THE DUNNING DECLARATION

This declaration is the result of a summit held between a group of Africans and the Village of Dunning, which lies 8 miles from Gleneagles, where the G8 leaders meet next week. We are sending it to the G8 in the hope that it adds to their deliberations and to the ways in which they can help Africa from poverty to prosperity.

• We have learned so much from talking together and would ask you as leaders to interact in the same ways with individual African leaders to discuss issues of good governance.
• Africa needs to be given opportunities to help itself. For example, these countries need to protect their own markets to develop properly, in the same ways as first world countries have been allowed to do.
• All trade should be subject to the same rules throughout the world. Companies who would be held to account for their practices in rich countries must be made to operate under the same conditions in Africa. This includes employment and environmental practices.
• Aid must be targeted to where the need is greatest, and be directed to the communities who can use it most effectively. However, Aid should be delivered in ways which does not cause recipients to become perpetually dependent. The giving of aid should support sustainable development. Management and maintenance should be embodied in all aid measures. Aid should not be tied to the benefit of the donor.
• Access to appropriate small scale finance for projects should be much more accessible. This seems to work better in the Far East and should be able to work as well in Africa.
• Debt relief should not be discriminatory, and must be properly monitored. African governments must be committed to transparency. If this is not done, the debt situation could reappear. The reports should be honest and accurate and easily verifiable.
• The G8 should require the World Bank and the IMF to stop imposing impossible privatisation and other rigid conditions on loans, and debt relief/cancellation e.g. privatisation of water projects and budget cuts that affect education and health.
• A scholarship programme should be introduced to assist more African women to be educated to a higher level, both within their country and overseas, with the UK leading the way.
• Governments should work together to improve working conditions in Africa, so that the brain drain can be reversed.
• The rights of children need to be highlighted at international level.
• Millennium Development Goals need to be the minimum target, rather than unattainable aspirations.
• Generic anti retro viral drugs must be made available to all throughout the continent.
• Community to community links should be encouraged as an example of good practice.

This declaration is signed by all those attending the Summit.