What do Bob Geldof (Irish musician), Nancy Kassebaum Baker (US Senator) and President Benjamin Mkapa (President of Tanzania) have in common?

They are not prepared to sit back and watch Africa grow poorer while the rest of the world grows richer. They are members of the Commission for Africa, launched by British prime minister Tony Blair earlier this year to accelerate progress towards a strong and prosperous Africa.

On current performance, most African countries are not expected to meet Millennium Development Goals by 2015 including those to do with universal education, poverty reduction and child mortality. The role of the Commission is to bring fresh impetus and new ideas on how to achieve those Goals.

The Commission will meet in Addis Ababa from 7 –8 October to discuss ideas gathered from consultations with international agencies, NGOs, business and faith groups. More information on the Commission’s activities can be found on its website www.commissionforafrica.org where readers may contribute their own ideas.