G8 Commitment to Africa: Promise or Reality?

July 14th, 2008

The annual gathering of the world richest nations ended on July 9th in Japan where government leaders from United States, Britain, Japan, Canada, Italy, France, Germany and Russia met to discuss global issues such as climate change, the food crisis, and development for Africa. The 2008 G8 summit was July 7-9 in Toyako, a resort near Hokkaido, Japan.

This summit comes at a halfway point for the Millennium Development Goals and commitments to Africa once again were on the 2008 G-8 agenda. But advocates for Africa fear not much will come of the new promises since so little has come of those made at the 2005 G8 meeting in Gleneagles, Scotland. There, leaders promised to double global development assistance – to $50 billion by 2010, with at least $25 billion of that amount going to Africa. The 2005 G8 leaders also had promised to eliminate the outstanding debt of the poorest nations, increase funding to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria and double investments in education. But, according to Action Aid, a leading humanitarian agency in Africa, the reality is that foreign aid to Africa has remained flat.

The G8 Declaration on Development and Africa reiterates the commitment of G8 leaders to fulfilling the Gleneagles 2005 promises to raise aid budgets. But no specific funding targets have been set, and the promises in 2008 are even vaguer than those of 2005. Similarly, 2005, the G8 committed to help people with HIV/AIDS – promising universal access to anti-AIDS medicines by 2010. But the 2010 deadline was dropped in the recent summit – leaders instead promised to work towards a goal of universal access. African advocates and campaigners are challenging the G8 for this change and the lack of specific funding commitments to Africa.

Recognizing the critical shortage of healthcare workers in Africa, the G8 endorsed the WHO minimum base of 2.3 health workers per 1000 people but offered no financial commitment to reach this end. The G8 also acknowledged the slow progress of the MDG goals on water and sanitation and promised to prioritize this sector. The shortage of teachers in Africa argues for immediate action and the Africa education sector did receive funding of $1 billion for Education for All – Fast Track Initiative (FTI) endorsed countries.

Despite the acknowledgement of progress, 2008 is a critical year for the people of Africa and citizens of the G8 nations because it marks the halfway point in reaching the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015. These goals include achieving universal primary education, a halving of poverty and a decrease in infant mortality by two-thirds. With only two years to go before the target date of 2010, achieving universal access to AIDS medicines will be nearly impossible.

The very fact of putting Africa’s development at the G-8 summit agenda is something to applaud. However, to avoid becoming empty rhetoric, the G8 promises must be converted into measurable funding commitments with specific timelines. Millions trapped in poverty and disease across the globe need comprehensive solutions backed by real resources to deal with the interlocking global challenges of climate change, food crisis, poverty and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

2008 G-8 summit documents available.

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