A major report on Africa has challenged the rich world to end "appalling" trade protectionism and stump up an extra $25 billion aid a year.
But the Africa Commission report, an initiative of British prime minister Tony Blair, faces a daunting task to gain acceptance from the G8 group of rich nations and win over sceptics who see it as a talking-shop.
"African poverty and stagnation is the greatest tragedy of our time," began a summary of the 464-page report by the commission, which includes Mr Blair, his finance minister, several African leaders and Dubliner Bob Geldof.
Its promoters liken the plethora of recommendations - on improving governance, ending wars in Africa, and providing better aid, debt relief and trade rules from the West - to the post-World War Two "Marshall Plan" for recovery in Europe.
"Let us today pledge to make 2005 the year our eyes opened to the full reality of Africa," Mr Blair said, unveiling the plan. "To the horror of its daily and preventable death toll, to the grinding misery of so many millions of its people, yet also to the hope that together we can change that reality for the better."
But critics say the report's lofty words will go the same way as previous Africa plans unless rich nation groups such as the G8 and the European Union put their money where their mouths are.