NEPAD: Talking from the South, governing from the West

Abstract

The formation of the New Partnership for African Development (NePAD) in 2001 at the African Union (AU) Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, marked the advent of what is regarded as a novel development strategy crafted by Africans for Africa. Rooted in former South African President Thabo Mbeki's call for an African renaissance, the initiative seeks to trigger the continent's economic development by encouraging African states to explore the prevailing international economic order or globalisation. This article explores NePAD's capacity to foster economic development in Africa, assesses the reasons for its establishment, reviews its mandate and examines institutional mechanisms for achieving its goals. The article takes issue with the 'westernisation' of the 'discourse' of Africa and calls for the revitalisation of NePAD's strategy for sustainable African development.