Information You Can Use: A Bi-monthly Service for the UN and Civil Society
Volume 1, Issue 5, October-November 2004

New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD):
State Opens Up to Civil Society

2 October 2004
Source: The East African Standard
By: Mutahi Rukanga

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) will determine the Governments' choice of projects to be undertaken under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) in Kenya, it was announced yesterday.

The aim, said a member of CSO Focal Point-Nepad Kenya, is to ensure that the projects have a direct impact on community livelihoods especially in urban slums and rural areas.

Speaking at a Nepad workshop in Nairobi, Ms Grace Okumu said civil society participation would ensure Government's commitment to public and private sector partnerships in the country's development.

National Council of NGOs chairperson Orie Rogo-Manduli said Nepad was conceived to eradicate poverty and to place Africa on the "path to sustainable growth."

She criticised the Government for entrenching a lamenting and begging culture and urged Kenyans to take charge of their destiny.
"Every year, Government reads a budget which has to be supplemented through begging. The surprising thing about it is that it begs and keeps on abusing the donors," she said.

Ms Manduli said it was upon the civil society to keep the Government in check and ensure that it stays on the right track.

Meanwhile, Manduli called on the Nepad secretariat to update CSOs on upcoming events in order to add value to their participation.

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