Natural Resources and Violent Conflict - WaterWiki.net

252 philippe le billonBox 6.2 NEPAD and the G-8 Africa Action PlanThe New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which met inAbuja in October 2001, represents a major initiative and commitment onthe part of African governments to improve political and economic governanceand create a context favorable to foreign investment and rapideconomic growth. NEPAD specifically recognizes the vulnerability ofAfrican economies resulting from their dependence on primary productionand resource-based sectors and their narrow base of exports. Beyondthe need to diversify production and capture added value, NEPAD mentionsa number of objectives and actions indirectly relevant to tacklingconflict trade, including at an African level: (a) harmonize policies andregulations to ensure compliance with minimum levels of operationalpractices and (b) harmonize commitments to reduce the perceived investmentrisk in Africa.More generally, in reference to promoting African exports, NEPADalso mentions that participation in the world trading system must enhance“transparency and predictability as preconditions for increasedinvestment, in return for boosting supply capacity and enhancing thegains from existing market access.”The first NEPAD document did not specifically call for internationalaction on conflict trade. In response to NEPAD, however, the G-8designed an Africa Action Plan at its 2002 meeting, in which memberstates declared their willingness to work “with African governments,civil society, and others to address the linkage between armed conflictand the exploitation of natural resources, including by (i) supportingUnited Nations and other initiatives to monitor and address the illegalexploitation and international transfer of natural resources from Africathat fuel armed conflicts, including mineral resources, petroleum, timber,and water; (ii) supporting voluntary control efforts such as the KimberleyProcess for diamonds and encouraging the adoption of voluntary principlesof corporate social responsibility by those involved in developingAfrica’s national resources; and (iii) working to ensure better accountabilityand greater transparency with respect to those involved in the importor export of Africa’s natural resources from areas of conflict” (G-8Africa Action Plan, Group of Eight, Kananaskis, June 27, 2002).programs in resource management, grants and loans, and peer-reviewmechanisms.Economic Supervision. Economic supervision to control the flowof resources and money could prove to be a powerful instrument for reducingconflict trade while fostering legitimate trade. Such instrumentsare likely to be resisted by governments and rebels, but cease-fire and