The Genoa Declaration and the Institution of Africa Personal Representatives (APRs)
The 2001 G8 Summit highlighted the will to support a totally African development initiative (NEPAD) that put an end to the old methods of the past and paved the way for a new vision of the future. The Heads of State and Government leaders of the leading industrially advanced democracies meeting in Genoa responded, on 22 July, with the Genoa Declaration, which basically subscribed to the priorities defined by the African representatives.
The Genoa Declaration
These are the salient points enshrined in the Declaration:
- a strategic approach to reducing poverty;
- debt relief, particularly through the Reinforced Initiative in favor of the heavily indebted poor countries (HIPC), which is considered a valid contribution to the struggle against poverty, but also as a means of stimulating faster growth in the very poor countries;
- greater participation in the global trade system for developing countries;
- a boost to private investment in the continent;
- initiatives to promote health, education and food security and safety, such as:
the establishment of a global fund to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis; the reliability of national health systems; food security and safety;
- the crucial nature of Official Development Assistance (ODA);
- the struggle against crime;
- the opportunities offered by digital technology (Task Force G8).
A decision was also reached at Genoa to formalize the post of Africa Personal Representative (APR) for the G8 countries' Heads of State and Government leaders, with each country appointing a ranking personality to the job.
The Africa personal representative's task is to liaise with the African countries on a permanent basis and, working in conjunction with the African leaders, to put together a G8 Africa Action Plan each year for submission to the following year's G8 Summit. The representatives also recommend action to be taken in favour of Africa and they track the implementation of the Action Plan, keeping their respective heads of state and government leaders up to date on the progress being made.
The numerous contacts between the personal representatives and the African leaders in Genoa led to the drafting of the first G8 Africa Action Plan, which was approved at the G8 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, the following year, with a commitment to monitoring the progress achieved in implementing the pledges made.
The Italian Prime Minister's Africa Personal Representative is Professor Luca Riccardi, who is assisted in his role by Dr. Liliane Murekatete.
