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including through adoption of democratic ideals, respect for humanrights, promotion of gender equality, promotion of cultural and religioustolerance and building of inclusive and harmonious societies.The adoption of the Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governancefurther attests to Africa’s firm conviction and commitment to establishinga governance architecture to strengthen this agenda.These aspirations are reflected in both the NEPAD and APRM programmesand enshrined in several treaties and charters of the AfricanUnion but we also have to accept that there are still gaps betweenour governance vision and the complex and difficult realities acrossour vast and diverse continent. Undeniably, electoral processes insome of our countries have been fraught with challenges that needto be better understood and addressed, which is why the next AfricanGovernance Report to be published by ECA and its partners willbe taking a closer look at ‘elections and management of diversity’.Improved governance is also needed in the development processwhich is why the next AU/ECA Conference of Ministers of Finance,Planning and Economic Development will be deliberating on ‘GoverningDevelopment in Africa’. Just as the Lagos Plan of Action andthe NEPAD programme attest to a shared commitment to the economicand social development of this continent, it has become importantto place development back on the agenda of the governancediscourse after nearly three decades of relative neglect. Given thecontinued existence of grinding poverty, hunger and limited accessto education, health and suitable shelter and the evidence from othersuccessful economies, it is no longer possible to limit the role ofthe African state to that of a mere ‘night watchman’.Another well known value that is shared in this continent is the collectivecommitment to promoting peace and security. This meanspreventing and stopping violent conflicts and civil wars to enablestable conditions for enduring socio-economic development. Thedecision of AU member States to discard the principle of non-interferencein favour of non-indifference in the AU Constitutive Act wasso that the Union could act as the ultimate guarantor and protectorof the rights and well-being of the African people. This shared valuehas informed the development of an elaborate peace and securityarchitecture and the important focus on post conflict reconstructionand development by the AU. Given its own well known mandate inIntegrating Africa115