REAP / REAA Project
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The REAP/REAA Project Signing Ceremony

 

The increasing poverty and apparent inability of agricultural development strategies and programmes to effectively address the situation in the rural areas of the Eastern Cape of South Africa, has prompted the University of Fort Hare to not only develop but intensify its own programmes of agricultural and agriculture related social and business research and community partnering activities.

 

As most sustainable approach to the mentioned problems, it has been decided to continue with the development of agribusiness models with the aim of:

  1. Improving the efficiency of general agricultural production;
  2. Creating marketing opportunities for excess production; and
  3. Adding value to agricultural produce in order to increase profit margins for small scale producers.

 

By doing this the rural economy is stimulated and models are developed that could be implemented elsewhere with limited adjustment. Through replicating these models, centres of growth are established, the rural economic growth process stimulated and direct impetus given to the objectives set by NEPAD Council for the economic and agricultural development of Africa.

 

In doing so over a period of 10 (ten) years, a number of effective, though some still small, models were developed that provided sufficient levels of success at least offering some indications of future routes to follow to achieve rural economic growth. Some of these more prominent success stories include:

  1. The establishment of an Nguni cattle (indigenous cattle) improvement scheme.
  2. The establishment of a vegetable production improvement scheme.
  3. The development of low input cost animal traction vegetable production programmes.
  4. The establishment of a fully commercial dairy production unit in partnership with commercial dairy farmers.
  5. The establishment of a fully operational agricultural information centre.
  6. Continuous in service training of Extension people.

 

Above programmes now form part of the Rural Enterprise Advancement Programme (REAP), providing a comprehensive approach to effectively discount and capitalize on the new challenges and opportunities created by the NEPAD objectives and offering communities opportunities to further their own economic future on a sustainable basis.

 

Through the implementation of the Rural Enterprise Advancement Agency (REAA), as a NEPAD Council / University of Fort Hare initiative, already established and envisaged extended community partnering activities, linkages and relationships can now be effectively managed, enhancing the realization of NEPAD’s vision and principles for agricultural and social growth and sustainability as expressed.

 

Full NEPAD Council support and involvement has thus been given to the implementation and further expansion of the Rural Enterprise Advancement Programme (REAP); the optimal establishment and functioning of the Rural Enterprise Advancement Agency (REAA); and the establishment of the complete NEPAD Council agricultural and socio-economic related development initiative at the University of Fort Hare’s School of Agriculture and Agribusiness to be implemented, managed and expanded through the Rural Enterprise Advancement Agency (REAA) structure for the whole African continent.


NEPAD Council is a non-political and independent Non-Profit Organization (NGO) founded by young African professionals and scholars with a pledge to support the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) to achieve its mission. As a supporting partner, NEPAD Council’s mission is to mobilize and energize global action, marshal resources and expertise so as to provide impetus to NEPAD’s objectives. The council matches NEPAD’s commitment with its own agenda to promote creativity in Africa, boost expertise and capacity, encourage democracy and good governance and provide more effective development expertise.

NEPAD Council is made up of members representing all African countries. Members of NEPAD Council are selected from exceptionally skilled individuals who can dedicate some of their free time to work torwards the development of Africa.

NEPAD Council is recognized and endorsed by the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC). In the 2004 HSGIC meeting communique, it was noted "The HSGIC noted, with appreciation, a report that young African scholars based in the US, with outstanding academic records in their fields, had established a group, whose objective is to mobilize their intellectual capital for the implementation of NEPAD. The meeting decided that efforts be made to make contact with members of the Group to meet with the Heads of State and Government in the USA during the G8 Summit." Following the Maputo meeting, NEPAD council met with president Mbeki who further endorsed the activities of the Council.

Goals and Objectives

The main objectives of NEPAD Council include:
  1. Support the new partnership for Africa’s Development

  2. Support African leaders’ efforts to encourage public engagement in NEPAD strategies and projects

  3. Assist the Steering Committee and NEPAD Secretariat in the implementation of NEPAD projects

  4. Collaborate with NEPAD to undertake mutually reinforcing actions to help accelerate growth and make long-lasting gains against poverty

  5. Encourage Africans in the Diaspora to actively participate in all efforts aimed at developing Africa

NEPAD provides an historic opportunity to overcome obstacles to development in Africa. Our contribution to the initiative is the creation of NEPAD Council, designed to encourage the imaginative effort that underlies the NEPAD and to lay a solid foundation for future cooperation and sustainable development.

The case for action is compelling. Despite its great potential and human resources, Africa continues to face some of the world’s greatest challenges. The many initiatives designed to spur Africa’s development have failed to deliver sustained improvements to the lives of women, men and children throughout Africa.

NEPAD Council offers something different. It is, first and foremost, a common vision shared by African professionals to support and promote the New Partnership for Africa’s Development.

Together, we have an unprecedented opportunity to make progress on our common goals of eradicating extreme poverty and achieving sustainable development. NEPAD Council will support African leaders’ efforts to encourage public engagement in the NEPAD and will consult with NEPAD members on how we can best assist their efforts. NEPAD Council will be committed to mobilize and energize global action, marshal resources and expertise, and provide impetus in support of NEPAD’s objectives. As NEPAD’s partner, NEPAD Council will undertake mutually reinforcing actions to help Africa accelerate growth and make lasting gains against poverty.

The Agenda of NEPAD Council will focus on a limited number of priority areas where, collectively and individually, we can add value. NEPAD Council will focus particular attention on enhanced-partnership countries. It will also work with countries that do not yet meet the standards of NEPAD but which are clearly committed to and working towards its implementation.