Policy Updates

On April 29, 2024, Norway was granted a board seat on the board of the Loss and Damage Fund.

The agreement to operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund, which will assist LICs particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, was passed during COP28 in 2023.

The board of the fund has now been decided and consists of 26 members. HICs countries have 12 members on the board, while LICs have 14. Apart from Norway, EU countries, the US, Japan, and the UK each have a full seat on the board.

The first board meeting is slated to take place between April 30 - May 2, 2024, in Abu Dhabi. In total, nearly US$700 million was pledged to start the fund during COP28. Norway has since pledged NOK270 million (US$25 million) to the fund.

Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim noted that climate disasters are expected to increase in the years to come and will continue to affect vulnerable LICs. She noted that Norway welcomes a financing solution, like the Loss and Damage Fund, in which can ensure the needed support for these countries. Tvinnereim underlined that Norway will do its best to make sure the fund is as targeted and efficient as possible.

On April 25, 2024, the PMI released its 18^th report on work with PMI partners to address malaria deaths, which have been cut almost in half since the PMI's inception in 2006.

USAID works with other stakeholders in 30 countries, most of which are in Africa, the WHO, other donors, community health workers, civil society, faith based organizations, and partner governments to prevent and treat almost 90% of all malaria cases. PMI is guided by PMI's Strategy 2023-2026, providing a range of preventions, including bed nets, insecticide for homes, pregnancy prevention treatments, testing, and malaria medicines.

The report noted that although great progress had been made, resistence to malaria medicines, the need to invest in community health systems and workers, and conflicts around the globe present a continuing threat to progress.

On April 24, 2024, the Norwegian government announced a new pledge of NOK430 million (US$39 million) in core funding to the WFP.

The Norwegian government noted that the WFP will be able to use the Norwegian support where it is needed the most.

According to Norwegian Minister of International Development Anne Beathe Tvinnereim, the WFP is one of the most important tools in the fight against hunger. By funding the WFP, Norway will be able to help reduce acute hunger and contribute to increased local food production.

On April 24, 2024, the UNDP announced that the Netherlands contributed EUR36 million (US$39 million) in core funding to the UNDP for 2024.

The flexible funding supports implementing the UNDP’s strategic plan for 2022-2025 to tackle multidimensional poverty, promote good governance, foster the rule of law, and champion gender equality globally.

The UNDP also highlighted positive results coming from its partnership with the Netherlands. With Dutch support, the UNDP is strengthening Ukraine’s capacity and use of advanced technology to manage mine action operations.

On April 24, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze launched an initiative backed by an initial $US26.6 million investment from the BMZ to increase employment and stability in the Palestinian territories.

Schulze announced the initiative following discussions with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah. The initiative came in response to the economic crash following the October 7 attack by Hamas in Israel and subsequent protracted conflict in Gaza. The unemployment rate in the West Bank has nearly tripled since the initial attack, reaching 40%. In response, the initiative's goal is to create around 25,000 new jobs and sustain existing ones in the West Bank and East Jerusalem through 2027, with an initial investment of EUR25 million (US$27 million) from the BMZ and more funding expected in the following years.

Schulze emphasized the urgent need for job creation and stability, particularly in light of the recent conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The initiative aims to address economic and social challenges faced by Palestinians, including restrictions on movement and access to work imposed by the Israeli government. It also seeks to support Palestinian businesses, especially those led by women and young adults, through measures such as cash-for-work programs and assistance for SMEs.

Schulze's visit to Israel included meetings with organizations providing psychosocial support to survivors of the October terrorist attack, highlighting broader humanitarian concerns in the region.

On April 24, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze offered support to businesses, both domestically and internationally, to comply with the EU's Supply Chain Directive, aiming to improve working conditions and environmental standards globally.

Schulze hailed the European Parliament's approval of the directive as a positive step for international development. The directive aims to improve working conditions and environmental standards in supply chains globally. Schulze emphasized the importance of fair competition across the EU and announced concrete assistance measures for both German companies and those in partner countries.

The BMZ is set to expand initiatives such as the Partnership 2030 program, focusing on connecting businesses and NGOs to promote responsible supply chain practices. The BMZ will also boost advisory services and establish local helpdesks in partner countries to support compliance with the directive's requirements. The efforts underscore Germany's commitment to fostering fair trade and sustainable development on a global scale.

On April 24, 2024, the AA and BMZ issued a joint statement supporting UNRWA's commitment to implementing recommendations from an independent review and pledged continued collaboration and financial support for UNRWA's humanitarian role in Gaza.

The AA and the BMZ welcomed the release of the report by the UN's Independent Review Group, led by former French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna. UNRWA committed to swiftly and comprehensively implementing the report's recommendations, building upon measures already taken in response to allegations raised by Israel. The German government engaged extensively with Israel, the UN, and other international donors concerning the allegations against UNRWA.

The statement underscored the urgent need to implement the Colonna report's recommendations promptly and emphasized the importance of strengthening UNRWA's internal audit, enhancing external oversight of project management, ongoing coordination of UNRWA staff lists with Israeli security authorities, and improving internal training.

The German government also expressed explicit support for Sigrid Kaag's new pivotal role as the central UN coordinator for Gaza, pledging full support. Against this backdrop and alongside these reforms, Germany is expected to resume cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza, in line with other countries including Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan. Germany will coordinate closely with its key international partners regarding further financial support, noting that UNRWA's short-term financial needs in Gaza are currently covered by existing funds.

Continuing immediate collaboration aims to uphold UNRWA's role in Gaza's humanitarian assistance, as other international organizations currently rely on UNRWA's operational structures in Gaza. The statement concluded by echoing the preceding G7 reaffirmation of the imperative for UNRWA and other UN agencies to fulfill their mandate fully amid Gaza's enduring humanitarian crisis.

On April 24, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze, speaking at the Petersberg Climate Dialogue, urged immediate global efforts in climate action, emphasizing the need for increased investment in mitigation measures and innovative financing mechanisms.

Schulze called for urgent climate action amid record heatwaves, storms, and rainfall, citing the urgent need to invest significantly more in climate mitigation. She highlighted successful initiatives such as World Bank reforms enabling an additional US$70 billion investment in climate action, and collaborations with non-traditional donors like the UAE in establishing the UN Loss and Damage Fund, emphasizing the necessity for innovative financing mechanisms to bridge the gap in climate investment. Schulze also endorsed the Brazilian G20 presidency's initiative to fairly tax billionaires worldwide to address the climate crisis.

On April 23, 2024, the government of Japan announced that it contributed an additional US$10 million to the WFP for food assistance operations in Gaza.

The funding will enable the WFP to distribute wheat flour to over 520,000 internally displaced people in Gaza, both within shelters and outside. Japan’s contribution forms part of its 'Emergency Grant Aid' and brings its total support to WFP operations in Palestine to US$21 million since the start of the conflict in October 2023.

A representative of the Japanese Ambassador for Palestinian Affairs emphasized the importance of this contribution in addressing the urgent food needs of vulnerable groups in Gaza, including women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

On April 15, 2024, outgoing Dutch Minister of Finance Steven van Weyenberg presented the Spring Budget, which showed that an additional EUR4.4 billion (US$4.8 billion) will be made available for military and humanitarian support to Ukraine for 2024-2026 and EUR800 million (US$870 million) was reallocated to cover IDRCs.

The funding is in addition to EUR3.4 billion (US$3.6 billion) in ODA allocated to host asylum seekers in 2023’s Spring Budget covering 2023-2027. The extra expenses are covered by windfalls from various budgets.

Dutch development Association Partos argued that by increasingly using ODA to host asylum seekers within the Netherlands, the current Dutch cabinet continues to make itself a major recipient of its developing money. Recent OECD numbers found that 17.7% of the Dutch development budget is spent domestically, and the new Spring Budget suggests this will increase to 20% in the coming years. Partos called on the Dutch government to ensure the development budget prioritizes tackling challenges such as hunger, poverty, and climate change elsewhere in the world, and to maintain a good international position.