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The Commission for Africa (CfA) Report Review Meeting and Consultations for Eastern Africa and the Horn of Africa was held in Nairobi from 6-7th June, 2005. The meeting was attended by representatives of civil society, academia, private sector, media, government, regional and international organisations.
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The meeting reviewed the Report of the Commission for Africa, "Our Common Interest" and noted that the Report would be considered at the G8 Meeting scheduled to be held in Gleneagles, Scotland in July 2005.
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The Meeting noted with appreciation that the Report relies mainly on African sources of information thus providing cogent analysis of the African situation and far reaching recommendations for Africa's recovery and renewal. The Report is action-oriented and focused on key responsibility areas requiring action at various levels of governments, civil society, the private sector, and international community.
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The Meeting urged all the parties concerned to endorse and implement the important recommendations contained in the report. The following institutions were identified as key actors: African national governments, regional organizations, African Union (AU), civil society, private sector and the international community, in particular EU and G8.
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The Meeting called on African governments to show their clear and unambiguous support for the CfA's report and urged them to unequivocally commit themselves to undertake the following measures:
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Promote constitutionalism and rule of law in order to enhance the well-being of every African family
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Increase human development through increased national budget allocations
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Improve political, corporate and economic governance by promoting democracy, accountability and transparency.
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Promote regional integration including attention to improving infrastructure
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Promote intra-African trade and trade with the rest of the world by creating an enabling environment for investment opportunities.
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Maintain commitment to achieve the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and other development targets and accelerate the actions to meet the Goals.
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Promote the sustainable use of natural and other resources in a manner consistent with national and regional development.
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Strengthen national, regional and continental capacities for conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict reconstruction.
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The Meeting also urged civil society and the private sector to play their role as key players in the following areas:
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Implementation of the recommendations of the Report
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Holding governments, donors and themselves accountable to each other
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Strive to work with government to enhance good governance
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Collaborate with governments to develop mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation as a means of ensuring compliance of governments and non-state actors
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Increase advocacy for pro-poor social and economic policies, good governance, gender equality, HIV/AIDS awareness and protection of vulnerable and marginalized groups.
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The Meeting further urged the Governments of the EU, G8 and other developed countries to undertake the following:
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Cancel debt owed by African countries
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Remove agricultural and export subsidies
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Eliminate trade distorting barriers (tariffs and non-tariff barriers)
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Facilitate value addition of African products in Africa
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Promote transfer and exchange of technology between developed and African countries
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Take all necessary legal and administrative measures to disallow and repatriate illicitly acquired state funds and assets
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Grant aid that responds to African priorities and is untied and predictable
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Fulfill ODA (Overseas Development Assistance) commitments of 0.7% of their national income immediately
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Work jointly with African governments, civil society and private sector to strengthen mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of the CfA Recommendations.
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