Finance Ministers from the world’s seven richest countries are missing a critical opportunity to help Africa break the back of extreme poverty and AIDS. The money men from the US, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Canada and Japan meet in Essen, Germany this weekend.

They should be laying the groundwork for a successful G8 summit in Heiligendamm in June where African economic development is a key theme. But the Finance Ministers are not talking about how to meet Africa’s urgent challenges in areas of health and education – challenges that G8 governments have promised to fund through increased aid.

Ahead of the meeting, DATA, the Africa advocacy group that works closely with Bono and Bob Geldof, has issued a short briefing paper on what the G8 must do to fulfill existing commitments to Africa. The paper also sets out a plan to boost G8 support for effective health, education and development initiatives, as well as addressing problems of governance and corruption.

DATA’s European Director Oliver Buston said “Faced with the challenge of increasing aid to Africa by $25 billion in the next three years, the Finance Ministers are looking the other way. We are urging Germany’s Finance Minister Peer Steinbrueck to take the lead and persuade his G7 colleagues to fund proven aid initiatives. ”

There are initiatives that work. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS TB and Malaria, the World Bank Education Fast Track Initiative and microfinance are effective interventions to fight AIDS and poverty. None is receiving the funds needed for 2007 or beyond.

DATA emphasizes that the G8 countries are not being asked to do any more than has already been promised. Commitments made by G8 states through the European Union, UN Millennium Development Goals and G8 initiatives all require increased aid funding – but real aid to Africa in a number of countries is declining.

DATA’s new briefing paper “The 2007 G8 Summit: Delivering Promises, Securing Africa’s Future” suggests steps that can deliver real progress in fighting poverty and AIDS in Africa.

For more information:
Katy Cronin DATA Media Manager +44 7788 710 789
Tobias Kahler, DATA Germany Director ++49 177 364 0665
Oliver Buston, DATA European Director +44 7963 288 446