Seventh National Development Plan 2017-2021.

The Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) for the period 2017-2021 is the successor to the Revised Sixth National Development Plan, 2013-2016 (RSNDP). The Plan, like the three national development plans (NDPs) that preceded it, is aimed at attaining the long-term objectives as outlined in the Vision 2030 of becoming a “prosperous middle-income country by 2030”. Through the integrated approach, the instrument recognizes the multi-faceted and interlinked nature of sustainable development which calls for interventions to be tackled simultaneously through a coordinated approach to implementing development programmes. The goal of the 7NDP is to create a diversified and resilient economy for sustained growth and socioeconomic transformation driven, among others, by agriculture. The document is composed of the following Parts: (I) Overview of the 7NDP; (II) Development context; (III) Macroeconomic framework – towards economic recovery; (IV) The Plan – Towards the Vision 2030; (V) Strategic areas of the 7NDP; (VI) Financing; (VII) 7NDP Implementation, coordination and monitoring and evaluation frameworks; (VIII) Annexes.The Plan aims to help eliminate hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition. More specifically, the 7NDP seeks to promote a well-nourished population free of all forms of malnutrition, capable of contributing to economic growth and diversification; improve the general welfare of poor and vulnerable households; and promote livelihoods and empowerment.Further the instrument aims to make agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable.Reducing rural poverty is among the specific objectives of this plan. Focus will be to transform underdeveloped rural settings into cohesive communities with profitable and productive opportunities where members enjoy equitable access to basic public and social services, such as rural electrification, rural financing, housing development, rural industrialisation with emphasis on agro-industrialization, rural water supply and sanitation and creation of rural employment opportunities. Focus will also be on investing in expanding rural road networks with particular emphasis on feeder roads to improve access to markets for rural entrepreneurs.Additionally the 7NDP seeks to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural systems. The plan is focused on the agricultural sector to promote sustainable development and specifically job creation. To increase employment opportunities in rural areas, the Government will promote rural infrastructure development, agro value chain development and labour intensive industries operating in rural areas. In addition, the Government will establish rural employment guarantee schemes aimed at facilitating the development of agriculture infrastructure, such as irrigation and storage in targeted regions. A diversified and export-oriented agriculture sector is one of the main goals. The following programs are envisaged: a) productivity-enhancing technology development; b) farm block development; c) irrigation development; d) agriculture input supply management; e) aquaculture development; f) research and development promotion (crops, livestock and fisheries); g) early warning systems development; and h) farm power and mechanization enhancement. Further the instrument provides for the implementation of measures to ensure access to land and to promote small-scale agriculture (Farmers’ organizations development).One of the cross-cutting issues is disaster risk reduction.Moreover the 7NDP defines specific outcomes regarding the mining and energy sector. As regards water resources management, the following strategies are set out: (1) Enhance rain water harvesting and catchment protection; (2) Promote local and transboundary aquifer management; (3) Promote inter-basin and catchment water transfer schemes; (4) Promote alternative financing for water resources development.