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FACTBOX-G8 measures to tackle African poverty

03 Jun 2007 07:02:17 GMT
Source: Reuters

June 3 (Reuters) - African poverty has climbed to the top of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's agenda ahead of a Group of Eight (G8) summit to be held in Heiligendamm on Wednesday, amid concern that pledges to help the continent remain unfulfilled.

The following is a selection of measures adopted by the G8 in recent years and a snapshot of what Merkel hopes to achieve for Africa at the June 6-8 meeting on the Baltic coast.

The G8 is composed of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

MILESTONES ON THE ROAD TO HEILIGENDAMM:

* COLOGNE, GERMANY, 1999 - The G8 extended the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative, launched by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Its aims were to reduce indebtedness to a "sustainable" level. Two thirds of debt were forgiven in exchange for promises by African nations to reform their economies and fight poverty.

* KANANASKIS, CANADA, 2002 - The Africa Action Plan was adopted, defining a new partnership between G8 and Africa nations. It set out specific commitments in support of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

* GLENEAGLES, BRITAIN, 2005 - The G8 returned to the bilateral debt relief agreements of Cologne and took them one stage further with a Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative (MDRI) which envisioned totally cancelling debts. Heads of state also agreed on a doubling of development aid by 2010.

* AIMS OF THE GERMAN PRESIDENCY IN 2007:

-- Germany aims to strengthen dialogue with African nations in addition to existing programmes designed to cut indebtedness and boost financial aid. Merkel's agenda harks back to the partnership forged in Kananaskis in 2002.

-- The German government has identified four main focal points: good governance, sustainable investment, peace and security and a strengthening of the health system. The latter includes measures to fight HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

-- An outreach programme intends to involve ministers from Africa in the G8 Summit at Heiligendamm. Five founder members of the NEPAD Group -- Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa -- will attend as will African Union president Ghana.

-- A pledge made in Gleneagles to double development aid by 2010 will be reiterated amid claims from aid organisations that some G8 nations are lagging far behind on their commitments.

-- Germany spent $10.35 billion in 2006 on developmental cooperation compared with $10.08 billion the year earlier. The United States reduced its payments in the same period by more than 20 percent to $22.74 billion.

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