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The New Partnership for Africa's Development
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), an African Union strategic framework for pan-African socio-economic development, is both a vision and a policy framework for Africa in the twenty-first century. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, NEPAD is a radically new intervention, spearheaded by African leaders, to address critical challenges facing the continent: poverty, development and Africa's marginalisation internationally.
NEPAD is working towards Education for All (EFA) in Africa, a programme designed to fit within the framework of the AU Second Decade of Education for Africa (2006–2015) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). NEPAD also promotes teacher training, including nursing and midwifery education to promote maternal and infant well-being.
NEPAD recognizes the significant development role and crosscutting impact that information and communication technologies (ICTs) can have on all aspects of national life. The development of the ICT sector is therefore identified as one of the priority areas of NEPAD aimed at defining the continent's new and aggressive effort to accelerate Africa's economic development and growth.
The purpose of the NEPAD ICT programme is to accelerate development of ICT infrastructure and ICT skills. It is also intended to bridge digital divide in Africa and between Africa and the rest of the world.
The e-Africa Commission was created in 2001 and adopted as an ICT Task Team by NEPAD in 2002. It is responsible for developing policies, strategies and projects at continental level as well as managing the structured development of the ICT sector in the context of NEPAD.
NEPAD e-schools Initiative
One of its priority projects is NEPAD e-schools Initiative, a multinational virtual school initiative across Africa.
Another priority project is the NEPAD ICT Broadband Infrastructure Programme aiming to connect all 54 African countries to one another and, in turn, to the rest of the world through broadband fibre-optic submarine cables.
References
- NEPAD e-Africa Programme, NEPAD, http://nepad.org/regionalintegrationandinfrastructure/infrastructure/ict, May 2012
- website, Nepad e-africa commission, http://www.eafricacommission.org, May 2012
- NEPAD e-schools Initiative, Nepad e-africa commission, http://www.eafricacommission.org/projects/127/nepad-e-schools-initiative, May 2012