The G8 nations meeting in Italy this week have a useful role to play. Among other measures, they must keep their promises to increase aid and make it more effective by reducing bureaucratic delays, speeding disbursements and better aligning programs with African priorities.  Effective aid is certainly not the only answer, but it has an increasingly vital role to play as other sources of finance dry up. It is needed to lay the foundations to help stimulate private sector growth.
本周在意大利举办的8国集团（G8）会议将可以扮演一个有用的角色。除了其他措施以外，这些国家都必须得遵守它们增加对非洲援助的诺言，并通过减少行政拖延，加速支付程序并以非洲优先的原则来令这些诺言更好地实现。当然，虽然援助并不是唯一的药方，但当其他经济来源面临枯竭之时它就是最为现实和关键的一环。而这些援助款项将可以为刺激私人部门增长的计划提供一个坚实的基础。