ANNEX 2:
Extracts from the G8 Africa Action Plan released at the G-8 summit in Kananaskis (Canada) that are directly relevant to NEPAD agriculture

G8 Africa Action Plan

We, the Heads of State and Government of eight major industrialised democracies and the Representatives of the European Union, meeting with African Leaders at Kananaskis, welcome the initiative taken by African States in adopting the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), a bold and clear-sighted vision of Africa's development. We accept the invitation from African Leaders, extended first at Genoa last July and reaffirmed in the NEPAD, to build a new partnership between the countries of Africa and our own, based on mutual responsibility and respect. The NEPAD provides an historic opportunity to overcome obstacles to development in Africa. Our Africa Action Plan is the G8's initial response, designed to encourage the imaginative effort that underlies the NEPAD and to lay a solid foundation for future co-operation.

... Our Action Plan focuses on a limited number of priority areas where, collectively and individually, we can add value.

....

III. Fostering Trade, Investment, Economic Growth and Sustainable Development

Generating economic growth is central to the NEPAD's goal of mobilizing resources for poverty reduction and development .... the particular importance of infrastructure has been emphasized by our African partners - including as a domain for public-private investment partnerships, and as a key component of regional integration and development. In order to achieve adequate growth rates, Africa must have broader access to markets. The launch of multilateral trade negotiations by World Trade Organization (WTO) members in Doha, which placed the needs and interests of developing countries at the heart of the negotiations, will help create a framework for the integration of African countries into the world trading system and the global economy, thus creating increased opportunities for trade-based growth. We are committed to the Doha development agenda and to implementing fully the WTO work programme, as well as to providing increased trade-related technical assistance to help African countries participate effectively in these negotiations. With these considerations in mind, we commit to:

3.1. Helping Africa attract investment, both from within Africa and from abroad, and implement policies conducive to economic growth - including by:

...

3.2. Facilitating capacity-building and the transfer of expertise for the development of infrastructure projects, with particular attention to regional initiatives.

3.3. Providing greater market access for African products - including by:

• Reaffirming our commitment to conclude negotiations no later than 1 January 2005 on further trade liberalisation in the Doha round of multilateral trade negotiations taking full account of the particular circumstances, needs and requirements of developing countries, including in Africa;



• Without prejudging the outcome of the negotiations, applying our Doha commitment to comprehensive negotiations on agriculture aimed at substantial improvements in market access, reductions of all forms of export subsidies with a view to their being phased out, and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support;



• Working toward the objective of duty-free and quota-free access for all products originating from the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), including African LDCs, and, to this end, each examining how to facilitate the fuller and more effective use of existing market access arrangements; and,



• Ensuring that national product standards do not unnecessarily restrict African exports and that African nations can play their full part in the relevant international standard setting systems.

3.4. Increasing the funding and improving the quality of support for trade-related technical assistance and capacity-building in Africa - including by:

...

• ... Assisting African producers in meeting product and health standards in export markets; and,



• Providing technical assistance to help African countries engage in international negotiations, and in standard-setting systems.

3.5. Supporting African efforts to advance regional economic integration and intra-African trade - including by:

...

• Working towards enhanced market access, on a WTO-compatible basis, for trade with African free trade areas or customs unions;



• Supporting the efforts of African countries to eliminate tariff and non-tariff barriers within Africa in a WTO-consistent manner; and,



• Supporting efforts by African countries to work towards lowering trade barriers on imports from the rest of the world.

3.6. Improving the effectiveness of Official Development Assistance (ODA), and strengthening ODA commitments for enhanced-partnership countries - including by:

...

VII. Increasing Agricultural Productivity

The overwhelming majority of Africa's population is rural. Agriculture is therefore the principal economic preoccupation for most of Africa's people. Agriculture is central not only to the quality of life of most Africans, but also to the national economy of nearly all African states. Increased agricultural production, efficiency and diversification are central to the economic growth strategies of these countries. In support of the NEPAD's growth and sustainable development initiatives on agriculture, we commit to:

7.1. Making support for African agriculture a higher international priority in line with the NEPAD's framework and priorities - including by:

• Supporting the reform and financing of international institutions and research organisations that address Africa's agricultural development priority needs;



• Supporting efforts to strengthen agricultural research in Africa as well as research related to issues and aspects that are of particular importance to Africa; and,



• Working with African countries to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of ODA for agriculture, rural development and food security where there are coherent development strategies reflected in government budget priorities.

7.2. Working with African countries to reduce poverty through improved sustainable productivity and competitiveness - including by:

• Supporting the development and the responsible use of tried and tested new technology, including biotechnology, in a safe manner and adapted to the African context, to increase crop production while protecting the environment through decreased usage of fragile land, water and agricultural chemicals;



• Studying, sharing and facilitating the responsible use of biotechnology in addressing development needs;



• Helping to improve farmers' access to key market information through the use of traditional and cutting edge communications technologies, while also building upon ongoing international collaboration that strengthens farmers' entrepreneurial skills;



• Encouraging partnerships in agriculture and water research and extension to develop, adapt and adopt appropriate demand-driven technologies, including for low-income resource-poor farmers, to increase agricultural productivity and improve ability to market agricultural, fish and food products;



• Working with African countries to promote property and resource rights;



• Supporting the main-streaming of gender issues into all agricultural and related policy together with targeted measures to ensure the rights of women for equal access to technology, technical support, land rights and credits;



• Working with African countries to support the development of agricultural infrastructure including production, transportation and markets; and,



• Working with African countries to develop sound agricultural policies that are integrated into Poverty Reduction Strategies.

7.3. Working to improve food security in Africa - including by:

• Working with African countries to integrate food security in poverty reduction efforts and promote a policy and institutional environment that enables poor people to derive better livelihoods from agriculture and rural development;



• Working with appropriate international organisations in responding to the dire food shortages in Southern Africa this year;



• Working with African countries to expand efforts to improve the quality and diversity of diets with micro-nutrients and by improving fortification technologies;



• Supporting African efforts to establish food safety and quality control systems, including helping countries develop legislation, enforcement procedures and appropriate institutional frameworks; and,



• Supporting efforts to improve and better disseminate agricultural technology.

VIII. Improving Water Resource Management

Water is essential to life. Its importance spans a wide range of critical uses - from human drinking water, to sanitation, to food security and agriculture, to economic activity, to protecting the natural environment. We have noted the importance of proper water resource management. We note also that water management is sometimes at the centre of threats to regional peace and security.

We also appreciate the importance of good water management for achieving sustainable economic growth and development, and therefore we commit to:

8. Supporting African efforts to improve water resource development and management - including by:

• Supporting African efforts to promote the productive and environmentally sustainable development of water resources;



• Supporting efforts to improve sanitation and access to potable water;



• Mobilizing technical assistance to facilitate and accelerate the preparation of potable water and sanitation projects in both rural and urban areas, and to generate greater efficiency in these sectors; and,



• Supporting reforms in the water sector aimed at decentralization, cost-recovery and enhanced user participation.

Updated: 2002-06-27

Source: http://www.g8.gc.ca/kan_docs/afraction-e.asp