NEPAD/HSGIC-03-2003/APRM/Guideline/OSCI 9 March 2003 5 SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 5.1 The NEPAD Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance identifies the eradication of poverty and the fostering of socio-economic development as the over-arching twin objectives of NEPAD. A. Key Socio-Economic Development Objectives a. Promote self-reliance in development and build capacity for self-sustaining development. b. Accelerate socio-economic development to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication. c. Strengthen policies, delivery mechanisms and outputs in key social development areas (including education for all, combating of HIV/AIDS and other communicable diseases) d. Ensuring affordable access to water, energy, finance (including microfinance), markets and ICT to all citizens, especially the rural poor e. Progress towards gender equality, particularly equal access to education for girls at all levels. f. Encourage broad based participation in development by all stakeholders at all levels B. Standards, Indicative Criteria and Examples of Indicators 5.2 Objectives 1 and 2: Promote self-reliance in development and build capacity for self-sustaining development, and accelerate socio-economic development to achieve sustainable development and poverty eradication Page 23 of 31