Coming after the Government-led Africa Commission report and the tenth Red Nose Day for Comic Relief, the event will focus on the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals for Africa and will deliver an honest and transparent review of progress and a closer look at commitments for the future to help transform Africa into a vibrant business and cultural centre.

One session at the event will consider the roles of the media and business in securing a more sustainable, integrated and secure future for Africa. Keynote speakers at the conference will include BBC Chairman Michael Grade, Sir Bob Geldof, EU Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson, Lord David Puttnam and Nestle chairman and CEO Peter Brabeck-Letmathé.

The conference will be attended by more than 500 senior leaders from the diplomatic community, politics, business, NGOs, charities and public bodies, the international development community and the media. The sessions will be hosted by BBC Foreign Affairs correspondent Fergal Keane and BBC Economics Editor Evan Davis.

World music superstar Baaba Maal is flying in from Senegal to close the conference.