Communiqué issued at the end of the third meeting of the of heads of state and government implementation committee of the New Partnership for Africa 's Development (HSIC), Rome, Italy on 11 June 2002

Introduction

On the invitation of the Chairman of the Implementation Committee of Heads of State and Government (HSIC) of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the Third Meeting of the HSIC was held in Rome, Italy on 11 June 2002, to coincide with the holding of the World Food Summit. The following dignitaries attended the Meeting:
1. His Excellency, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, President of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria;
2. His Excellency, Mr. Fetus Mogae, President of the Republic of Botswana;
3. His Excellency, Mr. Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Republic of the Congo;
4. His Excellency, Mr. Joaquim Alberto Chissano, President of the Republic of Mozambique;
5. His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
6. His Excellency, Mr. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda;
7. His Excellency, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, President of the Republic of South Africa;
8. His Excellency, Mr. Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda;
9. His Excellency, Mr. Daniel Arap Moi, President of the Republic of Kenya;
10. His Excellency, Mr. John Kufour, President of the Republic of Ghana;
11. His Excellency, Mr. Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia;
12. His Excellency, Mr. Jean Francois Ntountoune Emane, Prime Minister of the Republic of Gabon;
13. The Rt. Hon. Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius;
14. His Excellency, Mr. Enock Kavindele, Vice President of the Republic of Zambia;
15. His Excellency, M. Francois Ngoubeyou, Minister of External Relations, the Republic of Cameroon;
16. His Excellency, Dr. Mahmoud Abou Zeid, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt;
17. His Excellency, Dr. Cherif Salif Sy, Minister for NEPAD, Republic of Senegal;
18. His Excellency, Amb. Abdoulaye Diop, Adviser to the President of Mali;
19. His Excellency, Amb. Mohammmed Jegham, Ambassador of Tunisia to Rome;
20. His Excellency, Mr. K. Y. Amoako Executive Secretary, Economic Commission for Africa;
21. His Excellency, Mr. O.Kabbaj, President, African Development Bank;
22. His Excellency, Mr. Lawrence Agubuzu, Assistant Secretary General of the OAU; and
23. His Excellency, Mr. Jacques Diouf, Director-General, Food and Agricultural Organisation.
Welcome by Director-General of the FAO
The Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) delivered a short welcome address at the Summit . He urged African governments to focus on reforms, particularly aimed at agricultural development, to improve the living conditions of their citizens. He also pledged the willingness of the FAO - in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities (REC's) - to continue to provide support for NEPAD.

Opening statement by the Chairman, HSIC
In his Opening Address, the Chairman of the Implementation Committee welcomed members of the Committee to the meeting. He noted that the profile and credibility of NEPAD has been on the increase both in Africa and the international community, including the media.
The Chairman recalled the important events that had occurred since the last Meeting in Abuja in March, including international Conferences and Summits that were successfully held across the continent, notably in Senegal, Ethiopia, Cote d' Ivoire and South Africa; and the meetings between the Steering Committee of NEPAD and Africa's development partners. President Obasanjo recommended to other sub –regions that they hold their Regional Conferences if they had not done so already.
He stressed that NEPAD is not about Africans begging for money but is an authentic African initiative aimed at developing the continent. He therefore urged everyone to keep expectations at a realistic level post the G8 Summit in Canada in June 2002. Finally, President Obasanjo urged all stakeholders to make every effort to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative.

Report of the Chairman of the Steering Committee/ Summary of Initial Action Plan
Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, Chairman of the Steering Committee, presented a report of the progress made in finalising the detailed implementation plans. He highlighted the main actions and proposals in the following priority areas – agriculture; health; education; infrastructure; market access; capital flows; peace and security; political governance; economic and corporate governance; and capacity building. Noting that the report built on the work in progress reported at the last HSIC meeting in Abuja in March, the Committee endorsed the programmes described above. Regarding the draft executive summary entitled the Initial Action Plan, the Committee noted that the document will be submitted to the African Union Summit in Durban by the Chairman of the HSIC.
The meeting emphasized the fact that NEPAD is a framework and programme outline and that in developing programmes, consideration should be given to the continental and regional nature of the programme, particularly the processes of identifying programmes, especially when considering infrastructure projects. As a framework, NEPAD provides the policy and programme direction within which states, sub-regional bodies and continental structures can operate. Therefore, as regards regional infrastructure development, NEPAD highlights the importance of this issue, provides a framework for engagement among stakeholders and provides impetus and support to regional infrastructure priorities identified by sub-regional and continental structures.

Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance
On the issue of Good Governance, the HSIC adopted the proposed Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance and approved that it be presented to the forthcoming Heads of State and Government Summit of the African Union. The adoption of the Declaration will foster a strong statement of reaffirmation by African leaders of their strong commitment to the principles of good governance.

African Peer Review Mechanism
Following the process of developing a single African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM), as directed by the previous meeting of the Implementation Committee, the Committee approved the APRM, as proposed by the Steering Committee. They indicated that, as an instrument voluntarily acceded to by African members of the African Union for the purpose of self-monitoring, it will foster the adoption of policies, standards and practices that will lead to political stability, high economic growth, sustainable development and accelerated regional integration of the African continent. This will ensure that the APRM is independent, effective, professional and credible. The Committee approved the establishment of a Panel of Eminent Persons and recommended that the proposed Secretariat of the APRM be located in the ECA. The Steering Committee was mandated to look into the issue of the Peer Review Mechanism as it concerns partnership commitment.

Report to the AU Summit
In preparation for the Heads of State and Government Summit of the African Union in Durban , South Africa in July 2002, the Implementation Committee mandated the Chairman to submit a Report on NEPAD to the Summit and to liaise with the OAU Chairman in this regard. The Report should include the Initial Action Plan, the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance, and the APRM.

Outline of the G8 Africa Action Plan
Having considered the Steering Committee Report on the outline of the G8 Africa Action Plan, which highlighted that the Plan covers all the NEPAD priorities apart from infrastructure and debt cancellation, the Committee reaffirmed Africa 's determination to implement the plan and that G8 support is required to ensure faster implementation.

Post AU Summit – The Way Forward
In considering the period after the AU Summit in Durban , the Committee resolved that the implementation mechanism of NEPAD should continue to exist after the AU Summit in July 2002 in Durban and be reviewed in Maputo during the AU Summit in 2003. This is to ensure that the AU Commission is fully operational and can accommodate the NEPAD Programme.

Funding of the NEPAD Secretariat
In ensuring that the NEPAD Secretariat is strengthened and well resource, the Committee urged the countries constituting the five initiating countries of NEPAD to contribute financially to the NEPAD Secretariat and where possible, to second appropriately qualified professional persons as staff members.

African Trade Insurance Agency
The meeting noted the report given on the ATIA initiative taken by East African states. The Chair encouraged others to join the initiative.

Global Health Fund
The meeting took note that just over $2 billion has been mobilized for the Global Health Fund and that just over 52% of monies allocated thus far to programmes have been to Africa . The meeting expressed its appreciation in this regard but did note that $10 billion per annum is actually required in order to meet the agreed international development goals on health.

Small Island Developing States
The Implementation Committee recognised the special problems faced by Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and agreed that NEPAD should provide its full support to address their special concerns. In particular, it agreed to support targeted initiatives in their favour in international development fora and at the WTO including technical and concessionary financial assistance.

Alignment of CSSDCA and NEPAD
The meeting noted that the Solemn Declaration of the CSSDCA should be included in the list of legal instruments contained in the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance. The meeting further mandated the Steering Committee to continue working with the OAU Secretariat to align and rationalize the CSSDCA and NEPAD.
Confirmation Of The Date Of The Next Meeting
The meeting agreed on the need to hold a review meeting at 14h00 on 7 July 2002 in Durban , South Africa after the G8 Summit and before the AU Summit.

Appreciation
The HSIC expressed appreciation to the OAU, the ECA and the ADB for the technical support they have continued to provide for the NEPAD process. It also expressed its deep appreciation to the FAO for the hospitality and excellent facilities put at the disposal of delegates, which ensured the success of the meeting.

Issued at Rome, Italy on the 11th Day of June 2002.