http://tonyblairoffice.org en Copyright 2010 2010-09-01T00:25:21+00:00 /africa/news-entry/launch-of-free-healthcare-programme-in-sierra-leone/ /africa/news-entry/launch-of-free-healthcare-programme-in-sierra-leone/ April 27 2010 marked a turning point in Sierra Leone. On the country's 49th celebration of independence, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and children under the age of five received free health care in government hospitals and clinics for the first time ever. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-05-21T13:16:08+00:00 /africa/news-entry/africas-destiny-is-in-africas-hands/ /africa/news-entry/africas-destiny-is-in-africas-hands/ Nicholas Norbrooke speaks to Tony Blair about aid and the future of Africa: "Strong effective leaders in government combined with attracting inward investment from reputable private sector people – this is the key for Afr Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-08-23T14:14:57+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-talks-to-the-sun-on-make-poverty-history-and-the-work-of-ag/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-talks-to-the-sun-on-make-poverty-history-and-the-work-of-ag/ Writing in today's Sun newspaper, Tony Blair talks about Britain's role in Africa's development and his hopes for the future of the continent. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-07-13T11:27:25+00:00 /africa/news-entry/sierra-leone-secures-50m-to-boost-agriculture-and-tackle-poverty/ /africa/news-entry/sierra-leone-secures-50m-to-boost-agriculture-and-tackle-poverty/ The Government of Sierra Leone announced that it is to receive an additional $50 million to help lift its small-scale farmers and their families - some half a million people - out of poverty. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-07-12T13:10:56+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-congratulates-president-johnson-sirleaf-on-liberias-debt-re/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-congratulates-president-johnson-sirleaf-on-liberias-debt-re/ The Liberian government has announced that it will see a historic US$4.6 billion of debt cancelled after meeting all its obligations under the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative. In a letter of congratulation to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, whose government is working with AGI, AGI patron Mr Blair declared it a ‘momentous day for Liberia Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-07-02T16:00:36+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-the-importance-of-governance-in-the-modern-world/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-the-importance-of-governance-in-the-modern-world/ Tony Blair addressed the Institute for Government on his experience in and out of office on the importance of governance in the modern world. Watch the video here. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-06-29T17:36:15+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-congratulates-rwanda-on-its-continued-development-during-latest-/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-congratulates-rwanda-on-its-continued-development-during-latest-/ Tony Blair has completed his latest two-day visit to Rwanda where he reviewed ongoing progress by the Government in delivering its priorities for social and economic development. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-06-10T11:15:04+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-discusses-good-governance-with-rwandan-prime-minister/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-discusses-good-governance-with-rwandan-prime-minister/ The AGI founder met with Prime Minister Makuza during a two day visit to Rwanda Africa Governance Initiative 2010-06-09T12:56:42+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-urges-tough-love-approach-to-aid/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-urges-tough-love-approach-to-aid/ Five years on from Gleneagles G8 summit, Tony Blair speaks to The Guardian about the importance of good governance in Africa Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-06-09T09:31:14+00:00 /africa/news-entry/the-core-challenge-that-africa-faces-today-is-good-governance/ /africa/news-entry/the-core-challenge-that-africa-faces-today-is-good-governance/ Talking to LEADERS magazine, Tony Blair outlines his vision on how globalization can be a positive force, and on the key challenges which face Africa. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-06-08T16:13:52+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-working-to-build-the-next-frontiers-of-africa/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-working-to-build-the-next-frontiers-of-africa/ AGI founder, Tony Blair tells Reuters why investors should look to Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-06-01T14:05:55+00:00 /africa/news-entry/africa-will-find-its-own-solutions-but-we-all-need-to-help/ /africa/news-entry/africa-will-find-its-own-solutions-but-we-all-need-to-help/ In advance of this year's G8, Tony Blair writes for Canada's Globe and Mail about the need to step up efforts from within and outside the continent to build up capacity and capability. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-05-26T10:21:48+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-what-aid-cant-buy-in-africa/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-what-aid-cant-buy-in-africa/ In an interview with Time, Tony Blair speaks about how aid alone won't relieve Africa's poverty and underdevelopment. But good governance, the rule of law and a climate that welcomes solid private-sector investment can and will. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-04-12T08:47:13+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-calls-for-african-development-strategies-to-go-beyond-aid/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-calls-for-african-development-strategies-to-go-beyond-aid/ Tony Blair added his voice to calls for African development strategies to go beyond aid, saying a predictable and transparent business environment was critical to sustainable development. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-04-06T10:25:13+00:00 /africa/news-entry/president-koroma-its-time-for-africa-to-get-serious-about-investment/ /africa/news-entry/president-koroma-its-time-for-africa-to-get-serious-about-investment/ "At this new dawn of investment and opportunity, outdated perceptions of how Africa operates are being shed; investors are expressing surprise rather than despair. We know that it is only by attracting investment and growing the private sector that African countries will sustain their economic growth and transform their societies. It's time for investors to make their move." Africa Governance Initiative 2010-03-22T19:17:10+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-sends-congratulations-as-rwanda-formally-joins-commonwealth/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-sends-congratulations-as-rwanda-formally-joins-commonwealth/ President Kagame was in London this week as Rwanda took the latest step in its development journey and its flag was officially raised alongside those of 54 other Commonwealth nations. The move is hailed by Rwandans as an example of their openness to the world and determination to play a full role in the global community. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-03-11T12:54:05+00:00 /africa/news-entry/strengthening-governing-capacity-in-post-conflict-liberia/ /africa/news-entry/strengthening-governing-capacity-in-post-conflict-liberia/ Tony Blair has now taken his model of philanthropy to Liberia, which its president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, says "is not a poor country" with its rich natural resources, "but is a country that has been managed poorly." Fourteen years of civil war has decimated its infrastructure and impoverished its young population, 75 percent of whom are under the age of 25 and all of whom have spent more time in battle than in school. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-03-05T12:24:40+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-talks-to-newstime-africa-about-the-work-of-his-africa-governance/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-talks-to-newstime-africa-about-the-work-of-his-africa-governance/ Fresh from his six day trip to Africa, Tony Blair talks to Newstime Africa's Ahmed Kamara about the purpose of the Africa Governance Initiative and the work it's doing today in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Rwanda Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-03-01T12:59:15+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blairs-return-to-sierra-leone-focuses-on-healthcare-delivery-programme/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blairs-return-to-sierra-leone-focuses-on-healthcare-delivery-programme/ Tony Blair today returned to Sierra Leone this week to review the progress of the Africa Governance Initiative project with President Koroma, with a specific focus on healthcare and the work the Government of Sierra Leone is doing to prepare for the delivery of free healthcare for pregnant women and children under five. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-02-24T18:20:48+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-and-president-johnson-sirleaf-speak-to-the-bbc-about-good-govern/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-and-president-johnson-sirleaf-speak-to-the-bbc-about-good-govern/ Listen to Tony Blair and the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, speak to the BBC World Service about the launch of the AGI Liberia project and the importance of good governance Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-02-24T14:23:54+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-in-liberia-to-launch-africa-governance-initiative-with-president/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-in-liberia-to-launch-africa-governance-initiative-with-president/ The project which follows a request from President Johnson Sirleaf will focus on the Ministry of State and will see a small team from the Initiative, under Mr Blair's guidance, working side-by-side with counterparts in the Liberian government with the aim to build the capacity at the centre of the Liberian administration to deliver for its people. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-02-22T16:28:04+00:00 /africa/news-entry/4000-jobs-created-as-president-koroma-secures-400-million-bio-fuel-investme/ /africa/news-entry/4000-jobs-created-as-president-koroma-secures-400-million-bio-fuel-investme/ President Koroma of Sierra Leone today attended the signing of a bio-fuel investment deal worth $400 million and 4,000 jobs over the next few years. Africa Governance Initiative 2010-02-09T17:07:32+00:00 /africa/news-entry/paul-kagame-speaks-to-this-is-africa-about-rwandas-remarkable-success-story/ /africa/news-entry/paul-kagame-speaks-to-this-is-africa-about-rwandas-remarkable-success-story/ “A lot is changing. The voices of Africa are becoming more pronounced. There is insistence on Africa being taken seriously by Africans themselves, and Africans are trying to assert themselves and not only say the right things but also be seen to be doing the right things Africa Governance Initiative 2010-01-27T18:44:09+00:00 /africa/news-entry/a-prosperous-and-exciting-africa-in-our-lifetime/ /africa/news-entry/a-prosperous-and-exciting-africa-in-our-lifetime/ Tony Blair talks to Africa Investor magazine about his Africa Governance Initiative and his hopes for the future of the continent Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2010-01-20T16:37:57+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-praises-sierra-leones-pro-business-climate-and-encourages-intern/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-praises-sierra-leones-pro-business-climate-and-encourages-intern/ The Government of Sierra Leone marked eight years of widely under-appreciated political and economic progress at an event in London today - which has been co-organised by Tony Blair's Africa Governance Initiative - that showcased the country's many opportunities for investment. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-11-18T01:52:23+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-meets-with-visionary-leader-paul-kagame-during-latest-two-day-vi/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-meets-with-visionary-leader-paul-kagame-during-latest-two-day-vi/ Tony Blair hailed President Kagame's visionary leadership as he saw for himself the remarkable pace of Rwandan progress during a two-day visit to the East African country. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-11-16T02:38:25+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-africa-governance-initiative-to-create-development-through-good-/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-africa-governance-initiative-to-create-development-through-good-/ The Tony Blair Africa Governance Initiative has become a registered UK charity after creating a unique 'hands-on' approach to development and poverty eradication over the past eighteen months. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-11-05T08:48:21+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-urges-private-equity-community-to-invest-in-emerging-african-eco/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-urges-private-equity-community-to-invest-in-emerging-african-eco/ Tony Blair today called on the investment community to put their money in Africa's thriving emerging economies like Rwanda and Sierra Leone in a message to a high level private equity summit at the London Stock Exchange. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-11-01T22:51:31+00:00 /africa/news-entry/president-koroma-and-tony-blair-announce-investment-conference-to-showcase-/ /africa/news-entry/president-koroma-and-tony-blair-announce-investment-conference-to-showcase-/ President Koroma of Sierra Leone and Tony Blair met in New York today to finalise plans for a major Sierra Leone investment conference due to take place in London this November. The conference will showcase Sierra Leonean progress to investors and donors from around the world. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-09-22T07:57:43+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-praises-rwanda-and-sierra-leone-for-their-progress-in-world-bank/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-praises-rwanda-and-sierra-leone-for-their-progress-in-world-bank/ Tony Blair today congratulated the Governments of Sierra Leone and Rwanda on their hugely significant progress in the World Bank's Doing Business rankings. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-09-09T09:24:24+00:00