Policy Updates

On November 11, 2024, sixty organizations and high-profile individuals signed an op-ed published in Le Monde regarding the cuts to ODA planned in the draft 2025 budget.

The article stated that in recent years France has shown leadership on international development by highlighting the commitments made by France towards international development. This included enshrining the 0.7% ODA target into law in 2021, initiatives such as President Jacques Chirac’s aviation levy, funding the global HIV/AIDS response in 2005, and Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande’s financial transaction tax which is earmarked for global health and climate.

The authors call on the government to protect France’s legacy on international development by reconsidering the draft budget’s plans to include a 35% reduction in ODA, as well as by ensuring the link between the above-mentioned taxes and revenues for international development is maintained.

On November 8, 2024, President Macron co-signed an op-ed defending solidarity taxes alongside the president of Kenya, William Ruto and Barbados Prime Minister, Mia Mottley.

On November 8, 2024, ahead of the world gathering in Baku for COP29 from November 11- 22, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared that France had exceeded its target of EUR6 billion (US$6.5 billion) per year of climate finance for the 2021-2025 period, a target set by French President Emmanuel Macron in 2020.

According to OECD data, France has provided EUR7.2 billion (US$7.8 billion) in climate finance to developing countries in 2023. EUR2.8 billion (US$3 billion) of total climate finance was directed to climate-change adaptation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs claims that France is one of few countries considered to be providing its fair share towards the collective goal of mobilizing US$100 billion per year until 2025.

In 2020, Macron committed to increase France’s climate finance target for developing countries to EUR6 billion (US$6.5 billion) per year for the 2021-2025 period, with one-third dedicated to adaptation. Over the 2020-2023 period, France provided an average of EUR6.97 billion (US$7.5 billion) in climate finance per year.

Within the EU, France is the second-largest contributor, accounting for 31% of European climate finance provided in 2023.

On November 5, 2024, South Korean Director of Development Cooperation Jong-han Park and French Deputy Director for Global Affairs, Ministry for Europe Jean-Sébastien Conty had the 3^rd Policy Dialogue to share the current status of their policies on international development cooperation, explore ways to cooperate in the Indo-Pacific region, and exchange views on resolving global issues such as global health and climate.

They expressed willingness to strengthen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and African regions, agreeing to revise the MOU signed in October, 2012 between KOICA and AFD to accelerate cooperation between the two development agencies.

The following day, November 6, 2024, South Korean Development Cooperation Support Director Eun-young Jeong and Director for Development and Open Societies, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Christian Rogg had the 10th Policy Dialogue to discuss the progress of practical cooperation between ODA implementing agencies.

This is the first face-to-face meeting between South Korea’s MOFA, MOEF, and the UK FCDO since the signing of the Korea- UK Strategic Development Partnership in November 2023. They agreed to continue to explore ways to cooperate in the key areas of the strategic development partnership including climate and environment, health, and development finance.

These two meetings are expected to further enhance the effectiveness of international development cooperation activities as they include both ministries in charge of grant aid and loans, respectively. MOFA and MOEF will continue to strengthen cooperation with major donor countries and make efforts to contribute to peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.

On October 11, 2024, Focus 2030 published a report evaluating France’s development policy which stated that while France has contributed significantly since 2017, with a 36% increase in its ODA, this ambitious commitment appears increasingly fragile.

The report stated that since 2023, France has made a shift in its international solidarity policy, marked by substantial budget cuts. The evaluation mentioned that in 2024, the state budget saw a reduction of EUR742 million (US$820 million). The 2025 draft budget proposes an additional cut of EUR1.3 billion (US$1.4 billion), totaling EUR2.1 billion (US$2.3 billion) in planned reductions for international solidarity efforts.

The report warned that the 2025 budget signals a political retreat from years of diplomatic efforts, including the potential elimination of innovative financing mechanisms, such as the Chirac Tax on financial transactions and airline tickets, which has been instrumental in funding development.

The report demonstrated that when France's public development aid supports high-impact instruments and projects, it is amongst the most cost-effective public policy.

The report warns that diverting France’s attention and efforts would risk triggering a ripple effect among other donors, reducing France's influence worldwide and particularly on the African continent.

On October 10 and 11, 2024, the G7's Health Ministerial Meeting took place in Ancona, Italy. The discussion focused on three overarching priorities: Global Health Architecture and Pandemic Preparedness and Response, healthy and active aging, and the One Health Approach.

The G7 Health Ministers Communiqué, released at the end of the meeting, highlights the G7's commitment to supporting SDG #3 through universal health coverage, primary health care, and sexual and reproductive health. This also includes maternal, neonatal, child, and adolescent health, strengthening the global health architecture by investing in PPR, promoting regional manufacturing of health products, and equitable access to quality health services.

The communiqué emphasized the health-related impacts of conflicts with a reference to the crises in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon, and Sudan. Furthermore, in the communiqué, the G7 Ministries committed to continue to support Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and the Global Fund, whose replenishment processes will occur in the upcoming months.

The Civil 7 engagement group, a platform through which civil society can engage with the G7, reacted with a communiqué in which they expressed an appreciation for the re-commitment to ending HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria through robust support for the Global Fund in its replenishment next year. This support is crucial to ending the three epidemics as agreed upon in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Finally, the G7 Health Ministers also adopted a policy brief on the opportunities presented by AI for both healthcare providers and patients.

On October 10, 2024, France’s draft budget was presented to parliament, including a EUR1.3 billion (US$1.5 billion) cut to the ODA budget.

The cut represents a 23% decrease in the ODA mission compared to the 2024 budget law, from EUR5.7 billion (US$6.3 billion) in 2024 to EUR4.4 billion (US$4.9 billion) in 2025. The ODA mission accounts for about half of France’s total ODA and is the “core of French aid,” providing resources for bilateral and multilateral organizations and projects through grants and loans.

In addition, the draft budget intends to put an end to France’s innovating financing for ODA. Until now, part of the Financial Transaction Tax and the Solidarity Levy on Airplane Tickets was automatically allocated to the Solidarity Fund for Development each year, totaling EUR738 million (US$816 million), to support France’s financing for multilateral instruments, such as the Global Fund, IFFIm, Unitaid, the Green Climate Fund and the Global Partnership for Education. 100% of the proceeds of both taxes will now fund the general budget.

These innovative finance mechanisms had mobilized a growing amount of ODA funds over the years. The decision to remove them has been taken to respect a law passed in 2021 to restrict the use of pre-allocated taxes.

On October 4, 2024, in an op-ed published in Jeune Afrique, 80 heads of NGOs called for France to recommit to ODA after facing criticism for its retreat from supporting the world’s poorest populations, with proposed budget cuts threatening to reduce ODA by nearly EUR2 billion (US$2.2 billion).

The tribune states that this move contradicts France's commitment to allocate 0.7% of its GNI to international solidarity, as included in the 2021 development law. This commitment remains unfulfilled, as current ODA stands at 0.5%.

The article highlighted the increased global needs exacerbated by climate change and conflict, emphasizing that humanitarian assistance and social development is crucial. The article argued that instead of cuts, France should explore alternative funding sources, such as the financial transaction tax, to reinforce its commitment to solidarity and support vulnerable communities worldwide.

The signatories include the presidents and directors of Médecins du monde, Oxfam France, Action contre la faim, Handicap International, WWF France, Care France, Secours Catholique-Caritas France, Plan International, Coalition Eau, Solidarités International, Sidaction, Solthis, Planning Familial, ONE, Equipop, Coordination Sud, CCFD-Terre Solidaire, AMREF, AIDES, and Global Health Advocates.

On October 4 and 5, 2024, France hosted the 19^th International Francophonie Summit, where French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed heads of states and governments from the member countries of the OIF, as well as members of civil society.

French Secretary of State for Francophonie and International Partnerships Thani Mohamed Soilihi and French Secretary of State for Equality between Women and Men Salima Saa, with the Government of Quebec, announced the creation of a Francophone Network for Equality and Women's Rights. The network aims to strengthen the exchange of experiences and skills on topics of common interest, including the prevention and fight against violence against women, women's health, a culture of equality, the role of women in decision-making bodies, institutional strengthening for the integration of gender issues, and budgeting that incorporates equality.

The members at the summit signed a resolution on crisis situations, post-crisis recovery, and peacebuilding in the Francophone area. It reaffirmed the commitment of heads of state to peace, solidarity, and human rights, while condemning terrorism and extremism. The resolution emphasized the necessity of free elections and access to independent information, stressing international cooperation in digital technology and security.

The resolution denounced the critical humanitarian situation in Gaza and Sudan, calling for the protection of civilians, humanitarian assistance, and the defense of Lebanon’s independence and sovereignty. At the summit, resolutions were also adopted to support democratic transitions in Guinea, Gabon, and Mali, while emphasizing the importance of constructive dialogue. Finally, parties expressed support for peace efforts in Armenia and Azerbaijan, and solidarity with peoples affected by conflicts.

On October 4, 2024, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mélanie Joly and French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot issued a joint statement condeming Russia's war against Ukraine and reiterating their commitment to Ukraine and its people.

They highlighted the upcoming Ministerial Conference on the Human Dimension of Ukraine's 10-point Peace Formula which will take place in Montreal on October 30 and 31, with the aim of creating a roadmap with measures to support Ukrainian children who have become victims of the war. This effort is further facilitated through the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children, which is co-chaired by Canada and Ukraine, and receives support from France.

The statement also reiterated Canada's support for projects run by the UN, UNICEF, the WHO, the UNHCR, the WFP, and the CoE. France announced further financial support for the UN to this end, as well as support for Ukrainian CSOs.

On September 21, 2024, French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron opened a four day meeting for Peace in Paris organized by Italian NGO Sant'egidio.

The meeting was an opportunity to gather women and men of different religions, humanists, and intellectuals to discuss topics ranging from geopolitics to the future of democracy and artificial intelligence.

The meeting ended with a ceremony in front of the Notre Dame de Paris, where leaders from different religions signed a document calling for Peace.