{"id":4710,"date":"2021-05-21T11:55:33","date_gmt":"2021-05-21T11:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/link2007.org\/2021\/05\/21\/a-parigi-ce-stato-un-passo-avanti-sul-sostegno-allafrica\/"},"modified":"2023-06-27T13:36:36","modified_gmt":"2023-06-27T13:36:36","slug":"in-paris-there-was-a-step-forward-in-support-for-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/link2007.org\/en\/2021\/05\/21\/in-paris-there-was-a-step-forward-in-support-for-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"IN PARIS THERE WAS A STEP FORWARD IN SUPPORT FOR AFRICA"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Paris there was a step forward in support for Africa<\/span><\/p><\/h3><\/div>

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21\/05\/2021<\/p>\n

from <\/span>AGI<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The\u00a0 Paris summit on the financing of African economies<\/a> \u00a0which ended yesterday and the discussion that ensued on the cancellation or renegotiation of the debt is an initiative \u201cthat goes in the\u00a0 right direction<\/strong> \u00a0but which must be followed up with numbers that represent the political ambition of the \u2018initiative\u201d. With these words\u00a0 Roberto Ridolfi, president of Link2007<\/strong> , an NGO that brings together the main Italian non-governmental organizations in the field of development cooperation, wanted to show cautious optimism on the effects of the Paris summit.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Paris summit is a\u00a0 positive sign<\/strong> ,\u201d Ridolfi told\u00a0 Africa Rivista \/ InfoAfrica<\/em> , despite repeating proposals already made in recent years. For Ridolfi there are several points to highlight: \u201cthe first is that not all the African countries took part in the summit and not all the G20 countries took part<\/strong> : we are talking about a significant but not massive participation. However, it has produced several important messages: the special drawing rights\u201d which are like zero-interest loans from the International Monetary Fund. Which, however, are not enough: \u201cWe are talking about 33 billion for all of Africa out of a requested total of 650\u201d.<\/p>\n

The second point concerns the \u00a0vulnerability of African countries<\/strong> : \u201cThis requires a different attitude of development banks, more prone to risk. Development banks must be able to take this risk\u201d. Then there is the suspension of debt payments: \u201cIt is not enough, we at Link2007 have said it several times and this is what we are pursuing with our proposal Release G20<\/a>, which the G20 working and development group seems to me to be considering: canceling where possible but largely reconverting debt payment into an investment action towards sustainable development goals\u201d. Word, sustainability, little mentioned in the Paris summit. \u201cThen mention is made of an alliance with the private sector, which must be nurtured and for this I return to the debt conversion fund, which can be set up at a national level and become an SDGS fund to nurture and protect private investments\u201d.<\/p>\n

The vaccine issue also emerged at the summit\u00a0 , another battle by Link2007<\/strong> : \u201cWe welcome this opening with great favor, which must now be promoted within the G20 because this opening of credit towards Africa makes no sense if the intellectual rights on anti-covid vaccines, if technologies and licenses are not transferred to African pharmaceutical industries\u201d.<\/p>\n

A step forward, perhaps a little short but certainly encouraging.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n