Policy Updates

On June 20, 2024, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron attended the Gavi Investment Opportunity and AVMA launch in Paris, France, and pledged to reallocate GBP49 million (US$58 million) to Gavi’s newly launched AVMA through reallocated COVID-19 funding already committed to Gavi.

Co-hosted by Gavi, the African Union, and France, the event saw Gavi lay out its investment case for 2026 and 2030 and call for US$9 billion in new donor funding.

The UK did not make an early pledge to Gavi’s new replenishment, unlike the US, France, Spain, and some philanthropic providers, which committed a total of US$2.4 billion. Gavi is set to engage in an intense period of fundraising with a view to hosting a final pledging event in 7 to 12 months.

Since the creation of Gavi, the UK has invested GBP5.5 billion (US$7 billion) in the organization, helping to vaccinate over a billion children and save millions of lives.

The UK did not provide an early pledge to Gavi's 2026-2030 replenishment.

On June 13, 2024, at the Global Leaders Forum in Geneva, Switzerland, the Spanish State Secretary for International Cooperation Eva Granados announced a special pledge of EUR1.5 million (US$1.6 million) to UNCTAD.

Spain’s development leadership participated in this high-level event, which commemorated the 60^th anniversary of UNCTAD, together with other development ministries and world leaders.

Granados underlined the importance of strengthening the global governance for sustainable development. She also made the case for the critical role of the private sector, trade and innovative financial sources to advance towards the 2030 Agenda.

The Spanish new pledge will be channeled to UNCTAD’s Global Crisis Response Group on Food, Energy, and Finance.

On May 31, 2024, the Spanish Minister of Economy, Trade and Business Carlos Cuerpo announced that Spain will step up the impact of SDRs through the IMF and the World Bank Group, increasing its SDR allocations for the IMF’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust by US$1.5 billion.

The contribution is aimed at fostering climate policies in low- and middle-income partner countries. It marked an important signal in support to the Bretton Woods institutions.

Cuerpo encouraged other countries to support financial institutions and make additional pledges to Resilience and Sustainability Trust, as well as to the IDA's 21^st replenishment.

On May 20, 2024, Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation José Manuel Albares presented a new development cooperation program, titled Masar Al’an (‘Masar Now’) at an official event held in Madrid.

The Spanish foreign ministry and AECID seek to strengthen sustainable development in the MENA region. It encompasses an initial budgetary envelope of EUR4 million (US$4 million) in 2024, aimed at strengthening socio-economic opportunities for youth and women, promoting gender equality, protecting biodiversity, and fostering climate change adaptation in sectors such as rural development and fisheries.

AECID will work in collaboration with UN agencies as well as EUI, including the Union for the Mediterranean and the European Institute for the Mediterranean.

On April 25, 2024, German Development Minister Svenja Schulze and the development ministers of Brazil, South Africa, and Spain called for taxing billionaire wealth during the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, addressing key issues like decarbonization and fiscal constraints.

During the Spring Meetings, discussions centered on pressing issues including advancing decarbonization efforts, combating climate change, and addressing fiscal constraints for heavily indebted countries to invest in poverty alleviation, social services, and global public goods.

On April 16, 2024, the Spanish cabinet approved a new voluntary contribution of EUR2 million (US$2 million) to the Organization of American States, aimed at strengthening human rights and democratic institutions in the Latin America and the Caribbean region.

Director of AECID Antón Leis made the announcement during a visit to the organization's headquarters in Washington DC. Leis underlined the importance of the partnership between Spain and the Organization of American States, particularly with regards to the AECID’s Programa Democracia, which is focused on improving political representation, protecting human rights, and fostering political and social dialogue in partner countries.

AECID's contribution was EUR 2 million (US$2 million) in 2023.

On March 27, 2024, the MAECE announced that 26 tons of food supplies were successfully delivered to Palestinian population in the Gaza strip.

The joint humanitarian operation was coordinated between the Spanish ministries of foreign affairs and defense and co-funded by the EU, and aimed at shore up food security for people individuals by the armed conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

From 2022-23, Spain tripled its ODA to Palestine. In 2023, Spain provided the Palestinian population with up to EUR50 million (US$54 million) and, from this amount, EUR20 million (US$21 million) were channeled through the UNRWA. In 2024, Spain has contributed with EUR24 million (US$25 million) to UNRWA.

On March 21, 2024, the EU announced a contribution of EUR268 million (USS$290 million) at the EU - LAC High-Level Event on Inclusive Human Development and Equitable Access to Health Products.

Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Uprilainen announced the investment, made in cooperation with France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden. The finance aims to mobilize EUR1 billion (US$1 billion) to support access to basic social services and rights and increase the transparency and accountability of government agencies.

The contribution was made in line with broader :abbrEU - CELAC cooperation, which aims to mobilize over EUR45 billion (US$49 billion) from 2024-2027 to support the SDGs and other efforts in the region.

On March 20, 2024, the EU and the Belgian Council presidency announced a joint contribution of EUR14 million (US$15 million) for the African Medicines Agency and launched three global health partnership programs.

The support, announced at the high-level event on EU – AU partnership on Global Health for equitable access, comprised EUR10 million (US$11 million) from the Commission and EUR4 million (US$4 million) from Belgium. The support aims to advance the establishment of the African Medicines Agency, particularly as an end to strengthening vaccine production and health innovation.

In addition, the event marked the launch of three Team Europe initiatives on:

• Sustainable Health Security, which aims to increase PPR among African partner countries, with a specific focus on AMR and other infectious diseases, and will receive EUR128 million (US$129 million) from the 2021-2027 budget;
• Support to Public Health Institutes in Africa, which aims to bolster UHC and reduce health access inequalities and received an allocation of EUR50 million (US$54 million) from 2024-2027; and
• Digital Health, focusing on reducing health disparities and advancing UHC and PPR through technological and practical innovation, which received EUR87 million (US$94 million) from 2024-2027.

On March 13, 2024, just a few hours after snap elections were announced to be held in the Catalonia region by mid-May 2024, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that his cabinet renounced its approval of the 2024 general state budget.

The 2024 budget approval had previously been delayed due to the political stalemate resulting from the Spanish general elections held in July 2023.

Sánchez’ minority government, which relies on several political parties, including Catalan and Basque secessionist parties, to pass key laws, planned to present the 2024 budget bill by the end of March 2024. However, the new and unexpected election in the Catalonia region led to the renunciation. The Spanish government will now focus its efforts on the approval of the 2025 general state budget.

The 2023 state budget, in light of the government's decision, will continue to apply in 2024. Spain’s ODA spending for 2024 is therefore slated to remain roughly at the same level as 2023, which was approximately US$5.4 billion, or 0.34% ODA/GNI. The target of increasing Spain’s ODA/GNI to the DAC target of 0.7% by 2030, as underlined in the new Law for Sustainable Development and Global Development, may be more difficult to achieve due to the budgetary effects of the decision.

ODA envelopes managed by different Spanish ministers and administrative units, including MAEUEC and AECID, will also remain at the same financial level as 2023.