The government’s Global Partnerships Conference on international development takes place in London today. The event – hosted by the UK and South Africa – aims to transform the approach in the field, from moving beyond aid to supporting lower-income countries to attract investment.
Maria Finnerty, Lead Economist from Catholic aid agency CAFOD, said:
“With the UK’s Presidency of the G20 coming up next year, this conference is a step towards Britain showing the global leadership needed to address development challenges. The climate and development crises are undermining growth both for the UK and our global South allies. As a financial superpower, Britain has a historic opportunity to help shape a fairer and more functional global economy. Without addressing issues like the global South debt crisis, in which UK laws play a central role, we will not see sufficient progress.”
For more information or interview requests, please contact:
Rosalind Mayfield, CAFOD Media Officer
Melissa Nethersole, CAFOD Media Officer
CAFOD’s out-of-hours media line
CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and part of Caritas Internationalis, working with communities across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America to fight poverty and injustice, including those worst hit by climate change. The agency works with people in need, regardless of race, gender, religion or nationality.
CAFOD is funded mainly by voluntary donations from people in the Catholic community of England and Wales. We also receive funding from fellow Catholic charities and development agencies, the DEC, trusts and foundations, and the UK and other governments.
This briefing paper examines the shift needed from using local actors’ presence to enabling their authority by reorganising financing, partnership, coordination and risk-sharing.
