Growth Priorities for NEPAD

The report argues that Africa must prioritize 'getting the basics right' by shifting government spending from current consumption toward the maintenance of physical assets and the establishment of transparent legal and financial institutions. It outlines a ten-point plan to spur growth, including fighting corruption, reforming land ownership, adopting continent-wide macroeconomic targets, and accelerating the privatisation of key infrastructure to attract private investment.

• Political stability and the cessation of conflict are identified as essential prerequisites for accelerating economic growth and reversing the economic marginalisation of the African continent.
• The report suggests that African government spending has shifted too heavily toward current consumption at the expense of maintaining the physical infrastructure necessary for commerce and development.
• To reform legal systems and fight corruption, the document recommends establishing independent anti-corruption authorities, increasing legislative oversight of budgets, and requiring full disclosure of wealth from politicians and senior civil servants.
• Proposed improvements to the business environment include adopting Africa-wide targets for single-digit inflation and budget deficits, reducing customs clearance times to one hour, and reforming education to focus on artisanal, managerial, and technical skills.
• The report advocates for the acceleration of privatisation and management concessions in the telecommunications, road, rail, and port sectors to attract private investment and free up government funds.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2008). Growth Priorities for NEPAD. https://saiia.org.za/research/growth-priorities-for-nepad/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Growth Priorities for NEPAD. 2008. https://saiia.org.za/research/growth-priorities-for-nepad/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Growth Priorities for NEPAD |date=28 April 2008 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/growth-priorities-for-nepad/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2008growth, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Growth Priorities for NEPAD}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2008}, month = apr, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/growth-priorities-for-nepad/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }