NPI-Africa acknowledges economic development and prosperity as a means toward the expansion of people’s choices. Accordingly, therefore enhancing the quality of life and diminishing the likelihood of destructive conflict. At local level, the proactive posture calls for engaging with issues of governance, economic development, and sustainable livelihoods. At the international level, the said posture calls for Africa to benefit from its vast natural resources, ethical and fair trade practices, technology transfer, debt management, and the ability to protect its peoples’ interests. Such a posture calls for NPI-Africa to offer critical analyses, to suggest policies, and to build linkages locally and internationally for advancing an African peace agenda.The rich cultural diversity of Africa is recognized as a great resource. However, what remains unrealized is the transformation of this socio-cultural and religious wealth into a potent instrument of and home for community-based peacebuilding. In the absence of an issue-based political culture in most African democracies, ethnic and religious differences are readily deployed and exploited to win elections at the expense of social cohesion. This reality is further compounded by the rising population of unemployed youth who are easily co-opted into unlawful activities, peddling drugs and joining militia groups. Ongoing conflicts exacerbated by famine, as recently witnessed in the Greater Horn of Africa region, increase the irregular migration of internally displaced persons and refugees. These conditions provide fertile ground for conflict-induced stress on host communities and competition for scarce resources amidst environmental degradation. While recognizing and supporting the efforts of the AU in promoting and affirming the contribution of women in the continent’s development and peace agenda, NPI-Africa is aware that much remains to be done.
