Growth Priorities for NEPAD

The report outlines a pro-growth agenda for Africa, emphasizing the need to prioritize infrastructure maintenance and growth-spurring programs over current consumption. It proposes specific reforms across legal systems, the business environment, and infrastructure to reverse economic marginalization.

• The report identifies two primary themes for growth: getting the basics right and focusing on programs that spur growth. It argues that while social spending is necessary for political stability, government spending has shifted too far toward current consumption and away from the maintenance of physical assets required for development and commerce.
• Ending conflict and resolving political instability are viewed as essential prerequisites for accelerating growth and reversing the economic marginalization of Africa.
• To reform legal systems, the report suggests fighting corruption through independent anti-corruption authorities, strengthening financial regulation to stop illicit fund laundering, and increasing the powers of auditors general and parliamentary budget committees. It also recommends full disclosure of wealth by politicians and senior civil servants, as well as disclosure of all fees paid by mining, gas, and oil companies to governments.
• Proposed improvements to the business environment include adopting Africa-wide targets for deficit reduction and single-digit inflation, implementing a one-hour customs clearance target at borders, and reforming education curricula to move away from colonial models toward artisanal, managerial, and technical skills.
• Regarding infrastructure, the report advocates for accelerating privatization or management concessions in the road, rail, port, and telecommunications sectors to attract private investment and improve service quality. It also calls for the creation of public-private supervisory boards to prioritize the maintenance of roads and machinery.

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} }