Policy Updates

On July 18, 2024, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, during the European Political Community Summit, announced that the UK would work with the 'Global South' to tackle irregular migration, committing GBP84 million (US$108 million) over the next three years to address the drivers of irregular migration in Africa and the Middle East.

The funding is slated to work to improve education and employment opportunities as well as help to build resilience to global shocks like conflict and climate change, which are two of the leading causes of irregular migration.

Funding which will come from the UK’s ODA budget includes:

• GBP13 million (US$15 million) to expand Migration for Development programs in North and East Africa;
• GBP21 million (US$25 million) in support for key host and transit countries, including Libya, Ethiopia, Egypt, and Chad provided via multilateral channels;
• GBP26 million (US$31 million) for the Middle East and the wider region to support Syrian refugees; and
• GBP24 million (US$29 million) in direct funding to support communities in Sudan, Chad, and Ethiopia.

On July 9, 2024, the Swedish government announced a three-year, SEK880 million (US$85 million), strategy to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria and its impact on neighboring countries.

The plan, to be implemented by Sida, aims to support Syrians both within their country and those who have sought refuge in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.

Swedish Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell emphasized the severity of the crisis under Syria's authoritarian regime and noted that more than half of Syria's civilian population has been displaced.

The strategy focuses on improving livelihood opportunities and access to basic public services for Syrians and refugees. It also emphasizes support for human rights, with particular attention to women's rights and religious freedom.

Sweden's approach includes efforts to hold the Assad regime accountable for its actions against Syrian civilians. Additionally, the plan addressed the crisis's broader implications for Europe, including irregular migration and the threat of violent extremism. The initiative aims to create more sustainable conditions for Syrian refugees and their host communities, while promoting voluntary return to Syria when conditions allow.

The international community continues to grapple with the long-term consequences of the Syrian conflict, now in its 13^th year. Sweden's strategy reflects a growing recognition of the need for comprehensive, regional approaches to protracted crises and underscores the ongoing humanitarian challenges in the region as well as the complex interplay between assistance, migration, and security concerns.

On June 27, 2024, the Strategic Agenda 2024-2029, which emphasized the EU's commitment to peace, cooperation, and economic prosperity amid a reshaping of the global political landscape marked by strategic competition and instability, was adopted by the European Council.

The EU outlined the following priorities:

• Bolster Europe’s economic competitiveness, including deepening the Single Market in strategic sectors like energy, finance, and telecommunications;
• Strengthen security and defense capabilities within the EU;
• Reinforce EU sovereignty and unity to address strategic competition, climate change, technological advancements, and global instability;
• Strengthen external influence by supporting Ukraine in defending its sovereignty, promoting stability in its neighborhood and beyond, fostering strategic partnerships, and coordinating internal and external policies to address global challenges effectively;
• Uphold human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, and human rights, while safeguarding the rule of law and enhancing democratic resilience;
• Invest in defense readiness, supporting Ukraine, combating crime, and addressing cyber threats, while enhancing cooperation with NATO and other partners;
• Ensure the proper functioning of the Schengen area, addressing irregular migration, and promoting legal pathways;
• Support the international legal order, promoting peace, democracy, and sustainable development, and reforming the multilateral system;
• Boost economic growth, supporting social welfare systems, investing in skills and education, and reducing disparities across the EU; and
• Pursue a merit-based approach to EU enlargement, supporting aspiring members, and undertaking necessary internal reforms.

On June 26, 2024, Japan signed and exchanged notes with Laos for two grant projects totaling JPY753 million (US$5 million).

The first project, the Human Resource Development Scholarship, is planned to address Laos' complex development issues by supporting up to 21 young government officials to study at Japanese graduate schools, starting in 2025. The initiative aims to enhance the administrative capacity of Laos' government agencies and ministries, contributing to solving priority development issues and strengthening bilateral relations through human networks.

The second project focuses on accelerating the clearance of unexploded ordnance in the southern provinces of Laos, particularly Sekong, Salavan, and Champasak. There are an estimated 80 million unexploded ordnance units remaining from the Vietnam War. The project aims to support clearance activities to improve safety, expand agricultural land, and facilitate infrastructure development, to boost regional development and reduce unexploded ordnance-related casualties.

On June 24, 2024, it was announced that EU Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen was appointed Chair of the GEM Report Advisory Board, succeeding David Moinina Sengeh.

Urpilainen's appointment underscored her commitment to education, a priority during her tenure as EU Commissioner. Under her leadership, the International Partnerships budget allocation for education showed a significant increase of approximately 13% during 2021-2023.

Urpilainen noted her plans to leverage her experience to support the GEM Report’s strategy, emphasizing impactful global education investments. Her role will include leading the annual Advisory Board meetings in Paris and advocating for the GEM Report's initiatives as well as UN SDG #4 by prioritizing outputs to support international efforts in enhancing educational policies.

The Advisory Board, comprising 35 members from diverse sectors, is slated to finalize a new five-year strategy at an upcoming meeting chaired by Urpilainen.

On June 20, 2024, the EIB approved EUR12.8 billion (US$13.7 billion) in financing to improve sustainable transport, increase the use of renewable energy, build new student housing, improve earthquake and flood protection, and help business expansion.

EUR2.9 billion (US$3.1 billion) will be allocated for urban development, education, health, and water projects. EUR2.1 billion (US$2.2 billion) is slated to support corporate innovation, with a focus on female entrepreneurs in Africa and the Caribbean, as well as business financing in Ukraine.

EIB President Nadia Calviño highlighted that support will go to global and regional flagship projects and that the investments will improve quality of life and reflect the EIB's commitment to strengthen European resilience, productivity growth, and innovation.

On June 17, 2024, French Secretary of State for Development and International Partnerships Chrysoula Zacharopoulou launched France's new international strategy for basic education, spanning through 2024-2028, during a high-level event at UNESCO dedicated to the midterm review of the 2022 Education Transformation Summit.

An annual contribution of EUR350 million (US$375 million) was included in support of education systems in French-speaking Africa, in accordance with the commitments of the French Language and Multilingualism Plan. An immediate contribution was also announced for ECW to support education in crisis and emergency situations.

France noted that it would maintain its position among the leading providers of voluntary funding to UNESCO’s education sector and the GPE from 2024-2028 and would contribute to the governance bodies of the organizations.

French agencies, particularly the AFD, will also earmark an average of EUR500 million (US$535 million) annually to the education sector, particularly through delegated funds from the GPE and the EU.

On June 13, 2024, the Netherlands announced the distribution of its cabinet posts, including the creation of three new ministries: Asylum and Migration, Housing and Spatial Planning, and Climate and Green Growth.

The Dutch government also renamed the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature, and Food Quality to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Nature. The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation will become the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance. These changes are meant to mirror the new government’s priorities.

The PVV was allocated five ministers, the VVD and NSC four, and the BBB two. Designated Prime Minister Dick Schoof does not represent any party.

Ministerial appointments with relevance to development included:

• Minister of Climate and Green Growth: Sophie Hermans ( VVD);
• Minister of Finance: Eelco Heinen ( VVD);
• Minister of Economic Affairs: Dirk Beljaarts ( PVV);
• Minister of Agriculture: Femke Wiersma ( BBB);
• Minister of Education: Eppo Bruins ( NSC, CU);
• Minister of Asylum and Migration: Marjolein Faber ( PVV);
• Minister of Health: Fleur Agema ( PVV);
• Minister of Foreign Affairs: Caspar Veldkamp ( NSC); and
• Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance: Reinette Klever ( PVV).

The PVV’s Ministers for Foreign Trade and Development Assistance Reinette Klever and Asylum and Migration Marjolein Faber sparked controversy due to past statements regarding omvolking, or the ‘replacement theory’. Faber and Klever distanced themselves from past use of the term but reiterated concerns about demographic change.

Candidate ministers and secretaries will present themselves in public hearings to the House of Representatives. The new cabinet is expected to be sworn in on July 2, 2024.

On June 13, 2024, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participated in a G7 working session on Africa, climate change, and development as well as a side event on the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, where he announced over CAD1.6 billion (US$1.2 billion) to promote sustainable development and inclusive global clean energy transition.

The announced funding included:

• CAD720 million (US$524 million) over five years for a new concessional finance facility at FinDev Canada to mobilize capital for sustainable development, including from the private sector;
• CAD510 million (US$371 million) in repayable contributions and technical assistance grants to the Inter-American Development Bank Group to establish the Canadian Net Zero and Climate Resilience Accelerator Fund. The funding is intended incentivize private-sector investments that will help economies in Latin America and the Caribbean become less carbon-intensive, more climate-resilient, and more inclusive;
• CAD274 million (US$200 million) to purchase hybrid capital from the World Bank’s International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. This is slated to enable up to CAD1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) in additional lending to low- and middle-income countries to improve education and health to reduce food insecurity and carbon footprints;
• CAD120 million (US$87 million) in sovereign loans and a CAD7 million (US$5 million) technical assistance grant to South Africa in support of its Just Energy Transition Partnership to transition to secure and affordable clean energy while addressing economic inclusion gaps; and
• CAD45 million (US$33 million) in repayable loans to the Private Infrastructure Development Group to expand financing options for sustainable and gender-inclusive infrastructure in Africa and Asia.

On June 11, 2024, the EIB announced that it will provide Ukraine with a EUR100 million (US$107 million) loan to rebuild municipal infrastructure damaged by the war against Russia.

These funds, agreed at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin, will be used to rebuild schools, kindergartens, hospitals, social housing and local transport, in addition to ensuring essential services such as clean water and sanitation.

Calls for project proposals are set to be issued, inviting communities to submit applications for the reconstruction of health facilities, housing, education, water sector and shelters. The projects will prioritize liberated territories, areas close to conflict zones, and regions with large numbers of internally displaced persons.