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15
February 2006
Bob Geldof
Moves To Tackle Corruption
Bob
Geldof has joined forces with pressure
group Transparency International (TI) to
better ensure global aid is not lost to
corruption.
They
will focus on the $50bn (£29bn) of
additional aid to developing nations
pledged last year by the Group of Eight
(G8) most industrialised
nations.
"It will
not be possible to beat poverty without
fighting corruption," said Mr
Geldof.
Mr
Geldof wants TI founder Peter Eigen to
head a group studying aid
delivery.
The Live
Aid founder said he would urge UK prime
minister Tony Blair to appoint Mr Eigen to
lead the independent monitoring committee
on aid delivery proposed by Mr Blair's
Commission on Africa Report.
Mr
Geldof, along with fellow anti-poverty
campaigner and pop star Bono, says he
wants Mr Eigen to head a committee of six
or seven high-profile members.
The call
comes at a time of growing interest and
concern about the effects of corruption on
aid and development.
In
several countries, worries about the
transparency of oil and energy income have
emerged.
In
Kenya, meanwhile, several government
ministers have resigned following
allegations by a former senior member of
Transparency International of widespread
corruption.
The
allegations have helped trigger a freezing
of some aid to Kenya.
Mr Eigen
said Tuesday's coming together of TI and
Mr Geldof would have a real
impact.
"Today
we have started a dialogue between a
champion of the global fight against
poverty and the worldwide organisation at
the vanguard of the anti-corruption
movement," he said.
"This
cooperation has the potential to save
millions of lives and improve the quality
of life for millions more."
Mr
Geldof said the proposed monitoring
committee must "have an understanding of
corruption and how it works."
He added
that structures need to be put in place to
ensure that the G8's promised increase in
aid got through to those who needed
it.
Headquartered
in Berlin, Transparency International is
an independent global anti-corruption
pressure group.
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