Ann Pettifor and the Advocacy International team have a unique record of achieving goals and delivering results, using research, analysis, effective communication, organisation - and hard work.
Our Advocacy
Ann Pettifor and the Advocacy International team have a unique record of achieving goals and delivering results, using research, analysis, effective communication, organisation - and hard work.
Case Number One: Debt Management Office, Nigeria
Ann Pettifor began campaigning for debt relief for Nigeria back in 1997. A meeting with President-elect Obasanjo in 1999 triggered further work on this issue in OECD countries. In 2004/5 Advocacy International worked closely with the Debt Management Office of Nigeria to make a sustained case for debt relief in OECD countries, including Britain, Italy, France, Germany and Japan (see the website www.newstartnigeria.org). In October, 2005 the Paris Club agreed to write off $18bn of Nigeria's debt, and to a buy-back of the outstanding balance, at a discount. This represented the largest African debt write-off in history, and one of the biggest for the Paris Club.
Case Number Two: Global Aids Alliance
The Global Fund for AIDS is a relatively new international institution, supported by governments, the UN, civil society and the private sector; and given the specific purpose of addressing the funding shortfall for the global health crises of AIDS, TB and Malaria.
Advocacy International Ltd was commissioned by the Global AIDS Alliance, a Washington-based organisation, to undertake research and produce a study examining the feasibility of raising money for AIDS projects in Indonesia, Pakistan and Peru through debt conversion - debt-for-AIDS. The work arose from concern that traditional sources of finance for the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria, are likely to be insufficient to meet needs. Advocacy International Ltd undertook months of research, contacted government departments around the world and then produced both a report and an advocacy strategy. This is now lodged on the Global Fund's website:
Please also see: Click here to download report (PDF)
Click here to download advocacy strategy (PDF)
Case Number Three: Jubilee 2000
Jubilee 2000 was co-founded by Advocacy International's executive director, Ann Pettifor, who led and expanded the international Jubilee 2000 campaign.
Jubilee 2000 started as a tiny operation in a shed on the roof of a charity. It grew into a powerful all-party coalition, not just in the UK, but in more than 60 countries around the world. "I know a big tent when I see one," said President Bill Clinton, after he met with Jubilee 2000 campaigners in late 1999. In the UK, the campaign included all the major political parties, faiths, aid agencies, professional associations, community organisations and grass roots activists. The campaign had backing from the British government; and then from President Clinton's administration; from Secretary-General Kofi Annan of the UN; Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, Venezuelan President Chávez and President Jagdeo of Guyana. It was also backed by key media, including the Financial Times; all the political parties; all the major faiths, the Pope and celebrities like Mohammed Ali, Youssou Ndour, Thom Yorke of Radiohead, Bono of U2, and many others.
Jubilee 2000's carefully-crafted messages resonated with millions of people, in rich countries and poor countries, and soon became a powerful worldwide movement with branches in more than 60 countries. The campaign helped secure the G8 promise of a write off of $100 billion of debt owed by 41 countries in 1999, about $50 billion of which has already been cancelled. It also ensured that the issue of the unpayable debts of low income countries remains, to this day, at the top of the G8 policy agenda.
Case Number Four: Guyana - and savings of £12 million.
In 2001, Ann Pettifor, then based at the New Economics Foundation (www.neweconomics.org) mounted an advocacy and media campaign in support of the Guyanese government. This campaign was aimed at commercial creditors and resulted in one of the UK's biggest corporations, the Big Food Group, writing off £12 million owed to it by Guyana, money that was made available to Guyana's Budget that year.
Case Number Five: Ethiopia - gains $700 million.
In spring 2004, Ann led a campaign in Britain, Japan, Germany and the US aimed at ensuring Ethiopia was granted additional debt relief - known as "topping up" - under the HIPC Debt Relief initiative of the IMF and World Bank. "Topping up" for Ethiopia was opposed by the US, Germany and Japan. Ann produced an analysis of Ethiopia's position; worked with key British politicians, including the Chancellor Gordon Brown, and circulated her international networks to urge colleagues in the US and Germany to do the same. As a result Ethiopia won an additional $700 million.
For more informtion see: http://www.jubilee2000uk.org
For more information on the Ethiopian debt relief, see "Ethiopia receives $3.3 billion in debt relief"
