The Africa Commission’s ‘Big Push’ , ODIOverseas Development Institute (London) Opinion 38, May 2005

The Africa Commission is an exhilarating, exhausting and intriguing read. Exhilarating because of its breadth and political impetus. Exhausting because of the comprehensive nature of its proposals. Intriguing because of the intellectual challenges. It is the intellectual challenges which will extend the life of the Report. The biggest of these is the model of the big push. Consider: the report is exhilarating and exhausting precisely because it is so comprehensive. Culture; faith; politics; governance; human development; social protection; agriculture; industry; rural development; urban development; trade. The ambition is great. So is the bill: $US 75 billion a year. The observer may ask: are there no priorities?................ (see link in title for full article)