Compliance Toolkit

Blair opens up Commission for Africa online

Kablenet.com

Published: 15 Nov 2004 13:20 GMT

A commission set up by Tony Blair to search for solutions to Africa's problems is running an online debate in an attempt to get new ideas from the public on key issues such as debt, corruption, aid and the causes of conflict.

The prime minister's Commission for Africa wants people to "have their say" on its work and is issuing a series of e-forms for submitting views and feedback. The forums and e-forms can be found online here.

All the comments are to be compiled into a daily report which is to appear online.

The commission was set up earlier this year following concern that the millennium development goals, aimed at confronting the continent's problems, would be missed.

It is also linked to the UK's presidency of the G8 group of industrial nations which is due to begin next year.

Simon Mills, who is in charge of the online consultation, said the commission wants to reach a wide audience.

"The online consultation will enable thousands of people to not only find out more about our work, but to give us their views on what sort of areas the commission should be developing."

A report drawing on the consultation, which starts on Monday, is to be presented at the UK-hosted G8 summit next year.