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NEPAD and AU Last update: 2020-11-27  
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The African Opinion Leader Survey on Nepad and AU-2002

5. NEPAD and the African context
 
The final NEPAD document that was tabled in 2002 to the G8 in Kananaskis, Canada, outlines the expected benefits of the incorporation of NEPAD within the economic agendas of the developed world. But what do these benefits mean to a vast continent with diverse needs and levels of development? An analysis of the perceived benefits of NEPAD could provide an indication of the most salient priorities of the policy as perceived by the African opinion leaders, and may assist the driving forces behind NEPAD in concentrating their energies on those values that are held most dearly in the respective countries.

Respondents were asked to identify from a list what they regarded as the 5 most desirable benefits of NEPAD and rank them in order of priority. Items that were incorporated in the list included: African unification; the eradication of poverty; stronger democratic governance; improved infrastructure; the restoration of African dignity; political stability; improved health care; increased foreign investment; improved social welfare; better education for all; jobs for all; food for all; and the reawakening of African cultural traditions.

Table 3 presents the 5 most desirable benefits of NEPAD as selected by the respondents in each country. The eradication of poverty, African unification and stronger democratic governance are by far the most salient issues, and appear within the top four priorities expressed within each country. The majority of elite respondents in Algeria (27,5%), Kenya (30%), Uganda (34%), South Africa (38,2%) and Nigeria (28,5%) regarded the eradication of poverty as the most desirable benefit of NEPAD.


Table 3: Perceived benefits of NEPAD
 
Rank South Africa Nigeria Senegal Algeria Kenya Uganda Zimbabwe
1 Eradication of poverty (38.2%) Eradication of poverty (25.5%) African unification (26.3%) Eradication of poverty (27.5%) Eradication of poverty (30.0%) Eradication of poverty (34%) Stronger democratic governance (24.3%)
2 Stronger democratic governance (15.9%) African unification (20.8%) Improved infrastructure (19.4%) Political stability (18.3%) African unification (15.0%) African unification (15.5%) Eradication of poverty (22.1%)
3 African unification (10.8%) Political stability (13.1%) Eradication of poverty (14.2%) Stronger democratic governance (12.7%) Political stability (9.2%) Stronger democratic governance (12.5%) African unification (14.3%)
4 Increased FDI (6.4%) Stronger democratic governance (10%) Stronger democratic governance (12.7%) African unification (10.0%) Stronger democratic governance (8.3%) Political stability (8.2%) Increased FDI (11.4%)
5 Jobs for all (3.9%) Restoration of African dignity (7.7%) Increased FDI (7.5%) Improved infrastructure (5.8%) Improved infrastructure (5.8%) Improved infrastructure (7.2%) Political stability (10.0%)


Although concerns have been expressed that issues relating to security and conflict resolution may take precedence over concerns towards poverty eradication and social assistance, African elites seem all too aware of the myriad of social problems affecting the African continent, and should therefore ensure that such issues are not relegated to the background within the NEPAD.


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