International
In Davos
Met James Harding, editor of the Times, in the security line on the way in to main congress centre in Davos and we caught up. His paper is worried that the UK political parties aren’t having a straight conversation about the use of development aid, but the Times coverage is coming out as rather negative campaign about the UK’s Department for International Development, DFID. This is a shame as DFID is probably the world’s best development agency and something British taxpayers should know more about and be proud of. But James and the Times are partly right. It is the political season in the UK with elections coming up so the debate on aid is getting more politicised. The important thing is to support effective aid, and be constantly trying to improve its effectiveness, while knowing that aid is only part of the answer. Other things like good governance, investment and trade are all crucially important components of development. An effective UK development agency should be doing more on all these things whoever forms the next British government. Whoever that is, they must ensure the UK stays a global leader in development and keeps the word but also the spirit of the promise to spend 0.7% of national income on effective development assistance.
Among the speeches I’ve listened to were Canadian PM Stephen Harper (Head of G8-G20 first half this year), Korean leader Lee (head of G20 second half this year) and President Sarkozy (G8/G20 head next year). All underlined how important development and fighting poverty are. This is reassuring but it’s also clear, as discussed in a session with Mike Froman of the White House and Indra Nooyi of Pepsi on reinvigorating the state, that the Millennium Development Goals can’t be achieved by governments alone. They need the support and creativity of the private sector and civil society. But the state must provide the backbone of the plan. This is why President Obama’s speech at the UN last September pledging to do all he can to end extreme poverty, and calling for a new global plan for the Millennium Goals must soon start some real global planning. We need to see key stakeholders from all walks of life getting round the table – to help give a boost to the drive to fight poverty.
Finally I’ve been talking to anyone who will listen about ONE’s deep concern about the diversion or double counting of development funds as climate adaptation funds. We just commissioned a piece of research on this by the Overseas Development Institute. Bill Gates annual letter underlined the importance of this at the beginning of the week. It will be one of the very big issues to watch in 2010.
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About the Blog
The International ONE Blog is a daily log of the anti-poverty movement. The site is operated by ONE staff, with guest contributions from ONE volunteers, members and allies.
The content of each post and each comment represents the views of that author and does not necessarily reflect the views of ONE. ONE does not support or oppose any candidate for elected office, and any post expressing support or opposition for a candidate is not endorsed by ONE.