The leaders of Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, and South Africa, founding members of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), met in El Alamein, Egypt, to mark the 25th anniversary of the organization. They reaffirmed their commitment to a united, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, driven by its citizens. The leaders also acknowledged the progress made over the past two decades and identified areas for improvement.
The leaders recalled the vision of NEPAD, launched in 2001 and adopted by the African Union in 2002, which emphasizes mutual commitments between African countries and the international community. They reiterated their commitment to good governance, democracy, peace, and sustainable development, as well as deepening cooperation with the international community.
The leaders acknowledged the importance of Agenda 2063, a 50-year development plan for Africa, and its 10-year implementation plan. They emphasized the need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to development, incorporating infrastructure development, agricultural transformation, regional integration, and human capital development.
The leaders welcomed the evolution of NEPAD into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA) and recognized its growing role as a leading development agency in Africa. They also acknowledged the agency's impact in preparing projects, mobilizing resources, and achieving concrete development results in support of Agenda 2063.
The leaders expressed concern about the current global development landscape, including limited development financing, shifting geopolitical dynamics, and Africa's inadequate representation in global financial governance. They also expressed concern about the decline in financial contributions from African member states to AUDA's budget and its negative impact on the agency's effectiveness.
The leaders emphasized the need for a more robust, flexible, and responsive AUDA, with predictable and sustainable financing. They requested AUDA to present proposals and recommendations to the next meeting of the Heads of State and Government Steering Committee, including measures to enhance the agency's flexibility and effectiveness.
The leaders called on member states to mobilize additional financial resources and increase stable and predictable funding for AUDA. They also encouraged AUDA to expand its presence through the Footprint Initiative, which aims to accelerate the implementation of priority programs under Agenda 2063.
Key points
- The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to Agenda 2063 and NEPAD, emphasizing the need for a united and prosperous Africa driven by its citizens.
- The leaders acknowledged the importance of private sector engagement and investment in Africa's development, including the establishment of the El Alamein Investment Platform.
- The leaders emphasized the need for a more robust and responsive AUDA, with predictable and sustainable financing, to support Africa's development agenda.
