France pledged €100 million (US$118 million) in emergency assistance at the High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan on September 13, 2021.

The meeting, convened by United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, sought to mobilize US$600 million in urgent funding support for Afghanistan from international partners.

French Minister of Foreign affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, represented France at the meeting.

News article - Radio France international

Indonesia announced that it will cease cooperation with Norway to reduce deforestation. In 2010, Norway and Indonesia entered an agreement in which Norway would provide NOK1.0 billion (US$6.0 billion) to support rainforest protection. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Alue Dohong, of the Indonesian Ministry of Environment and Forestry, stated that Norway put forth additional demands not included in the original agreement and claimed that Norway failed to keep its promises. 

The collaboration was part of the UN's global initiative for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degredation known as REDD+. 

Article – Bistandsaktuelt (in Norwegian)  

Norway confirmed an additional NOK100 million (US$ 11 million) in humanitarian support for Afghanistan at the High-level Ministerial Meeting on the Humanitarian Situation in Afghanistan on September 13th, 2021. 

Norway has earmarked NOK261 million (US$ 29 million) for Afghanistan humanitarian assistance thus far. The UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross will channel the Norwegian funding. 

The High-level Ministerial Meeting for Afghanistan was hosted by UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). The goal of the meeting was to ensure funding for protection and life-saving assistance for the people of Afghanistan.  

The additional NOK100 million (US$11 million) was diverted from long-term development assistance to humanitarian assistance. 

Press release – Norwegian Government  

During the Global Health Strategy Promotion Council Meeting, Japan announced its framework to support global health systems, emphasizing the need for international cooperation to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus, improve access to medication and vaccines, and improve hygiene and sanitation.

According to the framework, India, Vietnam, and Ghana will be designated as "partnership countries." Japan will facilitate cooperation with their medical and industrial sectors, addressing infectious diseases and improving maternal and child health. In addition, Japan will help strengthen universal healthcare coverage abroad to increase access to healthcare.

News article – Nikkei (in Japanese)

News article – Asahi Shimbun (in Japanese)

Japan will provide ¥3.6 billion (US$35 million) to renovate roads in Ghana.

In Ghana, 95% of domestic transportation depends on roads, and the volume of traffic has been increasing with economic growth. These funds will help renovate the National Trunk Road N8 in the Central Province and the Tema Motorway Roundabout, which will facilitate transportation in the region and stimulate economic growth. This project embodies Japan’s pledge to promote “Quality Infrastructure Investment” as announced during the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).

Press release – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Japanese)

Press release – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Japanese)

Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, announced that Spain will provide €20 million (US$24 million) in humanitarian assistance to support Afghan refugee populations at the UN Afghanistan donor conference held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Minister Albares emphasized that one of Spain’s priorities is to support the most vulnerable refugees, particularly women and girls and to guarantee access to quality education for up to 2-3 million Afghan children.

Press release – MAUC

As part of the Asian Development Bank’s US$35 million loan package, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will provide US$15 million through the Leading Asia's Private Infrastructure Fund (LEAP) to expand electricity services in Armenia.

The loan will be used to reconstruct and modernize electricity distribution networks, which will allow the Electric Networks of Armenia Closed Joint-Stock Company (ENA) to provide energy for 1 million people in provincial areas.

Press release – Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

Johan Remkes of the Dutch People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) has been appointed as the new informateur in ongoing talks to form a coalition in the Netherlands; his primary task will be examining possibilities for forming a minority government, as multiple attempts to form a majority government have failed.

Tensions between the two biggest parties, VVD and Democrats 66 (D66), arose after D66 leader, Sigrid Kaag, criticized VVD leader, Mark Rutte, for his refusal to cooperate with left-wing parties Green Left (GL) and the Labour Party (PvdA) and his style of leadership.

Kaag maintained her preference for a five-way majority government between VVD, D66, Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA), GL, and PvdA, which was rejected by VVD and CDA. After the appointment of Remkes, GL and PvdA released a statement, saying they do not support a minority government. 

News Article - DutchNews

News Article - NOS (in Dutch)

News Article - NOS (in Dutch)

Japan announced that it will provide ¥350 million (US$3 million) for food assistance in Burundi through the World Food Programme (WFP).

Burundi has been facing a food crisis due to the prolonged rainy season in 2019, which led to a decline in food production and an increase in prices. These funds will contribute to Japan’s pledge to build a “resilient and sustainable society” as announced during the Seventh Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD7).

Press release – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Japanese)

The Spanish government is currently developing a new global health strategy.

The announcement was made at an event held by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), recognizing Spain's annual September 9 Aid Workers Day.

Attendees included high-level government officials, members of parliament, NGO representatives, and development experts, including Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, and the Secretary of State for International Cooperation, Pilar Cancela.

Spain's new global health strategy will focus on individuals' 'right to health' and aims to ensure medical access for vulnerable populations. The new plan will include a Cooperation Action plan, an appeal for global universal health coverage, and coordinated collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO).

Press release – AECID

Press release – AECID

The European Parliament’s committees on Development and on Women's Rights and Gender Equality debated a joint draft report on the EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III, the European Union’s plan for promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment through external action, on September 6, 2021. 

The report, which is still awaiting an approval decision from both committees, calls for the EU to fully implement and annually assess GAP III, engage in dialogue with partner countries and civil society, increase funding for local women’s organizations, eliminate all forms of gender violence, ensure access to healthcare for women, promote economic and social equality, encourage participation and leadership by women, involve women in peacebuilding and security initiatives, and build a green and digital society. 

The report also calls on the European Commission to clarify its commitment to earmark €4 billion (US$4.7 billion) for women and girls from the budget for external action.

Press release - European Parliament

Draft report - European Parliament

At the Tropical Forest Symposium on September 8, 2021, Germany’s development minister, Gerd Müller, along with representatives of ten bordering states to the Congo Basin, agreed on enhanced protection measures for its rainforests.

According to Müller, the destruction of tropical forests accounts for 11% of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions, and experts estimate that by the year 2100, the entirety of the Congo Basin's rainforests will be destroyed.

Germany supports the protection of rainforests in Africa via the Central African Forest Initiative (CAFI). The initiative's goal is to protect and rebuild 127 million hectares of the forest by 2030, inter alia, by building transparent wood supply chains, establishing economic alternatives for the people in the region, and closely engaging indigenous groups in the process.

Press release - Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development

News article - Deutsche Welle (in German)

Australia's Minister of Trade, Dan Tehan, indicated on national television that Australia would support efforts to enable the streamlined production of generic COVID-19 vaccines by waiving intellectual property protections.

The official Australian position was previously unclear, although the nation supported negotiations on intellectual property waivers.

The campaign to support changing World Trade Organization (WTO) recommendations on COVID-19 vaccines has been pursued by advocacy groups in Australia as well as low and middle-income countries.

Media report -  ABC News

President Moojin Choo of the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) provided recommendations for South Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) in response to changing global health needs due to the COVID-19 crisis.

KOFIH, which is an agency affiliated with South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, implements ODA projects in the health sectors of partner countries.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Choo recommended that global health development funding aim to strengthen the basic health and medical systems of partner countries. In addition, Choo indicated that South Korea’s support should be aligned with the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as partner countries’ national development strategies.

More capacity-building funding and investments were also recommended by health and medical ODA experts. Lastly, the president recommended stronger public support and understanding for international cooperation concerning global health security.

News article – Medical News (in Korean)

The Advisory Group on Research and Innovation for Africa-Europe Cooperation (AG) presented draft papers at a workshop on September 7, 2021, that recommended renewing the 2010 EC Communication on global health in the context of COVID-19 along with prioritizing global health initiatives. 

The concept-note included a draft paper entitled, "R&I for Strengthening People-Centred Resilient Health Systems for UHC," which focuses on potential global health responses in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. 

The advisory group of six high-level experts from Europe and Africa also called for complementing initiatives like the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), which would help create a suitable environment for health research and innovation in priority areas such as antimicrobial resistance, maternal, newborn, and children’s health, and sexual and reproductive health. The group also recommended prioritizing the establishment of an African Medicines Agency (AMA). The final report will be published in early October.

Workshop Concept-Note - European Commission

More than 1,500 civil society organizations from 130 countries have collectively called for the UK government to postpone the UN COP26 climate talks.

COP26 will be held in Glasgow, Scotland in November of 2021 with the UK hosting the event and holding the Presidency. The groups, which are members of the Climate Action Network, made the public demand based on growing fears that participants from low-income and climate-vulnerable nations will struggle to attend the in-person event due to the high cost of the UK's COVID-19 travel requirements.  

In response to the statement by the Climate Action Network, the UK government noted that all delegates who have not been able to get a vaccine will receive the jab this week. The UK government also announced that it would provide funding to all participants (including media and observers attending) that will require a ten-day quarantine under the UK’s COVID-19 travel requirements.

The UK government has labeled some countries as ‘red list’ countries, many of which are low-income and climate-vulnerable countries. Travelers from these countries are required to quarantine in a hotel. The government will provide funding to cover the costs of a hotel for all participants traveling from red-list nations. 

News article – BOND

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) announced that it will provide US$3 million in humanitarian assistance to Myanmar to assist the nation's COVID-19 response.

Press release – Ministry of Foreign Affairs (in Korean)

The UK Secretary of State for Health, Sajid Javid, used his first international visit to Rome for the G20 Health Minister’s meeting to call for recognition of participants in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials' vaccination status and moved to ensure that those participants receive globally recognized vaccination credentials.  

Javid claimed that UK citizens who took part in COVID-19 vaccine trials went above and beyond their duty as citizens. Their vaccine status is currently not recognized in some countries, and they are unable to travel overseas. Javid argued that this stance is unfair, unjust, and could threaten participation in future clinical studies.

The G20 Health Ministers’ meeting focused on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting recovery, and strengthening global coordination in order to better prevent, detect, and respond to global health threats and emergencies.

Press Release – UK Government