faith in politics
international development
Background
- The financial crisis has caused economic growth in developing countries to plummet in 2009, trapping a further 46,000,000 people below the poverty line. High food costs have disproportionately hit the poor.
- The major international donors are failing to deliver the level of increased aid and debt relief that was promised at the G8 Gleneagles summit in 2005.
- Many developing countries continue to see a movement of people to cities. In 2010, globally, those living in rural areas will, for the first time, be outnumbered by those living in cities. Slightly more than one third of all people living in urban areas live in slum conditions.
Issues
- The global economy - Recession exposes the fragile nature of growth in weak economies and when the investment bubble bursts, thousands find themselves unemployed. The G20 agreed a global stimulus package of $1.1 trillion. Much of this will go to support middle income countries. Policy responses need to focus on wider issues of economic justice, such as better regulation for international business, countering tax avoidance and corruption and just trade rules to overcome protectionism.
- Trade - The collapse of the Doha Development Round of trade talks came about after developed nations failed to agree on measures to allow developing nations special leeway on tariffs to protect fragile economic sectors from cheap imports. Currently the EU is negotiating regional economic partnership agreements (EPAs) that the Trade Justice Movement claim will force through a liberalisation agenda that undermines healthcare provision and education for poor people.
- Debt - The Jubilee Debt Campaign has warned of a new debt crisis as developing country export revenues are hit by the global financial crisis. Of 43 economies that the World Bank identifies as most at risk from the crisis, 38 had been previously been identified by the Jubilee Debt Campaign as having unpayable levels of debt.
- Aid - All three major political parties are committed to honouring the UK pledge to ensure that we provide 0.7% of gross domestic product (GDP) towards international development by 2013. Some smaller parties have pledged to go further than this. There is greater divergence in policy concerning how the money is spent and through what channels. The Department for International Development has had a mandate to use aid to help alleviate poverty. Some are concerned that this may not remain the key priority above that of UK foreign policy and economic interests.
- Climate change - Many developing countries are already beginning to suffer the effects of climate change. There is widespread acceptance that developed nations who have contributed most to the increase in greenhouse gas emissions have a responsibility to help developing nations create sustainable low carbon economies and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Many are calling for a fund to be managed through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change or similar bodies, as this gives developing countries the greatest scope to determine how it should be used in accordance with their priorities.
- Conflict - Many of the world's poorest economies are suffering or emerging from conflict. The involvement of the major economic powers in internal conflict has a chequered history. In recent times agreement at the UN on the responsibility to protect and the establishment of the International Criminal Court offers hope that key human rights principles may have a greater bearing on the way in which states respond to conflict.
- Agriculture - Over the past 20 years funding for sustainable agriculture has fallen from 17% to 3% of official development assistance. In the context of climate change it is even more crucial that there is investment to improve the richness and productivity of the land including forests, watercourses and soils. However this must be combined with strong measures in each nation state to ensure that small farmers have security of land tenure and access to markets, information and improved infrastructure. The agricultural sector needs careful and sensitive development if the twin objectives of increasing food production and supporting small independent farmers are to be met.
Questions
- How best can we ensure that the alleviation of poverty, rather than foreign policy interests, is at the heart of UK aid and development policy?
- What reforms would you like to see of international financial institutions such as the World Bank and IMF?
- How can we ensure that UK development efforts support green growth and jobs?
- How can we best develop the livelihoods of small farmers and develop opportunities in rural areas?
Further information
Steve Hucklesby, Public Issues Policy Adviser,
The Methodist Church/Joint Public Issues Team
(Baptist, Methodist and URC)
Contact: email 
Website 
Please note: the views and analysis outlined in this paper are those of the author alone and do not constitute a statement of policy on the part of the organisation the author belongs to.
Faith in Politics: Acknowledgement and thanks
