CHAPTER 6: THE NEXUS BETWEEN DEVELOPMENT AND GOVERNANCE 6.1 Introduction Development is a process associated with growth or change , for that which is more advanced, more recent, or newer. The definition of development, its measures, and strategies for its attainment have evolved over time. In the 2000s it was argued that people should be allowed to use their identity and culture to determine the course of their development. That they should be free to use their ethnicity, religion, language, or culture to determine their future. The idea here was that, in addition to democracy and equitable growth, Member States should adopt multicultural policies that recognise human differences and promote diversity and cultural freedom.48 Efforts to address the rather disjointed and fragmented approaches to development culminated in the Millennium Declaration and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs sought to address three dimensions of development: the economic, social, and environmental. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals reinforced the convergence of the development agenda, by strengthening emphasis on equity, human rights, and non-discrimination.49 As one can see, the concept of development is broad, but for the purposes of the AGR, we shall focus on the AU Agenda Aspirations 1, 3, 4 and 6, and SDG 16 of the (global) UN 2030 Agenda.50 Annex 1 summarises the evolution in global development thinking over the past 60 years thinking which culminated in the 2015 UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). The table also highlights the trend of Africa’s development from post-independence up to the launch in 2013 of its development frameworks, the African Union Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. This framework is said to have inspired the 2030 Agenda SDGs of the UN. 6.2 National Development Plans: The Interface Between Governance and Development Governance is the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority to manage a country’s affairs. Through National Visions, countries articulate political and developmental objectives for their citizens. NDPs translate these visions into programmes and projects. National development plans outline the strategies, ways and means by which National Visions will be implemented. National budget allocations specify the resources for implementing NDPs. In some instances, National Visions and NDPs are consolidated into a single framework. 48 UNDP, 2004. Human Development Report 2004 – Cultural Liberty in Today’s Diverse World. 49UN General Assembly Resolution adopted by the General Assembly (A/55/L.2)] 55/2. United Nations Millennium Declaration (18 September 2000); UN, 2015. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (A/RES/70/1); Kumar, S, et.al. 2016. “Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Addressing Unfinished Agenda and Strengthening Sustainable Development and Partnership”. February 2016. 50UN 2030 Agenda for SDGs: SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels, and AU Vision 2063. Aspiration 1: A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development, Aspiration 3: An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law, and Aspiration 4: A peaceful and secure Africa. Page 67 of 96