History
Ai, now dissolved, was set up by Ann Pettifor and Janet Bush in 2004, in particular to defend the interests – through effective advocacy – of sovereign debtor governments. We felt that these governments were not making a sound case where it mattered: in rich, creditor countries.
Our first client was the Nigerian Finance Ministry, brilliantly led by Mrs Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. We helped Nigeria’s Debt Management Office develop advocacy strategies in Europe and Asia. With our support, $30 billion of Nigeria’s debt was cleared and $18 billion was cancelled at the Paris Club in 2005. (See Mrs Okonjo Iweala’s testimonial here.)
Since then we have worked for a broad range of clients including local authorities, trades unions, governments, NGOs and charities. Their concerns are wide-ranging: AIDS, maternal survival; enhancing local government; the financial crisis; employment; public services; climate change; energy security – as well as sovereign debt.
But Ai’s ethos remained the same: to use our advocacy, design, communications, production, policy skills and experience to advance our clients’ goals, and through them, promote social and environmental justice.
51 Clarence Gate Gardens
Glentworth Street
London NW1 6QS
Tel.: +44 (0)20 7224 9476
The Global Fund, Office of Nigerian Debt Management, Operation Noah, Unison, Women Deliver, Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), EcoBuild, Children’s Defense Fund, Party of European Socialists (PES), Nordic Africa Institute, Mondial Nieuws, Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities, European Parliamentary Committee on the Financial Crisis, l’Association française du Conseil des Communes et Régions d’Europe (AFCCRE), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, AIDS-free World, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Heinrich Boll Stiftung, VNG International, Queen Rania of Jordan, WANA Forum, Network of Associations of Local Authorities in Southeast Europe (NALAS), City of Guangzhou, City of Cologne, PLATFORMA, Council of Europe, Options Health Consultancy, Aviva, Securities Commission Malaysia, Global AIDS Alliance