About AGI

Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative

What does effective governance mean?

“The successful delivery of those public goods and services which citizens have a right to expect.”

Mo Ibrahim, Towards a Well Governed Africa¸ June 2010

The Africa Governance Initiative pioneers a new way of working with African countries equipping committed African leaders with the capacity to deliver the public services which their citizens have a right to expect, to tackle deep-rooted poverty, and to attract the sustainable investment to build strong economies for the future

Africa’s underdevelopment has long attracted external support and aid to address chronic issues of poverty and human development. AGI complements existing efforts by working with African governments themselves at the highest levels, building the capacity for effective governance that will allow those governments to drive their own development agendas, whilst at the same time helping them to generate sustainable private sector development that can develop and grow their economies away from aid dependence.

There is a common consensus that Africa’s growth and development will be led by Africans themselves. AGI shares this belief. The charity is therefore underpinned by two principles, both of which arise from the findings of the 2005 Commission for Africa:

• First, that without progress on governance – and in particular the development of effective government systems and visionary political leadership – all other reforms will have limited effect in reducing poverty across the continent

• Second, that developing a thriving private sector through investment and reform is the only way to creating sustainable development that will move Africa “beyond aid”

"Without progress on governance...all other reforms will have limited impact"-- Commission for Africa

AGI has created a unique model of development, combining Mr. Blair’s extensive experience with expert on-the-ground teams working full-time alongside government counterparts. We work with countries - currently Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Liberia – that are at potential turning-points, where a tragic past has left a lack of capacity and deep poverty, but where there is clear potential and a leader with the vision and political will to achieve progress.

OUR CHARITABLE OBJECTS

1) to promote and advance the efficient public administration of government and public services for the public benefit with a view to relieving poverty

2) to promote sustainable development with a view to relieving poverty

3) to advance the education of the public about good governance and sustainable development.