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‘A World For the Many, Not the Few’

Today, Labour published their much-anticipated ‘vision for international development’.

I attended the launch of this new policy paper this morning, which was introduced by the Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, Kate Osamor.

We hypothesised last year that ‘the politics is back in international development’; today’s launch confirmed this.

This is both a big, bold vision for international development and a serious plan for Government – alike in level of seriousness (but of course, not in approach) to David Cameron and Andrew Mitchell’s 2009 White Paper; and the ‘Conservative Vision for International Development’ published last year.

Whilst continuing to agree on a set of core principles – that our world class Department for International Development must remain independent; that our commitment to spend 0.7% of national income on aid is the right thing to do; and that we should be led by the Sustainable Development Goals – this level of challenge and debate is exciting, making for more creative and thoughtful policy.

It is also a very welcome reminder of just how marvellous it is that our parties fight over who can better help the world’s poorest people.

The 38-page document is brimming with ideas – far too many to cover in one blog, so I’ve pulled out below some of the most interesting proposals.

A whole of government approach

The vision places a very welcome emphasis on both the quality and effectiveness of UK Aid –in particular, challenging the rapid, untested growth in aid spent outside the Department for International Development (DFID) – and the coherence of UK development policy; promising ‘a whole of government approach’.

To this end, the paper includes a number of very welcome recommendations – which also feature in Save the Children’s flagship ‘Next Generation Aid’ report. Labour promises to:

  • establish a new Cabinet Committee on International Development – ensuring better scrutiny of non-DFID aid, and embedding that whole of government approach
  • freeze further increases in aid allocated to other government departments ‘until effectiveness and transparency requirements are met’ – and to build the capacity of these departments in the meantime
  • ensure DFID is represented on the government body responsible for sanctioning arms sales – putting an end to arms policies that undermine our development efforts
  • clarify that all ODA, regardless of the government department through which it is spent, is fully subject to the provisions of all international development acts.

Tackling inequality overseas

The paper builds on Kate Osamor’s existing promise to introduce a ‘second twin objective for all international development work and spending: not only to reduce poverty but also, for the first time, to reduce inequality’.

It contains a thoughtful look at how this might work in practice – including dedicating more technical support to middle-income countries where huge inequalities, and as a result massive poverty, still exists.

The below diagram summarises this approach, which is intended to soften our transition out of countries that are getting richer but still need a lot of support.

This is rooted in Labour’s welcome commitment  to ‘wholeheartedly back the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’, and the Leave No One Behind principle in particular.

As part of this commitment, the party has promised a full Labour Party member consultation on the SDGs. This kind of mass public consultation is an excellent way to ensure taxpayers are bought into the amazing the UK is carrying out overseas.

Public services

The party has also promised to invest more in public services, including Universal Health Coverage. While this is welcome, the accompanying promise to increase the proportion of aid going directly to partner countries needs further interrogation.

In many of the poorest countries, the state is not always a benign force in citizens’ lives; to ensure any increase in funding is genuinely spent on services that help the poorest, we’ve argued that a certain level of conditionality should be attached.

Legislative reform

Finally, Labour has promised to substantially amend the existing legislation to include a more direct link to inequality and the SDGs.

While the aim of this proposal is laudable, with our existing 0.7% legislation a subject of fierce debate, opening the prospect of new primary legislation is risky. It is critical is that we stick to our existing legislative commitments – whilst also ensuring that Government objectives align with the Global Goals.

However, all in all, this is a thoughtful, timely and policy-rich document – and interestingly, it has landed just ahead of the new development offer promised by the Secretary of State at this month’s Bond Conference.

The Secretary of State trailed many of the same themes in her speech – including a robust commitment to the Global Goals, and a joined-up, cross-party approach to development and foreign policy.

The Opposition has thrown down the gauntlet and we very much look forward to the Government’s response – long may this thoughtful, political debate continue!

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