25 February | APP Bulletin -Vol. 2 Issue 16
Fragile but Agile
‘Fragile states’ are in the spotlight at the moment, in part because of the tragedy in Haiti. By most counts, over half the world’s fragile states are in Africa. ... However, the worst fears have not been realized. This is not to say that events across the continent, whether in Niger, Guinea-Bissau or Cote d’Ivoire, Sudan, Kenya or Madagascar, cannot be attributed partly to recession-related unrest. Read more...
12 February | APP Bulletin -Vol. 2 Issue 15
Acronyms for Action
2010 will be a great year for acronyms. A focus for the UN, IFIs, NGOs, CSOs, FBOs, LDCs and the AU will be the MDG Summit at the GA in September, preceded in June by an ECOSOC Ministerial Review , the G8 and G20 Summits, as well as multiple meetings addressing individual MDGs or reviewing overall progress and priorities. Even FIFA is on side. Read more...
3 February | APP Annual Meeting
Will the Real Africa Stand Up?
As part of the 2010 Annual Meeting of the Africa Progress Panel, the APP organized a debate moderated by the BBC’s Zeinab Badawi. The debate aims to draw attention to the state of Africa in 2010: the year of the World Cup on African soil, 10 year follow-up on the Millennium Declaration, and 5 year post the Gleneagles G8 Summit commitments. Four panellists address issues in front of an informed audience consisting of experts on African governance, economics, social and political affairs, including distinguished African figures. The panellists are:
- Kofi Annan, Chair of the Africa Progress Panel
- Petina Gappah, Zimbabwean writer, Winner of the Guardian First Book Award
- Linah Mohohlo, Governor of the Bank of Botswana
- General Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria and APP Member
Highlights of Will the Real Africa Stand Up? from Africa Progress Panel on Vimeo.
For the full debate see: Wil the Real Africa Stand Up? APP BBC World Debate from Africa Progress Panel on Vimeo.
We hope you enjoy the programme and look forward to hearing what you think of these discussions. Please email your comments or log on to our Facebook page to post your views.
28.01.2010 | APP Bulletin -Vol. 2 Issue 14
Aid matters
Recent data compiled by OECD-DAC reveals a story that may come as a surprise (see charts). Since 2002, development finance in Africa has more than tripled. Domestic revenues dwarf private flows, remittances, ODA and philanthropic giving, all of which have increased, but not as fast as domestic revenues. Private capital flows overtook ODA as the second largest source of development finance, though this slumped, as did Africa’s access to global capital markets, from 2008. That ODA levels are not increasing in line with Gleneagles outcomes is alarming; many donors are postponing or walking away from their pledges. Read more...
14.01.2010 | APP Bulletin-Vol. 2 Issue 13
No Own Goal
The New Year has been dominated by security issues. Most high profile have been the failed plot on Christmas Day by a Nigerian student- the so-called ‘underpants bomber’- to blow up a plane over Detroit, and the attack last week on the Togolese football squad in Cabinda.
The last thing Africa needs is intensified global media focus on violence and extremism and further negative stereotyping. Read more...
21.12.2009 | APP BULLETIN
Special Edition on Copenhagen
Hotchpotch in Copenhagen
The mountain shook, a mouse emerged. Copenhagen has not resulted in an agenda for action, but a political compromise of questionable legitimacy. The language of the ‘Copenhagen Accord’ is tortuous, reflecting the last minute Friday night drama and the negotiation marathon that preceded it. Did Africa get what it wanted? Not really.
Read more...
17.12.2009 | Opinion by BOB GELDOF
Copenhagen climate summit: Africa can and must be part of the solution to climate change
Bob Geldof insists that Africa “can and must be part of the solution to climate change”, emphasizing the already severe social impact of global warming in parts of the continent, but also the potential benefits of existing solutions. Investments in renewable energies and increasing agricultural efficiency can be both profitable and socially beneficial, he argues, highlighting the responsibility of rich countries to respect their financial commitments concerning agriculture. Read more...
09.12.2009 | Opinion - Mail and Guardian Online
Kofi Annan: "Saving Ourselves from... Ourselves"
"A deal that stops at rhetoric and does not actually meet the needs of the poorest and most climate vulnerable countries simply will not work. The climate cannot be 'fixed' in one continent and not another. Climate change does not respect national borders. We are all in the same boat; a hole at one end will sink us all." Read more...
03.12.2009 | - APP INFO NOTE
Reaching an Agreement at Copenhagen and Beyond:
Negotiating the roadblocks ahead - Second Edition
Following the Barcelona Climate Change talks, the APP Secretariat and with the support of the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) produced a second edition of an information note on climate change negotiations for the APP Panel Members. It is being shared ahead of the Copenhagen Conference taking place between the 7 and 18 December 2009.
Download:
Info Note in English [PDF1.2 Mb.]
02.12.2009 | - APP INFO NOTE
Kick-Starting Africa’s Carbon Markets
The APP Secretariat on 17 November 2009, convened key stakeholders from African Governments, development partners, civil society and the private sector to identify practical solutions for developing the unexploited CDM potential in Africa. Following the workshop, an outcome information note was produced, listing opportunities that can be seized immediately and outlining concrete steps for action.
Download:
Info Note in English [PDF1.1 Mb.]
Highlights from our Bulletin |
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Policy hungerJacques Diouf of FAO is rightly disappointed that this week’s World Food Summit did not result in exact targets for reducing global hunger. The UN says that one billion people are currently going hungry. Read more... |
More T with ChinaAt a time when investment, remittances and aid levels from OECD countries are in doubt or declining, Chinese investment is good news for Africa. Investments in areas as diverse as infrastructure and agriculture are helping to create jobs, reducing the cost of basic goods, and softening the blow to African countries of the global economic downturn. |
Guinea FoulThe recent coup in Guinea is highlighting multiple dilemmas regarding Africa’s ability to manage its own affairs, and the approach of the international community when rich resource pickings are at stake. Read more... |
Can't measure it? Can't manage it!Information, effectively communicated, is central to mutual responsibility and accountability for progress in Africa. The quality of dialogue between governments and citizens, and between African countries and their international partners, depends upon it. Gathering information is not easy. |
Women on TopThe decision by the 63rd UN General Assembly on 11 September to request and authorize the creation of a UN agency for women could get lost in the other big news stories this week, including the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh and the High Level Summit on Climate Change being convened by Ban Ki-moon. But if handled adroitly, it could have a big and profound impact. |
One Voice on Climate Change“For the first time in its history, Africa will field a single team empowered to negotiate on behalf of all the member states of the African Union” announced PM Meles Zenawi at the Special Session on Climate Change of the Africa Partnership Forum, held in Addis Ababa on September 3rd. Africa has formed one team representing over a quarter of the world’s states, backed by a common position. Read more... |
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