270 likes | 392 Views
Doing development in a down-turn. Simon Maxwell. Preamble: on praxis in development studies The story so far: an evolving agenda of international development 2008: the year of the Call to Action But will the ‘project’ be derailed? The search for a new narrative
E N D
Doing development in a down-turn Simon Maxwell
Preamble: on praxis in development studies • The story so far: an evolving agenda of international development • 2008: the year of the Call to Action • But will the ‘project’ be derailed? • The search for a new narrative • Conclusion: what is to be done?
Praxis in development studies (a) The story-teller (b) The networker (c) The engineer (d) The fixer
The international think-tank The airline alliance model: ‘Policy code-sharing’ not not but
The story so far FAU 2007 Revisioning aid http://www.fau.dk/Konferencerapport_2007.pdf
Two ‘elephant’ issues • Is Paris enough? The missing discussion about aid architecture. • The new development agenda – beyond the MDGs.
Is it time to stand the aid architecture on its head? Multilateralism: only one quarter of all aid is multilateral, three quarters bilateral
‘New’ issues • China and the analytics of globalisation • Security and development • The shift from national development to global public goods
Implications for bilateral agencies? (a) Spyglass (b) Spigot (c) Spoon (d) Spanner
2008: the Year of the Call to Action on the MDGs • (July 2007: Gordon Brown in New York) • May: Business Call to Action; TICAD IV • June: EU Council • July: Hokkaido G8 • September: UN Call to Action Summit • November: FFD in Doha
Leaving mountains to climb Source: DAC
Watch out for the politics • Sector initiatives • More special purpose vehicles
What will derail the project? • The credit crunch • Slow growth/recession • House prices • Retail sales • Food prices • Oil prices • Budget deficits N.B. This is not an argument about de-linking
The problem Support for development is wide but shallow
When asked, people say that global poverty is important to them . . . Q I am going to read out a list of global issues. Using the answers on this card, please tell me how important or unimportant they are to you? % Important % Not important Disease War/Conflict Global poverty Climate change International migration Source: Ipsos MORI Base: 1,043 British adults aged 15+, 4-10 April 2008
But global poverty is not seen as a key challenge for Britain Q What would you say is the most important issue facing Britain today? What do you see as other important issues facing Britain today? Top spontaneous mentions Crime/ law and order Race relations/immigration NHS/Hospitals Economy Education/Schools Defence/Foreign affairs Housing Morality/Individual Behaviour Inflation/Prices Taxation Base: 1,037 British adults 18+, 21-26 Feb 2008 Source: Ipsos MORI Political Monitor
‘New’ issues • China and the analytics of globalisation • Security and development • The shift from national development to global public goods
When asked, people say that global poverty is important to them . . . Q I am going to read out a list of global issues. Using the answers on this card, please tell me how important or unimportant they are to you? % Important % Not important Disease War/Conflict Global poverty Climate change International migration Source: Ipsos MORI Base: 1,043 British adults aged 15+, 4-10 April 2008
Caution: the impacts on us are perceived to be negative • Refugees / asylum seekers coming to UK (67%) • Workers from developing countries coming to the UK for work (46%) • Ill feeling towards the UK, resulting in terrorism (44%) • By leading to conflict and war (41%) • Damage to the earth’s environment (27%) • Increasing risk of tropical / other diseases (25%) • UK public donations / government funds going overseas (24%) Base: 1,256 British adults 16+, July 2006 Source: DFID Public Attitudes Towards Development, July 2007
Conclusion • Messaging • Spending • Institutions
Messaging Construct a narrative relevant to both North and South which • is anchored in a framework of global social justice; • celebrates the progress being made on the MDGs; • and builds political momentum behind the Call to Action; but also • recognises the need to manage our engagement with markets; • mobilises a range of economic, diplomatic and military resources to tackle global threats; and • engages internationally to make sure global institutions work better than they currently do.
Content • Better instruments • Better geographies