“We, the Heads of State and Government of the African Union... [are]
concerned that at the current growth rates, Africa is at risk of not attaining
the MDGs... [We are] convinced that high and sustained economic growth is a
necessary but not sufficient condition to reduce poverty”.

AU Extraordinary Summit on Employment and Poverty Alleviation,
Burkina Faso, September 20041
“Poverty reduction is linked directly to economic growth and to enabling
Africans to become agents of their own development”.

Professor Wiseman Nkuhlu, Chairperson, NEPAD Steering Committee2
“There is no poverty of effort in Africa, there is a poverty of opportunity.”

Juan Somavia, Director General, International Labour Organisation3