Just as I was writing to share what we’ve been pressing the G20 leaders to commit to at the G20 Summit in London coming up this Thursday, I learned of a leaked draft communiqué (statement) that G20 leaders are planning to release at the end of the Summit. According to this allegedly latest draft, G20 leaders will focus on restoring global growth by agreeing to avoiding protectionism and improving global financial regulation. The draft, which currently contains very few concrete numbers, is a good start, which includes a number of measures that will help the poorest countries too:

First, although it does not mention a nominal figure yet, the draft includes a commitment to increase the resources available for international financial institutions such as the IMF and other multilateral development banks, which will allow developing countries to finance vital spending to offset the crisis. It also specifically mentions that the G20 leaders will make resources available in social protection for the poorest countries.

Second, in the section on the reform of the international financial institutions, the draft agrees to taking concrete steps towards emerging and developing countries, including the poorest having greater voice and representation.

Third, the draft agrees to reform global financial systems, including strengthening financial regulations, for example in tax havens.

ONE’s key message to the G20 leaders is that the poorest must be included in any global solution to the current crisis, both because they will be the hardest hit, and also because their economic growth can be part of the long term solution. Even though they had very little to do with causing the financial crisis, the potential impact on the poorest is significant, threatening to unravel major progress made in development over just the past few years. I hope that the G20 leaders will move this draft communiqué forward to agree on concrete steps that will further address the concerns of the poorest in Africa and in other developing countries.

-Mikiko Imai