http://tonyblairoffice.org en Copyright 2010 2010-03-13T00:00:40+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 2010-03-05T12:24:50+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 /africa/news-entry/helping-african-countries-recover-from-war-is-our-moral-duty-but-african-le/ /africa/news-entry/helping-african-countries-recover-from-war-is-our-moral-duty-but-african-le/ We need aid commitments to be delivered. They can save lives and help poor countries. But ultimately the salvation of Africa will come from within. Good governance, the capacity, to take decisions, implement them and see them through, is the only long term sustainable solution. That is the lesson of the past few decades. The image of Africa as a war-torn continent, plagued by conflict is commonly-held, but in truth this is an unfair simplification. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-07-06T05:32:18+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-commemorates-the-victims-of-the-rwandan-genocide-and-praises-15-/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-commemorates-the-victims-of-the-rwandan-genocide-and-praises-15-/ Tony Blair returned to Rwanda this weekend as part of his Africa Governance Initiative. The visit was Mr Blair's third to the country since he and President Paul Kagame launched the project in February 2008. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-05-10T19:39:52+00:00 /africa/news-entry/video-president-kagame-and-tony-blair-hold-a-press-conference-in-rwanda/ /africa/news-entry/video-president-kagame-and-tony-blair-hold-a-press-conference-in-rwanda/ At the end of Tony Blair's latest visit to Rwanda, he held a press conference with HE President Kagame. The Rwanda Governance Project was launched in February 2008. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-05-10T19:36:50+00:00 /africa/news-entry/helping-sierra-leone-reduce-poverty-and-deliver-growth/ /africa/news-entry/helping-sierra-leone-reduce-poverty-and-deliver-growth/ Africa may have escaped the initial shock of the global financial crisis, but it is not being spared from its knock-on effects. Foreign investment is drying up, remittances are down, and NGOs are struggling to raise funds. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-04-30T10:20:30+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-urges-tourists-to-visit-sierra-leone-as-part-of-work-to-reduce-p/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-urges-tourists-to-visit-sierra-leone-as-part-of-work-to-reduce-p/ Tony Blair has been back in Freetown this week as part of his Africa Governance Initiative, promoting the tourism potential of the country, with Sierra Leone being recognised as an emerging destination, for example, with a listing in the Lonely Planet's Top 10 for 2009. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-04-30T01:22:07+00:00 /africa/news-entry/bringing-people-together-across-faith-communities-for-action-in-africa/ /africa/news-entry/bringing-people-together-across-faith-communities-for-action-in-africa/ This week the Tony Blair Faith Foundation (TBFF) joined up with World Jewish Relief (WJR) - one of the UK's leading faith based development agencies - for the first time to raise awareness of and funds for both organisations' vital work in Africa. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative, Faith Foundation 2009-03-30T18:59:04+00:00 /africa/news-entry/alan-milburn-shares-reform-experiences-with-counterparts-in-sierra-leone/ /africa/news-entry/alan-milburn-shares-reform-experiences-with-counterparts-in-sierra-leone/ Alan Milburn MP, the former British cabinet minister was this week visiting Sierra Leone in order to share his experiences of running a ministry and driving reform with a group of key Sierra Leonean ministers. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-02-09T17:05:29+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-and-president-kagame-meet-at-the-world-economic-forum-in-davos/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-and-president-kagame-meet-at-the-world-economic-forum-in-davos/ President Paul Kagame and Tony Blair met in Davos to review the ongoing capacity development project in Rwanda, led by the Office of Tony Blair. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2009-01-29T02:46:13+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-praises-rwandas-technology-and-innovation/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-praises-rwandas-technology-and-innovation/ Tony Blair this week visited Rwanda as part of his long-term project to support the country by building governance capacity and attracting inward investment. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2008-11-13T00:59:13+00:00 /africa/news-entry/blair-team-starts-work-on-investment-and-governance-with-sierra-leone/ /africa/news-entry/blair-team-starts-work-on-investment-and-governance-with-sierra-leone/ Tony Blair has this week sent a small team of his staff to support the Government of Sierra Leone in attracting private investment and to work with the government to further improve governance processes and build capacity. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2008-10-12T21:49:32+00:00 /africa/news-entry/president-koroma-and-tony-blair-promote-sierra-leone-at-clinton-global-init/ /africa/news-entry/president-koroma-and-tony-blair-promote-sierra-leone-at-clinton-global-init/ Tony Blair today met with President Koroma of Sierra Leone to continue his role as an unpaid advisor to the government. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2008-09-25T21:24:56+00:00 /africa/news-entry/president-kagame-and-tony-blair-promote-rwanda-as-place-for-business/ /africa/news-entry/president-kagame-and-tony-blair-promote-rwanda-as-place-for-business/ His Excellency President Kagame and Tony Blair met today in New York to discuss private sector investment and the business climate in Rwanda, and to review the progress made in Rwanda since their last meeting in May. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2008-09-22T06:23:57+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-works-with-sierra-leone-on-investment-and-governance/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-works-with-sierra-leone-on-investment-and-governance/ Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair pledged on Monday to help Sierra Leone court private investment and to work with Sierra Leone's government to help deliver their vision and priorities. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2008-06-09T19:25:20+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-and-president-kagame-agree-next-steps-in-work-for-rwanda/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-and-president-kagame-agree-next-steps-in-work-for-rwanda/ Tony Blair today pledged to continue his work with President Kagame to help deliver a better future for Rwanda, announcing that he would send a team of staff to help build capacity in the Rwandan Government, and attract private sector investment. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2008-05-06T04:06:35+00:00 /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-praises-rwandas-progress/ /africa/news-entry/tony-blair-praises-rwandas-progress/ Rwanda has made great progress since its devastating genocide nearly 15 years ago, Tony Blair said in Kigali, as he pledged to continue to work with the government on building a better future for all. Office of Tony Blair, Africa Governance Initiative 2008-02-24T04:18:57+00:00