African NGOs met in Nairobi in August to discuss and formulate an Africa Consensus on economic and social development to challenge the Washington Consensus. The meeting also examined the areas of action identified in the Lusaka Declaration of May 1999 which rejected the HIPC debt initiative. The meeting established a framework for an Africa Consensus Commission which includes high profile African leaders, a Working Commission with representatives from across the continent, and a Secretariat, the interim office of which will be set up in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Africa Consensus will also address:
- issues of trade;
- oppose the introduction of new issues on the WTO meeting of ministers in Seattle in November this year;
- the international financial crisis. It aims to:
- enhance civil society understanding of economic and development issues;
- strengthen civil society organisations to act on these issues;
- give African parliaments the confidence in their capacity to shape their economies and national development; and
- press African governments to address social and development needs.
For more information contact: Sandra Bagenda, tel: 00-254-2-441-338/9, bagendrasandra@hotmail.com
