“New Day, New Way” launches aid reform on the Hill

Today on the Hill, the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network presented “New Day, New Way: U.S. Foreign Assistance for the 21st Century”, an incredible consensus document on foreign aid reform signed by a powerful group of thought leaders and foreign aid practitioners. There to make opening remarks were Congressman Howard Berman (D-CA), Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), and Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), and the Network’s co-chairs Steve Radelet of the Center for Global Development and Gayle Smith of the Center for American Progress. Oxfam America president Raymond C. Offenheiser, one of the document’s signatories, was also there to represent the Network.

Oxfam takes no U.S. public funding—our support comes from American citizens and organizations who care about global poverty. But Oxfam witnesses, on a daily basis, the best and worst of U.S. foreign assistance. We work directly with the end-users of U.S. foreign assistance, both poor people and their governments. Overwhelmingly, they feel that U.S. foreign aid, as currently designed, is failing. Government after government has told Oxfam that while they appreciate American generosity, U.S. foreign aid creates more headaches for them than aid from any other donor. NGOs tell us that U.S. foreign aid is the most burdensome to administrate.

As a result, it is unable to help poor people achieve real lasting change in their communities and in their lives.

We need to change our approaches on the ground. Specifically, U.S. foreign aid must do more to put poor countries and poor people in control of their own future. True partnership means ceding a measure of control, something that is hard for Washington to do. It is the difference between charity and investment.

Congress has begun this process, and we hope there will be more events this year, to highlight the issues and educate our political leaders and the public. We believe that the American people want our political leaders to take action to reform foreign aid, and we and our partners are working to mobilize that public support.

That’s where ONE members come in. To learn more about the Modernizing Foreign Assistance Network or what Oxfam is doing to make foreign aid all that it can be, click here

-Porter McConnell, Oxfam America’s Aid Reform Team

Oxfam Releases a Food Crisis Plan

This week, while world leaders continue their emergency summit in Rome to discuss the staggering increase of food prices around the globe, Oxfam International released a plan for short and long-term responses to the crisis.

You can download their report, titled, “The Time is Now: how world leaders should respond to the food price crisis,” from their website today.

A quick outline of the brief:

1) From food prices to food crisis
2) Provide immediate aid to prevent hunger and malnutrition
3) Support agriculture
4) Stop adding fuel to the fire by pushing biofuels
5) Help poor countries get a fair deal from trade
6) Get behind a ‘new deal’ for global food and agriculture policy
7) Conclusion: the time is now.

Again, all compliments of Oxfam’s great team, but I wanted to pass it along. The food crisis is going to be around for a while and there’s a lot of good information in this report.

-Virginia Simmons

Farm Bill: Same Bill, New World

Today, the House of Representatives voted 318-106 to pass a $300 billion, 5 year Farm Bill. While the bill funds some domestic conservation and nutrition programs and food aid, it also includes agricultural subsidies that have a tangible impact on global poverty. Agricultural subsidies, which Japan and other rich countries in Europe use as well, have historically been used to help farmers earn a living when world prices for commodity crops such as wheat, corn, and rice are low and farmers lose revenue. However, these payments can also cause subsidized crops to flood overseas global markets, making it difficult for farmers in poor countries to sell agricultural products in their own markets.

Farm incomes are higher than ever, the US Department of Agriculture reports that net farm income will top $92 billion in 2008, far exceeding the 10-year average of $61 billion. These agricultural subsidies often go to the wealthiest farmers in the country. Even under the new legislation only individual farmers who make $750,000 or more in farm income would be ineligible for direct subsidy payments. The legislation that the House approved today essentially continues subsidy programs that disadvantage the poor. During this time of high food prices, when U.S. farmers are earning at record levels and poor people in developing countries are struggling to feed their families, it makes little sense for the US Congress to pass a program that can have such a damaging impact on farmers in poor countries.

Next the legislation moves to the Senate, where it is likely to pass easily as well. The White House has threatened to veto the legislation when it comes to the President, but House and Senate leaders are saying that they will vote to override a veto, which requires a 2/3 vote in both houses.

To read more on the Farm Bill see the articles below

AP article

WSJ article

Links to some of our partners’ work on the Farm Bill

Oxfam America

Bread for the World

-Sara Rogge, Senior Trade Policy Advisor

Burma

Five days since Cyclone Nargis hit Burma, the state media has reported 22,464 confirmed dead and 41,054 missing. The “UN estimates hundreds of thousands have been left homeless and millions are without food and water. Up to 40 per cent of the victims are believed to be children.” (Australian Daily Telegraph.)

From the BBC:

“In a statement, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urged authorities in Burma - also known as Myanmar - to allow foreign aid workers and supplies into the country…But Burma has refused to waive visa requirements for many waiting aid workers…

Survivors face poor sanitation and a lack of access to clean water.

Flooding could lead to outbreaks of mosquito-borne malaria and dengue fever, while water-borne diseases such as cholera and dysentery are also a threat.”

Many of ONEs’s allies are mobilizing for relief for Burma. You can learn more on these sites: Oxfam, CARE, Save the Children, International Medical Corps and International Rescue Committee.

UPDATE: “The information that we’re receiving indicates that there may well be over 100,000 deaths in the delta area,” Shari Villarosa, the charge d’affaires in Burma, tells reporters during a conference call.” (USA Today)

-Virginia Simmons

Offenheiser on Food Aid

Oxfam’s President Raymond C. Offenheiser wrote an important op-ed in today’s Hill on the world hunger crisis. In it he states:

“the most urgent thing we can do is reform food aid programs. President Bush’s move to release an additional $200 million in emergency aid is a good first step. What Congress needs to do now is reform food aid policies to allow for food to be purchased where it is needed rather than shipping it halfway around the world.

Americans are the most generous donors of food aid in the world, providing half of the world’s food aid. But Congress requires all food aid to be purchased from American farmers, even when it is available closer to where it is needed. Congress mandates that food aid be processed and bagged in the U.S., even when that is the costliest option. Congress mandates that most food aid be shipped on U.S.-flagged vessels, greatly adding to costs and delays. So for every dollar we spend on food aid, only 50 cents actually reaches the people in need.

Read the full piece here.

-Virginia Simmons

Spring Cleaning: Time to Make US Foreign Aid Shine

Yesterday, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing to discuss reforming foreign assistance.

The hearing comes just in time. US foreign aid has saved millions of lives and helped millions more overcome poverty. But foreign aid is still underperforming and often fails to reach the people who need it most. At the hearing, Oxfam president Raymond Offenheiser illustrated the problem with a story:

During the Asian tsunami in 2004, the U.S. government responded rapidly and effectively with humanitarian relief. But when it came time to rebuild, villagers in Thailand were delivered unsolicited boats from the U.S. government and other aid agencies. Villagers who were day laborers, not fishermen, before the tsunami, felt obliged to become fishermen in order to put the boats to use. One villager told researchers, “We got too many boats and there are not enough people or fishing spots to go to.” A fisherman in the village quipped, “I think there are more boats than fish.”

During the hearing, Chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) remarked: “It is painfully obvious to Congress, the Administration, foreign aid experts, and NGOs alike, that our foreign assistance program is fragmented and broken and in critical need of overhaul.” Republican Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) likened the disorder of the current foreign aid structure to a “spaghetti bowl.”

When the bi-partisan HELP Commission convened to study the issue reported their findings to Congress last fall, they marvelled that “not one person appeared before this Commission to defend the status quo.”

Much of this mess is enshrined in the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961. Over the years, the Act has become a maze of red tape that’s 1500 pages long. It has 33 stated goals and 247 directives – many in conflict with each other. It’s a testament to the commitment and talent of our foreign aid professionals that they have managed to work around the system to continue producing results for the poor. However, even their best efforts are stumbling under the bureaucratic crush.

Oxfam America is seeking reform of US foreign aid to make it more focused on ending global poverty. Also testifying at the hearing were Lael Brainard from Brookings, Steve Radelet from the Center for Global Development (CGD), and former Congressman Jim Kolbe from the German Marshall Fund. Oxfam America is part of a group of nonprofits and thought leaders calling for a new Foreign Assistance Act to create a cabinet-level agency out of the hodge podge of agencies and initiatives working on foreign aid today. The movement gains traction every day. Learn more about Oxfam’s aid reform campaign , and stay tuned for how you can help.

-Porter McConnell, Aid Reform Campaign, Oxfam America

Oxfam Youth Ambassador Sends Back Some Video

In late July, Oxfam America sent Nick Anderson, an 18-year-old rising high school senior, on a one-month mission to Sudan. Our objective was to help him get into Darfur where he would serve as Oxfam America’s youth ambassador, meeting with teenagers there so he could return to the United States and help tell their stories.

Below is a video of his trip. Please help us by viewing it and then sending it to all your friends and family.

-Tim Fullerton, Oxfam America

Oxfam: MAJOR VICTORY: Novartis Loses Lawsuit, Poor People Benefit

Several months ago, the drug company Novartis challenged India’s Patent law to prevent cheaper generic versions of its medicines from being sold in India. This would have threatened India’s ability to produce affordable generic medicines, including HIV medicines that are benefiting millions of people in India and other developing countries.

We are happy to report that, after hundreds of thousands of activists around the world spoke out against Novartis, the Indian courts rejected Novartis’ claim! And better yet, Novartis has announced they will not appeal this ruling. This is a huge victory for poor people around the world.

Your support is making the difference in the lives of millions of poor people around the world. Thank you!

-Tim Fullerton, Oxfam America

Oxfam VP on Anderson Cooper at 10/7

Hi everyone,

We just got word that Oxfam America Vice President Jim Lyons will be on Anderson Cooper 360 tonight at 10:00 ET (7:00 PT) on CNN, to discuss the Farm Bill. Make sure you tune in and let us know what you thought.

Thanks!

Tim Fullerton, Oxfam America

Oxfam: House Ag. Committee’s new Farm Bill goes from bad to worse

Those of us watching the House Agriculture Committee deliberations on the 2007 Farm Bill last week were privy to an elaborate show of smoke and mirrors. What was billed as reform was actually the opposite. Although we didn’t really think it was possible, the new Farm Bill proposed by the House Agriculture Committee actually takes our food and farm policy from bad to worse!

The proposed Farm Bill continues massive taxpayer support to the biggest and richest farmers, while doing little for small farmers, minority producers, anti-hunger programs, or the environment. It also continues to encourage overproduction and dumping of agriculture surpluses, such as cotton, on developing country farmers who are struggling to lift themselves out of poverty. THIS IS NOT REFORM. In fact, the Committee has sold out American family farmers to the highest bidder and left struggling farmers in poor countries in the dust.

Call me naïve, but I still have some hope that the House of Representatives is going to do the right thing and vote for a reformed Farm Bill on Thursday. In fact, a bipartisan amendment will be introduced to shift funds from trade-distorting subsidies to other priorities, such as food stamps, conservation, and programs that help minority and socially disadvantaged farmers. If approved, it will help us take important first steps on a new course toward real reform of family farm and food policy.

Together with a diverse group of allies, we’re calling on every member of the House of Representatives to vote yes on the “Fairness in Farm and Food Policy Amendment,” which will shift funds from trade-distorting subsidies to other domestic priorities and it will help poor farmers abroad too!

Join us and call on your Representative to vote in support of a reformed Farm Bill!!!

-Laura Rusu, press officer, Oxfam America, and ONE member.