October 2004
- Consulting with Canadians - Active Consultations -

Commission for Africa – General Overview

Related documents:

• Minister of Finance Launches Canadian Consultations on Africa 
  2004-054 (September 20, 2004). 

• Minister Goodale to Embark on African Fact-Finding Tour 
  2004-041 (August 4, 2004).

• Canada Seeks Solutions for African Private Sector at First Meeting of Commission for Africa 
  2004-033 (May 4, 2004).

• Minister of Finance Named to International Commission for Africa 
  2004-023 (March 22, 2004).

Background

The Commission for Africa (CFA) is a UK-led initiative, launched by British Prime Minister Tony Blair in February 2004, to take a fresh look at the challenges Africa faces in the 21st Century. The Commission aims to generate increased support for the New Partnership for African Development (NePAD) and to build momentum for the UK’s G-8 Summit year and presidency of the European Union in 2005. The final report is expected in April 2005.

Minister of Finance Ralph Goodale was asked to join the Commission as co-chair of the Economy theme, (along with UK Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, and South African Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel) which includes development finance, economic growth and trade.

The full Commission is meeting three times over the course of its work. There are 17 commissioners in total, with 9 from Africa. The first meeting held on May 4th in London, gave Commissioners an opportunity to meet and discuss specific themes and allocation of work. The second meeting took place October 7th – 8th in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss the way forward and early conclusions to include in the final report. The final meeting will be held in February 2005.

The Commission began its work around six principal themes: Human Development (health, especially AIDS and education); tackling Peace and Security; Natural Resources (including environment); Governance; the Economy (including development finance, economic growth and trade); and Culture and Participation. Work is continuing in all of these areas. A wide range of cross-cutting issues are also being addressed, including for example all aspects of HIV/AIDS, gender and inclusion, and migration.

In August the Minister embarked on a fact-finding tour to four countries (Tanzania, South Africa, Nigeria and Mali). During the tour the Minister met with elected and government officials, academics, development experts and representatives of the business community, including fellow commissioners Benjamin William Mkapa, President of Tanzania, Trevor Manuel, South African Minister of Finance, Dr. Anna Kajumulo Tibaijuka Under-Secretary-General & Executive Director of UN HABITAT, and Nigerian business leader Fola Adeola.

The Minister is also looking to Canadians with expertise about Africa for their views on African development issues. On September 21^st and 22^nd he conducted consultations with non-governmental organizations and business people from across Canada. He is using these perspectives to complement the insight gained during the trip to Africa.

The Canadian consultations website, found at: http://www.fin.gc.ca/activty/consult_e.html#active offers an opportunity for all non-government organizations, individuals and businesses with an interest in African development to submit their views on the topic.

Full details of the Commission’s work are on the Commission website, which can be accessed at: www.commissionforafrica.org.

Commissioners and their roles