NEPAD Political Governance Policy

African leaders have learned from their own experiences that peace, security, democracy,
good governance, human rights and sound economic management are conditions for sustainable
development.
They are making a pledge to work, both individually and collectively, to promote
these principles in their countries and subregions and on the continent.

Peace And Security Initiative

The Peace and Security Initiative consists of three elements:

• Promoting long-term conditions for development and security;
  
  
• Building the capacity of African institutions for early warning, as well as enhancing their
  capacity to prevent, manage and resolve conflicts;
  
  
• Institutionalising commitment to the core values of the New Partnership for Africa’s
  Development through the leadership.

Democracy And Political Governance Initiative

It is generally acknowledged that development is impossible in the absence of true
democracy, respect for human rights, peace and good governance. With the New Partnership for
Africa’s Development, Africa undertakes to respect the global standards of democracy, the core
components of which include political pluralism, allowing for the existence of several political
parties and workers’ unions, and fair, open and democratic elections periodically organised to
enable people to choose their leaders freely.

The purpose of the Democracy and Political Governance Initiative

To contribute to strengthening the political and administrative framework of participating countries,
in line with the principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, integrity, respect for human rights
and promotion of the rule of law. It is strengthened by and supports the Economic Governance
Initiative, with which it shares key features. Taken together, these initiatives will contribute to
harnessing the energies of the continent towards development and the eradication of poverty.

The Initiative consists of the following elements:

• A series of commitments by participating countries to create or consolidate basic
  governance processes and practices;
  
  
• An undertaking by participating countries to take the lead in supporting initiatives that
  foster good governance;
  
  
• The institutionalisation of commitments through the leadership of the New Partnership
  for Africa’s Development to ensure that the core values of the initiative are abided by.

The states involved in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development will also undertake a
series of commitments towards meeting basic standards of good governance and democratic
behaviour while, at the same time, giving support to each other.

Participating states will be supported in undertaking such desired institutional reforms where required. Within six months of its
institutionalisation, the leadership of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development will identify
recommendations on appropriate diagnostic and assessment tools, in support of compliance with
the shared goals of good governance, as well as identify institutional weaknesses and seek
resources and expertise for addressing these weaknesses.

Africa’s Development, Africa undertakes to respect the global standards of democracy, the core
components of which include political pluralism, allowing for the existence of several political
parties and workers’ unions, and fair, open and democratic elections periodically organised to
enable people to choose their leaders freely.

80. The purpose of the Democracy and Political Governance Initiative is to contribute to
strengthening the political and administrative framework of participating countries, in line with the
principles of democracy, transparency, accountability, integrity, respect for human rights and
promotion of the rule of law. It is strengthened by and supports the Economic Governance
Initiative, with which it shares key features. Taken together, these initiatives will contribute to
harnessing the energies of the continent towards development and the eradication of poverty.