THE GROUP OF ?
For the most part, individual members of the G8 will remain critical players in development but there is a question as to whether it is the right group to take the overall agenda forward. While the G20 looks likely to surpass the G8 to become the major forum for international economic cooperation, it has not yet established itself on what has been a central part of the G8 agenda: development in the poorest countries, particularly in Africa.
Yet, as detailed in the chapter on emerging donors, many of these new players are already active and influential in terms of their commercial interests (and some even as donors) in Africa. As new countries engage, it will be increasingly important to coordinate efforts, G20 and other leaders must also consider how they can develop a positive, proactive agenda for poverty reduction and development that moves beyond aid to incorporate trade and investment policy, enhances accountability and ensures the voices of the poorest are heard.
THE CRISES OF CLIMATE, FOOD AND FUEL
The past five years have unveiled new challenges that will make already ambitious goals even more difficult. The food and fuel crises posed very specific challenges to commodity and energy-importers across Africa. Climate change has long been a factor but in recent years research has better underscored the impact that it will have – i.e. first and worst – on developing countries, which have done the least to cause it. In Copenhagen in December 2009, donors agreed that there must be new resources to address the needs of these countries to adapt to the impact of climate change – to the tune of $100 billion – but the overlap with existing development commitments was left unresolved and the viability of mobilising such resources doubtful. It must be clarified that the additional costs to development caused by climate change are paid for with additional resources. Clarity and reassurances are critical on the path forward. The financial crisis too has affected every country around the globe – but, again, a crisis that was not caused by the poorest people is now jeopardising their futures. Budgets have tightened in the wake of the financial crisis and this has dampened projections for 2010 development assistance.
