The G8 will likely focus less attention on Africa in the wake of the global financial crisis, announced the G8 live Research Group. On Feb. 11 the group presented its 2009 findings at the Munk Centre. The student-run analyst group is U of T student’s division of the G8 Research Group, which keeps tabs on how well G8 countries measure up to their promises from the previous summit. Founded in 2006, G8RG is run by 150 undergrad and grad students at U of T, who work as volunteer analysts.
The Group of Eight is comprised of the major industrialized countries of the world: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This year’s summit is in Italy from July 8 to 10.
“Most of the states, with the exception of Germany, are making big cuts in official development assistance spending for the 2009 fiscal year,” said lead analyst Nike Adebowale. “Germany has been one of the major pushers to increase aid to Africa. German Chancellor Merkel has always placed it on the top of her G8 agenda.” But overall, the G8 is concerned with financial stability.
The group also found a positive outlook for the G8’s commitment to biofuels initiatives, which could lead to major reform. The G8 also has high compliance to promises of aid for China, India, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa.
The G8RG also archives essays, news briefs, and other information on their website. For more, head to g8live.org.
