50 years of development planning in Africa: retrospect and prospects

Abstract

Welcome and Opening Statement by Mr. Carlos Lopes, 50 years of Development Planning in Africa: Retrospect and Prospects. Mr. Lopes, 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. Africa’s development plans of the 1960s had limited success. This was due to a variety of reasons: deficiencies in the plan documents surely, but also failure to implement them; ambitious formulation of targets; institutional and bureaucratic weaknesses; exogenous shocks; and political factors. ECA is committed to support the strengthening of member states’ capacities to design, implement and monitor effective planning frameworks. To this end, 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. The countries that have re-embarked in planning will for the longer term, if they are to join the ranks of advanced economies, need not just good economic policies but strong and accountable institutions to support and implement them. They must also pay serious attention to the issue of financing development plans, especially given that in Africa the sources of finance will become increasingly domestic.