The “Africaness” of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and Goals’ Attainment

Abstract

The myriad of Africa’s development problems manifesting in; low standards of living, abject poverty, undemocratic governance, restiveness in politics and general instability has been attributed to the continent’s continued encapsulation in growth and development initiatives proffered by the developed countries either, through their governments or the multilateral institutions which they dominate. The belief is that African generated solutions could remedy this situation hence the NEPAD idea. But how much of Africa is NEPAD? Or is it a ruse? Is there really an ideological foundation for the NEPAD? The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was conceived in the spirit of Pan-Africanism. But NEPAD truly speaking has turned out to be Africa’s response to the prevailing global neo-liberal trend. Though, Africa could not have afforded to ignore this trend, this article submits that for a development initiative to anchor its strategies at goals’ attainment on the magnanimity of western benefactors makes it claim to originality faulty. More so, the triage which political issues which are often undermined in modernizing institutions in most of the developing economies will crowd-out the attention which NEPAD requires from the donor partners so that at the long run, NEPAD would be counter-productive.

Keywords: Africa, economic development, neo-liberalism, donor partners