Bilateral donors, the private sector, NGOs, community organizations, and the many groups that comprise civil society must also be part of our partnership. The challenges facing Africa require all hands on deck. Our approach must be as participatory and inclusive as possible. Second, we should be clear on where the leadership of this effort lies-and that is with Africans themselves. Programs coordinated under the Initiative must be nationally led by African governments-and not by donors.
Development can only come from within and external assistance can only play a supplementary role.
So the focus should be on programs designed and implemented primarily by countries themselves. We must avoid the trap of giving the impression that, through this Initiative, donors have the answers and the resources to solve Africa's problems. One of the main goals of the Initiative should be to reduce Africa's dependence on outside assistance, and to increase local capacities and commitment. This means that donors must be committed not only to closer partnership with each other, but also with Africans. Most of the resources mobilized under the Initiative will be raised in the context of individual country programs.