Policy Updates

On September 30, 2024, JICA submitted its budget request for the 2025 fiscal year, aligned with its vision of Leading the World with Trust and focusing on human security and quality growth.

The budget proposal, based on Japan’s 2024 economic and fiscal policies, includes key priorities such as upholding a free and open international order, advancing international cooperation, promoting economic diplomacy, and enhancing efforts in the information age.

A total of JPY152.1 billion (US$1.1 billion) was requested for JICA operating and facility costs, an increase of JPY4 billion (US$28 million) from the previous year. This includes JPY150.5 billion (US$1 billion) for operating expenses and JPY1.7 billion (US$12 million) for facility maintenance.

JICA also requested JPY2.31 trillion (US$16.1 billion) for loan assistance projects, up by JPY300 billion (US$2.1 billion), to focus on supporting quality growth in low- and middle-income countries and addressing global challenges related to the 2030 Agenda and UN SDGs.

On September 23, 2024, on the margins of the UNGA, it was announced that Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will receive the Atlantic Council Global Citizen Award.

The Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards is the premier forum for world leaders, diplomats, the C-Suite, and the philanthropic, social, and entertainment communities to celebrate the highest expression of global citizenship. Former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, who received the award in 2015, is the only Italian prime minister to have recently received the award.

Meloni will be introduced by Chief Engineer at SpaceX and CEO of Tesla Elon Musk.

On September 10, 2024, the EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarčič announced that the EC is mobilizing additional EUR40 million (US$44 million) in support to Ukraine to prepare for the cold winter months.

The support will go to repair damaged infrastructure, ensure electricity and heating and provide shelter to those in need.

Out of this, EUR35 million (US$39 million) will be spent on humanitarian projects in Ukraine and EUR5 million (US$6 million) on supporting Ukrainian refugees and their host communities in Moldova.

On September 10, 2024, former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi released a report commissioned by EC President Ursula von der Leyen in 2023, which highlighted that the EU is losing economic ground, lagging in the green and digital transition, and facing vulnerabilities in defense and raw materials.

To address these challenges, nearly 200 recommendations were made to shape the priorities of the next EC. While the report placed a high value on partnerships, it emphasized aligning international cooperation with the EU’s strategic interests, particularly in securing resources like raw materials and advancing the EU’s industrial and trade objectives.

The report also called for Europe to mobilize EUR750-EUR800 billion (US$831-US$886 billion) annually to stay competitive with the US and China. Draghi suggested focusing EU funding on high-impact projects, reducing programs, and increasing flexibility.

Experts noted that the report is likely to influence the upcoming long-term budget and external action. Avenues for change include a more transactional approach to development assistance, as well as an expansion of Global Gateway to support the diversification of supply chains, advance the EU’s and European industry’s strategic interests, and support infrastructure investment worldwide.

Draghi highlighted R&D and innovation as central to advancing the EU’s competitiveness. The report called for a doubling of the research budget, which might benefit GHRD, although through the lens of improving competitiveness and addressing domestic societal challenges.

On September 10, 2024, the EC and Canada launched the EU-Canada Health Policy Dialogue, reinforcing their commitment under their Strategic Partnership Agreement to collaborate on AMR, health security, and NCDs.

The dialogue aims to share knowledge, scientific evidence, and best practices to advance people’s health.

Key priorities included:

• AMR: Both parties will strengthen collaboration to combat AMR, ahead of the UNGA’s High-Level Meeting on the topic. The main focus includes AMR surveillance, the One Health approach, and incentivizing new antimicrobial developments;
• Health security: Joint efforts are intended enhance global pandemic preparedness and response, leveraging the WHO’s role and advancing frameworks like the International Health Regulations and Pandemic Agreement. The intersection of climate change and health will be an additional focus; and
• NCDs: Focus areas include cancer and mental health, with plans for knowledge exchange on cancer prevention and mental health service accessibility.

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.

On September 5, 2024, UK Minister for Africa Lord Ray Collins announced that the UK would be making a GBP25 million (US$30 million) investment in the African agri-sector to boost production and strengthen food security in the face of climate threats.

The minister announced the funding during his keynote speech at the AFSF in Rwanda. The funding will be allocated to AgDevCo, a UK-based African agribusiness investor. The funds will go towards its new US$50 million facility called AgDevCo Ventures. The new facility will focus on supporting small African agricultural enterprises, emphasizing African-owned and managed businesses.

The funding is expected to result in an increase in income of GBP128 million (US$153 million) for recipients by 2036.

On September 6, 2024, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosted a reception marking 75 years of the modern Commonwealth and called for the organization to focus on driving economic growth as well as tackling the climate crisis and education at its October Summit in Samoa.

Lammy noted that the UK considers a revived Commonwealth as vital to ensuring the government’s vision of reconnecting Britain with the world, calling on the family of nations to work together, draw on its diversity, and tackle the challenges of our time.

Lammy outlined that the Commonwealth should focus its attention on three key areas:

• Supporting economic growth: the combined GDP growth of the Commonwealth’s nations is expected to double from 2017 levels by 2027, and increasing investment flows are needed to take advantage of this. At the summit in Samoa, Lammy and other members will launch a comprehensive plan to boost investment and harness technology for all to enable shared and sustainable growth;
• Tackling the climate emergency: Lammy highlighted the need for coordinated action with partner countries to ensure a sustainable future for all. He emphasized the need to raise ambitions on the Climate Finance Access Hub and to do more to protect Small Island Developing States; and
• Boosting education: Lammy noted the importance of focusing on education. He emphasized the need to support more scholarships and learning amongst the Commonwealth nations, highlighting that 60% of the Commonwealth’s population are under 30 years old.

On September 5, 2024, South Korean Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs Ki-hwan Kwon met CEO of Gavi Dr. Sania Nishta to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the South Korean government and the organization.

Kwon recognized the active participation of South Korean companies in the international health procurement market through Gavi, accounting for 11% of Gavi’s total vaccine procurement last year. Dr. Nishtar expressed her hope to expand collaboration with the South Korean government and companies in the implementation of the next Gavi 6.0 Strategy, which will run from 2026-2030.

The BMGF and the Open Philanthropy Foundation hosted a luncheon seminar on South Korea’s contributions to global multilateral health cooperation with Dr. Nishtar. Dr. Nishtar introduced Gavi’s work to officials from the government, industry, and international organizations working in the country and called for a social consensus on funding.

On September 5, 2024, USAID Administrator Samantha Power introduced a long-awaited policy on locally led humanitarian assistance which speaks to the challenges of trying to work directly with local partners in providing humanitarian assistance.

The policy outlined five objectives:

• Increasing direct funding to local organizations;
• Strengthening USAID's ability to partner with local actors;
• Increasing capacity and learning among humanitarian groups;
• Elevating local leadership; and
• Using diplomatic and policy leadership to better advocate for locally led humanitarian assistance.

Although the US, as with other Grand Bargain signatories, had pledged to provide 25% of its funding directly to local actors, Power stated that the challenges of humanitarian assistance has meant that the US has only provided 1% and 2% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. The goal remains to reach 25% of direct funding by 2025 and to have 50% of local activities be led by local actors by 2030.