Development Policy
Halt private investment vehicle, development leaders tell EU
A group of leading development NGOs have urged the European Commission to halt plans to expand its External Investment Plan (EIP), which seeks to leverage private investment in developing countries, according to a letter seen by EURACTIV.
Afghan poverty rises sharply since NATO combat troops’ departure
Poverty has risen sharply in Afghanistan since the departure of NATO's combat troops in 2014, with more than half of the population now living below the poverty line, according to a national survey.
Budget downgrades EU aid policy, say development experts
Development NGOs were united in criticising the European Commission’s proposed changes to the bloc’s external spending on Wednesday (2 May), warning that it effectively downgraded aid policy.
EU budget promises sweeping changes to development policy
The development policy community is anxiously awaiting an overhaul of the EU’s development budget and the instruments used to spend it, when the European Commission publishes its communication on Wednesday (2 May) for the bloc’s next seven year budget.
Market-making for Burundi’s farmers
One of the main causes of food insecurity for farmers in rural areas is limited access to agricultural inputs. Donors, NGOs and governments are using a variety of new tools to improve access to basic products.
The EU must put poverty reduction before corporate profits when financing development
The EU's plan to expand its External Investment Plan to finance development projects is not backed up by evidence, writes María José Romero and Isabelle Brachet.
Getting serious in the Sahel
Combating Islamic terrorism in the Sahel region has united Europe and the wider international community. Most attention has been focused on the G5 Sahel joint military operation which has been tasked with combating jihadist groups in the region.
The clock is ticking on malaria
With drug and insecticide resistance on the rise and slow progress in reducing cases and deaths, the clock is ticking on malaria. The EU must join other health leaders and scale up its efforts to fight the disease, writes Charles Goerens.
The EU had a great plan for Jordan – now it’s time to make it work
In order to help Syrian refugees, the EU must improve its deal with Jordan and deliver on its promise to boost Jordanian exports and refugee hiring, write Gideon Maltz & Cindy Huang.
Alert sounds on developing country debt
To fight corruption in the poorest countries, the European Parliament is proposing a code of conduct that makes the granting of loans conditional on monitoring by national parliaments. But the idea has not gone down well in Brussels. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Whose aid is it anyway?
To the generation brought up on the LiveAid and Live8 concerts, development aid is a moral obligation as well as a policy tool.
The European budget talks: Financial threat to a global Europe
Although talks on the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) might appear dull on the surface, we should force ourselves to take notice of them and emphasise the long-term importance of the external tranche of the budget, writes Susi Dennison.
French Development Agency gains momentum following relaunch
The French Development Agency (AFD) has financed over €10 billion in projects in 2017, an 11% increase compared to 2016. However, the share of grants in the development bank’s balance sheet is still very small. EURACTIV.fr reports.
Migrants in Serbia still face difficulties, EU official says
Migrants staying in Serbia are in a difficult situation and their integration into society should be enabled through education for minors and job opportunities for adults, a representative of the EU delegation to Serbia told EURACTIV.rs.
‘Silent, invisible’ malnutrition seen as threat to generations in Congo
Starving children are the glaring face of Congo's humanitarian crisis, but millions more people are suffering slow onset malnutrition which could have harmful effects for generations, the United Nations said on Thursday (12 April).
French development aid slowly increasing
France's development spending increased in 2017, but after years of successive decline, that has only returned it to 2012 levels. EURACTIV.fr reports.
EU aid spending slumps as refugee crisis recedes
Development aid to countries in the Global South stagnated in 2017, according to new figures published by the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) on Monday (9 April). It also showed a declining share of aid spent on refugees.
Commission announces €180 million to support refugees in Greece
The European Commission has announced new funding of 180€ million for aid projects in Greece, including the expansion of an aid programme for refugees. EURACTIV’s partner Euroefe reports.
Not enough done at EU level against imported deforestation
European imports of soy, cocoa and palm oil fuel deforestation in developing countries. The fight against the resulting collateral damage in Europe is complicated by agricultural interests.
Hunger is no longer someone else’s problem, says WFP’s Husain
Food insecurity is on the rise globally and is unlikely to subside soon. Arif Husain, the chief economist of the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP), says hunger and migration "are no longer somebody else’s problem, we have to work collectively.”
The Brief, powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) – The drugs don’t work
Ask someone in the Brussels bubble what the biggest breakthrough in improving global health would be, and they will probably talk about the need for effective vaccines for malaria, HIV/Aids and tuberculosis.
Africa takes steps to make medicine more affordable
Faced with the numerous difficulties of access to medicine in Africa, African states want to organise the market to increase local production, which currently accounts for 3% of world output.
Food insecurity on the rise
According to the United Nations, conflicts and droughts increase the number of food-insecure people in the world, many of whom need urgent help. EURACTIV’s partner Euroefe reports.