The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has convened a panel to reflect on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) achievements and challenges in advancing Africa’s development as UNCTAD marks its 10th anniversary.

Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Agency, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki explained that NEPAD as the blueprint for the continent’s development, had played a crucial part in the steady progress made on the continent, in terms of democratisation and development.

“If we look at NEPAD, the focus has been on strategic thinking, planning and coherence in resource mobilisation. There has also been an emphasis on proper governance and management of public resources, with effective tools such as those provided by the Africa Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Today African countries are quite well managed.”

The panel discussed issues on economic and development in Africa.

UNCTAD Special Coordinator for Africa, Mr Kamran Kousari stressed the need for NEPAD to reduce aid-dependency and rather focus on domestic resource mobilisation for sustainable development.

He said African leaders must renew their commitments to mobilise adequate financial resources for NEPAD.

At the end of the session the participants agreed that the relevance and success of NEPAD depended on the extent to which African leaders, Africans and particularly civil society and development partners are involved in the process of implementing NEPAD.