It did not work the first time aroud. But does it mean it can never work?

The new programme led by the Rockefeller Foundation and the Gates Foundation intends to see the development of local markets and local dealers to match the investments in agriculture inputs. This is all very well, but is it going to take into account national and local politics too, or is it going to fail to learn the lessons from the past.

Technology and markets need to come hand in hand; but politics and culture cannot be simply removed.

2005 was the year of the Africa Commission, the G9 conference, the Live8 concert and the Make Poverty History campaign. Demands were made, promises were made. Now it is time to fulfill those promises, satisfy those demands. DFID has published an update of the commitments: future milestones to keep an eye for.

If completed, DFID expects that by the end of the year we would have:

1. An effective mechanism to ensure delivery of African and donor commitments, with first Africa Partnership Forum Annual Progress Report published in October 2006.
2. Increased aid in 2006 and plans in place to ...   more »

The 4th WWF is underway in Mexico. Alan Nichol from ODI is reporting live from the event -catch it all at the ODI Blog. This year, the Forum is focusing on local actions for a global challenge. As in most international events such as this one, civil soceity has been present both at the workshops and presentations as well as on the streets.

On a related issue, tomorow, March 22 is World Day for Water and UNESCO is leading this year's theme: Water and Culture. Its "draws attention to the fact that there are as many ways of viewing, ...   more »