion” of strategic thinking resulting from International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural adjustment programmes. Stressing that planning was essential, he said it was taking on a new importance in the context of climate change, a multisectoral issue affecting agriculture, health, land tenure and infrastructure. Referring specifically to climate change, he noted that while Africa was the least responsible for pollution, it suffered the phenomenon’s greatest impacts. “We need to push our negotiating stance in the global negotiations arena” and to design adaptation strategies to help reach set objectives, he emphasized. Such strategies were already being launched in some countries, he said, adding that the challenge was one of financing. More domestic resources must be brought into policies.

Mr. Sawyer added that climate change was a potential source of intra-State conflict as it affected environmental and other resources.

Asked about the Peer Review Mechanism, Mr. Sawyer said every review ended with a programme of action laid out for the participating country. The concerned Government then filed a progress report highlighting successes and challenges. Countries including South Africa and Kenya had admitted that they had not initially adopted the Review’s findings, but they had later taken the reports more seriously. Implementation difficulties were often due to “competition” with other poverty-reduction or mid-term development plans, he said, adding that the challenge lay aligning all such plans with each other.

To a question about the world body’s work with the Bretton Woods institutions, Mr. Diarra said the United Nations was increasing its cooperation with them, notably through the Economic and Social Council’s special high-level meetings. The World Bank and IMF were also full members of the Task Force on African Affairs, participating in regional coordination mechanisms, he added.

As to whether he would assume a role in ECA, he said he was unaware of any openings in the Commission. “As a result, I have not applied and I am not a candidate.”

Asked whether NEPAD was primarily focused on planning, Mr. Mayaki said its development strategy was linked to a delivery process carried out in various subregions around the continent. In West Africa, for example, the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme had been translated into a regional strategy for States. The implementation phase called for enhanced institutional ability to evaluate situations and increase both private-sector investment and human capital. In the infrastructure area, resources had been channelled through the African Development Bank, he said, describing that model as “unique worldwide”.

Turning to the issue of corruption, he said Africa was not the most corrupt continent, adding “Asia is as corrupt as Africa”. The difference was that the fruits of corruption in Asia stayed there, whereas in Africa they did not.

On that point, Mr. Sawyer said “we need to have institutional clarity, functioning judiciaries and strong political will”. Civil society organizations must do more to involve people in the fight against corruption, he added, pointing out that 30 countries had acceded to the African Peer Review.

Addressing other queries, Mr. Diarra described two processes affecting Africa today. Decentralization had allowed local communities to “take up their fate” on issues like education and health under central Government supervision, but with more space for local government. In addition, Africa’s regional integration had “softened” the grip of centralized power in many countries, especially in relation to regional agreements already ratified and awaiting implementation. Integration also cast light on how Governments spent money and made decisions, he added.

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NEPAD week at the United Nations Headquarters, New York

Theme: “Reflecting on a Decade of Change/Progress – Moving forward Africa‟s development agenda through strengthening NEPAD-UN Partnership”

Indicative dates: 6 to 11 October 2011 (NEPAD Week during the 66th UN General Assembly)

Venue: AU Permanent Observer Mission, New York; UN Headquarters, New York; Columbia University, New York

Core Objectives:

• To engage the global development community including the UN system towards strengthening partnerships in the implementation of NEPAD as the flagship socio-economic development programme of the African Union, and achieving the MDGs;
• To firm up support of UN system Agencies and other organizations working in Africa for the new NEPAD mandate and programmatic implementation;
• Raising awareness on NEPAD agenda and its achievements and remaining challenges among African policy makers, scholars, diplomatic corps, the youth and Africans in the Diaspora; and
• To popularize the work of NEPAD governance structures and related institutions and raising support for the newly established NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA).

Event Configuration

A NEPAD Week will be observed with the following key events/activities:

1)     06 October (15:00-18:00): Special Briefing of the African Group by NEPAD on “Advancing NEPAD Implementation over a decade of opportunities” at the AU Permanent Observer Mission to the UN located 305 East 47th Street, 5th Floor, New York, followed by a reception hosted by the AU Observer Mission [CLOSE EVENT];

2)     07 October (10:00-12:15): Panel Discussion on “NEPAD and the MDGs: Progress, Challenges and the Way Forward” at ECOSOC Chamber, NLB, UNHQ, New York [OPEN EVENT WITH UN ID & OPEN EVENT WITH REGISTRATION];

3)     07 October (12:30-13:00): Press briefing / media advisory at Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, UNHQ, New York, followed by bilateral interviews by NPCA CEO and lead media houses (CNN, TV5, Le Monde, NYT, UNU, Africa Renewal magazine) to be determined [OPEN EVENT WITH UN ID];

4)     07 October (15:30-17:30): Special Briefing of the UN Inter-Agency / Departmental Task Force on Africa on “Strengthening the UN – NEPAD Partnership” at Conference Room DC1-1235 [CLOSE EVENT];

5)     10 October (10:00-13:00): Briefing to the UN Member States on: (i) the reports of the Secretary-General on NEPAD and Causes of Conflict and promotion of durable peace in Africa; and (ii) by the NEPAD/NPCA CEO on “Progress and forward looking approaches in NEPAD Implementation – Reflecting on a Decade of Change” at Conference Room 6, NLB, UNHQ, New York [OPEN EVENT WITH UN ID];

6)     10 October (18:00-20:00): Special commemorative lecture on “Africa‟s Decade of Transformation – The NEPAD perspective” at School of International and Public Affairs Columbia University located 420 West 118th Street, 15th Floor, New York, followed by a cocktail hosted by Columbia University [OPEN EVENT WITH REGISTRATION];

7)     11 October (TBC): First statement of the NEPAD Agency as an Observer Mission (African Union status) on the occasion of the UN General Assembly Debate on NEPAD or “NEPAD DAY” at the UN General Assembly Hall, UNHQ, New York [OPEN EVENT WITH UN ID];

8)     11 October (12:30-13:00): Press briefing / media advisory at Dag Hammarskjöld Library Auditorium, UNHQ, New York, followed by bilateral interviews by NPCA CEO and lead media houses (CNN, TV5, Le Monde, NYT, UNU, Africa Renewal magazine) to be determined [OPEN EVENT WITH UN ID].

Other related activities:

• Short video documentary on “NEPAD – The Journey So Far” screening
• NEPAD@10 in 10 Pictures Exhibition on the theme “A decade of change and progress”
• Youth Competition pictures exhibition: projection of a PowerPoint show
• NEPAD Informative Documentation distribution
• MDGs in Africa UNECA Report launch
• Secretary-General Reports on NEPAD and Causes of Conflict and promotion of durable peace in Africa
• “Invest in Africa” AU publication launch

Expected Participants

High ranking representatives of UN Member States, UN Agencies and Organizations, African institutions, the international development community, African Permanent Representatives to the UN and Ambassadors in the US, the private sector, civil society organizations, the African Diaspora, and Media

Key sponsoring partners: AUC, NPCA, UN-OSAA, UNECA; UNDPI, Columbia University

For information on NEPAD’s 10^th Anniversary, please  click here>>>

Best wishes,

The NEPAD Communications Team.
www.nepad.org 

The Communications Team.

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These youths recognized that their future destiny rested squarely in their hands, and in spite of the overwhelming odds against them and their existing circumstances, they could alter the direction of their future and bring about meaningful change that will result in true emancipation. These events and several others were the trailblazers for the removal of the apartheid system and the creation of a democratic South Africa that we have today.

As we celebrate this day, let us take this opportunity to reflect on the boldness, courage and determination of the youths of Soweto 35 years ago vis-à-vis the current youthful generation of our continent today. The boldness, courage and determination of our youths to make a difference and to steer this continent in the right direction that will ensure sustainable development, should and must be part of our collective assignment in actualizing the vision of NEPAD.

This is more compelling, in view of the fact that Africa has the most youthful population, and this continental differential advantage in terms of development must be fully exploited.

Recognizing that NEPAD was born in the spirit of the African renaissance, with renewed hope of optimism at the dawn of the new millennium as a blueprint for Africa’s development into the twenty-first century, the NPCA is therefore very instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s youths do in fact embrace the NEPAD vision and actively participate in its programs and projects. In this regard, it is important to be cognizant of the roles of our youths as we plan, develop and implement all our programs and projects. The sustainability of these programs and projects do not only heavily rely on the support of our youths, but most importantly, without the youths, the realignment and re-engineering of these programs and projects to meet Africa’s future challenges cannot be attained.

Therefore, as we celebrate this day against the backdrop of NEPAD’s 10th year anniversary, let us seriously reflect on new approaches and methods to effectively engage the youths in all our programs and projects, so that they could become the future drivers and provide more innovative and creative ways to enrich them and make them responsive and effective to Africa’s future challenges.

The future of our continent rest on our youths, and Africa’s future development will depend on their ability to lead, govern, and most importantly, to sustain and create the requisite institutions for Africa’s development. I believe that the NPCA is best positioned to ensure that Africa’s youth are indeed part of Africa’s future development.

I wish you a happy and a very pleasant day-off.

Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki

Chief Executive Officer

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On 25th May 2011, I and my colleagues at the New Partnership for Africa’s Development Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) will join the African Union (AU), the entire continent and indeed the Diaspora in celebrating yet another ‘Africa Day’ under the theme: “Accelerating Youth Empowerment for Sustainable Development’’.

In thinking about ‘Africa Day’ and indeed the related theme for this year it is clear that we should all use this Day to take stock of our achievements and to genuinely re-focus our energies on addressing the challenges that we are faced with as Africans.

The recent uprisings by our youth in some parts of the continent should work to remind us that we need to use this Day to critically look at our past in order to make a better tomorrow for all our people.

This particular ‘Africa Day’, is a rather special one for us as it falls in the 10^th year – 2011– of NEPAD.

It is in this regard that I and my colleagues at the NEPAD Agency will use this Day to reflect on the role of NEPAD in Africa – past, present and future. The Day and indeed the entire week will also be used to kick-start a series of year-long events and engagements that are being organised to mark the 10^th Anniversary of NEPAD.

It must be said that the 2001 formation of NEPAD as the Development Programme of the African Union and its African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) has helped to enhance the growth of the continent and its political and corporate governance.

Since the adoption of NEPAD, the Heads of State and Government have used it as an entry point in their engagements on Africa at the global level and they have also used it as a platform for the coordination of development priorities at the continental level.

NEPAD has focused on priority areas and has spearheaded the development of strategic frameworks in areas such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) in agriculture, to the Short term Action Plan and Middle-to-Long-Term Strategic Framework in Infrastructure – that are crucial to enhance regional integration and development.

Critically, NEPAD has also provided us all with the vision, platform and vehicle for domestic and external resource mobilisation for the development of the continent.

In 2010, the relevance of NEPAD took on new impetus when the NEPAD programme was fully integrated into the AU at the 14^th AU Assembly. Now, for the first time, an African regional initiative has been institutionalised to establish a development agency within the AU family – the NEPAD Agency. The Agency, which I lead, implements the AU’s NEPAD development agenda.

The myriad of crises, particularly the escalating oil prices, the high food prices and subsidy distortions in the global market, may make it look like as if things are beyond our control. However, as we celebrate ‘Africa Day’, I would like to call upon all Africans to remember that through NEPAD we have our home – grown frameworks, such as CAADP, which posses practical solutions and corrective policies that can be used to address some of these challenges and bring about genuine socio-economic transformation.

My fellow Africans,

NEPAD is at the fore-front of pushing for the appropriate development policies and decisions that have been taken at the continental-level. Again, we cannot do this alone.

In fact, now more than ever is the time for us all to live up to the courage of our convictions for a great Africa and a new reality of a vibrant and resilient people – as is espoused by NEPAD.

Best wishes!

For more information contact:

Dr. Andrew Kanyegirire

Tel: +27 11 256 3615

____________________________________________________

About the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency

The NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) as the technical body of the African Union www.africa-union.org, works closely with the African Union Commission (AUC), regional economic communities, national governments, civil society and the private sector to push for programmes and projects that focus on improving the lives of the African people. The NEPAD Agency is the leading African development expert, able to mobilise the private sector, heads of state and African people as a force for positive change, building continental prosperity and regional integration. For more information, go to: www.nepad.org

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Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, a former Prime Minister of the Republic of Niger, is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency, head-quartered in Midrand, South Africa.
The award was delivered to Dr. Mayaki by the French Ambassador to South Africa, Jacques Lapouge on behalf of the French Foreign Affairss Ministry.

Dr. mayaki receives the award from France Ambassador

“Dr. Mayaki has devoted his professional life to public administration, academia and development. He has put the up-liftment of the lives of African citizens at the forefront of his work,” Ambassador Lapounge said.

According to Lapouge, the work done by Dr. Mayaki between 2004 and 2009 as an Executive Director of the Platform in support of Rural Development in West and Central Africa, the Rural Hub, based in Dakar, Senegal, has gone on to map out the Hub as one of the foremost, proactive and inclusive rural development entities in the region.

“The Hub is now at the forefront of the development of agricultural policies in West Africa and Africa,” said Lapouge.

“Your efforts to revive the progress of NEPAD are also recognised here today. Since your inception as the CEO of NEPAD, there has been acceleration in the implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme, the Programme for the Infrastructure Development of Africa and the roll-out of your ICTs programme”, he added.

In his acceptance remarks, Dr. Mayaki welcomed the award from France and thanked his family, friends and colleagues from his various postings for their strong support in his work.

The National Order of Agriculture Merit is awarded to people whose work has contributed to improvements in agriculture services.

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