In Japan today, the G8 released its agreements on Development and Africa and also Food Security. The bulk of the agreements reiterate previous pledges, rather than promising major new initiatives to get the group on track to meet their promises.

There is a new effort to tackle the global food crisis, although the $10 billion pledged since January for agricultural development has no delivery date. The commitment to create a global partnership on agriculture includes some promising elements, but a lot of work needs to be done to turn it into a meaningful response to the food crisis.

Agreement to provide $60 billion over five years to fight disease globally, although a large sum, does not reflect a substantial increase in real terms. This is the same $60 billion announced at the last G8 in 2007 without a time line attached. Nevertheless, agreement to increase the number of health workers in developing countries to a WHO recommended minimum of 2.3/1000 people is welcome.

Progress reports for the next G8 on education spending and on water are signs of a new G8 awareness that their credibility is at risk in Africa and represents welcome developments on accountability to be followed up by Italy as the G8 chair in 2009.

There are some more details in ONE’s recent press release and we’ll be posting more analysis of the agreements here in a bit.

-Nora Coghlan