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The PARPA: Towards achieving results - May 2002
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| 7. Other initiatives |
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The non-acceptance of a laissez faire, laissez passer [let well alone!, let it pass] is felt everywhere, not only on the African Continent but also in other regions of the world and among international co-operation organisations. Various parallel initiatives are currently running; among them one should mention MAP, the Agenda 2020 or 2025, the New Partnership USA-Africa, the International Conference for Development Financing, and NEPAD.
MAP, the Millennium Partnership for the African Recovery Programme, is more like a declaration of intent of the African countries in complying with the rules of international markets within a democratic framework, than a strategic programme for the Continent’s reconstruction. MAP’s merit is that it has as an objective to force donors to commit themselves to lasting and sustainable development for
Africa.33
The Agenda 2020, in some countries Agenda 2025, is an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme. Its operational objective is to build lasting consensus at national level, regarding development policies, independently from the political party which is in power. The main preoccupation of the Agendas 2020 or 2025 is the search for lasting stability in the economic area as well as in the political arena.
The New Partnership USA-Africa is related to the fact that the Bush Administration, as opposed to the Clinton Administration, has allocated strong reserves for the adoption of what is called the ‘jump strategy’, which was supported for a long time by the neo-classical developmentalists. According to the jump [start] strategy, because of the natural decline of agriculture, investiments must be geared towards industrialisation, and not towards the modernisation of agriculture. The Bush administration however considers that the development of agriculture is indispensable for, among other factors, the attainment of the necessary stability towards current and potential North American investments in the African Continent.
The International Conference for Development Financing, which took place in Monterrey, in Mexico, produced the Consensus of Monterrey, which received the official recognition the Heads of State and of Government who were present, including those from the donor countries, that it is necessary “to explore innovative financing sources which will not overburden the developing countries ”34. In addition it was acknowledged that it had been agreed to study the issue, making reference to the use of “special drawing rights”, recently advocated by
Soros.35
NEPAD, the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, is the most recent initiative of the Continent. Contrary to the PRSPs, NEPAD takes up a clear position in relation to the indispensability of considering both the agrarian sector and rural development as conditions for the eradication of poverty. However, it does not put forward a clear strategy on how this objective can be attained, although it can be foreseen that it will go in the direction of the industrialisation of agriculture model, on the basis of great agricultural estates.
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Footnotes:
- In an internal document of MAP, dated April 2001, it can be read: “ensuring full commitment and support by the following leaders: President of the United States, Prime Minister of United Kingdom, President of France and Prime Minister of Japan” as a crucial factor for the success of the initiative.
- United Nations, General Assembly 2002. A/AC.257/L.13, p. 10.
- Soros, G. 2002, On Globalization.
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