2010 is an important year for Africa for various reasons. Of these, perhaps the most important is that firstly, this year marks the beginning of the decade in which most of its countries will celebrate 50 years of independence, and secondly, it is the starting point for the new AU/NEPAD African Action Plan (AAP) 2010–2015. This official statement of Africa's priority programmes and projects aims to consolidate the global partnerships and relationships necessary to drive the continent's development in a sustainable manner.

2010 also leaves five years before the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) are due to be met, and perhaps most importantly, this is also the year that will forever be remembered for South Africa's hosting of the FIFA World Cup^TM, an event that focused the world's attention on Africa.

"While Africa has made significant progress it has not yet achieved the necessary transformation ... the job is not yet done."

Lastly, a number of commitments for Africa's development expire in 2010, including the Gleneagles Agreement to double aid by 2010, the EU-Africa partnership (in which the former committed itself to increase aid to developing regions, including Africa), and the 2010 targets for aid effectiveness as contained in the Paris Declaration, to mention a few.

There is widespread consensus that Africa has made significant progress in its bid to right the socio-economic burdens that have crippled it for so long, but it has not yet achieved the transformation that is necessary in terms of governance, economic and social development. To complete the job, many more resources are required, the source of which may unfortunately dwindle due to the current fi nancial crisis in the North - most prominently in Greece, Portugal, Ireland, and Spain - which not only suggests a potential decrease in the flow of development fi nance but has a mixed impact on the willingness of donors to fully meet their commitments, including those due to expire this year.

On the one hand, this impediment provides the impetus for fresh demands on development partners to provide additional support, while on the other, this is an important signal for the continent to focus on better utilising its external resources and seeking more indigenous solutions to its development challenges. It is important that these in turn are informed and owned by Africa's wider population and the public in the West.

During 2010, African Monitor and its partners organised a number of what it terms "Citizens' Consultations" throughout the continent. The goal of the forums, which focused on gathering the input and opinion of the grassroots population, was to thereby create an agenda that truly reflects African views, captures its voices and aspirations and ultimately shapes the continent's policy agenda for the forthcoming decade. Bishop Denis Singulane of Mozambique echoed it thus: "There are many who want to talk about poverty in the absence of the poor," which suggests that Africa's leaders have something to hide. The continent cannot afford to continue with development strategies and programmes that have suffered relevance, legitimacy and ownership challenges.

Related document/s:

• The Citizens Manifesto: A National Synthesis Report