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Each week, Donor Tracker's team of country-based experts bring you the most important policy and funding news across issue areas in the form of Policy Updates.
March 7, 2023 | Australia, Education, Gender Equality, Climate, Agriculture, Global Health | Share this update
On March 7, 2023, the Development Policy Centre at Australian National University announced the dates of its two 2023 Update conferences on development.
The Centre announced that the Pacific Update conference will be held on June 13-15, 2023, at the University of the South Pacific in Suva, Fiji. The Pacific Update conference is the main forum for discussing economic, political, environmental, and social issues in the region. The conference will be co-hosted with the School of Accounting, Finance, and Economics at the University of the South Pacific.
The organization also announced a call for conference papers with a deadline of April 3, 2023. Possible topics include education and health, economic development, social protection, poverty reduction, climate change, environment, social inclusion and gender equality.
Separately, the Centre announced that the annual PNG Update conference will be held on August 17-18, 2023 at the University of Papua New Guinea on the Waigani campus, Port Moresby. The conference will be co-organized by the Australian National University and the School of Business and Public Policy at the University of Papua New Guinea.
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May 20, 2024 | Australia, Agriculture, Agricultural R&D, Nutritious Food Systems | Share this update
On May 20, 2024, the Crawford Fund launched the final program for its annual one-day Parliamentary seminar on agricultural research, titled Food and Nutrition Security: transformative partnerships, local leadership and co-design, to be held in Canberra on August 14, 2024.
Dr. Line Gordon, Director of the Stockholm Resilience Centre and professor of sustainable food systems at Stockholm University, is a keynote speaker at the conference. Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director of CGIAR will also be speaking on transformational outcomes.
The conference is a hybrid event.
May 20, 2024 | Australia, Climate | Share this update
On May 20, 2024, Australia's DFAT reported that Australia provided a total of AUD619 million (US$400 million) as climate finance in FY2022/23, with nearly half provided to the Pacific Islands region and bilateral programs, including Papua New Guinea, about a quarter provided to Southeast and East Asia, and most remaining funding provided through global program contributions and as core funding for multilateral organizations.
62% of the funding was provided for adaptation, with only 22% for mitigation.
In 2023, Australia contributed AUD100 million (US$65 million) to set up a Pacific Resilience Facility and a further $50 million (US$32 million) was committed to the GCF.
The Australian Institute of International Affairs suggested that Australia should now support efforts in the G20 to have the Pacific Islands Forum added to the G20 guest list of permanent invitees. This would add a strong voice on climate issues affecting the Pacific island states, and would also strengthen calls for easier access to green global funds for the most vulnerable countries.
May 17, 2024 | Sweden, Nutrition, Education, Gender Equality, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Climate, International development | Share this update
On May 17, 2024, the Swedish Government introduced a significant aid package totaling SEK120 million (approximately US$11 million) directed towards UNICEF, UNFPA, and WFP to help alleviate the pressing needs of the Gazan population.
Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell emphasized the gravity of the situation, highlighting the severity of the crisis and Sweden's role as one of the largest donors of humanitarian assistance to the crisis in Gaza. He noted that Sweden is further increasing the humanitarian support with a focus on addressing hunger and protecting women and children, and advocated for greater humanitarian access and the release of hostages.
This latest initiative brings Sweden’s total humanitarian contributions to Gaza to over SEK520 million (US$49 million), reinforcing its role as a major supporter of humanitarian efforts in the region. The most recent funds are slated to be allocated as:
May 17, 2024 | US, UK, EUI, Nutrition, Nutritious Food Systems, WASH & Sanitation | Share this update
On May 17, 2024, it was announced that the US has begun to deliver needed humanitarian assistance through a temporary pier into Gaza, which it characterized as a supplemental channel for emergency assistance and not a substitute for land deliveries.
This effort is being led by USAID and the US Department of Defense, and involves Cyprus, Israel, the UN, the UAE, the UK, and the EU. The conflict conditions in Gaza have engendered a dire need for food, shelter, medicine, and other emergency assistance.
The decision to set up the humanitarian maritime corridor was motivated in part by the slow delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza. Assistance delivered by truck has been reduced to approximately 100 trucks a day since the beginning of the conflict, approximately one-sixth of full operation. USAID's initial contributions through the pier will be hundreds of metric tons a day, including nutrient rich food for the most vulnerable children and adults. Other assistance includes shelter, water, and hygiene kits.
May 16, 2024 | Canada, Education, Agriculture, Gender Equality, Nutritious Food Systems, Family Planning, Climate, Global Health | Share this update
On May 16, 2014, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen concluded a trip to Ethiopia and Tanzania, where he announced nearly CAD195 million (US$143 million) to several development projects focused on education, SRHR, climate, peace, and security.
The funding included:
May 16, 2024 | Netherlands, Agriculture, WASH & Sanitation, Climate | Share this update
On May 16, 2024, the four Dutch coalition negotiating parties– PVV, VVD, NSC, and BBB - agreed to an outline agreement titled Hope, Courage, and Pride, stating that the new Dutch government will cut two-thirds of the current development budget over 2025-2027, or EUR5.9 billion (US$6.4 billion) over the period.
The outline focuses on ten key areas, primarily concerning improving Dutch citizens' livelihoods and social well-being and restricting asylum seekers and migration. The outline states that the Netherlands will contribute to food security and water management in other countries to improve stability, as well as support the regional hosting of asylum seekers to prevent further migration to the Netherlands.
The cuts are slated to start with EUR350 million (US$380 million) in 2025, increasing to EUR550 million (US$598 million) in 2026, and reaching EUR2.5 billion (US$2.7 billion) annually from 2027.
Opposition GroenLinks MP Danielle Hirsch contrasted the cuts with the statement's assertion that the Netherlands is one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Eleven development organizations in the Netherlands released a statement expressing their disapproval and concerns about these unprecedented cuts. Partos asserted that these cuts will damage the Netherlands’ international standing and interests. It calls on the coalition to avoid these cuts and continue investing in international cooperation.
Informants van Zwol and Dijkgraaf completed their task with the outline agreement. and recommended appointing van Zwol as the next formator. Van Zwol expects to appoint ministers and state secretaries within four to five weeks to form the new cabinet and flesh out the outline agreement.
May 16, 2024 | Canada, Education, WASH & Sanitation, Global Health | Share this update
On May 16, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced CAD65 million (US$48 million) in funding to address urgent civilian needs in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict, including food, medical assistance, and other essential services.
The funding includes CAD25 million (US$18 million) to UNRWA, previously announced in June 2023, as well as an additional CAD40 million (US$29 million) in new funding distributed to UNWRA and other trusted partners, including the CRC. The funding will support the distribution of food, water, emergency medical assistance, protection services, and other critical assistance.
Hussen also announced that Canada has delivered a payment of CAD25 million (US$18 million) to UNRWA as part of its previously announced existing multi-year commitment with the agency to help meet the education, health, and safety assistance needs of Palestinian refugees in the region.
Canada reiterated its condemnation of Hamas and their attack on October 7, 2023, as well as Canada’s demand for the immediate release of hostages, the urgent need for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza, and its commitment to a two-state solution.
May 16, 2024 | UK, Nutrition, Education, Agriculture, Gender Equality, Agricultural R&D, Nutritious Food Systems, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Family Planning, WASH & Sanitation, International development, Climate, Global Health R&D, Global Health, Security policy | Share this update
On May 16, 2024, international NGO Christian Aid released a new report, titled Between Life and Debt, that outlined the devastating debt crisis engulfing Africa and calling on the UK government to address the crisis through legal intervention.
The report, which draws on testimonies from Christian Aid partners in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia, revealed that:
The report asserted that the debt problem is largely due to Western private lenders, who have lent to Africa at extremely high interest rates, far higher than other sovereign lenders like China. Total external debt service by all African countries to private creditors was US$39 billion in 2023 and US$47 billion in 2024, and that private creditors charge the highest interest rates of 6.2%.
Christian Aid argued that the UK government has the unique power to help remedy the crisis, given that most private creditors, due to colonial history, are governed by British law. The organization called on the UK to step up and take action to change UK law to compel private creditors to cancel debts and stop the crisis.
May 16, 2024 | UK, Global Health R&D, Global Health | Share this update
On May 16, 2024, the UK government announced an additional GBP85 million (US$102 million) to tackle AMR, focusing on supporting initiatives in Africa and the Caribbean.
The pledge was made at the Royal Society’s international event calling for action on AMR. The event was attended by the UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt and His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales.
The funding built on the UK's recently updated AMR strategy and previous commitments. It is slated to provide the following:
The projects build on ongoing international and domestic work to prevent the spread of AMR. This includes the recently announced national action plan and a partnership through the Fleming Fund, backed by GBP210 million (US$251 million), with countries across Asia and Africa to tackle AMR and reduce the threat posed to the UK.
May 15, 2024 | Italy, Germany, EUI, Japan, Canada, US, France, UK, Education, Agriculture, Gender Equality, Nutritious Food Systems, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Family Planning, WASH & Sanitation, Climate, Global Health | Share this update
On May 14-15, 2024, the C7 summit was held at the UN FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy, organized by the Italian Civil Society Coalition that led, coordinated, and moderated the C7 2024 process.
Approximately 400 global representatives took part in the event, as well as international decision-makers, including FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, Italian G7 sherpa Ambassador Elisabetta Belloni, Cardinal, President of the Italian Episcopal Conference, and Pope’s envoy for the Russian-Ukrainian conflict Matteo Maria Zuppi, and Director of the UN SDG Action Campaign Marina Ponti.
The official C7 communiqué that listed the international civil society recommendation to the G7’s Leaders around seven key issues was released at the event, which included:
US$ amounts are cited directly from sources; in the absence of an official conversion, they are calculated using the previous week's average of the US Federal Reserve's daily exchange rates.
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