G8 Germany ActionAid

Two years on and the promises have turned out to be largely hollow - as out new report Merkel's Moment - The G8's Credibility Test on Africa points out.

Aid to Africa fell short by US$8bn last year and every day over 8000 people continue to die from AIDS becasue they cannot get access to treatment.

“Two years ago, the G8 pledged to step-up the fight against AIDS. Since then AIDS has killed nearly six million adults and children – wiping out the population of a country the size of Denmark," says Aditi Sharma, Head of ActionAid’s HIV AIDS campaign.

“The G8’s credibility is now in tatters. This is Merkel’s moment to galvanize the G8 and save the lives of 25 million Africans now living with HIV,” she added.

To deliver on 2005 commitments, ActionAid urges G8 leaders to agree on:

A funding plan to reverse the HIV and AIDS pandemic to close the estimated $8-10 billion gap a year together with a recognition that violence against women and girls is a key cause of the spread of HIV.
Annual targets to deliver on the 2005 promise of an extra $50 billion in aid per year by 2010.

In addition we’re calling for:

Action to ensure that G8-based companies are held accountable for their activities overseas.
Action to cut G8 carbon emissions and next steps to agreement on a post-2012 international agreement ensuring that poor countries get the technology and resources they need to adapt.

Last year at the St. Petersburg Summit, the G8 had a real opportunity to take stock on the promises they made in Gleneagles but they failed to seize the moment.

It is now up to Germany to make progress in key areas from HIV/AIDS to corporate accountability.

“In 2005 there was a massive public mandate worldwide calling for an end to poverty but the G8 are just defrauding the public and failing Africa,” said Collins Magalasi, Head of ActionAid’s South Africa Country Programme.

Fertile Ground