Policy Updates

On August 26, 2024, the Development Policy Centre at the Australian National University announced its 2024 Australasian AID Conference, to be held from December 3 to 5, 2024, at the Crawford School of Public Policy in Canberra, focusing on a range of sectors and aimed to support development within the research community and promoting collaboration.

The conference is Australia’s largest annual meeting on international development and normally attracts some 600 participants, including researchers from the Pacific, Asia, and Australia.

The Development Policy Centre also planned to host a 2024 Pacific Migration Workshop on September 3, 2024. The workshop will focus on issues including climate resilience and mobility, as well as the economic dimensions and social implications of migration.

Submissions are open until August 30, 2024, to propose possible panel events and papers.

On August 26, 2024, Japan’s MHLW introduced its Global Health Vision, a comprehensive strategy designed to address global health challenges while reinforcing Japan's domestic healthcare infrastructure.

The vision emphasizes collaboration with international organizations such as the WHO and the World Bank, alongside a commitment to strengthening health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

The key components of the strategy are:

• Establishing the UHC Knowledge Hub: Set to launch in Japan by 2025, the hub will serve as a global center for supporting UHC initiatives in low- and middle-income countries, providing expertise and capacity-building resources in collaboration with WHO and the World Bank;
• Building an international strategy for strengthening drug discovery infrastructure: Japan aims to revitalize its drug discovery base by fostering international collaborations, particularly in next-generation biopharmaceuticals. The initiative focuses on supporting startups and enhancing the research-to-development pipeline through a robust 'Drug Discovery Ecosystem';
• Strengthening collaboration between the JIHS, ASEAN, and ACPHEED: Japan plans to focus on preparation and response to future health crises through expert exchanges and joint initiatives;
• Building an Indo-Pacific health strategy: Japan is committed to developing a health strategy that strengthens collaboration with Indo-Pacific nations, particularly in areas such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices, geriatric care, and the international deployment of Japanese healthcare practices;
• Ensuring a stable supply of pharmaceuticals as economic security by diversifying supply chains for active pharmaceutical ingredients, ensuring stable supplies even during international disruptions;
• Bolstering appropriate contributions to international organizations and GHIs: MHLW will continue to engage actively in global health diplomacy, contributing to G7 and other multilateral discussions while increasing bilateral policy dialogues; and
• Strengthening the governance of MHLW's international department and the international health human resource strategy: The vision includes measures to strengthen governance within MHLW’s international divisions and expand Japan's presence in international organizations by increasing the number of Japanese professionals in global health roles.

The strategic vision reflects Japan's commitment to addressing global health challenges and domestic issues by leveraging international collaboration. By focusing on areas such as UHC, drug discovery, and health crisis management, Japan aims to enhance its role as a global health leader while ensuring its healthcare system remains resilient and innovative.

On August 25, 2024, the Norweigan Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized their significant contribution to global health initiatives, and is actively involved in response to the mpox outbreak.

In 2023, Norway contributed over NOK700 million (US$68 million) to the WHO, including NOK300 million (US$29 million) for humanitarian health responses. Additionally, Norway supported the WHO's Health Emergency Fund with an annual contribution of NOK50 million (US$4.8 million), enabling rapid responses to health crises like mpox, and contributed NOK110 million (US$10.7 million) to the World Bank’s Pandemic Fund.

According to Norwegian Development Minister Anne Beathe Kristiansen Tvinnereim, Norway has been actively strengthening international preparedness, response, and global health security, highlighting the need for increased international coordination, financing, and regulation.

On August 23, 2024, Canadian Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen reaffirmed Canada’s solidarity with Ukraine and announced nearly CAD16 million (US$12 million) to support children and family services and address urgent humanitarian needs.

The funding includes:

• CAD10 million (US$7 million) over 5 years to UNICEF for a project that helps support the reintegration of Ukrainian children returning from neighboring countries, including those displaced and illegally transferred to Russia. The funding will enhance quality family-based care options and child protection services for vulnerable children; and
• Nearly CAD6 million (US$4 million) in humanitarian assistance to provide shelter, WASH, emergency health and protection services, including child protection and GBV mitigation and response.

On August 22, 2024, it was announced that in 2023, ten of the largest Norwegian CSOs achieved record revenues of NOK17.8 billion (US$1.7 billion), an increase of NOK2.1 billion (US$204 million) from the previous year.

This surge is primarily attributed to substantial funding for Ukraine and other prolonged humanitarian crises. The Norwegian Refugee Council led with over NOK8 billion (US$780 million) in income, supported by Norwegian authorities and international donors.

Despite this, the organization reported a small deficit, with NOK7.7 billion (US$750 million) directly spent on humanitarian efforts. Red Cross and Save the Children also saw significant revenue growth, driven by increased global assistance, particularly to Ukraine.

On August 22, 2024, the EU released an allocation of EUR122 million (US$111 million) in humanitarian, food, nutrition, and WASH assistance to the Greater Horn of Africa in response to the impact of regional conflicts, drought, and floods.

Funding will be allocated to the EU’s partners as follows:

• EUR42 million (US$38 million) to Ethiopia;
• EUR40 million (US$36 million) to Somalia; and
• EUR40 million (US$36 million) to South Sudan.

The EU also allocated EUR35 million (US$31 million) to West African countries facing political instability, food insecurity and displacement, assisting them to meet essential needs, including food, healthcare, and shelter for displaced and vulnerable communities.

Funding will be dedicated to partners as follows:

• EUR10 million (US$9 million) to Burkina Faso;
• EUR8 million (US$7 million) to Mali;
• EUR8 million (US$7 million) to Niger;
• EUR1 million (US$1 million) to Mauritania;
• EUR5 million (US$4 million) to Nigeria; and
• EUR3 million (US$2 million) to the countries in the Gulf of Guinea.

On August 22, 2024, UK Minister for International Development and Women and Equalities Anneliese Dodds made her first overseas visit as minister to South Sudan and Ethiopia.

Dodds met with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske-Selassie and discussed UK support for peace and security, economic growth, and other critical development priorities across the region. She also met with AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye.

In South Sudan, Dodds called for urgent humanitarian action for the crisis-hit nation and for the government to progress towards holding free and fair elections. She also announced a GBP86 million (US$103 million) package of support for the most vulnerable in the region, including GBP15 million (US$18 million) of new funding for a program to tackle endemic GBV in the region.

On August 21, 2024, the UK Minister for Africa, Lord Ray Collins, announced new funding to tackle the outbreak of mpox cases in the DRC on his visit to the country.

The UK will provide GBP3 million (US$4 million) for a new partnership with UNICEF that aims to benefit 4.4 million people in affected countries. The funding follows the announcement by the WHO that the surge in mpox in Africa constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.

Collins noted that the UK is the world’s largest funder of flexible funding for WHO and the second-largest donor to GAVI. It is working with these two institutions to ensure access to pox vaccines in low- and middle-income countries.

On August 21, 2024, the IEA, a UK-based free-market think-tank, published a report entitled Robin Hood in Reverse which criticized the distribution of UK ODA.

The IEA noted that since 2019, the UK has invested in multiple projects benefiting wealthy areas within countries like China and Mexico. Some of these wealthy areas had a GDP per capita higher than the UK’s poorest regions. It identified 13 projects worth just under GBP3 million (US$4 million) where money had potentially been ‘wasted’ on these types of projects and regions.

Projects funded within these wealthy regions included an all-female traditional Chinese opera in Shanghai, a rural crafts exhibition in Shenzhen, and a temporary cycle lane and financial technology education in Mexico City. The richest recipient of UK ODA was the Ordos region in China, with a GDP per capita of GBP28,000 (US$33,000), higher than the GDP per capita of 69 UK regions.

The report called for the UK government to reevaluate its ODA priorities to ensure that UK taxpayer money supports the world’s poorest and is focused on fighting hunger, disease and eradicating poverty. The report recommended amending the International Development Act 2002 to require ODA to target regions with a GDP per capita equal to or below the OECD DAC’s cut-off for assistance eligibility.

On August 21, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze and German CSOs criticized the recent FPD proposal to abolish the BMZ and merge it with the AA.

Schulze noted she was not worried that the BMZ would be undermined and stressed the importance of continuing to represent German interests at the international level.

Other politicians also objected to the proposal, including the CDU/CSU parliamentary group's spokesperson for development Volker Klein, who emphasized that development policy needs to be represented at the cabinet table.

Observers of the British fusion of the development ministry with the foreign office pointed to negative consequences as a result of the measure, including a weaker British development policy and reduced British influence abroad.

The FPD proposal has not gained much traction politically. However, it came at a critical moment during renewed budgetary conflicts between the coalition partners.