PM: Africa trip

Tony Blair heads to Africa today for talks set to concentrate on ways to alleviate the continent's poverty.

The prime minister will attend the second session of the Commission for Africa, which begins on Thursday in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, as well as make a speech on world poverty.

The prime minister will detail his commitment to expanding education, lifting the continent's economy and combating the HIV/Aids pandemic.

International development secretary Hilary Benn will join him in the three day visit.

It is thought that the British delegation may visit Sudan on Wednesday where the prime minister will see first hand the plight of the displaced people of Darfur.

Commission push

The Commission for Africa, which was established by the UK government, is set to report its findings in time for a meeting of the G8 group of leading industrialised nations next year, which will be chaired by the UK.

On Monday the prime minister's spokesman said this week's meeting would be "workmanlike", assessing the progress made so far.

"The key is to help Africa help itself," he said.

"It's important that Africa sees this report has been produced with Africa, rather than for Africa, and that's why it is important we meet in Addis Ababa.

"What the prime minister wants is a report which reflects the reality of what works and what doesn't work in Africa, which advocates the importance to the rest of the world on how to turn Africa round.

"The key thing is that Africa should not feel these are solutions imposed on Africa, but Africa should be leading the way in helping solve its own problems with the rest of the world supporting them."

No one attending the session expected "instant solutions" to problems so "deep and entrenched" as those in Africa, he added.

"But equally you have to recognise that whereas other continents have made progress in the past decade, Africa has not made much progress. You have to find the reasons for that lack of progress and address them," he said.

But the Institute for Public Policy Research called on the commission to move "beyond warm words".

"It's time to firm up a new deal for Africa," said associate director David Mepham.

"For African governments that means better governance, action against corruption and conflict, and policies to attract increased investment.

"For developed countries like the UK, it involves putting our own houses in order.

"This means an end to unjust international trade rules that lock African exporters out of our markets, more aid with fewer conditionalities, greater debt relief, tighter controls over arms exports to the continent, reduced prices for drugs to treat HIV/Aids and stronger regulation of companies that invest in Africa."