The prime minister has been putting the finishing touches to his landmark report into the future of Africa.

Tony Blair was hosting the final meeting of his Commission for Africa on Thursday, with members concentrating on finalising the report due next month.

The government has made the continent's plight the key priority for the UK's presidencies of the G8 and the EU.

To push forward the debate on how best to increase aid, Blair set up the Commission last year.

It is aiming to promote consensus on what the international community can do to help Africa help itself on issues ranging from Aids to good governance.

It is also seeking to promote agreement in the developed world on issues such as debt relief, international trade, and aid flows.

Downing Street said over 2,000 people had been consulted with representations from 49 African countries.

"There was more thinking, more energy, and more consultation going into the preparation of this report," the prime minister's official spokesman said. "Today's meeting aimed to bring it all together."

Business role

On Tuesday, members of the commission met with senior business leaders to discuss how the private sector can support efforts to boost Africa's economies and tackle poverty.

Shell's UK chairman James Smith, who hosted the meeting, said: "Creating sustainable development – and ending endemic poverty for good – requires that the private sector has a bigger role in generating jobs and income."

Commission member William Kalema, chairman of the Uganda Investment Authority, said business's message was that "encouraging the entrepreneurial spirit of Africa's people is central to growth and poverty reduction".

"This means getting the investment climate right, particularly for small businesses – the largest source of jobs and wealth creation," he said.

"The business community has been very clear that its outlook for Africa is a positive one: it believes Africa is the next frontier for investment, while at the same time recognising the importance of investors being good corporate citizens."