Growth challenged by HIV/AIDS and conflict

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has observed that, despite a difficult environment, economic growth in Africa averaged about 3.1 percent last year. But he warned that violence, declining donor funding, and the scourges of AIDS and poverty were still critical problems plaguing Africa.

A UN statement said Annan's report on Africa warned that although some 15 African countries had achieved a growth rate of more than 5 percent, it still fell short of the 7 percent annual growth rate needed to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving poverty by 2015.

In addition to poverty, HIV/AIDS remained a critical challenge. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria had now mobilised about US $700 million, far below the goal of US $7 billion to US $10 billion needed annually.

"The demand for global AIDS grants far exceeds the available resources," Annan's report said. "Thus one of the challenges that the Fund is facing is to raise the resources needed from donors, the private sector and corporations, including non-governmental organisations."

He praised the continent's leaders for adopting the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) initiative, which underlines peace and stability, good governance, democracy and respect for human rights as preconditions for development.

"By adopting NEPAD, African leaders have acknowledged this link and committed themselves to strengthening the continent's capacity for conflict prevention, management and resolution," Annan said.