The New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) was established in

Analyze the question: The question asks for the year NEPAD was established. This is a factual recall question on African regional organisations.

Explain the concept: NEPAD is an economic development programme of the African Union (AU). It aims to reduce poverty, promote sustainable growth, and integrate Africa into the world economy. It was driven by leaders such as Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Thabo Mbeki (South Africa), Abdelaziz Bouteflika (Algeria), and Abdoulaye Wade (Senegal).

Step-by-step solution:

1. The idea began with the "Millennium Africa Recovery Plan" (Mbeki, Obasanjo, Bouteflika) and the "OMEGA Plan" (Wade) in 2000-2001.
2. These plans were merged into the "New African Initiative" and then adopted by the OAU Summit in Lusaka, Zambia, in July 2001.
3. The initiative was formally named NEPAD in October 2001, and the AU later adopted it as its programme in 2002 when the OAU transformed into the AU.

Therefore, NEPAD was established in 2001.

Checking the options:

• A. 2003: incorrect (this is when the Maputo Declaration on agriculture, CAADP, was adopted)
• B. 2000: incorrect (this was the year the preliminary plans were drafted)
• C. 2005: incorrect
• D. 2001: correct

Tip: Remember "NEPAD = 2001 = Lusaka". Also note that the AU was launched in 2002, so NEPAD came just before the AU and later became its programme. Memorising the sequence OAU (1963), NEPAD (2001), AU (2002) helps you avoid mixing up dates in exams.