50 years of development planning in Africa: retrospect and prospects

Abstract

This welcome and opening Statement delivered by Mr. Carlos Lopes, 50 years of Development Planning in Africa: Retrospect and Prospects. Mr. Lpoes, on his remarks highlighted that, Development planning has a long and chequered history in Africa, and the continent’s development trajectory has been influenced by various approaches to development planning since the early stages of independence. The first phase of development planning in Africa spanned the 1960s and was characterized by centralized planning with three to five year planning phases. During this period, at least 32 African countries had a national development plan. National Development Strategies (NDS) have now gone beyond the narrow objective of poverty reduction to encompass objectives such as accelerated growth, employment creation, structural transformation and sustainable development. ECA is committed to support the strengthening of member states’ capacities to design, implement and monitor effective planning frameworks. The institution is undergoing a repositioning exercise that aims to better align its work with the priorities of the continent with the ultimate objective of promoting economic growth and structural transformation.