Foreword by Lord Stern of Brentford
Great progress has been made in fighting world poverty. Over the last 25 years the number of people living in extreme poverty has fallen by at least 200 million, despite a rise in the developing world population of 1.5 billion. We have learnt a great deal about what works and what doesn’t, but with over a billion people still living on less than $1 a day, it is time we applied these lessons with renewed urgency.
In 2005, the Commission for Africa drew together our best assessments of what had to be done, informed by experience – both of success and failure – from across the continent. Some pioneering work since then, including by my Commission for Africa colleague, Professor Paul Collier, has reinforced our core messages. Aid is hugely important, but it is only one fraction of the solution.
Ultimately, the route to prosperity for poor people in Africa, as in other regions of the world, lies in a mutually reinforcing mix of policy actions that will both drive long term economic growth and enable poor people to participate in that growth: a fairer world trading system, so that poor countries can trade fairly in higher value products; better systems of governance, so that national governments can be effectively held to account by their citizens and deliver a safe and secure environment for people to live their lives; and, an investment climate that enables all enterprises, including small businesses and family farms, to thrive. Every day, right across the continent, poor people demonstrate their indomitable and enterprising spirit. Employment, self-employment and starting a business remain the cornerstone of most poor people’s strategies for escaping poverty.
This report brings together the insights of a wide number of practitioners, who in their own way have been pioneers in helping unleash Africa’s entrepreneurial energy. Many of the organisations – and hundreds of others – have joined forces under the banner of Business Action for Africa. Created in response to the work of the Commission for Africa, Business Action for Africa is a heartening example of the new spirit of collaborative action that will be needed to end poverty once and for all.
Lord Stern of Brentford
In 2005, the Commission for Africa drew together our best assessments of what had to be done, informed by experience – both of success and failure – from across the continent. Some pioneering work since then, including by my Commission for Africa colleague, Professor Paul Collier, has reinforced our core messages. Aid is hugely important, but it is only one fraction of the solution.
Ultimately, the route to prosperity for poor people in Africa, as in other regions of the world, lies in a mutually reinforcing mix of policy actions that will both drive long term economic growth and enable poor people to participate in that growth: a fairer world trading system, so that poor countries can trade fairly in higher value products; better systems of governance, so that national governments can be effectively held to account by their citizens and deliver a safe and secure environment for people to live their lives; and, an investment climate that enables all enterprises, including small businesses and family farms, to thrive. Every day, right across the continent, poor people demonstrate their indomitable and enterprising spirit. Employment, self-employment and starting a business remain the cornerstone of most poor people’s strategies for escaping poverty.
This report brings together the insights of a wide number of practitioners, who in their own way have been pioneers in helping unleash Africa’s entrepreneurial energy. Many of the organisations – and hundreds of others – have joined forces under the banner of Business Action for Africa. Created in response to the work of the Commission for Africa, Business Action for Africa is a heartening example of the new spirit of collaborative action that will be needed to end poverty once and for all.
Lord Stern of Brentford
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BAA MDGs report WEB.pdf, 1.3 MB
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