Policy Updates

On April 14, 2024, the C7 published a statement ahead of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Capri from April 17-19, 2024, where the group called on the foreign ministers to take concrete action to promote human rights as well as the common interests of humanity and the planet.

The C7 advocated that the G7 ministers reaffirm their commitment to developing long-term peace-building strategies that address persistent structural challenges at the basis of conflicts, ensure food security even in fragile settings, and address a profound transformation of food systems. The group also called upon their governmental counterparts to ensure safe and regular migration channels and commit to protecting migrant rights.

On March 21, 2024, the French Ministry of Finance and Economy announced a contribution by FFEM and Conservation International of EUR2.5 million (US$3 million) to support biodiversity and respond to climate related crises in Amazonia.

The support is in addition to the previous commitment of EUR13 million (US$14 million) provided by the French Treasury to the region. It marked the first government funding entirely dedicated to safeguarding the Earth's vital reserves, which are crucial areas containing irrecoverable carbon stores and biodiversity in ecosystems like forests, mangroves, and peatlands. The reserves are pivotal in mitigating the most dramatic effects of climate change.

The project is an example of the Alliance for the Conservation of Rainforests that France helped to launch in 2019 with a threefold strategy: preserving, restoring and sustainably managing forests and their ecosystems. To achieve these objectives, the project is slated to collaborate with governments and with the Indigenous peoples and local communities who live in and are from the forest.

FFEM is dedicated to the global environment preservation through the co-financing of innovative pilot environmental projects in developing countries. It supports initiatives that generate local environmental, social and economic benefits. Created in 1994 by the French government, FFEM has co-financed 400 projects totaling EUR500 million (US$542 million) in grants, 70% of which are located in Africa and the Mediterranean region.

On February 27, 2024, 102 French NGOs signed an op-ed published in Le Monde.

The article called out France’s February 2024 budget cut of EUR742 million (US$804 million). CSOs argued the cut goes against Macron's 2021 Development Law, which set France on the path to acheiving a 0.7% ODA/GNI ratio. The article stated that by reducing its financial commitments, France had reduced its influence on the international stage at a time when it should be reaffirming its support to multilateralism and CSOs.

The article also underscored the impact that the cut would have on the poorest countries, highlighting projects across sectors that would be reduced or cut due to diminished funding.

Led by Coordination Sud President Olivier Bruyeron, signatures included:

• UNICEF France President Adeline Hazan;
• ONE France President Najat Vallaud-Belkacem;
• Action contre la Faim President Aïcha Koraïchi;
• Oxfam Director General Cécile Duflot;
• WWF Director General Véronique Andrieux;
• Secours catholique Director General Adélaide Bertrand;
• Mouvement pour le planning familial Director Sarah Durocher;
• Handicap International Director Manuel Patrouillard;
• Global Citizen Vice-President for International Advocacy Friederike Röder;
• Equipop Executive Director Aurélie Gal-Régniez;
• CARE France co-directors Emanuela Croce and Alexandre Morel;
• AMREF Health Africa Josselin Léon;
• Friends of the Global Fund Executive Director Hélène Berger; and
• Action Santé Mondial Director Patrick Bertrand.

On October 19, 2023, Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen pledged EUR780 million (US$827 million) in ODA loans and grants for Nigeria through the global Gateway program.

The funding was announced ahead of the 8^th Nigeria - EU strategic dialogue, which convened EU representatives and members of the new Nigerian government to discuss existing partnerships and new opportunities for cooperation. Key components of the support included:

• EUR116 million (US$123 million) in ODA financing agreements for global health, sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture, SRH and MNCH, energy access and renewable energy capacity, and education, all with a focus on supporting women and young people; and
• EUR600 million (US$636 million) in EIB loans for a green transportation project for inland shipping, with support from the AFD, support for SMEs, and renewable energy capacity.

October 16, 2023, which marked World Food Day, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs made a series of announcements concerning nutrition initiatives.

The initiatives included:

• The disbursement of EUR1 billion (US$1.1 billion) for food security in 2022, as part of its 2019-2024 international strategy for food security, nutrition and sustainable agriculture;
• The organization of the Nutrition for Growth Summit in 2024 or 2025, which aims to mobilize political and financial support for nutrition; and
• The organization of the 13^th IFAD replenishment, co-organized with Angola, which aims to mobilize funding for the organization for the next three years and to which France already committed US$150 million.

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs also detailed the organization of the first meeting of the Global School Meals Coalition, taking place in Paris. The initiative was launched in 2021 by the WFP, with the support of France and Finland, to offer every child in world access to necessary school meals by 2030.

On September 24, 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will commit US$150 million for IFAD in its 2025-2027 funding cycle.

The announcement was made during the Global Citizen concert, held in the margins of the 78^th UN General Assembly. France will host the 13^th IFAD Replenishment Conference in December 2023.

On September 10, 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke on the publication of the joint G20 communiqué in his speech during the G20 Summit in New Delhi, India, welcoming the African Union as a permanent G20 member and commenting on funding mobilization efforts.

Macron applauded the fact that the G20 goal of reallocating US$100 billion in SDRs from HICs to low- and medium-income countries had been surpassed, totaling US$108 billion. France exceeded its previous reallocation pledge, reallocating 40% of its SDRs totaling approximately US$7.5 billion. He emphasized France's central role with the IMF in launching and proposing this initiative.

On the objectives of the Paris Global Financing Pact Summit, Macron indicated that national PDBs and MDBs united in the FIC initiative succeeded in increasing public financing of development by US$200 billion. Macron also supported the agreement of the G20 to mobilize US$100 million in private resources for development financing.

Macron reiterated France's position supporting UN Security Council, IMF, and World Bank reform, which would see an increase in capital along with greater autonomy for LICs in exchange for shuttering coal consumption and extraction in certain regions.

Finally, Macron announced France will host the next IFAD replenishment conference, which will aim to mobilize US$2 billion to improve agricultural production systems in low- and medium-income countries. He also welcomed the attainment of the annual US$100 billion climate adaptation funding target.

On May 24, 2023, Civil Society 7 released its review of the May 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit.

The report looked at six topics, including the nuclear disarmament, climate and environmental justice, the transition to a fair economy, global health, humanitarian aid and conflict, and a resilient and open society, and presented the following findings:

• Nuclear Disarmament: The G7 summit did not focus on nuclear disarmament, and its leaders did not show any commitment to starting time-bound negotiations. While condemning Russia’s nuclear threats, they justified their own nuclear weapons as being for defense and deterrence;
• Climate and Environmental Justice: The G7 summit acknowledged the need to strengthen adaptation measures, enhance resilience support for vulnerable groups, and increase support to the most vulnerable countries for avoiding, minimizing, and addressing losses and damages. It emphasized the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, including non-CO2 gases, and reaffirmed commitment to global methane reduction efforts. However, the report argued that the G7’s approach to climate change, in particular its descriptions of fossil fuels, is far from ideal;
• Transition to a Fair Economy: The G7 summit prioritized “economic security” from its perspective rather than focusing on resolving challenges faced by partner countries. It aimed to decouple supply chains from China, but such decoupling could impose additional burdens on developing countries. The summit lacked strong commitments regarding debt restructuring, international negotiations, and debt cancellation. It also weakened the organization's stance on business and human rights;
• Global Health: The G7 summit fell short of expectations due to time constraints and limitations imposed by Japan. It failed to address intellectual property rights as a key factor in addressing the pandemic and ensuring equitable access to therapeutics. The summit lacked specific commitments, and its focus was more on ordering and reaffirming previous pledges rather than providing the required funding and technological contributions;
• Humanitarian Aid and Conflict: The G7 summit's commitment of US$21 billion in support, with particular focus on addressing food crises and prioritizing education, was welcomed. However, apart from this financial commitment, the summit lacked clear and concrete commitments. It failed to mention the importance of strengthening local leadership and access to humanitarian aid and protection; and
• Resilient and Open Society: The G7 summit did not address the concept of an open society or democracy in its statements. It neglected to discuss civic space and shrinking civil society, and its focus on democracy mainly revolved around countering information warfare. The summit did not address issues like digital space safety, fake news, freedom of expression, or topics covered in previous G7 meetings. The treatment of non-regular immigrants and their dire situations was a significant problem. The summit lacked references to freedom of expression and did not improve citizen participation or support for civil society organizations.

C7 aims to achieve a society envisioned by the SDGs that leaves no one behind, and its criticism of the G7 Hiroshima Summit was presented as a means of holding leaders to account for their role in building a better world.

The leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) assembled in Hiroshima from May 19-21, 2023 to discuss a wide range of global issues requiring immediate and long-term attention.

On May 20, 2023, the leaders released a communiqué outlining their commitments to the international community. Among other issues, the communiqué focused on infrastructure, humanitarian crises, climate change, global health, and gender.

Key commitments included:

• Mobilizing up to US$600 billion by 2027 for the G7 Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, also known as PGII;
• Investing US$21 billion to address worsening humanitarian crises including the global food crises;
• Pledges to mobilize US$100 billion in climate financing annually from 2020 to 2025 for mitigation actions and transparency on implementation;
• Coordinating efforts to enhance governance for health emergencies, promote sustainable health financing, launch the Pandemic Fund, and support LICs and MICs in implementing health regulations; and
• Strengthening gender equality and the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people through effective, multi-sectorial policies.

The G7 Hiroshima Summit 2023 was held during a tense period for both Europe and Asia. The leaders took a strong stance against further aggression and reconfirmed their commitment to promoting sustainable ODA and international collaboration.

On May 5, 2023, French President Emmanuel Macron made public some new directions France will consider as priorities of its development policy at the Presidential Development Council.

The Council was the second of its kind since President Macron's appointment in 2017 and aimed to provide general priorities before more detailed objectives are provided in the upcoming CICID decisions and French Strategy for International Solidarity and Sustainable Investment.

According to the Elysée, the new strategy should consider ten priority objectives, including:

• Accelerating the exit from coal and finance renewable energy in partner countries to limit global warming to 1.5°C;
• Protecting carbon and biodiversity reserves in forests and the oceans;
• Investing in youth by supporting education and teacher training in developing countries;
• Investing in primary health systems and supporting the training of health care providers in fragile countries;
• Promoting innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa;
• Mobilizing expertise and private and public funding for strategic, quality and sustainable infrastructures in developing countries;
• Strengthening food sovereignty, notably in African partner countries;
• Supporting human rights and democracy and fight disinformation;
• Promoting women's rights and gender equality, in particular by supporting women's organizations and institutions promoting women's rights; and
• Helping partner countries dismantle illegal immigration networks.

According to the press release shared by the French presidency, the new French strategy will also aim to mobilize more private investment, notably in the fight against climate change and the protection of biodiversity.

The official date of the upcoming Inter-ministerial Committee for International Cooperation and Development has not been made public yet but it should take place soon after the Summit for a new global financial pact to be cohosted by France and India in Paris on June 22-23, 2023.