The pledges trip easily off the tongues of global leaders on summit occasions, but experts canvassed by Agence France-Presse fear African nations may forever struggle to be truly heard no matter the global forum.
The days of undue Group of Eight influence on their lot may be numbered, given admissions at this month's summit gathering Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia and the US in Italy's earthquake-hit L'Aquila.
But the G14 some believe will now take precedence -- adding emerging economic giants Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, plus Egypt -- may not offer much more, despite including two African voices at the table.
Neither South Africa nor Egypt could ever be said to represent the vast swathes of sub-Saharan Africa to which most aid is directed.
The leaders of the G8 nations vowed in L'Aquila to honour their promises to Africa and make up a $25-billion aid shortfall, but anti-poverty campaigners were not alone in demanding action not words.
Stephen Gelb, who heads up the Edge Institute in Johannesburg said "I don't take these pledges seriously because they don't carry any punishment if they're not met. No country is going to be kicked out of the G8 because it hasn't given aid to Africa."
Assefa Admassie of the Ethiopian Economic Association warned that the G8 "never honour their commitment[s]."
The solution, for him, is for Africans to take matters into their own hands. "We can't only blame G8 or multilateral organisations," he said. "We have to put our own houses in order."
Source: Mail & Guardian
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