The APP Bulletin

Africa is rising and African economies are growing faster than those of almost any other region in the world. However, the current pattern of trickle-down growth is not benefitting many people stuck in a spiral of poverty. Indeed, benefits measured by poverty reduction, maternal mortality and childhood survival fall far short of what Africans have a right to expect.

Last week’s Guardian news story on UK Prime Minister David Cameron’s role in a post 2015 Millennium Development Goal (MDG) committee, highlighted the importance of making a no-holds-barred push to meet the current MDG targets, in Africa and elsewhere. While many African countries have registered significant advances during the past decade, overall the continent will miss 2015 goals by a wide margin at the current rate.

Deepening and consolidating the democratic transformations taking place in Africa, as well as strengthening regional and global governance arrangements, remain key challenges for African countries. As two recent developments in West Africa demonstrate, the prospect of collapse remains an ever-present threat, even in countries deemed to be role models in the practice of democracy. Some believe that this is consistent with American political scientist Larry Diamond’s thesis that democracy is receding around the world.

Last week, the Peace Nobel Prize was awarded to three women for their non-violent struggle in favour of “women’s rights to full participation in peace-building work.” Two of them are African. This decision has been welcomed with great enthusiasm, including by our African Panel members. Graça Machel is thrilled to see that her African sisters have achieved their life’s work, “through collaboration and compassion, instead of competition and conflict”. She also praised Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a pioneer as Africa's first elected female head of state and Leymah Gbowee, “who has never held political office but whose activism brought peace to a country torn apart, by mobilising the power of women.”

Many may argue that the appointment of Christine Lagarde to head the IMF is a triumph for women’s equality.  And although we are yet to see what will substantively change with a woman in charge, the debate on how women can compete with men and how they make a difference has flourished.  Time Magazine even published an article entitled “Why Women are Better at Everything. “ This is all very exciting and surely a provocative piece to stir the debate.

Since 2000 dramatic scenes have become regular occurrences in Cote d’Ivoire. Previously considered the jewel of West Africa, the country has had 7 years of a government of national unity (since 2003), 7 years of a peacekeeping presence in the country, 7 postponed elections (between 2000-2010) and there have been 4 months of intense political stand-off. Over the last week, the crisis has finally reached a tipping point.

Expectations around the MDG Summit were low, given global economic and financial woes. In terms of commitments announced, including to and by Africa, they were met. The question now is how ‘hard’ the commitments are, whether they are new or ‘recycled’, whether they will be implemented, and who will hold those making them to account.

The greens won, and there’s a sense of euphoric, suspended disbelief in Kenya. The vote on the referendum, one of the measures set out in the National Accord brokered by Kofi Annan in 2008, on whether to adopt the new constitution, was peacefully conducted, and the ceremony was a national celebration. The sense of optimism on the streets is now palpable.

What are development advocates and anti-poverty campaigners to make of the recent G8 and G20 Summits? That the world’s most powerful governments are willing to coordinate their efforts to sort out the global financial system is positive. Macro-economic stability is a must for growth, job creation and the battle against poverty. The importance given by the G8 to maternal and child health, food security, Africa and green recovery are all welcome too. But many remain unconvinced. ...The G8 communiqué is well wordsmithed, but conceals as much as it reveals

The 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.

Is the international consensus around Africa’s development in danger of crumbling? The last decade has seen remarkable achievements including the Millennium Declaration and mobilization around the MDGs, Monterrey, the creation of the Global Fund and GAVI, the campaigns for debt relief and to double ODA to Africa, and a consistent focus on Africa by rich countries, including the G8.

Last week two important events took place, simultaneously. One was the World Economic Forum for Africa, in Cape Town, and the other was the Africa Partnership Forum, in Rome. They had several things in common, including great locations. Both exist to catalyze partnerships for development. Both focused on the impact of the global economic crisis.

Overshadowed by the media coverage of the G20 Summit, the OECD has released its annual figures on net ODA as provided by its 22 country Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

The proliferation of Gs is bewildering, but in fact may be a sign of health, as the world struggles to find governance structures which are both effective in terms of economic clout and have the political legitimacy to tackle the multiple crises before us.

The election of Barrack Obama is generating great hopes in Africa and among those pressing for maintenance and even increase of development assistance by rich countries to Africa. However, as in other G8 and OECD countries, the domestic economy is his top priority. Notwithstanding our own and others, efforts, it may be some time before the Obama administration feels able to match the increases in assistance to Africa overseen by its predecessor. The prospect is of low cost development initiatives – rationalization of US development architecture, for example.