Ending poverty is not impossible
We and millions of European and other ‘Western’ citizens are living in times of abundant pessimism and turbulence, dominated by social discontent, uncertainty over the future, and rising populism.
…
The G20 in the spa-town Baden-Baden
According to consistent press reports, drafts of the communiqué prepared for the G20 Finance Minister and Central Bank Governers at their forthcoming meeting at Baden-Baden on 17 and 18 March 2017 have dropped clear statements rejecting protectionism and competitive devaluation of currencies. Apparently, generic language about keeping “an open and fair international trading system” is to be substituted. Does this matter?
…
G20 are committed to the 2030 Agenda
One major objective of the German G20 Presidency is to make progress on realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) it enshrines. The 2030 Agenda is essential in order to tackle the most pressing domestic and global challenges the world is facing. Therefore, the 2030 Agenda should be understood as providing overarching guidance for all workstreams of the G20. By identifying collective and individual action, the G20 can contribute considerably to the implementation of the Agenda.
…
Gebraucht wird faire, kritische Berichterstattung
Es gibt im Grunde keinen Flecken mehr auf dieser Erde, über den man sich im World Wide Web nicht schlaumachen kann. An Informationen mangelt es längst nicht mehr, entwicklungspolitische Medien können da nicht mehr viel hinzufügen, dafür werden sie nicht mehr gebraucht. Ihre Aufgabe besteht heute darin, Orientierung zu schaffen in diesem Überangebot an Information.
…
Transactional deals on migration management
The EU is currently in the process of revising its overarching vision on development policy, the European Consensus on Development. This process requires an honest examination of some of the contradictions that have emerged between, on one hand, the EU’s development commitments and principles and its long-term interests in a building a genuine partnership with Africa for sustainable development, and, on the other hand, a growing trend towards using development aid for short term security and migration management priorities. These tensions are clearly highlighted in the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa (EUTF) which was established at the Valletta Summit in November 2015.
…