NEPAD CEO Dr Ibrahim Mayaki signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and its Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) on October 22, in Paris, France.

The MoU aims to strengthen collaboration between the institutions in order to develop more effective policies that will focus on transformation and will improve peoples’ living conditions in West Africa.

Areas of cooperation will be, amongst others, on NEPAD’s Rural Futures Programme and Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP), for better policy design and dialogue on food security and rural development. 

West Africa has the world’s youngest population with a projection to double by 2050. These young men and women can play a key role in the development of agriculture and food security in the region so the right policies and programmes can support their role in development.

Dr Mayaki urged that policy dialogue should not only become an instrument for strengthening regions, but for the continent as whole. “The MoU will allow to trigger exchanges of best practices and at the same time strengthen capacities. It focuses on policy dialogue and sharing best practices in order to foster regional integration in Africa,” he said.

OECD Deputy Secretary-General Mr William Danvers said the MoU partnership agreement is a significant step forward in advancing effective policies for West Africa.

NEPAD will play a facilitating role in sharing best practices within Regional Economic Communities and African Union member countries.