June 2005

World Bank to Give African Issues Priority

Incoming World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz plans to make Africa the top priority of his term, citing Africa’s development challenges, including HIV/AIDS and widespread poverty. “Epidemics of AIDS and malaria, which are problems elsewhere, are nowhere on the same scale as in Africa,” he told the Wall Street Journal. The decision puts him on close alignment with European leaders. Among the recommendations in a recent report from British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s Commission for Africa are the removal of trade barriers, debt forgiveness, and an increase in funding for HIV/AIDS to $10 billion annually within the next five years.