PRESS STATEMENT
Hon. Wycliffe A. Oparanya, EGH
Minister of State for Planning, National Development 
and Vision 2030.

ON THE TRANSFORMATION OF NEPAD INTO NEPAD PLANNING AND COORDINATING AGENCY (NPCA)

15th February 2010
Venue: Treasury Building
11.30AM

Distinguished members of the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen I am delighted to have this opportunity to host you here today at this press conference which is intended to provide a formal brief to you, other stakeholders and the general public on the transformation of the NEPAD into a NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency.

The 14th African Union (AU) Summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 25 January – 2 February 2010, decided to strengthen the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) programme by transforming the NEPAD secretariat into an implementation Agency – the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA).

The resolution is based on the recommendations of the 22nd Summit of the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) held on 30 January 2010 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and presented to the African Union by H.E. Meles Zenawi, Chairperson of NEPAD HSGIC and Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

The Decision follows series of debates, discussions and consultations at various levels on the best approach to integrate the NEPAD programme into the structures and processes of the African Union. These included:

•    The 2nd African Union Assembly in Maputo of July 2003,
•    The 13–point conclusions of the Algiers NEPAD Brainstorming Meeting of March 2007 as endorsed by the 10th AU Assembly of Addis Ababa in February 2008,
•    The Dakar NEPAD Review Summit of April 2008, and
•    The recommendations of the Consultancy Study Report on AU/NEPAD Integration, commissioned in December 2008.

This transformation designates the NPCA as a technical body of the African Union, whose core mandate is to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of regional and continental priority programmes and projects. The other functions include:

•    Mobilize resources and partners in support of the implementation of Africa’s priority programmes.
•    Conduct and coordinate research and knowledge management.
•    Monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes; and
•    Advocate on the AU and NEPAD vision, mission and core principles/values.

In terms of new governance architecture, African Union Summit approved the retention of the Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC), as a sub-committee of the AU Assembly, but with a change of name to the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC). This high-level Committee will provide political leadership and strategic guidance for the continuation of the implementation of NEPAD. An intermediary body known as the NEPAD Steering Committee comprising personal representatives of Heads of State and Government will provide the inter-face between the HSGOC and the NPCA.

In addition, The Chairperson of the AU Commission will exercise authority over the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency, whilst giving the new agency adequate and necessary flexibility to carry out its mandate, and thereby maintaining the corporate brand identity of the NEPAD programme within the AU system.

With regard to financing of the new agency, the decision comes in with important benefits as the NPCA will draw from the statutory budgetary resources of the African Union Commission (AUC) in addition to continued voluntary contribution by AU member states and additional support from development partners and the private sector.

Meanwhile, it is important to note that the AU Summit made an important decision on the location of the NPCA which will continue to be based in Midrand, South Africa and to this end, the Summit urged the early conclusion of the Permanent Host Agreement for the NPCA between the South African Government and the AU Commission in consultation with NPCA.

As was with NEPAD when it was first initiated by African leaders, the countries and regional offices have the flexibility for reforming NEPAD institutions based on country specificities in order to align themselves as appropriate with this transformation and to deliver on the NEPAD Vision effectively.

Kenya welcomes this transformation which we consider as an important impetus and a turning point on the political will and re-commitment of African leaders to pursue the realization of the NEPAD vision for Africa’s renewal as originally conceived.

As the Minister responsible for the implementation of NEPAD and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) in Kenya, I shall in the coming days officially gazette a newly re-constituted NEPAD National Steering Committee and formally inaugurate the APRM National Governing Council, as initial steps for the process of aligning our implementation strategies of NEPAD in the context of this transformation.

It is my sincere hope and belief that the Media and all stakeholders will continue to play their due roles and support the desire by the Continents leaders for an African renewal through this important initiative.


I thank you for your kind attention!