Nepad

Nepad


Infrastructures at the heart of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) - Paris, 6 and 7 March 2003

54 bilateral and multilateral (photo album 390 Ko) delegations responsible for development cooperation were brought together, by the French Development Agency (AFD) in Paris on 6 and 7 March 2003, for discussions with the African institutions in charge of implementing the NEPAD. On this meeting's agenda: the question of the NEPAD and infrastructures.

Mr Wiseman NKUHLU, Chairman of the NEPAD's Secretariat underlined the progress of the process since its inception and the role of infrastructures as an essential part of development.

Jean-Michel SEVERINO, Chief Executive Officer of the AFD, presented the elements to be taken away from this meeting:

- the restated support of all the providers of funds for the NEPAD ;
- the high levels of expectations from the providers of funds: coherence and clarity of the NEPAD's approach, definition of a medium and long-term strategic plan concerning infrastructure considerations, integration of development policies in a coherent geographical, sector-based and methodological context, involvement of the providers of funds in the programme-creation process ;
- the need for the NEPAD's approach to be taken into account in development aid policies : Poverty Reduction Strategy Programmes (PRSPs), funding tools…

As the first operational meeting between providers of funds concerning the NEPAD, these discussions should continue by orientating the NEPAD towards real achievements such as infrastructures. 3 projects which encapsulate the NEPAD's approach were presented : West African Power Pool, Niger Basin; Motraco.
Pierre-André WILTZER, the Minister delegate for Cooperation and Francophony, closed the meeting by stressing the French Presidency's intention of placing the NEPAD high on the agenda of the G8 summit to be held in Evian from 1 to 3 June 2003.