Johannesburg — Canada has committed $480-million towards the implementation of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad) initiative, reports the Nairobi daily, East African Standard.

Kenyan National Planning Minister Anyang Nyong'o says Canada had disbursed $98-million to help establish the necessary structures and institutions.

"The G8 countries are committed to supporting the initiative, and more funds will be available in due course," said the minister.

Sources say the money is meant to assist the 23 countries that have agreed to participate in Nepad's voluntary peer review mechanism on good governance. Kenya is among the countries undergoing the self-assessment process to identify and apply best practices in political and economic governance.

Nyang'o, who recently attended the third African partnership meeting with G8 leaders in Washington, said the Nepad initiative was "on course".

He said the G8 group, comprising the world's richest countries, had agreed to fund a "green revolution" in Africa, specifically targeting the agriculture sector.

The minister said frequent famine associated with drought and conflict was a major global concern that needed urgent attention.

"The revolutionary programme will identify the agricultural potential in various parts of the continent and forge joint efforts to boost food production."

The programme also calls for improved management of natural resources, such as water that can be used for irrigation.

Nyang'o accused African policymakers of ignoring the important role played by research and development.

He said Kenyan research institutions in agriculture and livestock would be converted into centres of excellence under a single co-ordinating authority.