In 2005, G8 countries made historic commitments to work towards ending extreme poverty, especially in Africa. The promises included: fighting HIV/AIDS and malaria while strengthening health systems; canceling unsustainable debt of the poorest countries; expanding access to education, clean water and sanitation; and supporting agricultural development.

The work undertaken in 2000 to deliver the debt program, and establish the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB has had an enormous impact on the lives of millions of people in developing countries. The decisions made at the 2000 G8 Summit and the 2005 G8 Gleneagles Summit has saved millions of lives as the increased funds, through debt cancellation and increased ODA have allowed developing country governments to give greater access to water systems, schools and clinics by having more money to invest in them.

Although progress has been made on many of these commitments, much more needs to be done, and G8 countries must revisit their previous commitments and be held accountable for failing the poor nations of the world. On the issue of health, millions of people in poor countries get low quality health care, or are forced to go without it altogether. As a result, every minute a woman with no medical care dies in childbirth, every hour 300 people die of an AIDS-related illness, and everyday 4,000 children die of preventable water borne diseases.

International humanitarian and development organizations are on the ground in communities around the world, working hand in hand with our local partners to build livable communities and create a culture where men, women and children can live with dignity. We are intimately aware of the how decisions made at these global conferences translate to life's realities - food for children, healthcare for expecting mothers, peace and security in volatile communities, and clean water for families.

We urge the leaders of the G8 nations to work together to deliver concrete solutions that will solve the world's pressing problems, and to hold each other accountable for commitments made but not delivered. It is absolutely essential that this summit reach beyond the boundaries of politics and create a vision of a world without abject poverty.

International nonprofits (NGOs) receive billions of dollars from their citizens for poverty eradication programs worldwide (U.S. NGOs receive $7 billion dollars from the American people). Therefore, it is our hope that the wishes of the citizens of the G8 countries will influence the Summit results.

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InterAction is the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian nongovernmental organizations. Our 168 members operate in every developing country, working with local communities to overcome poverty and suffering by helping to improve their quality of life.

Access InterAction's G8 Blog -- NGO Report:G8 at: http://blogs.interaction.org/g8/.

InterAction Recommendations - 2008 G8 Summit

InterAction applauds the United States' critical leadership in advancing assistance to the developing world, especially in the areas of debt relief and HIV/AIDS. The administration's initiatives have resulted in more than doubling of aid to Africa.

Health Systems InterAction urges the United States and the other G8 countries to approve new efforts and commit to reduce by two-thirds the mortality rate among children under five. The United States needs to lead an international effort to significantly increase investments by the G8 countries, other donors, and the developing countries to achieve MDG 4. The achievement of MDG 5 to reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters requires improving maternal health in a holistic manner by ensuring universal access to reproductive health care, expanding emergency obstetric care, and increasing skilled birth attendants. This work will depend on strengthening health systems and a significant increase in health care workers, especially in Africa.

Climate Change We urge the G8 countries to reaffirm the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Bali Action Plan as the central frameworks in which governments will address climate change. To achieve this, G8 countries need to commit substantially increased assistance to vulnerable developing countries for their needs to adapt to the existing and increasingly severe impacts of climate change.

Global temperature increases need to be limited to no more than 3.6 degrees F above pre-industrial levels. To accomplish this, G8 countries need to lead reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions to below 50% by mid-century, with deeper cuts by developed countries.

Global Food Crisis The U.S. and other G8 countries need to at least double long-term investments in agricultural programs that enable small farmers to produce more food.

* Enable small farmers to increase production and take advantage of market opportunities.

* Make infrastructure improvements in roads and irrigation systems.

* Support agricultural research and new technologies to increase small farm productivity and enable farmers to adapt to climate change.

The U.S. and the G8 countries should provide adequate funding for traditional and new forms of emergency response to address the needs of both urban and rural poor. U.S. assistance should:

* Fund food vouchers, food-for-work and cash-for-work programs, and school-feeding programs.

* Support health and nutrition programs that focus on the needs of mothers, pregnant women, and infants.

* Stimulate agricultural production immediately through programs that provide seeds, tools, and other inputs along with farm credit.

The G8 should assess the impact of bio-fuels and take steps needed to reduce negative effects. Uultimately, the G8 working with other bio-fuel users, should develop global standards for bio-fuels production - with food security and environmental sustainability at their core.

June 20, 2008