Rev. Heather Taylor and Dr. Christine Sequenzia from Bread for the World attended the social summit in Brazil just before the G20 heads of state met this week. I was especially pleased by four outcomes from the G20 Summit.
First, the new Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty launched. Eighty-one nations joined before the launch, and more are in the process of joining. The website of the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty is now up.
My long-time colleague, Asma Lateef (now responsible for policy and advocacy at the SDG2 Advocacy Hub), reported, “I think the proof of the pudding will be once the secretariat is up and running. But it was great to see Bangladesh, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa talk about their commitments to the Alliance and one or more of the policy strategies the Alliance is promoting.”
In a panel discussion organized by Katherine Marshall of the Berkley Center at Georgetown University, my comments stressed the importance of the Alliance’s “board of champions.”
Second, there was progress in Brazil on the replenishment of IDA, the World Bank’s fund for low-income countries. President Biden attended the Summit, and the United States increased its IDA commitment by 14%. The Bank is aiming for commitments of more than $100 billion over three years. We’ll see if the Trump administration lives up to this commitment. Financing is critical to the renewal of global progress against hunger and poverty. The alternative would include increased frustration and violence around the world.
Third, the closing declaration from the Summit affirmed the World Bank’s fuller use of its balance sheet to expand its lending. Ajay Banga, the president of the World Bank, spoke at the Borlaug Forum in Iowa this fall, and explained their ambitious plans. These include a commitment to bring electricity to half of the 600 million people in Africa who don’t have access to electricity now.
Fourth, the G20 nations agreed to develop a Global Mobilization Against Climate Change, an initiative that will complement the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. President Lula of Brazil chaired the G20 Summit and will chair next year’s big environmental conference. He forcefully encouraged urgent action by all the G20 nations to make development sustainable and meet the internationally agreed climate goals.
During President Trump’s first term he withdrew the United States from the global climate-change agreement. If he does that again, the other nations of the world may move forward without U.S. leadership.
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