Policy Updates

Each week, Donor Tracker's team of country-based experts bring you the most important policy and funding news across issue areas in the form of Policy Updates.

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BOND sets out manifesto for new UK government

March 24, 2024 | UK, Education, Agriculture, Gender Equality, Agricultural R&D, Nutritious Food Systems, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Family Planning, WASH & Sanitation, Climate, Global Health, Security policy | Share this update

On March 24, 2024, BOND published a new manifesto setting out the steps the next UK government should take to help deliver on the SDGs and work in solidarity with its partners.

The manifesto is based around seven key asks:

  • Act as a responsible and ambitious development partner. This includes returning ODA to 0.7% of GNI and providing new and additional resources for meeting global climate finance and ensuring the ODA program is headed by a cabinet-level minister with dedicated and well-resourced staff;
  • Create an equitable and sustainable international financial system that works for people, nature, and the climate. This includes supporting a UN sovereign debt workout mechanism to deal with unsustainable debt in lower-income countries, pursuing an ambitious MDB reform agenda that increases their provision of resources and makes their governance more representative, and supporting a universal UN Framework Convention on tax;
  • Recommit to the SDGs and ‘leaving no one behind. This includes ensuring UK development programs focus on those most in need, promoting gender transformative approaches to sustainable development, acknowledging care as an economic issue and a right and build the care economy in line with the 5Rs framework{title"recognition, reduction, redistribution, representation and reward"} for care work, and scaling up efforts to deliver universal access to basic services;
  • Do our fair share to tackle the global climate and biodiversity crises. This includes ensuring all ODA is aligned with the Paris Agreement, providing genuinely new and additional grant finance for the Loss and Damage Fund;
  • Develop a new approach to UK trade and private sector investment. This includes introducing new legislation that mandates companies, the financial sector, and the public sector operating in the UK to carry out human rights and environmental due diligence. It also holds them to account for failures, reduce the volume of UK funding being used to capitalize BII until it reforms to ensure it does more to contribute to poverty reduction;
  • Promoting stability, security and effective crisis responses. This includes providing the UK’s fair share to support humanitarian crises, championing locally led approaches to anticipatory crisis prevention, action and resilience, establishing a prevention-focused national security outlook which focuses on preventing crises as well as responding to them; and
  • Protect and promote rights, freedoms and civic space. This includes prioritizing meaningful partnerships with human rights defenders, including indigenous communities, women, LGBTQI+ advocates, migrant rights advocates and environmental defenders, removing restrictions on civil society campaigning domestically, and working with other governments to reverse restrictions on civic space in public debate and policymaking.
Report - BOND

Canada, UK launch new climate resilience projects Africa, Asia-Pacific regions

March 11, 2024 | Canada, UK, Agriculture, Climate, Global Health, Gender Equality | Share this update

On March 11, 2024, the CLARE partnership between the UK and Canada’s IDRC launched 17 research projects designed to build climate resilience and reduce vulnerability in LICs and LMICs, valued at CAD180 million (US$133 million).

The research projects aim to support socially inclusive and sustainable action to build resilience to climate change and natural hazards in African partners and the Asia-Pacific region. Researchers in recipient countries are leading or co-leading the research, which will embed gender equality and inclusion principles and will address a wide range of climate change issues in the fields of agriculture, health, urban adaptation, water security, among others.

Press release - International Development Research Centre

Watchdog finds 55% of UK international climate finance to be disbursed in 2025-26

February 29, 2024 | UK, Climate | Share this update

On February 29, 2024, ICAI, the UK’s international assistance watchdog, released its rapid review of the UK’s international climate finance commitments.

The review found that 55% of the UK’s GBP11.6 billion (US$13.9 billion) ICF commitment will not be disbursed until the last two years of the pledge.

The review also found that GBP1.7 billion (US$2.1 billion) of existing funding was recounted as ICF spending, due to a change in counting methodology. In essence, existing climate-related core contributions to multilateral development banks are included alongside 30% of humanitarian programs operating in the 10% of countries most vulnerable to climate change.

Due to the delay in disbursements and changes to the counting of ICF, estimates of the commitment's prioritization in the ODA budget have been significantly reduced from 83% reported in July 2023 to 28% in 2024, reducing potential trade-offs between climate funding and other priorities.

The review also recommended that the UK government:

  • Should produce a detailed plan for meeting its ICF commitment;
  • Clarify through which channels the funding will be allocated and disbursed, e.g., multilateral, bilateral, research;
  • Clarify how much funding will be spent on adaptation; and
  • Publish annual reports on the progress made towards meeting its commitment.
Report - ICAI

Norfund joins partnership to launch climate-focused guarantee company to mobilize US$1 billion in climate finance

February 2, 2024 | Norway, UK, US, Climate | Share this update

On February 2, 2024, it was announced that Norad joined the partnership launching the GGC launched on the London Stock Exchange, alongside the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, USAID, the GCF, Prosper Africa and the FCDO's MOBILIST program.

The GGC will provide guarantees for institutional investors buying green bonds on the London Stock Exchange, as well as green bonds in the private credit market.

Norad has invested NOK52 million (US$5 million) in the GGC. By 2035, the GGC aims to mobilize US$5 billion in climate financing for partner countries. The launch comes as the IEA urges low- and middle- income countries to increase their investment in renewables by 700% to continue economic growth while limiting the effects of climate change.

News article - Panorama (in Norwegian)

UK - Japan 21st Century Committee set to hold 40th joint meeting

January 29, 2024 | UK, Japan, Climate, Global Health | Share this update

The UK-Japan 21st Century Committee is set to hold its 40th joint meeting from February 2-4, 2024, focusing on key topics including bilateral foreign policy, international security, climate change and energy, global health, and AI.

This event continues the tradition of high-level dialogue and cooperation between the two nations. Originally established in 1985 by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and Japanese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone, the UK - Japan 21st Century Group, formerly known as the UK - Japan 2000 Group, serves as a vital platform for fostering mutual understanding and collaboration. Comprising leaders from the private sector, public sector, and civil society, the group’s annual conferences alternate between the UK and Japan, addressing a wide range of critical issues from educational and cultural exchange to global security and economic policies.

At the 39th joint meeting in January 2023, held at the University of East Anglia in the UK, key discussions revolved around recent political and economic developments in both countries, global health challenges post-pandemic, and the evolving security landscape, particularly in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The conference also delved into economic security, emphasizing the need for resilient supply chains and cooperation in the face of global economic disruptions. Cooperative dialogues, rooted in shared values and strategic interests, underscored the group’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the UK - Japan partnership in various global contexts.

Press release - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (in Japanese)Report - Prime Minister’s OfficeReport - 21st Century Group

UK government to strengthen management of Blue Planet Fund, ensure poverty focus

January 19, 2024 | UK, Agriculture, Nutritious Food Systems, Climate | Share this update

On January 19, 2024, the UK government announced that it has accepted all the recommendations made by the ICAI's review of the Blue Planet Fund, which included GBP500 million (US$599 million) in ODA for a DEFRA-managed fund aimed at protecting the marine environment and reducing poverty in low- and middle-income countries.

The review also recommended:

  • Improving DEFRA management of the fund and appointing more staff to manage the fund;
  • Strengthening cross-government strategic oversight over the fund. The UK government will conduct a rapid review to explore how to strengthen the functions of the JMB, the FCDO and DEFRA body responsible for oversight of the fund;
  • Focusing all programs under the fund are focused on poverty reduction as their primary focus. DEFRA has committed to commissioning a review of the global evidence base on the linkages between poverty, and protecting and restoring the marine environment; and
  • Ensuring greater effort is made to engage partner stakeholders in the programming process. DEFRA is committed to ensuring that partner voices are heard in all future programming.
Press release - UK government

UK pledges US$80 million to IFAD replenishment

December 27, 2023 | UK, Agriculture, Nutritious Food Systems, Climate | Share this update

On December 27, 2023, the UK government announced that it would commit GBP67 million (US$80 million) to the 2025-2027 replenishment of the IFAD.

IFAD is a UN agency dedicated to supporting those living in extreme poverty in rural areas. Nearly half of the world’s population lives in rural areas, and smallholder farmers produce 70% of the food in low- and middle-income countries.

UK Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell stated that the funding will boost food security, help alleviate poverty and support the environment. The UK has been a strong supporter of IFAD’s Adaptation for Smallholder Agriculture Program, which enables smallholder farmers to gain access to climate finance to support adaptation efforts and protect biodiversity.

Press release - UK government

FCDO publishes 2023 Global Food Security Summit Policy Paper

December 19, 2023 | UK, Agricultural R&D, Nutritious Food Systems, Climate | Share this update

On December 19, 2023, the UK government released a new policy paper entitled Global Food Security Summit 2023 Chair's Summary: towards zero hunger and ending malnutrition, which provided a summary of the key outcomes and announcements of the UK-hosted Global Food Security Summit, held in November 2023 in London.

The summit was organized around three key themes:

Thematic Area 1: New approaches to ending preventable deaths of children.

This session highlighted that nutrition is an essential part of UHC and called for the need to integrate nutrition services into primary health care. The session also called for a more coherent approach to addressing early prevention and detection of child wasting and highlighted the need for more sustainable financing to address the issue. Associated announcements at the Summit included:

  • The inauguration of Child Nutrition Fund, a new financing mechanism to scale up funding for child wasting. The UK pledged a further GBP16 million (US$19 million) to the Fund and Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives gave an additional US$8 million;
  • The publication of new WHO Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of Child Wasting;
  • The UK's announcement of a doubling of support under the Child Wasting Innovation Program, bringing their contribution to a total of GBP61 million (US$73 million). The program will run until 2030;
  • The UK's announcement of an additional GBP38 million (US$45.5 million) in investment in health and nutrition in Somalia over the next three years; and
  • The UK’s White Paper on International Development, published on the same day as the summit, also committed the UK to championing a new Global Compact on Nutrition.

Thematic Area 2: Anticipating and preventing famine and food security crises.

This session focused on the importance of prevention and anticipation strategies in countries facing the intertwined impacts of climate and conflict and the need to mainstream early warning systems. It also highlighted the need to scale-up disaster risk finance for fragile and conflict-affected states and ensure that flexible social protection systems are in place that can respond to shocks. It recognized the crucial role of civil society in crisis response and women’s empowerment as key to tackling food insecurity. Associated announcements included:

  • The UK's commitment of up to GBP100 million (US$119 million) to respond to food security crises and their impacts on the world’s hunger and malnutrition hotspots;
  • The UK's commitment of GBP100 million (US$119 million) to improve climate resilience in Somalia;
  • The UK's commitment of GBP77 million (US$92 million) of humanitarian support to DRC’s food security crisis;
  • The UK's and other countries support to drive forward a process for unlocking International Climate Adaptation Finance for fragile and conflict-affected states;
  • The UK's and other countries support developing a partnership with the World Bank to better link Humanitarian Assistance and Social Protection to collectively address food insecurity; and
  • The UK’s White Paper also announced a new Resilience and Adaptation Fund to act alongside its humanitarian support.

Thematic Area 3: Building a climate-resilient and sustainable agriculture and food system.

This session focused on the need to support the transition to sustainable nutritious food plans, and systems via country, region-led and global initiatives, plans, and platforms. It also noted the need to use evidence-based approaches based on what has worked and called for more climate finance to be mobilized for agriculture, with a particular focus on supporting small-holder farmers. Associated announcements included:

  • The signing by the UK and other key governments of the COP28 Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems, and Climate Action;
  • The UK's further contributions to the GAFSP;
  • The UK's commitment of up to GBP45 million (US$54 million) in support over the next 5 years through the Just Rural Transition Support Program, in partnership with the World Bank
  • The UK's commitment of up to GBP39.1 million (US$47 million) for the Just Transitions for Water Security Program.

Thematic Area 4: Harnessing science and technology for food security.

This session highlighted the importance of science and innovation in supporting food security and nutrition and called for improved accessibility to the benefits of scientific and technological advancement. It focused on the need to support sustainable scaling up of research and innovation through consistent, stable political and financial support and innovative finance models. Associated announcements included:

  • The launch of the new virtual UK- CGIAR Centre for Science Collaboration and a UK commitment to provide an additional GBP45 million (US$54 million) of funding for the CGIAR, taking UK funding to a total of GBP110 million (US$132 million) for CGIAR over the next 3 years;
  • The announcement of a new program focused on Scaling Agriculture Investment in Digital, AIand Innovation;
  • New support to the Animal and Plant Health Innovation and Evidence Delivery Platform (GBP29 million (US$35 million)) including with CABI; and
  • The creation of a new Nutritious Food Systems Policy Research Platform to grow a global network of researchers and strengthen the evidence on improving nutritional outcomes throughout the food system (GBP25 million (US$30 million).
Government document - UK Government

Oxfam calls for UK Labour to center global solidarity in international development vision

December 13, 2023 | UK, Gender Equality, Nutritious Food Systems, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health, Family Planning, Climate, Global health R&D, Global Health | Share this update

On December 13, 2023, departing Chief Executive of Oxfam Great Britain Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah called on the UK Labour Party to ensure it puts global solidarity at the center of their international development policy.

Sriskandarajah noted the need to target ODA where it is needed and supporting strong public health systems. He advocated against UK ODA being used as a foreign and trade policy instrument and also advocated against the practice of counting in-donor refugee costs as ODA.

Sriskandarajah also called on the Labour Party to stop addressing development, climate, and migration as separate policy areas rather than interlocking issues. He recommended that Labour should work to dismantle vested interests blocking efforts to cut emissions, invest in helping refugees, and find innovative ways of raising funding to tackle big climate issues, including through fair-share pollution taxes and increased wealth taxes.

Sriskandarajah also called on the Labour Party to show leadership on debt relief for poor countries by enforcing private creditor responsibility through changes to UK law, supporting a new convention on tax to reduce tax avoidance, and responding constructively to growing calls for reparations by forging partnerships based on the pursuit of equitable development and racial justice.

The Guardian

US joins new public-private partnership to create US$1 billion climate guarantee company

December 4, 2023 | US, UK, Norway, Climate | Share this update

On December 4, 2023, during COP28, the US announced it would invest in a new public-private partnership to create a new privately-run climate guarantee company known as the Green Guarantee Company.

The Green Guarantee Company will be the first private company created to mobilize green bonds and loans in countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The US, through USAID, the US State Department, and Prosper Africa, is joining the UK, the Green Climate Fund, Norfund, and the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority to contribute US$100 million to the initial balance sheet of the Green Guarantee Company.

Experts estimated that the initial contribution will allow the Green Guarantee Company to raise US$1 billion in new climate finance capital by 2024. The US contribution is US$10 million. The Green Guarantee Company is slated to use its finances to de-risk private capital towards climate solutions.

Press release - USAID

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