STOP THE FAMINE: Leaders and Laggards in the Response to the Crisis in the Horn of Africa

ONE has conducted an original analysis that assesses what the responsibility should be for each of the 24 members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee in the response to the crisis in the Horn of Africa. It provides an assessment of their actual response to date (11 August 2011), and we also look at the contributions that have been made by non-traditional donors and regional partners. This is a short summary of that analysis and an explanation of how it was completed.

CONTEXT

The Horn of Africa is experiencing one of its worst droughts in 60 years. Current estimates suggest that around 12.4 million people are severely lacking access to food and water. The UN has issued an appeal for $2.48 billion to respond to the crisis and prevent millions from dying, yet as of August 9, there was still a $1.01 billion funding gap. This is the current estimate of need by the UN and it is likely to increase if the situation deteriorates. The current funding gap, together with and any additional appeals, need to be filled immediately to keep the response moving at full speed so that lives can be saved and further disaster averted.

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS

ONE’s analysis found that the traditional donors, by which we mean the 24 members of the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC), should contribute $2.01 billion (81.1%) towards the overall appeal.  Though the DAC members have contributed $1.57 billion in total, not all of that money is being directed to fill the UN appeal; only $1.47 billion from all donors has been pledged to the appeal so far.

Our analysis shows that countries including the UK, US, Sweden, Canada, Australia, as well as the European Commission, are so far providing global leadership in the response to this crisis and have made substantial contributions to the appeal. However, Germany, France, and Italy, among others, are failing to deliver the help that is required to prevent needless suffering and death in the Horn of Africa.

This is indefensible and ONE is calling on these countries to meet their responsibilities to their fellow global citizens by urgently pledging their fair share of the crisis response.

ONE also calls on the European Commission to continue its leadership by convening its 27 Member States and ensuring the EU as a whole does much more to plug this funding gap.

This is an enormous crisis affecting millions of people and it therefore demands a global response. Traditional donors have historically paid for the vast majority of the responses to humanitarian crises, however emerging donors and regional partner countries are increasingly in a position to help in these emergency situations, as we saw during the response to the 2004 tsunami in South-East Asia, when these types of donors contributed $304 million.

In keeping with that principle, our analysis found that non-traditional donors and regional partners should contribute $470 million (18.9%) of the response to the crisis in the Horn of Africa. Though much of this amount has been pledged already, thanks largely to big donations by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Brazil and multilateral funds, pledges by most of the Gulf States and the BRICS countries have been very small. Other than Saudi Arabia, the Gulf States have spent negligible amounts. The treasuries of these countries are flooded with revenues due to the high price of oil, and so can afford to help those millions of people in dire need almost on their doorstep. Their failure to act is in contrast to the response from African countries and institutions including South Africa, Sudan, the African Union and Kenya, who are all stepping up to help their neighbors by providing some funding and security assistance.

METHODOLOGY

The share of the crisis response ONE believes traditional donors should take responsibility for is based on those countries share of annual UN contributions. The 24 nations that are members of the OECD-DAC pay 81.1% of annual UN dues. For this reason, we have applied that percentage to the overall UN appeal for this crisis to calculate the share for traditional donors. Our analysis of individual country contributions for traditional donors is based on their GDP share within the group of donors.

RESPONSE OF TRADITIONAL DONORS TO THE CRISIS

LEADERS - countries that have fulfilled more than 75% of their proportionate share of the UN Appeal:
Australia, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, United States and the European Commission [1]

LAGGARDS - countries that are doing less than 50% of their proportionate share of the UN Appeal:
Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain

ANALYSIS OF THE WORLD’S LARGEST DONORS AND OTHER GLOBAL PARTNERS

CANADA:

Share: $78.07 million
Pledged/committed: $90.20 million
Percentage of share filled: Fully met

Canada has contributed more than its fair share to this crisis. ONE hopes that Canada will use this as an opportunity to reverse its decision to cap ODA, allowing it to invest more in long-term agricultural development in the region to prevent future famine. Canada has been a leader on agricultural development, but they have a big role still to play on the global stage.

EUROPEAN COMMISSION:

The Commission has been quick to react to the Horn crisis. A total of $147 million has been disbursed for the crisis ($92 million of which has been allocated directly to the consolidated UN appeal), making the EC the third largest donor to the appeal. Another $85 million is in the pipeline for the region. The Commission must also use its power and role as the executive branch of the European Union to convene the 27 EU Member States and ensure the EU as a whole does all it can to respond to the crisis.

FRANCE:

Share: $123.61 million
Pledged/committed: $40.36 million
Percentage of share filled: 33%

France put food security at the top of the agenda for the G20 this year. This might help for the long term, but people are dying now and France has failed to live up to the rhetoric. France needs to take action immediately and meet its share of the UN appeal to continue to fulfill its aspirations as a world leader.

GERMANY:

Share: $158.12 million
Pledged/committed: $41.21 million
Percentage of share filled: 26%

The German public has already given over €90 million in private donations which is a remarkable demonstration of solidarity. Now the leaders of Germany have to follow suit and play their part by immediately filling the remaining gap in their share of the UN appeal. ONE hopes that Development Minister Niebel will use his upcoming trip to Kenya to make this pledge.

ITALY:

Share: $98.03 million
Pledged/committed: $4.82 million
Percentage of share filled: 5%

As with almost of its responsibilities to the world, Italy is failing. Prime Minister Berlusconi and his government have committed less than $5 million dollars to the UN appeal. This is just $2 million more than Sudan – one of the poorest countries in the world - has given.

UNITED KINGDOM:

Share: $111.08 million
Pledged/committed: $230.93 million
Percentage of share filled: Fully met

The United Kingdom is a true leader in the response to this crisis. ONE applauds the UK, Prime Minister Cameron, Secretary of State Mitchell and the British public for recognizing both the urgency and scale of the need in the Horn of Africa. By leading the way, the UK is pressuring other donors to contribute their fair share. ONE urges the UK government to continue to play this vital leadership role.

UNITED STATES:

Share: $684.29 million
Pledged/committed: $565.07 million
Percentage of share filled: 83%

The United States is by far the largest contributor to the response to this crisis.  The US has contributed $565.07 million thus far to the response, including $105 million announced on Tuesday, August 9.  ONE applauds the flexibility the US has shown in easing its restrictions on working in the region in order to enable professionals to respond to this crisis.

GULF STATES:

This is a regional crisis and the Gulf States, who are benefiting from very high oil revenues, have the money to help their neighbors. Saudi Arabia so far has provided $60.74 million, but the rest of the Gulf States have done comparatively little. The Gulf States should urgently step up their response, in line with their status as emerging global players.

AFRICAN COUNTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS:

South Africa, the African Union, Sudan, Kenya and the African Development Bank have begun to help their neighbors, although in many cases they could still do more. While the images dominating the news right now are of a region in Africa suffering an immense tragedy, the macro story of Africa is one of progress and growth. It says volumes about the resilience and growth of Africa that the continent is stepping forward to meet the needs of its own people.

Notes: