This report synthesizes the deliberations of a conference organized jointly by the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and the Development Policy Management Forum (DPMF) on the theme ‘The African Union and New Strategies for Development in Africa’. The purpose of the conference was to foster dialogue among African policy makers, researchers and development practitioners about strategies for African development within the evolving framework of transformation of the OAU into the AU. As such, the conference offered opportunities for coming to a better understanding of challenges to African development and an identification of appropriate development options in the current era of globalization.