On 20 November, at the Global Food Security Summit in London, the Government launched a White Paper on international development entitled ‘International development in a contested world: ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change’. Much of what was outlined in the paper is welcome, including a commitment to scaling up climate adaptation spending and promoting universal access to health and education services, as well as the unambiguous declaration that ‘all young people, especially women and girls, should have the opportunity to access higher education and skills training’.
In addition, we also welcome the government’s explicit desire to ‘deepen co-operation within the Commonwealth’. The paper included a preface from the newly appointed Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron, in which he states that ‘today’s answer cannot be about rich countries “doing development” to others. We need to work together as partners, shaping narratives which developing countries own and deliver.’
As welcome as many of the proposals within the paper are, what the development community would like to see is renewed commitment to the UN guidance on overseas development aid (ODA) spending of 0.7% of Gross National Income, as soon as economic circumstances allow.
