{{Nineteen countries making up the world`s fragile and conflict ridden nations are to meet in Sierra Leone this June.}}
The conflict affected countries, officially called G7+ Group, was conceived in the early 2000s and basically champions the voices of fragile states in international debates.
Member countries share experiences and forge a common front towards mobilisation of international action in support of state-led transition initiatives.
The grouping was officially inaugurated in 2010 in East Timor, which is the current chair and which hosts the Secretariat.
Other members are Afghanistan, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, Cote d’ Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Liberia, Papua New Guinea, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Solomon Islands, South Sudan, Togo and Comoros.
The G7+ has since been calling for a review of the approach of donors which they say largely side line state authorities.
1.5 billion people are said to be living in conflict-affected and fragile states, and about 70 per cent of these states have seen conflict since 1989. And 30 per cent of the world`s aid goes to them.
They are confronted mainly by challenges of security and poverty.
New deal
In the lead up to the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, South Korea in November 2011, the G7+ assumed a more vocal posture, calling for what is now widely known as the ‘New Deal’ for fragile states.
This identifies five Peacebuilding and Statebuilding Goals (PSGs), among which is security, justice, and economic foundations, which are seen as crucial to member countries meeting the UN MDGs.
The ‘New Deal’ however notably propagates, among ten key areas, for international engagement with fragile states to redirect its focus with emphasis on mutual trust, hence greater use of country systems.
The ‘New Deal’ was supposed to be piloted in Afghanistan, CAR, DRC, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan and East Timor.
Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, UK and US, were the key supporters.
Sierra Leone in March became the first country to be declared peaceful by the UN.
The West African country`s government see the upcoming conference as opportunity for fellow fragile states to learn from its experience.
“The Freetown meeting will enable Sierra Leone showcases its reform potential,” Finance and Economic Development minister Keifala Marah, who made the announcement recently, was quoted.
The G7+ conference offers member countries the opportunity to tap from each other`s experiences in terms of challenges and weaknesses. They also seek to identify a common ground in addressing these issues.
A popular theme for the group since its creation has been improving the business environments of member countries, making them competitive in light of global challenges.
Some of its members have been identified among the world`s fifty economies thought to have made biggest improvements relative to their performance.
NMG
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