Policy Updates

On November 18, 2024, Norway announced its contribution to the World Bank's IDA for the period 2026-2028 during Norweigan Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's attendance at the G20 meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

The Norwegian pledge represents an increase of 50% compared to previous replenishment periods. Norway committed NOK5 billion (US$454 million) in this round, which is an increase from NOK3.4 billion (US$303 million) in the previous round.

According to Støre, the Norwegian funding will be used to help provide people with food and access to electricity, as well as to implement measures to address climate change.

Norweigan Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim says that the IDA is one of Norway's most powerful tools in the fight against poverty. She declared that increased support to the IDA is a means of translating the Africa strategy launched in August, 2024, into action by enabling Norway to promote efforts to increase food security and enhance climate-resilient agriculture, areas in which the IDA plays a key role.

A total of NOK600 million (US$54 million) of Norway’s contribution will also be set aside to be used over three years to promote food security.

On November 11, 2024, JICA announced a new climate strategy for agricultural and rural development cooperation to address the pressing need for climate resilience and sustainable practices, particularly in developing nations facing heightened climate risks.

Emphasizing human security, this strategy aligns with Japan’s commitments under the Paris Agreement and integrates both adaptation and mitigation measures across JICA’s agricultural and rural projects to enhance food security, bolster livelihoods, and strengthen resilience against climate impacts.

The strategy identifies six core actions:

• Developing climate impact assessment tools;
• Proposing customized adaptation approaches;
• Reviewing current projects for climate impacts;
• Incorporating resilience in new projects;
• Promoting mitigation techniques; and
• Advancing knowledge-sharing efforts.

Key focal areas include:

• Enhancing water resource efficiency;
• Promoting sustainable farming; and
• Supporting innovations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, especially in regions heavily affected by climate change.

Through this framework, JICA aims to create more sustainable agriculture systems by 2030. The strategy fosters cross-sector collaboration, data-informed assessments, and practical climate solutions to build resilient rural economies. Japan is also committed to sharing insights and findings internationally, thus contributing to global efforts toward climate-smart agriculture and rural development.

On November 7, 2024, Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim prepared to attend the 2024 climate summit, where climate finance and food security will be key topics.

She emphasized the importance of the summit as an opportunity to reinforce global climate efforts, noting that Norway’s work on climate and food security is closely linked. Tvinnereim believes that strengthening international climate cooperation is essential to ensuring future food supplies.

Tvinnereim plans to participate in events focused on food security and climate adaptation, including a meeting of the Alliance of Champions for transforming food systems, which Norway co-chairs with Brazil and Sierra Leone. Norway’s goal is to combat climate change without endangering food production and to boost climate financing for sustainable food systems through both adaptation and emissions reduction efforts.

On November 7, 2024, Canada announced a total of CAD231 million (US$166 million) to support a series of flagship initiatives for peace and security in Africa, as well as building stronger and mutually beneficial partnerships by supporting economic empowerment, climate change action, and gender equality.

The funding was announced by Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of International Development, and Minister of International Trade and Economic Development on the margins of the Canada-African Union Commission High-Level Dialogue in Toronto, Ontario.

Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced nearly CAD177 million (US$127 million) in funding to advance women’s and youth’s economic and social empowerment, support climate-change adaptation, and skills enhancement through the following projects:

• Supporting the UPSNJP - CAD75 million (US$54 million);
• Leading on funding the Renewed Women's Voice and Leadership in Crisis- and Conflict-affected Contexts - CAD25 million (US$18 million);
• Advancing women and youth’s economic and social empowerment in Senegal - CAD20 million (US$14 million);
• Backing the Climate Resilience through Empowering Women project - CAD15 million (US$11 million);
• Providing resources to AWBG - CAD14 million (US$10 million);
• Contributing to the United Nations Multi-Donor Trust Fund for Kenya - CAD10 million (US$7 million);
• Contributing to FIRST - CAD10 million (US$7 million);
• Strengthening the South Africa Skills Enhancement Program - CAD5 million (US$4 million); and
• Supporting Morocco's WESE - CAD2 million (US$1 million).

Hussen also announced initiatives to strengthening partnership to reduce poverty, provide humanitarian assistance, support economic development, and empowering youth by:

• Creating a new Africa trade and development program at GAC which will support development initiatives that contribute to food security, job creation, gender equality, and environmental sustainability; and
• Enhancing and expanding education and skills training programming to harness economic empowerment.

Additionally, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly announced CAD54 million (US$39 million) in funding for flagship initiatives and projects in the following key focus areas: peace and security, good governance, strengthened people-to-people ties, and enhancing Canada’s diplomatic footprint. This includes by:

• Supporting youth and women in peace processes;
• Supporting community-led conflict-prevention in Darfur and civilian-led political process throughout Sudan;
• Investing in counterterrorism capacity and threat resilience;
• Working to prevent violent extremism and support SGBV;
• Naming a Special Envoy for Africa and for the Sahel; and
• Formalizing Canada’s relationship with the AU Commission through a new memorandum of understanding.

On November 6, 2024, Federica Diamanti was appointed as the new Associate Vice President for External Relations at the IFAD, the world’s fund for transforming agriculture, rural economies, and food systems.

Diamanti is responsible for the fund’s public and political advocacy, including global policy engagement, partnerships, and strategic communications. She also oversees the IFAD replenishment process, whereby Members agree on priorities and targets for each three-year replenishment period.

Diamanti is an international finance and multilateral diplomacy expert with extensive experience in important forums such as the G7, the G20, and MDBs, and subsidized funds. Before joining IFAD, she was Director of Multilateral Banks and Funds at the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance.

In the past, Diamanti held the position of Executive Director for Italy, the UK, and the Netherlands at the AfDB. She distinguished herself by leading the design and implementation of the capital reform of multilateral banks within the G20, which made significant additional financial resources available for developing countries.

On November 6, 2024, Canada’s Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced CAD10 million (US$7 million) to support industry-relevant skills training for young people in Egypt’s agribusiness sector.

The funding will support CICan to work with local partners and the Egyptian Ministry of Education and Technical Education to support over 20,000 students with technical training, internships, and career counselling. The project will set up an innovative learning hub to help youth gain climate-smart skills and join the agribusiness industry.

On November 5, 2024, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy outlined that the need for a new approach to Africa in a visit to Nigeria and South Africa.

Lammy outlined that he will launch a new five-month consultation period with African nations to strengthen relations, encourage further partnership, and foster growth.

During his trip to Lagos, Lammy was asked about paying reparations for former British colonies, a topic that was raised in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October.

UK Lammy has said the concept of reparations for former colonial nations affected by slavery is not about cash transfers and that the UK would instead look to develop relations with African nations through sharing skills and science.

The UK government previously ruled out paying reparations for slavery and Downing Street said its position included other types of 'non-financial reparatory justice'.

Amid growing calls from Commonwealth heads of government to pay reparations for the country's role in the slave trade, Downing Street had insisted the issue would not be on the table.

However, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer later signed a document calling for talks on 'reparatory justice' alongside other Commonwealth leaders - though he said there had been no discussions about money at the meeting.

On October 31, 2024, a joint event by the CGD and the MFAN saw US development experts recommend priorities and policies for the next US administration. The discussion was framed by a set of detailed recommendations released by MFAN.

The document, Building on a Legacy of Progress: Opportunities to Reform U.S. Foreign Assistance, covers a range of issues, including improved coordination with other national and global partners, creating a stronger path for country partners to transition to self-reliance, catalyzing innovation and strategic risk taking, and elevating transparency and evidence for better accountability.

The event included remarks by two former USAID Administrators, Mark Green and Gayle Smith, followed by a panel of senior former US government officials who reflected on their own experience, the need for a stronger US development experts to recommend priorities and policies for development approaches that meet the times, and their priorities for the future.

On October 25, 2024, Minister for Climate and Green Growth Sophie Hermans shared the Netherlands’ priorities and goals for the upcoming COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan.

Key objectives include:

• A new and inclusive international climate finance target that involves more contributors beyond traditionally HICs, aiming to scale finance for both adaptation and mitigation in LICs;
• Advancing carbon market regulations with a robust framework under Article 6 of the Paris Climate Agreement to ensure quality and transparency, and prevent double counting of international carbon emissions;
• Advocate for new climate adaptation indicators to help countries track progress, with a focus on integrating water management expertise in global strategies, food security, and safeguarding vulnerable communities;
• Advocate for a renewed Gender Action Plan to promote women’s and marginalized groups’ roles in climate decisions and initiatives to make climate action more inclusive;
• Promote sustainable transport and a circular economy with policies to reduce waste, support green technology, and improve energy efficiency. This includes backing international coalitions and frameworks for sustainable mobility, such as zero-emission vehicle alliances; and
• Advance the Dutch Kingdom’s Climate Agenda Support for Caribbean islands by recognizing their unique vulnerabilities to climate adaptation and stressing the need for technical assistance and climate finance.

The Netherlands aims to use diplomatic partnerships, financial commitments, and technical expertise in water and energy to lead these initiatives, working closely with EU counterparts and other like-minded nations to build consensus and drive action.

On October 25, 2024, the South Korean MAFRA established a five-year comprehensive plan for international cooperation projects in the agriculture sector in an ammendement to the Overseas Agriculture and Forest Resources Development and Cooperation Act.

Under the amendment, the MAFRA can designate supporting organizations with expertise to carry out international cooperation projects in the agriculture sector and provide agricultural equipment to develop overseas agricultural and forest resources.

This will allow South Korea to pursue agricultural projects in a more systematic manner.