ActionAid's Africa commission for Britain

In March 2005, the 'Commission for Africa' will unveil its 'Action Plan for a Strong and Prosperous Africa.' ActionAid has turned the tables on the UK government and set up an African Commission for Britain.

The African Commission for Britain, an all-African panel of ActionAid International staff, has developed its own action plan. We believe that for Britain, the first step in supporting African development must be to do no harm.

While we know that real change in Africa must be led by Africans, we also know that some of the greatest obstacles to change lie outside the region. Africa has been the supposed beneficiary of no fewer than 10 ambitious development plans in the
past three decades, many of them written outside the continent.

The African Commission for Britain believes that UK politicians must respond to public pressure and bring justice to Africa in 2005. The Commission is about Africans providing concrete recommendations to the U.K. government about what it needs to do to support the continent.  All the recommendations are realistic and achievable in 2005. 

ActionAid is proposing that the UK government should:

• stop forcing African countries to open up their markets
• stop export dumping
• reach your promised aid target of 0.7% of GDP
• stop tying economic policy conditions to aid
• cancel unpayable debt
• ensure access to free and comprehensive treatment for people living with HIV & AIDS
• stop U.K. corporations from undermining basic rights
• cut carbon emissions
• work to prevent and resolve armed conflict
• stop supporting bribery and corruption in Africa.

The UK Government believes that this year could be a breakthrough year for Africa. By following these recommendations, the UK will be taking the first step towards delivering justice to Africa in 2005.

photo : ©Andrew Aitchison/ ActionAid UK