Policy Updates

On April 14, 2024, the C7 published a statement ahead of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Capri from April 17-19, 2024, where the group called on the foreign ministers to take concrete action to promote human rights as well as the common interests of humanity and the planet.

The C7 advocated that the G7 ministers reaffirm their commitment to developing long-term peace-building strategies that address persistent structural challenges at the basis of conflicts, ensure food security even in fragile settings, and address a profound transformation of food systems. The group also called upon their governmental counterparts to ensure safe and regular migration channels and commit to protecting migrant rights.

On April 3, 2024, due to deepening humanitarian needs in Lebanon, USAID announced an additional US$67 million in assistance to the people of Lebanon and Syrian refugees in the region.

The resources are slated to provide food, WASH, health care, and psychosocial and humanitarian support.

The ongoing humanitarian crises in the region have been exacerbated by the conflict in Gaza, which has internally displaced 91,000 Lebanese people. Food assistance will be delivered through the WFP. Health services will be provided through International Medical Corps and Relief International.

USAID, which already has provided over US$202 million in food assistance in FYs 2022 and 2023, called upon other donors to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable as demand outpaces resources.

On March 25, 2024, during a visit with the President of Guatemala, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced a package of economic, development, health, and security funding for Guatemala contingent on Congressional notification.

The funding is part of the Biden Administration's Central American Root Causes Strategy, which aims to help Guatemalans build a prosperous and safe country by focusing on the causes of Guatemala's economic, security, and democratic challenges. The assistance supports efforts to combat corruption as well as improving agricultural technologies and health outcomes. It is slated to establish the first youth service corp, as well as supporting locally led development and promoting inclusive growth.

On 13 March 2024, Sweden announced a new agreement between Sida and the USAID, which is set to advance sustainable development initiatives, prioritizing local initiatives and engaging the private sector closely.

The agreement was officially sealed in Washington DC on 4 March by Sida's Director-General Jakob Granit and USAID Deputy Administrator Isobel Coleman.

The agreement, slated to span the next four years, introduces new focus areas including digitalization, cybersecurity, the enhancement of global public goods like food security, climate action, and the improvement of transparency and oversight in development.

On March 6, 2025, the US Senate held a hearing on global food security.

The hearing focused on global food security with testimony from Dina Esposito, USAID's lead for the Bureau of Resilience, Environment, and Food security, and Cary Fowler, special envoy for food security at the State Department. The testimony focused on the dire global situation, with more than 330 million people at risk of acute food insecurity and famine. Esposito testified that, without the passage of the US$10 billion supplemental humanitarian bill, which remains stalled in the House of Representatives, the US humanitarian budget for food security would be half of the 2022 level.

The Chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Cardin, recognized the need for US leadership and funding, but also cautioned that others needed to also step up. The US currently spends approximately US$2 billion on food security, but Esposito stated that an additional US$33 billion is required to meet the need.

On January 23, 2024, the MCC, an independent foreign assistance agency established in 2004 by former US President George W. Bush, reached a 20-year milestone.

The MCC, which focuses on reducing poverty through economic growth, has led a different approach from other US foreign assistance agencies. It establishes five-year grant agreements, known as compacts, that address constraints to growth through sectoral approaches, including infrastructure, agriculture, education, and governance.

In order to qualify for MCC grants, LICs and LMICs must pass the MCC scorecard, which measures partners against 20 indicators ranging from governance, corruption, human rights, investments in health care and education, and fostering trade. Once partner countries reach eligibility, implementation of the compact is turned over to partner governments to ensure a country-owned approach to the grant.

Since its inception, the MCC has signed 46 compacts with 31 countries for a program total of US$17 billion. It has also signed dozens of 'threshold programs', which can function as MCC precursor programs to help partner countries reach eligibility. The MCC was recently granted authority to pursue regional programs and has pushed for legislation that would expand the number of potential partner countries.

The program's West African investments, which were approved in 2018, have faced setbacks since their inception following intense regional turmoil. US Senate approval of private board members has also been delayed in 2023 and 2024 by a difficult political climate in the US.

On November 16, 2023, US Vice President Kamala Harris launched the Women in the Sustainable Economy Initiative during an APEC leaders meeting, announcing more than US$163 million in funding as part of the program.

The program focused on women in industries with historically low women's participation. These industries include energy, waste recycling, conservation, and waste management. Harris announced an aim to increase women's economic security in these industries, support their land rights, and create the enabling conditions allowing women to thrive.

The initiative is a multi-stakeholder effort that includes support from governments, the private sector, philanthropies, civil society, and multilateral organizations.

On October 30, 2023, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and US President Joe Biden issued a joint statement on development cooperation following a state meeting in Washington DC, US.

The statement detailed a plan to cooperate on clean energy supply chains and seek advice on clean energy cooperation and industry development from both the public and private sector. It also included plans for the development of an Indo-Pacific Zero Transition Bond, to generate funding for SMEs focused on clean energy transition.

Albanese and Biden noted the assurance that the GCF, as well as other multilateral funding agencies' resources, will remain accessible to the vulnerable states most affected by climate change, particularly small island states.

The statement noted that the US and Australia would additionally assist in the financing of submarine cable connections for Pacific Island countries.

Both countries announced plans to assist ASEAN initiatives to develop sustainable and resilient agri-food systems, including through the strengthening of regional agricultural R&D.

On October 26, 2023, USAID announced that it was investing US$79 million in its Feed the Future initiative to expand its lab network with two new laboratories, as well as the expansion of a preexisting lab.

One laboratory, based at Kansas State University, will focus on developing climate-resilient crops, including staple crops such as rice, wheat, sorghum, and millet. The second laboratory, led by the University of Nebraska, will focus on its research on irrigation and water systems to help smallholder farmers identify technological solutions to reduce manual labor and increase efficiency.

A joint venture between the labs will lead a US$2 million, three-year effort to mitigate Brucelloisis infections in livestock and humans.

On October 18, 2023, during US President Joe Biden's trip to Israel, the US announced that it will provide US$100 million in humanitarian assistance to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, following the October 7 attacks on Israel orchestrated by Hamas and subsequent retaliatory actions by Israel in Gaza.

The funding is slated to be provided by USAID and the State Department. Humanitarian resources will provide safe drinking water and emergency support, including food, shelter, hygiene, and health services, as well as psychological support.

Biden announced an agreement with humanitarian organizations to open a channel to allow assistance to reach people in need. The assistance will be provided through US partners, including the UN.