The independent advisory panel includes international development experts, top business people, noted economists and a Nobel laureate. It will consult widely with stakeholders and is expected to produce its first interim report at the African development bank's annual meetings next May. Martin, 68, stepped down as Liberal leader after the party lost the federal election last January, but he remains an MP.
During his less than two years in office, Martin pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to forgive African debt, improve health care and address the AIDS scourge on the continent. However, he never implemented the 2004 Jean Chretien Pledge to Africa Act that would have enabled exports of lower-cost, generic antiretroviral drugs to developing countries, nor did he meet calls to direct 0.7 per cent of GNP toward development funding.
The president of the African development bank, Donald Kaberuka, expressed his appreciation to the "distinguished" co-chairs and others who have agreed to join the group.
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