The action plan by African countries under the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) aimed at tackling the following issues except

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which area NEPAD did not aim to tackle. This is an "except" question, so three options are areas NEPAD covered and one is not.

Step 2: Explain the concept NEPAD (New Partnership for Africa's Development) was launched in 2001 and later adopted by the African Union as its development programme. Its main aims are:

• Eradicating poverty
• Promoting sustainable growth and development
• Integrating Africa into the world economy
• Empowering women
• Improving governance and democracy

Its work is organised around three broad areas:

1. Economic issues, such as infrastructure, agriculture, trade, and investment.
2. Political issues, such as democracy, good governance, peace, and security (the African Peer Review Mechanism, APRM).
3. Social issues, such as health, education, and human resource development.

Step 3: Apply to the options

• A. Economic: covered by NEPAD.
• B. Political: covered through good governance, peace, and the APRM.
• C. Religious: NEPAD has no religious agenda. It deals with development, not faith matters.
• D. Social: covered through health and education.

Step 4: Answer The option NEPAD did not target is religious, so the answer is C.

Exam tip: NEPAD = Economic + Political + Social development. Religion is never part of it. In "except" questions, first identify the three options that clearly fit, and the odd one out is your answer.