Policy Updates

On August 13 and 14, 2024, Japan signed and exchanged notes for grant agreements totaling JPY1.6 billion (US$11 million) with several countries, including Togo, Gambia, Lesotho, South Sudan, and Palestine, focusing on food assistance.

The funds were outlined as:

• Togo: JPY250 million (US$2 million) to improve food security, particularly for rice, addressing issues stemming from inadequate agricultural infrastructure and economic challenges;
• Gambia: JPY250 million (US$2 million) to bolster food security, especially in rural areas affected by high food prices and climate change;
• Lesotho: JPY200 million (US$1 million), in collaboration with the WFP, to address severe food insecurity exacerbated by natural disasters and economic issues;
• South Sudan: JPY500 million (US$3 million), provided through the WFP, to address the country’s worsening food crisis due to floods and the return of refugees; and
• Palestine: JPY400 million (US$3 million) via the WFP to address the urgent food crisis in Gaza, exacerbated by ongoing conflict and economic challenges.

These initiatives align with Japan’s commitment to addressing food crises and supporting sustainable agricultural practices, as emphasized in the 2022 TICAD8 and the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit.

In August 2024, Japan signed a series of agreements to provide a total of JPY800 (US$5 million) in grants for food assistance through the WFP to Eswatini, Mozambique, and Guinea.

Japan will provide JPY200 million (US$1 million) to Eswatini to address severe food shortages caused by droughts, heatwaves, and floods, aiming to improve food security.

JPY300 million (US$2 million) is set to go to Mozambique to help alleviate hunger, particularly in the conflict-affected Cabo Delgado region, where over 1.5 million people face severe food insecurity.

Japan will provide JPY300 million (US$2 million) to Guinea to address rice shortages and enhance food security, especially after India's rice export ban.

These efforts are part of Japan's commitment to addressing food crises and supporting sustainable agricultural production, as pledged during the 2022 TICAD8 summit and the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit.

On July 24, 2024, UK Minister for Development Anneliese Dodds spoke at the G20 Development Ministers' Meeting in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and indicated the UK’s intention to join the Brazilian president’s Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, which she noted focused on action, sharing solutions, exchanging expertise, and unlocking much-needed finance.

Dodds highlighted that the UK has already contributed expertise to the work of the Global Alliance Taskforce and would also be happy to join the Board of Champions and bring in the UK’s global network of development, academic and civil society organizations.

Dodds also set out how the UK will modernize its approach to international development, noting that the UK government is intent on creating a world without poverty on a liveable planet, and to work in equal partnership with low- and middle-income countries.

On July 16, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced CAD41 million (US$30 million) in funding to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador, including CAD36 million (US$26 million) in development funding and more than CAD5 million (US$4 million) in humanitarian funding to support gender equality, economic empowerment, reproductive health, family planning, and health services.

The funding included:

• CAD11 million (US$8 million) to the Sabores de Honduras: Empowering Women and Youths in Coffee and Honey Value Chains project;
• CAD6 million (US$4 million) to the Tula Foundation’s Empowering Indigenous Adolescents and Women for Equitable SRHR in Guatemala project to reduce the rates of teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality among the Indigenous population;
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) for the Inclusive Economic Development project to increase the economic empowerment of women and youths in Guatemala;
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) for the Justice, Governance and Fight Against Impunity in Honduras project to increase access to justice for women and other vulnerable populations;
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) for the Improving Livestock Sustainability and Climate Adaptation project to empower members of cattle ranching families, particularly women, youths, and Indigenous Peoples;
• CAD4 million (US$3 million) for the Feminist Partnerships to Strengthen the Agenda for Gender Equality project to improve responses to threats against women’s rights and gender equality, particularly in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras; and
• CAD5 million (US$4 million) in humanitarian assistance to provide emergency food assistance, health, and protection services to the most vulnerable people in the region.

On June 28, 2024, based on a new report from the IPC, USAID Administrator Samantha Power raised concerns about growing acute food security reported in April and May 2024 in Sudan, along with dire projections for June 2024 through February 2025.

Power noted that the food insecurity crisis is historically severe, with more than half of Sudan's population facing severe levels of hunger, which are the highest levels ever measured.

Power pointed to the conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces and the inability to get humanitarian assistance to the region. Although the US and other partners are continuing to support the people of Sudan with provisions of food, malnutrition treatment, health care, and other assistance, especially to vulnerable populations, more is needed to assist the cross border assistance relief effort.

Power also called upon the warring factions to negotiate an immediate ceasefire.

On June 20, 2024, the G7's Accountability Working Group released the G7 Apulia Progress Report 2024: Advancing Sustainable Development in Africa.

The annual Progress Report is an accountability tool that monitors the implementation of the development policies adopted by the richest countries in the G7 framework.

The report reviewed progress on G7 development commitments from 2015-2022, showing increased ODA flows to Africa despite regional and global crises. G7 cooperation supported key areas such as economic transformation, food security, climate resilience, and gender equality. Significant initiatives included the African Continental Free Trade Area, the Global Shield against Climate Risks, and the Affirmative Finance Action for Women in Africa. The report emphasized the need for enhanced G7 cooperation with African partners, especially in addressing economic and climate challenges.

The Italian G7 Presidency selected Africa as the focus for the Report, recognizing the continent's significant potential for sustainable development and its crucial role as a partner in advancing progress towards achieving the SDGs, Agenda 2063, and the Paris Agreement.

On June 14, 2024, the second day of the G7 Summit, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced nearly CAD687 million (US$501 million) to strengthen sustainable agricultural, climate resiliency, and foster gender equality in low- and middle-income countries.

Within the funding was CAD200 million (US$146 million) to IFAD, including:

• CAD100 million (US$73 million) to reduce poverty and food insecurity while strengthening climate resilience, with a focus on poor, vulnerable, and rural communities; and
• CAD100 million (US$73 million) as a repayable contribution to IFAD’s Private Sector Financing Programme to support investments in the agricultural sector in low- and middle-income countries, especially in the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Asia.

Canada also announced new funding for the Indo-Pacific region, which is home to the largest number of climate-vulnerable people in the world. Funding included:

• CAD360 million (US$262 million) in repayable contributions to the ADB to establish the Canadian Climate and Nature Fund for the Private Sector in Asia to mobilize private capital toward inclusive climate change mitigation and adaptation projects; and
• CAD7 million (US$5 million) through the IDRC to build on Canada’s existing partnership with the UK to expand the IDRC’s AI for Development program for responsible AI innovation and capacity building in the Indo-Pacific.

Lastly, Canada announced new funding to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women, girls, and LGBTQI+ people, including:

• CAD100 million (US$73 million) in the International Finance Corporation’s Facility for Gender Equality, Resilience, Opportunity, and Inclusion Worldwide, which is expected to mobilize an estimated CAD470 million (US$342 million) in private capital for investments that empower women and promote gender inclusion; and
• CAD20 million (US$15 million) to TradeMark Africa and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation to help eliminate the gender-based barriers that prevent women from fully participating in opportunities afforded by the African Continental Free Trade Area.

On June 13, 2024, Norway announced a commitment of NOK1 billion (US$94 million) to support CSOs working to enhance food security in six African countries.

The funding aims to bolster local food production, preserve local seeds, and increase yields for smallholder farmers, particularly in regions vulnerable to food insecurity. Norway’s initiative emphasizes gender equality, aiming to reduce the food insecurity gap and enhance economic opportunities for women farmers.

Norad received 200 concept notes, from which 12 organizations were invited to submit full proposals. The proposals were assessed by experts and five were awarded support for five years. The selected organizations work in Niger, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Mozambique. The projects were listed as:

• The Royal Norwegian Society for Development in collaboration with NORCAP: Focus on rice production in Tanzania and cashew farming in Mozambique, received NOK200 million (US$19 million);
• Co-operative Development Foundation of Canada: Integration of agriculture and aquaculture in Malawi, received NOK170 million (US$16 million);
• PELUM Uganda: Development and conservation of local seed varieties in Uganda, Malawi, and Niger, received NOK175 million (US$17 million);
• SNV: Increase production of various crops and enhance farmer income in Tanzania, received NOK200 million (US$19 million); and
• Stichting IDH: Collaboration with the private sector to boost smallholder production and local food processing in Tanzania and Ethiopia, received NOK255 million (US$24 million).

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 12, 2024, Australian Minister for Youth Dr. Anne Aly announced that Australia would provide an additional AUD10 million (US$6 million) for humanitarian relief in Gaza to address urgent needs through the WFP.

Aly represented Australia at Jordan's Gaza conference in Amman, organized by Jordan, Egypt, and the UN.

Aly was born in Egypt and is the first Australian female federal parliamentarian of Islamic faith. Before entering Parliament, Aly worked as a lecturer, professor, and counter-terrorism expert.