New-Look NEPAD embraced by Kenyan officials

Having spent valuable time researching and re-evaluating its role, the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) is now even newer, and back with a wider mandate and a clearer framework.

The development body, launched by the Organization of African Unity - an earlier version of the African Union (AU) - in 2001, has been given a complete overhaul and will now focus more prominently on sourcing funds and implementing economic, social and political projects.

The former Nepad organization was largely seen as unwieldy and difficult to manage, but the NEPAD Coordinating and Planning Agency, formed in February, aims to rectify this by bringing all 20 NEPAD member countries under its supervision.