Guidance Notes for On-line discussion for African
research and non-state organisations
Introduction
The on-line discussion will focus on two questions that are of central
concern to the Commission for Africa:
- Is the focus right in the proposed programme for action? Does it reflect
the key priorities for Africa? Are there important elements missing?
The Commission wants to hear directly from African research and non-state
organisations.
- What practical actions could make the biggest difference to ordinary
African's lives in the different programme areas, both immediately and
over the longer term? The Commission is gathering evidence about practical
steps that have the potential to make a real difference, and wants to
make this a focus of its final report.
The discussion will broadly follow the dates indicated below, but contributions
outside these dates can be accepted and will be circulated.
Participants are welcome to contribute to all discussion themes, or a
selection. Each is listed in more detail below.
Overview: Commission for Africa proposed programme
for action
The Commission for Africa is working to accelerate progress towards a
strong and prosperous Africa. It will report in spring 2005, including
recommendations to the G8, EU and other wealthy countries. For more on
the Commission for Africa, see Annex 1 below.
Since an initial consultation with Africa research and non-state organisations
in July 2004 (see Annex 2 below), the Commission for Africa has produced
a draft possible programme for action, which seeks to reflect African
aspirations for what the rest of the international community can do to
support successful African development. It is the first such programme
that emphasises the scale of response needed: big enough to meet the challenge
of meeting the MDGs in Africa. Without a sustained big push, inside and
outside Africa, and starting very soon, the chances of getting anywhere
near meeting the MDGs for 2015 are remote.
The programme attempts to outline an integrated push for accelerated
development in Africa, which recognises the interwoven set of vicious
circles and barriers to development, rather than a single solution to
Africa's development problems. The Commission framework is based on three
inter-related ideas:
- That an acceleration of sustainable economic growth is fundamental
to the achievement of Africa's goals (and the MDGs) and that generating
this acceleration depends on a strong improvement in the investment
climate.
- That empowering and investing in poor people so that they participate
strongly and are included in this growth (in particular through improvements
in their skills, education and health) is basic not only to the overcoming
of income poverty but also to the wider objectives of raising the standard
of living and human development.
- That the strengthening of governance, institutions and capacity are
crucial both to the investment climate and to the ability of the government
to deliver the basic public services crucial to the participation of
poor people in growth.
Based on this framework for analysis, the programme for action falls
into five broad areas:
- Improving governance and building effective states, as a basis for
delivery of results from both public and private action and for growth
and inclusion.
- Creating opportunities for growth both on the supply side and the
demand side (in particular market access). Expanding market access is
crucial for growth but the response will be limited without strong improvement
and investment in the supply side.
- Human development, inclusion and culture are goals in themselves and
key elements in accelerating and sustaining growth. The role of women
is central here. Service delivery, reducing vulnerability and local
accountability will be at the core of the associated set of actions.
- Without peace and security, everything else is derailed. The emphasis
must be on prevention, recognising the importance of addressing the
structural causes, particularly in natural resource rents, strengthened
African conflict management capacity and a more responsive international
system.
- Financing for development: there are many aspects of the above programme
that require resources and costs must be quantified. But there is also
great scope for making aid much more productive if aid quality and institutional
arrangements are improved.
The proposed programme for action does not discuss constraints and opportunities
for implementation, so it will be important that the on-line discussion
provides as many practical examples as possible about what might work
in the African context. There will be a discussion theme around this issue,
and the opportunity to contribute specific examples under each of the
five theme areas above.
The proposed programme for action places special emphasis on the challenges
of strengthening governance, institutions and capacity in order to build
a climate for accelerated growth and advances in human development so
that poor people can participate in growth processes.
The following sections outline the different elements of the Commission's
programme for action and suggest some key questions for debate during
the on-line discussion.
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