G20

Can trade ministers gathered in India find the missing piece in the Doha puzzle?

Sep 4th, 2009 1:33 AM UTC
By Mikiko Imai

Trade ministers from rich and emerging nations are gathered in India for the second day of the two-day informal trade meeting, to make progress on the G20 commitment to conclude the Doha Development Agenda by the end of 2010. As the US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said before he left for India, this could be a “very important step” for their efforts to do so.

So are we finally close to a trade deal that would allow all countries, especially poor African countries, reap the benefits of trade, where they can work their way out of poverty as a result of new opportunities presented by the expansion of global trade? On the one hand, the economic crisis has renewed the political will for an early conclusion of the long-stalled Doha round and thus there is more scope today to achieve the “ambitious and balanced” WTO deal pledged in L’Aquila in July. On the other hand, we have heard these high-level Doha promises before-without any results.

If the Doha Development Round is to be completed by 2010, participants must ensure that the talks produce a deal that integrates poor African countries into the global trading system. Keeping Africa’s needs in the picture is the only way to achieve a truly global recovery — ONE recovery ONE world.

African countries continue to face multiple constraints to expanding trade. A Doha trade deal must effectively help African countries trade more among themselves and with the rest of the world. For a Doha deal to benefit Africa, it must include real reductions in agricultural subsidies in developed countries, improved market access for goods from African countries, a new financial commitment to aid-for-trade and allow countries to pursue trade policies that support development.

If this progress is not forthcoming through Doha, WTO members should develop a separate trade initiative for sub-Saharan Africa. This could be built on existing preference programmes such as the U.S. African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the European Union’s Everything But Arms (EBA) programme. The package needs to be comprehensive, combining market access and effective trade capacity building. A sub-Saharan Africa wide programme would help prevent trade distortions between neighbouring African countries, and could promote regional trade.

The G-20leaders meeting in Pittsburgh later this month should consider how they could achieve harmonised and coordinated trade measures for Africa – this would go a long way towards achieving a Doha deal that really delivers for development.

-Mikiko Imai

What We’re Reading 5/21/09

May 21st, 2009 9:24 AM UTC
By Steve Wilson

AFP—Clinton: Mugabe needs to go
The departure of Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe would be in “the best interests of everyone,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said yesterday. Clinton also told South African state television that the U.S. would not resume aid to the Zimbabwean government as long as it could not be sure it would reach the people concerned. “We’re encouraged by the new unity government that has been created. We are not yet ready to change our policy, but it is under review,” Clinton said.

Reuters—WTO trade talks machine revs up after US visit
A visit by U.S. trade chief Ron Kirk this month to the World Trade Organisation has transformed the political atmosphere of long-running global commerce talks, kick-starting the negotiations, trade sources said on Wednesday. “It’s like the engines are being started up again after being in cold storage for several months,” one trade official said. Diplomats cannot point to any sudden major advances in the WTO’s Doha negotiations, launched in late 2001 to help poor countries prosper through trade, but technical work on the details of trading goods from bicycles to bananas, which could lay the foundations for a future agreement, is moving along quietly.

Reuters—Africa hunger tied to politics
Agricultural experts looking at Africa’s enduring problems with food shortages and famine say hunger is unlikely to be solved there unless political stability returns to allow investment to flourish. At the “World Agricultural Forum” being held in South Africa this week, experts also said that only 10% of all foreign direct investment around the world went into the food category, and a mere 0.006% went into agricultural production. Investment to transport grains and livestock and improve water and irrigation are key to Africa progress, the experts said.

New Times (Rwanda)—Africa Did Not Cause the Financial Crisis (opinion)
A U.N. official writing in a Rwandan newspaper argues that as a result of the economic downturn, an additional 55 to 90 million people will be trapped in extreme poverty in 2009, with the number of hungry people expected to soar past one billion. To speed recovery, he writes, the world must learn from past mistakes and make sure that the interests of the poor are high on the financial crisis agenda.

AllAfrica.com—Global Crisis Is an Opportunity for Economic Renewal (interview)
The global economic crisis may lead to international reforms and new opportunities that may actually lead to the emergence of new economic powers, many of which may be African nations. These are some of the provocative arguments of “La crise” (The crisis), a recently published book by North African economists Hakim Ben Hammouda, Hédi Bchir and Mustapha Sadni Jallab that provides some fresh and encouraging perspectives on the current international situation. Here’s an interview by AllAfrica.com with one of the authors.

-Steve Wilson

ONE Hosts Press Conference at IMF Headquarters

Apr 23rd, 2009 9:05 AM UTC
By Mikiko Imai

Earlier today, ONE held a press conference with the African Development Bank at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington D.C. The panel was an interesting mix of distinguished African development advocates and officials, including ONE supporter and activist Bob Geldof; African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka; Tanzania Finance Minister Mustafa Mkulo; and New York Congressman Gregory Meeks.

The meeting was held in anticipation of the IMF and World Bank annual Spring Meetings. Both institutions will be making critical decisions to follow up on the details of the G20 commitments and determine what will be delivered and with what conditions. The press conference was focused on how the Spring Meetings can provide low income countries - particularly African countries - with the resources they need to get through this financial crisis as well as build on recent development successes, without creating a future debt crisis.

At the event, Bob described how the economic crisis has continued to marginalize the poor peripheral parts of the world. Interesting, Bob remarked that $5 billion (the amount ONE is asking the IMF to provide to developing countries in grants and loans) is a tiny amount compared to the bailout given out in developed countries. Bob referred to a study commissioned by ONE that shows that by injecting $50 billion to Africa now will would increasing global output by as much as $250 billion. He called for aid to Africa to continue and challenged the group to think about how relatively small change can make a big difference.

Mr. Kaberuka described how Africa, in the past several decades, has been a story of progress and setbacks. He questioned the idea of a “banking crisis.” Rather, Africa faces an economic crisis. Mr. Kaberuka emphasized that the amount needed for developing countries is relatively small - the international community pledged $50 billion at the last IDA replenishment and $9 billion for the African Development Bank. Doubling these could have a significant impact.

(more…)

G20 Summit- Day After ReCap

Apr 3rd, 2009 9:16 AM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

Overall, yesterday’s G20 Summit communique has left ONE very hopeful, but as always, with a lot of work on our plates. Below, I’ll quote the very succinct recap by our Global Campaigns Director Roxane Philson, and then I’ll include 3 very short flip camera interviews with some incredible G20 Voice bloggers: Nigerian blogger Sokari Ekine, Richard Murphy of the UK (who was able to ask a question about tax havens to Gordon Brown at his internationally-covered G20 press conference), and Kenyan blogger Daudi Were.

Roxy’s Summary:

“Yesterday’s G20 Summit looks like it made some real progress for the world’s poorest. Caution tells me that some of the vague language will take hard work to clarify, but this morning, as I re-read statements and news from yesterday, I am filled with a sense of hope and optimism.

Highlights include:

Resources: The G20 announced US $50 billion for low-income countries - although we are concerned this includes existing funding - and a further US $100 billion in lending for development banks.

Reform: Developing countries will have greater representation in the international financial institutions and that election to World Bank/IMF leadership will be based on merit.

Regulation: The G20 announced regulation of illicit tax havens.

As with all summits like the G20, we’re left with just as much work coming out of the summit as we had going in. We need to work to ensure that money going to developing countries is given as grants, not loans that trigger another debt crisis. Also, much more needs to be done on the green agenda in the interests of developing countries at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year.”

And below, short interviews with 3 great global bloggers:

Nigerian Sokari Ekine of the blog Black Looks on attending the 2009 London G20 Summit:

UK Richard Murphy of The Tax Research Blog on asking a question on tax haven reform to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the internationally-covered G20 press conference:

Daudi Were, who lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and blogs at Mental Acrobatics blog, on the outcomes of the G20 Summit.

Attending the 2009 London G20 Summit as an accredited member of the media was absolutely the opportunity of a lifetime. I just want to publicly thank Karina Brisby, Shane McCracken, Samantha Bronnar, and everyone who put the G20 Voice project together and made it possible for 50 bloggers from around the world to attend this historic global summit. I hope it’s only the beginning for allowing new independent voices, particularly those from from the developing world, into these critical global discussions. I also want to thank our own Weldon Kennedy for handling all of ONE’s G20 Voice project work from the UK.

-Virginia Simmons

G20 Summit- Day After ReCap

Apr 3rd, 2009 9:08 AM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

Overall, yesterday’s G20 Summit communique has left ONE very hopeful, but as always, with a lot of work on our plates. Below, I’ll quote the very succinct recap by our Global Campaigns Director Roxane Philson, and then I’ll include 3 very short flip camera interviews with some incredible G20 Voice bloggers: Nigerian blogger Sokari Ekine, Richard Murphy of the UK (who was able to ask a question about tax havens to Gordon Brown at his internationally-covered G20 press conference), and Kenyan blogger Daudi Were.

Roxy’s Summary:

“Yesterday’s G20 Summit looks like it made some real progress for the world’s poorest. Caution tells me that some of the vague language will take hard work to clarify, but this morning, as I re-read statements and news from yesterday, I am filled with a sense of hope and optimism.

Highlights include:

Resources: The G20 announced US $50 billion for low-income countries - although we are concerned this includes existing funding - and a further US $100 billion in lending for development banks.

Reform: Developing countries will have greater representation in the international financial institutions and that election to World Bank/IMF leadership will be based on merit.

Regulation: The G20 announced regulation of illicit tax havens.

As with all summits like the G20, we’re left with just as much work coming out of the summit as we had going in. We need to work to ensure that money going to developing countries is given as grants, not loans that trigger another debt crisis. Also, much more needs to be done on the green agenda in the interests of developing countries at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen later this year.”

And below, short interviews with 3 great global bloggers:

Nigerian Sokari Ekine of the blog Black Looks on attending the 2009 London G20 Summit:

UK Richard Murphy of The Tax Research Blog on asking a question on tax haven reform to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the internationally-covered G20 press conference:

Daudi Were, who lives in Nairobi, Kenya, and blogs at Mental Acrobatics blog, on the outcomes of the G20 Summit.

Attending the 2009 London G20 Summit as an accredited member of the media was absolutely the opportunity of a lifetime. I just want to publicly thank Karina Brisby, Shane McCracken, Samantha Bronnar, and everyone who put the G20 Voice project together and made it possible for 50 bloggers from around the world to attend this historic global summit. I hope it’s only the beginning for allowing new independent voices, particularly those from from the developing world, into these critical global discussions. I also want to thank our own Weldon Kennedy for handling all of ONE’s G20 Voice project work from the UK.

-Virginia Simmons

Getting into the G20 Media Room

Apr 2nd, 2009 9:31 AM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

Like a kid on Christmas morning - or a global poverty advocate with accreditation to the G20 Summit - I was up early to start the day. Only 2,000 people are allowed into this summit, and we’ve been told that the 50 bloggers of the G20Voice project are the only members of civil society who were allowed accreditation. Below a photo journey of my way in.

I took this during my 5:30 am walk to the Tube -

which opened 6 minutes after I arrived.

I arrived at the proper station by sunrise for the first of four accreditation/passport checks.

Then we boarded the first of 2 shuttle buses.

Where we received our photo badges. (Somehow my passport ID was one number off in their records, but the woman behind the desk remembered my name from the list of bloggers she’d received, so I got in fine.)

We went through security.

Onto a “clean” bus.

And then into the Media Centre for the 2009 London G20 Summit.

Our Table

Apr 2nd, 2009 9:29 AM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

Once inside the center, I found my way to the table with the large G20 Voice sign. We were told that we’d have a G20 sign just like all the G20 countries’ delegations’ tables had signs. But that didn’t turn out to be exactly right.

Our sign is much, much larger than the other ones.

Below- see our sign, and then Japanese and South African tables’ signs. (Note that South Africa is the only African country in the G20.)

And then here is a shot of our G20 bloggers table.

The Media

Apr 2nd, 2009 9:28 AM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

There are over 2,000 media here to cover this summit and our job is to try and ensure developing country needs and voices are represented (more on this soon)… a daunting prospect in such a huge room (see below), with locations for every major TV broadcast, radio and newspaper in the world. Even the journalists themselves seem a bit lost – the smart outlets are taping homemade signs around on the walls so that people can locate them…

Today’s FT

Apr 2nd, 2009 9:24 AM UTC
By Weldon Kennedy

Today’s Financial Times is loaded with a four page supplement on how the financial crisis is hitting African countries hardest, and a great opinion piece in the main paper from Bob Geldof about including developing nations in the new global economy.

William Wallis’s lead article in the supplement makes a powerful case for G20 taking urgent action to provide the resources developing countries need to weather this downturn, saying:

“Today many of sub-Saharan Africa’s 47 states are seeing their incomes evaporate, leaving holes in national budgets and foreign reserves as wide as the pits from which their resources have been extracted.

Without urgent measures to limit the damage, fragile recent development gains could be swept away, conflicts will reignite and more states will fail, warns Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia’s prime minister, who is representing Africa at today’s summit of the Group of 20 nations in London.”

Read the full supplement, or download the PDF - which will let you see ONE’s new advertisement in the paper.

What We Want Today

Apr 2nd, 2009 9:22 AM UTC
By Virginia Simmons

14:23 updated with video

So- I just finished helping coordinate the CNBC interview with two African G20 Voice bloggers, Daudi Were of Kenya and Sokari Ekine of Nigeria alongside Bob Geldof. (I’ll be able to upload some video of it in a bit.) We are working to make sure the media are giving space for opinions and insights from Africa. Many media outlets are now coming by to interview Daudi, which is amazing.

Overall, it’s an incredible privilege to be able to attend this summit and to have the opportunity to advocate for ONE’s goals in such a giant room full of journalists who are often prone to forgetting to cover Africa. So what exactly are our goals? Here they are again below in a very simple list:

1. We want the leaders to agree an immediate $50bn fiscal stimulus for sub-Saharan Africa – many African countries are suffering from the effects of economic downturn, even though they were little to do with the origins of the crisis. Vital development assistance will not only help save trade and jobs but also lives.

2. We also want international institutions to be reformed so that the people of developing countries have a voice at the global level. The World Bank and other organizations are run by developed countries – making them represent developing countries will help ensure a fairer world.

3. We also need better regulation of the financial system – over $800billion of illicit cash flows out of tax havens – imagine if governments could capture that money and put it to good use. So we’re hoping for a deal on tax havens today.

Ok…back to working the room.