News

Africa Partnership

12 December 2000

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is also promoting an “Africa Partnership Initiative”. It is unclear whether this will be an international or a UK initiative. The South African government is taking the lead in developing work on the African side. It will focus on conflict prevention, governance and civil society, investment, trade, technology and education, health and the environment. NGOs are concerned that the initiative will be too rushed to be useful.

The task force pulling together the project is demanding new solutions but NGOs have stressed the need to take steps to properly implement solutions identified in previous reviews, such as streamlining and coordinating aid reporting requirements etc. A draft report will bediscussed in mid-December for launch in the new year.

william.price@hm-treasury.gsi.gov.uk

sarah-powell@dfid.gov.uk