The Lagos Plan of Action (LPA) and the World Bank on food and agriculture in Africa: a comparison
Mkandawire, T.
Africa Development 7(1/2): 166-177
1982
Document Number: 210586
The World Bank report "Accelerated Development in Africa South of the Sahara: an agenda for action", [Berg et al. see WAERSA 24,2715] is compared with the OAU's "Lagos Plan of Action for the Economic Development of Africa 1980-2000". It is suggested that the two documents have totally different approaches to the economic development of Africa. While the Lagos Plan of Action seeks to promote more regional cooperation by means of a strategy which is endogenous to the regional character, the Berg Report proposes an extraverted development strategy, based on primary commodities, oriented towards exports, and essentially dependent on foreign capital. Given the economic crisis which the African countries are undergoing, the World Bank is able to impose its development strategy. However, the economic crisis which affects the countries presented as models in the Report -- Malawi, Ivory Coast, Kenya -- shows that the option chosen by the Lagos Plan of Action is still sustainable in Africa.