April 11, 2002
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

I have always believed the fundamental duty that any government owes its people is to inspire optimism confidence and hope; optimism about their prospects and those of their children; the confidence to follow and live their dreams; the hope, always, for a brighter tomorrow.

In saying this I am mindful of the blunt fact that Africa is a place where optimism confidence and hope have for too long been in short supply. Growing poverty, famine, disease, war, debt, corruption – they are the millstones of Africa. A cascade of crisis upon crisis has driven the African people to the fringes of our globalized world.

I do not have to recite the statistics to you. You live them every day.

Ladies and gentlemen I am not known as someone of idle dreams and empty ideals. I prefer action to rhetoric. That is why I am pleased to come before you today to speak about the renewal of real hope for Africa. A renewal conceived by Africans for Africans, that puts the needs of people first. It is powered by progressive vision and values and global partnership. And, if fully implemented, will transform the relationship of Africans with each other and with the world.

I speak of course of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development. A landmark document conceived and promoted by progressive African leaders.

Rarely, if ever, has a single political initiative sought to transform an entire continent. Rarely, if ever, has such a plan been embraced so fully by the Heads of Government of a region, including the 53 members of the Organization of African Unity. And rarely, if ever, have we seen such commitment among leaders extend to holding each other accountable for its full implementation.

The NEPAD is a plan of extraordinary vision, but also of immense realism. It recognizes the enormous potential creativity and dynamism of the African people. It has been shaped by their personal experience of the painful history of Africa. And it acknowledges that peace security democracy good governance human rights and sound economic management are pre-conditions for ending the economic marginalization of the continent.

It foresees a new partnership with the international community. But above all, its cornerstone is the proposition that the key to progress in Africa lies first and foremost with Africans.

Throughout Africa, we see evidence that the underlying principles of the NEPAD are taking root. For example, a lasting resolution to the endless civil war in Angola appears to be within reach. And it appears that peace between Ethiopia and Eritrea truly is being consolidated.

Democracy is the birthright of all peoples. And democratic transition is becoming the norm in Africa. Moreover, tolerance for the denial of democracy is evaporating. The suspension of Zimbabwe from the Commonwealth following the report of election observers is a recent example of note.

The Chairman and the Convenor of the NEPAD Implementation Committee were members of the Commonwealth Troika that recommended suspension. Their decision gives proper expression to the governance principles that are integral to the NEPAD.

The principles of NEPAD were not chosen at random, nor was the new concept of partnership that it envisions with the advanced industrialized countries. We will be partners in every sense of the word. It will be a two-way street, with reciprocal and integrated obligations.

For our part, this includes making our development assistance more effective. And doing more to ensure that we are open to business with Africa.

For your part, it means giving life to the NEPAD. African countries that are demonstrably committed to the implementation of the NEPAD in all its aspects – including good governance – will have claim to an enhanced partnership. One that promises to improve the quality of life by strengthening good government, democracy and sound economic policy; by offering support for African initiatives on education and health, agriculture and water; and by improving regional and global trade and investment.

Through this new partnership we can jointly put in place the conditions that are necessary to attract resources to Africa over the long term.

By demonstrating that development assistance can work we can build public support in G8 countries, which currently provide more than 70 percent of the development assistance available to the people of Africa.

By establishing the conditions that are necessary to attract and retain private investment from Africa and abroad, we can shatter the perception all too deeply rooted that investing money in Africa doesn't pay, thereby securing capital flows that greatly exceed any foreseeable development assistance.

It follows, of course, that for Africa to truly prosper, we must open our markets to the products that such investments will generate. Only then can private capital flows have real impact in reducing poverty and increasing opportunity in Africa.

I have pledged, and I reaffirm today, that Canada will be open to business from Africa. Indeed we recently launched consultations with Canadians on proposals for eliminating tariffs and quotas on most of the products sold to us by the least developed nations.

Ladies and gentlemen, the NEPAD is an ambitious and forward-looking proposal. It stresses the need for the engagement of the people of Africa. It reflects the lessons and mistakes of the past. It is elegant in logic and comprehensive in scope. But it cannot succeed without the will and the engagement of the industrialized world.

On this point, perhaps more than ever in recent times, we have every reason to be optimistic.

It will be my great honour to host the leaders of the G8 in Canada a few months from now. As Chair and with the support of G8 leaders I have made Africa a centrepiece of our agenda.

Canada has long been a friend of Africa. Indeed, Canadian Jesuits founded the University of Addis Ababa. And an entire generation of Canadians was inspired by Père Lévesque who founded the University of Rwanda. And by others who personified Canada’s ties with this continent. Ties nurtured through the Commonwealth and La Francophonie, and by the fact that one million Canadians are of African descent.

Much of our foreign policy in recent years has been focussed on issues of special concern to Africa. Like addressing the economic causes of armed conflict such as illicit diamonds, the eradication of antipersonnel mines, ensuring the protection of civilians in armed conflict, recognizing the important role of women in society, and ending the deployment of child soldiers.

Canada has also sent peacekeepers to strife torn regions throughout the continent. And it has demonstrated its support for Africa – and other developing countries – by taking the lead on debt. We have forgiven all the development assistance debts of almost all Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, including $1.3 billion for the 34 least developed countries in Africa.

Commitment to the new partnership is also evident around the G8 table. As the NEPAD asserts: "The continued marginalization of Africa from the globalization process and the social exclusion of the vast majority of its peoples constitute a serious threat to global security." G8 leaders understand well that a cohesive and prosperous Africa – an Africa with a brighter future – means a more prosperous and secure world.

At Genoa last year we resolved to work with committed African leaders to help build and expand a new partnership, through the development of a concrete Africa Action Plan in response to the NEPAD. Discussions with G8 and African leaders are going well. And I am confident that our Africa Action Plan will help set a new course.

While optimistic about the outcome of the G8 deliberations, I would caution that neither the NEPAD nor the G8 Africa Action Plan should be looked upon as pledging documents or as quick fixes.

In December, our government set aside $500 million in support of the G8 Africa Action Plan. And at Monterrey, I announced that Canadian international assistance will increase by at least 8 per cent per year in the years to come, which should result in our doubling our current aid performance in 8 or 9 years. Much of it will be for Africa.

In recent weeks we have also received welcome news from the European Union and the United States about dramatic increases in their development assistance commitments – increases that will add about 50 billion US dollars in aid to developing countries.

Again, much of this will be directed to the assistance of African partners. But as partners we must remain realistic in our expectations.

Despite these new commitments our African partners should not think of the G8 Africa Action Plan primarily in terms of money, for it promises more than that. For our part, the G8 cannot reasonably expect the political and economic changes called for in the NEPAD to be achieved overnight.

The economic marginalization of Africa was not a sudden catastrophe, but rather the result of generations of decline. A decline which has left a legacy of dashed hopes and fostered a good deal of mutual skepticism.

But have no doubt. The millstones of despair that have weighed down the people of Africa for too long will be lifted. They will know a brighter future.

African leaders who fully commit to NEPAD will have the satisfaction of inspiring real hope and of making a real difference in the lives of their people.

My friends, we are embarking on an historic journey of renewal. One of uncertain length but of certain destination. One that we will make together. As equals. In solidarity. Committed to the renewal of this great continent and the flourishing of its people.

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