2009 Pittsburgh G20

You might have noticed Nora’s blog post alerting ONE readers that the G20 will be kicking off in a few days in Pittsburgh. In addition to calling for a future G20 meeting to be held on the African continent, ONE is asking that counties in attendance at the G20 clarify the commitments for agriculture and food security they made at L’Aquila G8.

In a demonstration of collective political will—and with thanks to the leadership from the U.S.—the G8 and other countries and institutions pledged $20 billion for global food security at the July G8 meeting in Italy. This pledge will fund what has been dubbed the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative, a coordinated and comprehensive plan to address global food security. While the $20 billion was a step in the right direction—especially in the wake of the food crisis of 2008 and the current financial crisis, both of which threaten to drive people further into poverty and hunger—the road is long ahead.

As a next-step, ONE is calling for the G20 to:

• Ensure that the implementation of the pledges for agricultural assistance made at L’Aquila is comprehensive and coordinated through existing and effective mechanisms and partnerships.
• Provide clarity on funding plans made as part of the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative and expand participation in the effort to additional G20 members.

The U.S., UK, Canada, and Italy have already publicly announced and documented their contributions to the L’Aquila $20 billion. At this time, we’d like to hear from countries that have only hinted at their numbers, as well as learn how much of each pledge is new money rather than funding in existing pipelines. But quantity is not all that matters. In order for this initiative to be successful, implementation of assistance should be coordinated and comprehensive. The U.S. has put forth several principles to guide this initiative—that in addition to being coordinated and comprehensive, the initiative be country-owned, multilateral, and sustained over time. We would like to see the G20 adopt these principles as the L’Aquila Food Security Initiative moves forward.

This will not come as news to those of you who have been reading the ONE blog, or watching the headlines about floods in Senegal and droughts in Kenya, but the impediments to achieving food security, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, are substantial. The opportunity, however, is also significant. For example, approximately three quarters of people living in sub-Saharan Africa work in agriculture, and agriculture contributes, on average, one third of GDP, which means that if the agricultural sector was carefully and innovatively developed, crop yields and incomes could both increase for African families. If robust funding of good quality can be channeled towards a holistic food security solution, perhaps we will finally see a reversal of the cycle of hunger and poverty in the developing world. Not only that, but with the right investment, Africa has the potential to not only feed itself but to be a breadbasket for the rest of the world. We look forward to keeping you posted here on our website about developments in Pittsburgh, so stay tuned!

Earlier today, I attended the “G20 and Global Development” panel co-hosted by ONE, the Center for Global Development, and the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Program of Public and International Affairs. The speakers included:

Tim Adams, former Under Secretary for International Affairs, Department of Treasury
Nancy Birdsall, President, Center for Global Development
Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank,
David Lane, President and CEO, ONE
Dr. Louis Picard, Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, moderator

Center for Global Development President Nancy Birdsall started us off with a few key messages:

In the US, the financial crisis is about bank failures, job losses and foreclosed homes, but in the poorest countries the crisis is about under-nourished babies and children leaving school to work in the streets because their parents have lost their livelihoods.

She also pointed out that the G20 is a relatively new global meeting. While it does not have the ability to perform formal implementation of its stated goals, it does have the ability to steer other global institutions, like the UN, World Bank and the IMF, in their work. When the G20 meets, it should indicate which international institutions it wants to work on implementing each of its goals. Two key goals she hopes the G20 will address at this summit are the impact of climate change on the poorest and helping developing countries ensure themselves against economic crisis in the developed countries.

Next Former Under Secretary for International Affairs, Department of Treasury Tim Allen spoke. Among other topics, he said that people who have to rely on capital from others are the hardest hit in any economic crisis. The irony, though, is that there is enormous capital in these developing countries, but that a lot of the money shifts out country. There just aren’t the institutional systems in place to capture capital in these countries. We need to help build those institutions and leaders. “Infrastructure matters and human capital matters.”

ONE’s President and CEO David Lane focused on 3 main points in his opening comments. The first being inclusion. The G20 has stated that their highest goal is to accelerate the global economic recovery. Africa is among the hardest hit in this crisis and it must be part of any plan for a lasting recovery. He spoke of ONE’s formal push to have a G20 meeting on the continent of Africa in the near future, encouraging those in the room to learn more and sign our petition at ONE.org. Finally he spoke of the importance of partnership and the role that both developing and developed countries must play in order for progress to be possible. Developing countries must focus on improving governance. Donor countries must be willing to open up trade and invest in poorer countries’ infrastructure.

When President of the African Development Bank Donald Kaberuka arrived to the panel, he said “I want to share what we as Africans feel about the global economic crisis.” He used the example of Ghana, the first black African country to be given independence. The 80’s were prosperous years for the country, he told us, and the 90’s continued with strong political gains. “In 1982 the Ghana economy was worse than Zimbabwe. Today, Ghana is being toted as a model.

“But there is a degree of frustration being felt on the continent. Many countries, while yes they made some mistakes, did mostly the right things. Suddenly those gains have been put on hold because of external problems.”

“And then we see a response to this crisis that has not truly been global. This is not about charity. It’s about — let us contribute to that global economy with you.”

“This should have been the summit to address the unaddressed business of the global stimulus.”

Next the panel moved on to questions, some from our moderator University of Pittsburgh Professor Dr. Louis Picard and some from the audience. Dr. Louis Picard asked this question to David Lane: In Eastern Michigan, Americans are really suffering. Africa is remote from the lives of ordinary Americans. Why should they care about places that are far, far away?

David responded that, yes, we are hurting in this country, but in terms of absolute poverty, there is an argument to help those who simply have no food to eat and have to sell themselves in the street. That argument is a moral argument and it appeals to many Americans.

But the argument to care is not just moral, it goes further.

In an era of globalization, having a region that is not part of the global economy is against our self-interest. “I’m not going to say that there is a clear, linear relationship between poverty and terrorism, but Somalia, for example, has not had an effective government for more than 10 years, it hasn’t had real educational system for more than 10 years, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that there is some very dangerous thinking flowing out of that area.”

There was a question from an student of economics at University of Pittsburgh to the full panel: I’ve heard that Africa isn’t poor. It’s poorly managed. Do you think that’s true?

Donald Kaberuka was the first to respond. He said that, as an example, there is nothing Africans have done to cause global warming, but Africans are suffering.

“At least the rich countries should do something about climate change and adaptation. We accept there are issues of governance, but it’s not our issues of governance that caused climate change.”

Tim Allen also weighed in, citing that Africa is rich in resources “but it doesn’t help Africa when those resources are shipped away and the profits are shipped away too.” The reason it doesn’t stay in the local countries is because there just isn’t the institutional framework. We have to find a way to keep savings in the countries and keep others from coming in and walking away with developing nations’ natural resources.

The G20 Summit kicks off tomorrow and ONE members are already hard at work on a campaign that is already getting a lot of attention. More than 62,000 ONE members have asked the G20 to go to Africa for one of their upcoming summits and see for themselves how this continent can contribute to a stronger, more stable global economy. Add your name, help us get to 100,00 signers and convince the G20 to make Africa part of the solution.

Yesterday, ONE’s President and CEO David Lane discussed the campaign with MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell:

In Pittsburgh, a group of local young people are literally drawing even more attention to ONE’s message of the need to bring the G20 to Africa. The Moving Lives of Kids Community Mural Project is almost done with a vibrant mural that will “deliver” our petition to the world leaders who are meeting nearby. Check out photos of the mural-in-progress here and while you’re at it, add your voice to the petition to hold a G20 Summit in Africa.

But why Africa? As Nora Coghlan shared earlier today, this continent of 53 states and 1 billion people is brimming with potential. Up until the recent financial crisis, 18 non-oil exporting African economies were growing at an annual rate of 5.5% or more from increased investment, trade, and economic diversification. Africa’s natural resources could help offset global emissions and with proper agricultural investment, the continent’s 800 million hectares of unused, cultivable land could turn Africa into the breadbasket of the world.

Check back soon for more updates as the G20 swings into full gear tomorrow.

-Sydney Skov

I’m here at the University of Pittsburgh at the panel we’re co-hosting with the Center for Global Development (CGD) on the G20 and global development.

Speakers will include:

Tim Adams, former Under Secretary for International Affairs, Department of Treasury
Nancy Birdsall, President, Center for Global Development
Donald Kaberuka, President, African Development Bank,
David Lane, President and CEO, ONE
Dr. Louis Picard, Professor, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh, moderator

The room is filling up and we should starting in just a few moments. I’ll update you on how it’s going in just a bit.

-Virginia Simmons

All eyes are focused on New York right now, but in just a few days Pittsburgh will grab the global stage when heads of state from the world’s biggest economies show up for the G20 Summit. As most of you know, in addition to a variety of requests for follow-up from the G20 London Summit and the G8 Summit in L’Aquila, ONE is also calling for the G20 to agree to host an upcoming summit in Africa.

But why?

The obvious answer is that the African continent is made up of 53 states and nearly 1 billion people, so of course any discussion of the global economic recovery should be hosted in Africa at some point. Less obvious to many is the fact that when it comes to the economic crisis and other pressing global problems (like climate change and food security), Africa is part of the solution.

Take the economy. Until the financial crisis, 18 non-oil exporting African economies were growing individually at annual rate of 5.5% or more, the most sustained economic growth in decades. Increasing investment, trade and economic diversification were all part of this trend. This growth not only presented African countries with new opportunities to create jobs, increase exports and boost revenues, it also offered the world a new destination for investment and business. The same is true with the global economic recovery. Helping Africa get back on its feet after the financial crisis will reap benefits for the rest of the world. Research commissioned by ONE earlier this year showed that a $50 billion stimulus for long-term growth in sub-Saharan Africa would generate $250 billion of increased output and generate a 40% return for the investors in ten years time.

Climate and agriculture are other areas where Africa has a lot to offer. Preserving the continent’s vast natural resources, for example, could help offset global emissions. The forests of the Congo basin span 700,000 square miles, making it one of the world’s biggest carbon sinks. Africa’s potential for solar, geothermal and hydro-power provides new opportunities for private sector investments. And with greater investment in agriculture, Africa could one day serve as a global breadbasket and help to prevent the food shortages the world witnessed in 2008. Nearly two-thirds of Africa’s people are employed in agriculture, and some estimate that the continent is home to 800 million hectares of unused, cultivable land.

Much needs to be done to truly tap into Africa’s potential in a way that brings benefits to the rest of the global community- barriers to trade need to be removed, carbon markets need to be incentivized to invest in Africa and infrastructure needs to be strengthened so that the continent can attract more investment. But one easy way that the G20 can get the ball rolling is by announcing that it will host an upcoming summit on the continent. Doing so will signal that the G20 is sincere about bringing Africa to the table as these important global decisions are made and will force the rest of the world to take a closer look at what Africa has to offer.

Stay tuned here for more details on ONE’s recommendations around agriculture and climate change for the G20 in Pittsburgh.

-Nora Coghlan

I’m at the airport waiting for my flight to Pittsburgh for this year’s second G20 summit and I finally just got to see the clip of ONE’s President and CEO David Lane on MSNBC this morning.

You can check it out too.

David talks about our push to get a G20 meeting in Africa in the near future as well as other relevant topics.

“We’re used to going to these gatherings, we and many other activists going to these gatherings with a case for ‘Don’t forget the poor.” It’s often times a social justice argument. I think what we’re trying to say now is very much in tune with what President Obama and the G20 are saying, it’s that it’s not about charity it really is about self interest. I think the stated, highest goal of this G20 meeting is for accelerated recovery that’s sustainable and includes everyone.
Our point about Africa is that it actually continent of 900 million consumers and producers as well. And in fact most Americans probably don’t know this because they often times see stories of hardship — before this recession 18 African, non-oil producing African countries were growing by 5.5% by year and that had been building. So they are part of the global economy and we need to be sure that when the rich nations gather at the G20 or the G8 that they’re finding ways to address that.”

The show also featured one of the posters ONE has placed all over Pittsburgh. I’ll check in again after I land and let you know how they look from the ground.

-Virginia Simmons

The G20 Summit in Pittsburgh is fast approaching and ONE members are preparing a very special message for the occasion, calling on G20 leaders to hold one of their upcoming summits in Africa. 34,000 ONE members have already signed the petition asking the G20 to Go To Africa and see Africa’s potential to be a driving economic force of the 21st century for themselves.

We’ve just partnered with Moving the Lives of Kids Community Mural Project in Pittsburgh, an amazing community group that is painting a G20 message that will include our petition. It’s going to be an eye-grabbing, powerful presentation right in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, so we can be sure that the visiting dignitaries get the message. Stay tuned for more on the campaign, the mural, and the G20 summit.

-Aaron Banks

In anticipation of next week’s G20 Summit in Pittsburgh, ONE has taken to the streets to make sure all visiting world leaders and visitors will take notice of our message that Africa is part of the global economic recovery.

We’ve been blanketing storefronts, restaurants, bookstores and everywhere in between with posters that read “ONE World. ONE Recovery. Africa is Part of the Solution.” and featuring Morgana Wingard’s great design work. Special thanks to Nakturnal for the fantastic photos!

Meanwhile, in coffee shops all over the Pittsburgh area, we’ve been dropping of coffee sleeves with the same message on them. Take a look:

All of this is part of our larger effort to ask the G20 to hold the next Summit in Africa. Please lend your voice to this campaign here, and be sure to share it with your friends and family.

We’ll have more updates about the run-up to the G20 soon!

-Chris Scott

The 2009 Pittsburgh Summit, also known as the G-20, will continue its focus on resolving the global economic crisis when it meets next Thursday and Friday, September 24 and 25. Recent financial indicators have led many economists and U.S. policymakers, including President Obama, to become increasingly optimistic about the global financial outlook. While the situation may be improving, there is still work to be done.

Given that the financial crisis – which started in the U.S. – has disproportionately affected poor and developing countries, InterAction believes developing nations’ economic concerns should be well-represented at the G-20. As the largest alliance of U.S.-based international development and humanitarian NGOs, we have been organizing the NGO community to advocate the G-20 for pro-poor policy reforms. Our strategy has been two-fold:

First, several NGOs came together to write policy briefs that outline two key concerns (Climate Change and Economic Crisis) and recommendations for addressing them. In August, these briefs were hand-delivered and discussed with the U.S.’s lead representative to the G-20 Summit.

Second, we have established an NGO Hub to provide workspace for some of the many organizations that will be present in Pittsburgh next week. While only one representative per NGO has been promised access to the Summit, it’s important that they are on hand to amplify key messages to policymakers and the media. Having our voices heard in the media is key to ensuring that the economic concerns of the developing world are not forgotten amidst discussions about how to stabilize the global economy.

The InterAction alliance and several partner organizations will be on-the-ground and plan to be a strong, vocal presence. Visit http://www.interaction.org/pittsburgh-g20-summit for more details.

-Sam Worthington, InterAction President and CEO

It’s hard to keep track of our calendars here at ONE these days, as the next two weeks are jam-packed with important development events. Over the coming days, folks at ONE will be attending the G20 Summit in Pittsburgh (September 24-25), the UN General Assembly (the 64th session opened yesterday), a UN Summit on Climate Change (September 22), the Clinton Global Initiative (September 22-25) and a special seminar organized by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria in New York.

It’s an important two weeks for the development community, as critical issues—innovative financing for global health, climate change funding, women’s empowerment, global economic recovery—will all be put on the table. Make sure to stay tuned to ONE’s blog, as we’ll provide updates on our travels throughout the coming weeks.

-Kara Arsenault