RS21353 -- New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)
Updated April 30, 2003

	Background: Objectives, Structure, and Financing

The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), described as a multi-sector sustainable development policy framework, was collectively formulatedand promoted by leading African heads of state. It was endorsed and adopted in mid-2001 by the Organization ofAfrican Unity (OAU), founded in 1963 duringthe decolonization era, and later also endorsed by the African Union, which in July 2002 superseded the OAU. NEPAD seeks to spur economic growth and improvesocio-economic development across Africaby increasing capital flows to Africa in the form of private sector investment, development assistance, debt relief,and broadened market access for Africanexports. NEPAD aims at promoting good governance, democratization, and public sectorreforms as primary means of attracting greater foreign investment, political support, and aid flows to Africa. U.S. Policy

Bush Administration. On March 20, 2003,Representative Meeks introduced H.Res.
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), described by its proponentsas a multi-sector, sustainabledevelopment policy framework, seeks to reduce poverty, increase economic growth, and improve socio-economicdevelopment prospects across Africa. MajorNEPAD aims are to attract greater investment and development aid to Africa, reduce the continent's debt levels, andbroaden global market access for Africanexports. NEPAD emphasizes increased democratization, political accountability, and transparency in governancein African states as primary means ofachieving its goals. NEPAD is a key policy vehicle of the African Union (AU), which succeeded the Organizationof African Unity (OAU) in July 2002; seeCRS Report RS21332, The African Union. H.Res. 155, introduced in March 2003, urges U.S.and international support for NEPAD. This reportwill be updated as events warrant.