an initiative by SEEK Development
Filter to your needs on the right
Search our database
October 11, 2024 | France, International development | Share this update
On October 11, 2024, Focus 2030 published a report evaluating France’s development policy which stated that while France has contributed significantly since 2017, with a 36% increase in its ODA, this ambitious commitment appears increasingly fragile.
The report stated that since 2023, France has made a shift in its international solidarity policy, marked by substantial budget cuts. The evaluation mentioned that in 2024, the state budget saw a reduction of EUR742 million (US$820 million). The 2025 draft budget proposes an additional cut of EUR1.3 billion (US$1.4 billion), totaling EUR2.1 billion (US$2.3 billion) in planned reductions for international solidarity efforts.
The report warned that the 2025 budget signals a political retreat from years of diplomatic efforts, including the potential elimination of innovative financing mechanisms, such as the Chirac Tax on financial transactions and airline tickets, which has been instrumental in funding development.
The report demonstrated that when France's public development aid supports high-impact instruments and projects, it is amongst the most cost-effective public policy.
The report warns that diverting France’s attention and efforts would risk triggering a ripple effect among other donors, reducing France's influence worldwide and particularly on the African continent.
October 11, 2024 | UK, France, Japan, Canada, US, Germany, Italy, EUI, Nutritious Food Systems, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Family Planning, WASH & Sanitation, Global Health, Global Health R&D | Share this update
On October 10 and 11, 2024, the G7's Health Ministerial Meeting took place in Ancona, Italy. The discussion focused on three overarching priorities: Global Health Architecture and Pandemic Preparedness and Response, healthy and active aging, and the One Health Approach.
The G7 Health Ministers Communiqué, released at the end of the meeting, highlights the G7's commitment to supporting SDG #3 through universal health coverage, primary health care, and sexual and reproductive health. This also includes maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health, strengthening the global health architecture by investing in PPR, promoting regional manufacturing of health products, and equitable access to quality health services.
The communiqué emphasized the health-related impacts of conflicts with a reference to the crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan. Furthermore, in the communiqué, the G7 Ministries committed to continue to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund, whose replenishment processes will occur in the upcoming months.
The Civil 7 engagement group, a platform through which civil society can engage with the G7, reacted with a communiqué in which they expressed an appreciation for the re-commitment to ending HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria through robust support for the Global Fund in its replenishment next year. This support is crucial to ending the three epidemics as agreed upon in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Finally, the G7 Health Ministers also adopted a policy brief on the opportunities presented by AI for both healthcare providers and patients.
October 10, 2024 | France | Share this update
On October 10, 2024, France’s draft budget was presented to parliament, including a EUR1.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) cut to the ODA budget.
The cut represents a 23% decrease in the ODA mission compared to the 2024 budget law, from EUR5.7 billion (US$6.3 billion) in 2024 to EUR4.4 billion (US$4.9 billion) in 2025. The ODA mission accounts for about half of France’s total ODA and is the “core of French aid,” providing resources for bilateral and multilateral organizations and projects through grants and loans.
In addition, the draft budget intends to put an end to France’s innovating financing for ODA. Until now, part of the Financial Transaction Tax and the Solidarity Levy on Airplane Tickets was automatically allocated to the Solidarity Fund for Development each year, totaling EUR738 million (US$816 million), to support France’s financing for multilateral instruments, such as the Global Fund, IFFIm, Unitaid, the Green Climate Fund and the Global Partnership for Education. 100% of the proceeds of both taxes will now fund the general budget.
These innovative finance mechanisms had mobilized a growing amount of ODA funds over the years. The decision to remove them has been taken to respect a law passed in 2021 to restrict the use of pre-allocated taxes.
October 4, 2024 | France | Share this update
On October 4, 2024, in an op-ed published in Jeune Afrique, 80 heads of NGOs called for France to recommit to ODA after facing criticism for its retreat from supporting the world’s poorest populations, with proposed budget cuts threatening to reduce ODA by nearly EUR2 billion (US$2.2 billion).
The tribune states that this move contradicts France's commitment to allocate 0.7% of its GNI to international solidarity, as included in the 2021 development law. This commitment remains unfulfilled, as current ODA stands at 0.5%.
The article highlighted the increased global needs exacerbated by climate change and conflict, emphasizing that humanitarian assistance and social development is crucial. The article argued that instead of cuts, France should explore alternative funding sources, such as the financial transaction tax, to reinforce its commitment to solidarity and support vulnerable communities worldwide.
The signatories include the presidents and directors of Médecins du monde, Oxfam France, Action contre la faim, Handicap International, WWF France, Care France, Secours Catholique-Caritas France, Plan International, Coalition Eau, Solidarités International, Sidaction, Solthis, Planning Familial, ONE, Equipop, Coordination Sud, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, AMREF, AIDES, and Global Health Advocates.
October 4, 2024 | France | Share this update
On October 4 and 5, 2024, France hosted the 19th International Francophonie Summit, where French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed heads of states and governments from the member countries of the OIF, as well as members of civil society.
French Secretary of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships Thani Mohamed Soilihi and French Secretary of State for Equality between Women and Men Salima Saa, with the Government of Quebec, announced the creation of a Francophone Network for Equality and Women's Rights. The network aims to strengthen the exchange of experiences and skills on topics of common interest, including the prevention and fight against violence against women, women's health, a culture of equality, the role of women in decision-making bodies, institutional strengthening for the integration of gender issues, and budgeting that incorporates equality.
The members at the summit signed a resolution on crisis situations, post-crisis recovery, and peacebuilding in the Francophone area. It reaffirmed the commitment of heads of state to peace, solidarity, and human rights, while condemning terrorism and extremism. The resolution emphasized the necessity of free elections and access to independent information, stressing international cooperation in digital technology and security.
The resolution denounced the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza and Sudan, calling for the protection of civilians, humanitarian assistance, and the defense of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty. At the summit, resolutions were also adopted to support democratic transitions in Guinea, Gabon, and Mali, while emphasizing the importance of constructive dialogue. Finally, parties expressed support for peace efforts in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and solidarity with peoples affected by conflicts.
October 4, 2024 | Canada, France | Share this update
On October 4, 2024, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot issued a joint statement condeming Russia's war against Ukraine and reiterating their commitment to Ukraine and its people.
They highlighted the upcoming Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-point Peace Formula which will take place in Montreal on October 30 and 31, with the aim of creating a roadmap with measures to support Ukrainian children who have become victims of the war. This effort is further facilitated through the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which is co-chaired by Canada and Ukraine, and receives support from France.
The statement also reiterated Canada's support for projects run by the UN, UNICEF, the WHO, the UNHCR, the WFP, and the CoE. France announced further financial support for the UN to this end, as well as support for Ukrainian CSOs.
September 24, 2024 | France, Italy | Share this update
On September 21, 2024, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron opened a four day meeting for Peace in Paris organized by Italian NGO Sant'egidio.
The meeting was an opportunity to gather women and men of different religions, humanists, and intellectuals to discuss topics ranging from geopolitics to the future of democracy and artificial intelligence.
The meeting ended with a ceremony in front of the Notre Dame de Paris, where leaders from different religions signed a document calling for Peace.
September 23, 2024 | France, Climate | Share this update
On September 23, 2024, newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot called for reform of the governance of the UN system at the Summit for the Future.
Barrot emphasized France’s commitment to multilateralism and being in favor of the UN Security Council reform. This included the expansion in categories of members, including promoting greater African presence.
Barrot highlighted the importance of technological expansion for future progress and how digital revolution can serve the SDGs. This will serve as his central priority at the AI Action Summit on February 10, 2025.
Barrot also committed to climate action and emphasized that France, Kazakhstan, and the World Bank are jointly organizing the One Water Summit in 2024.
France promoted a joint initiative with Mexico to regulate the use of vetoes in the event of mass atrocities, an initiative supported by 106 States.
September 10, 2024 | EUI, France, Spain, Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Global Health | Share this update
On September 10, 2024, the European Commission’s HERA facilitated the delivery of nearly 100,000 mpox vaccine doses to the DRC, marking the first shipment of its kind to the country.
An additional 100,000 doses are expected soon, contributing to the total of 215,000 vaccines pledged to combat the mpox outbreak in Africa. Team Europe will donate a total of 566,500 mpox vaccine doses to affected African countries, with contributions from France, Germany, Spain, Malta, Portugal, Luxembourg, Croatia, Austria, and Poland.
The EC also released EUR1 million (US$1 million) in humanitarian assistance to support care, prevention, epidemiological surveillance, risk communication and distribution of kits in the DRC.
September 4, 2024 | France, Global Health R&D, Global Health | Share this update
On September 4, 2024, five French NGOs published a communiqué that highlighted the threats of the mpox outbreak and the resulting health inequalities.
In the statement, AMREF, Global Health Advocates, Global Citizen, ONE and UNICEF stated that if the global community had acted earlier and with determination, the mpox outbreak could have been curbed and defeated. The statement asserted that despite early warnings, the crisis intensified, revealing a crucial need for vaccines and resources in Africa.
The statement highlighted that France can contribute to the eradication of the outbreak pandemic and strengthen health systems on an international scale by:
US$ amounts are cited directly from sources; in the absence of an official conversion, they are calculated using the previous week's average of the US Federal Reserve's daily exchange rates.
Need an overview of donor funding to a specific issue area?
Be the first to know. Get our expert analyses directly in your inbox.
Our team of country experts and analysts bring you fresh content every week to help you drive impact.
By clicking Sign Up you're confirming that you agree with our Terms and Conditions .
SEEK Development
The Donor Tracker is an initiative by SEEK DevelopmentContact
SEEK DevelopmentCotheniusstrasse 310407 BerlinGermany