History of Pan-African
The Organization of African Unity(OAU) was established on 25 May 1963. Its goals were,
- To promote the unity and solidarity of the African states and act as a collective voice for the African continent.
- To assist with the eradication of colonialism.
On September 9 1999 the Heads of State and Government of the Organization of African Unity issued a Declaration (the Sirte Declaration) calling for the establishment of an African Union, with a view to accelerating the process of integration in the continent to enable it play its rightful role in the global economy while addressing multifaceted social, economic and political problems compounded as they are by certain negative aspects of globalization. It was replaced by the African Union (AU) in July 2002.
The African Union (AU)
Since July 2002
- The AU is Africa's premier institution and principal organization for the promotion of accelerated socioeconomic integration of the continent, which will lead to greater unity and solidarity between African countries and peoples.
- The AU is based on the common vision of a united and strong Africa and on the need to build a partnership between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women, youth and the private sector, in order to strengthen solidarity and cohesion amongst the peoples of Africa.
- As a continental organization it focuses on the promotion of peace, security and stability on the continent as a prerequisite for the implementation of the development and integration agenda of the Union.
New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA).
The NEPAD offices were established with the formal adoption of The NEPAD Strategic Framework at the 37th Summit of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) in July 2001, as a program of the OAU. The document arose from a mandate given to the five initiating Heads of State (Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa) by the OAU to develop an integrated socioeconomic development framework for Africa.
NEPAD’s Primary Objectives are to eradicate poverty; to place African countries, both individually and collectively, on a path of sustainable growth and development; to halt the marginalization of Africa in the globalization process and enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy; and to accelerate the empowerment of women.
The Secretariat is headed by Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki at a Chief Executive Officer Level and supported by two Deputy CEOs. There are 8 (eight) major sectors, namely, Agriculture & Food Security, Infrastructure (Water & Sanitation, Transport, Energy, ICT), Human Resources Development (Education and Health), Science and Technology, Trade & Market Access, Environment & Climate Change and Culture & Tourism, Governance and Capacity Development and Gender Development.
As part of the process to integrate NEPAD into the African Union structures and processes, the NEPAD Secretariat was recently transformed into the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NPCA).