Global Nation

💡 Cutting foreign aid isn’t just a moral failure – it’s a short-sighted mistake that will hurt donor countries.     In his latest piece for TRT World our director Hassan Damluji breaks down why slashing aid isn’t just impacting vulnerable communities—it removes crucial funding for reducing conflict, forced migration, and economic decline that will hit donor countries hard. Read the full piece here⬇️  https://lnkd.in/d3XkFfQP

In this edition of #SolidarityNotes, we bring the second part of our series on 'Crunch time for the middle powers' where Global Nation Director Hassan Damluji asks 'How would a global alliance to defend the principles of international order work in practice?'     Read now⬇️ 

💡 We kick off our new newsletter Solidarity Notes with a 3-part series! The current US-led world order was already fading, but we have now woken up to a world where the transformation is complete. In 'Crunch Time for the Middle Powers', Global Nation Director Hassan Damluji sets out why it is vital that a set of middle-weight countries seize this chance to reestablish rules.   🔗 Read the article and subscribe for more below: https://lnkd.in/dKC6v7eM

🇺🇸 What has US Foreign Assistance Achieved? 🌍💰 📌 A quick summary: ✅ The US has provided foreign assistance since 1946, initially focused on Europe’s reconstruction after WW2, creating a market for US products 📈 and a strategic ally 🏛️. ✅ In the last 20 years (to 2023), the US provided $872bn in Foreign Assistance—averaging 0.18% of GNI. ✅ Spending is concentrated on conflict-affected regions and strategic partners 🛡️. In 2022, 20.5% of Foreign Assistance went to Low-Income Countries. 💡 What has the US (and the world) gained for its money? 💼 Building Trading Partners & US Jobs 🌎 8️⃣ out of America’s top 10 trading partners were once foreign aid recipients. 📈 The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) has created hundreds of thousands of jobs 👷🏽♂️👩🏾💼, boosting US exports to Africa by 13% 🚀, supporting 120,000 US jobs. 💰 9 out of the top 20 fastest-growing economies are in Africa—offering huge investment opportunities for US businesses. 🤝 Building Allies 🛡️ Countries supported in the 1960s & 70s—like Chile, Costa Rica, South Korea, Taiwan, and Brazil—are now key US trade & defense allies. 🌎 The number of low-income countries dropped from 51 (1990) to 26 (2023). 📊 Building Prosperity 💵 In 2000, 1 in 4 people lived in extreme poverty—today, it’s fewer than 1 in 10 🙌. 📈 Aid at 5–10% of GDP can boost recipient country GDP growth by 1–1.5% while reducing poverty by up to 15%. 🤝 Every $1 USAID invests leverages $5 from the private sector, which generates 90% of jobs and 80% of government revenue in developing nations. ❤️ Saving Lives 🦠 AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 70% since 2004. 💉 Gavi has immunized 1B+ children, preventing 17.3M+ deaths. 👶 A child in a Gavi-supported country is 70% less likely to die from a vaccine-preventable disease before age 5. 🏥 The Global Fund has saved 65M lives—almost equal to the combined population of Texas & California. ⚕️ TB deaths down 36% and malaria deaths down 28%. 💵 Saving Costs & Generating Returns 💲 60% drop in the cost of fully immunizing a child since 2010. 📈 Every $1 invested in immunization brings $54 in societal benefits. 🔄 Every $1 in the Global Fund generates $31 in health & economic benefits. 📚 Building Healthy Economies 📊 PEPFAR-supported countries saw GDP per capita growth rise 50% faster. 🏫 School dropout rates fell for girls (9%) and boys (8%). 🏆 Building Self-Sufficiency 💉 19 countries have fully funded their own vaccination programs. 🌍 By 2030, 7 African nations (31% of the continent’s population) will graduate from Gavi support. 💰 Value for Money 🏦 The US is a top contributor to the World Bank’s IDA, which helps the world’s poorest nations. 🔹 Every $1 from the US to IDA mobilizes $27 in additional resources. For more information check out data.one.org The ONE Campaign U.S. Global Leadership Coalition (USGLC) #USAID #Development #Africa Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli

USAID enriched many Americans, not just poor Africans. "We have the diseases, they have the profits," says Winnie Byanyima. "It's mutually beneficial"

At this week’s Confirmation Hearing for the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, Senator Lindsey Graham asked nominee Russ Vought about the size of the international affairs budget, pointing out that at just 1% of the budget, it's "a critical component of defending America and our values." Here’s what the Senator had to say: 🔷 SEN. GRAHAM: Do you know how much money the State and Foreign Operations subcommittee spends on the State Department and foreign assistance?  🔶 VOUGHT: Off the top of my head, no I dont know what the allocation is. 🔷 SEN. GRAHAM: It's $69 billion. Now that's for the entire State Department, all our embassies, everybody, and the aid we provide to distressed places in the world. What percentage of the federal budget is that, do you know outlays? 🔶 VOUGHT: I believe ... it would be a small percentage compared to—  🔷 SEN. GRAHAM: It's 1 percent. Now having said that, try to save money, let's don't waste money, I'm a pretty hawkish guy--if you don't get involved in the world and you don't have programs in Africa where China is trying to buy the whole continent, we're making a mistake. So, it's 1 percent of the budget, you could eliminate it all, you're not going to balance the budget. I think soft power is a critical component of defending America and our values. I look forward to working with you to make that count better. But the concept of soft power means a lot to me, and that--that's coming from a pretty hawkish guy. Smart investments in development and diplomacy make up only 1% of our federal budget – but they have an incredible return on investment when it comes to protecting our security, our prosperity, and our values. 🎥 Watch the whole exchange here: #Diplomacy #Development #SmartPower #ForeignPolicy #InternationalAffairs

Enjoyed discussing how development finance can be strengthened to meet the challenges of these troubled times, at a think tank round table that welcomed The World Bank Managing Director for Operations Anna Bjerde plus: - Moazzam Malik of Save the Children UK - Daphne Jayasinghe of International Rescue Committee - Claire Melamed, of Global Partnership for Sustainable Development Data - Creon Butler of Chatham House - Rose Caldwell of Plan International - Kitty Arie of Results UK - Fola Komolafe MBE DL CMgr CCMI of World Vision UK - Annalisa Prizzon of ODI Global - Paul James of Publish What You Fund - Laura Kelly of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED)

I enjoyed writing this piece for Global Nation on the urgent challenges of the reconstruction in #Syria, for the benefit of all Syrians, and of the world. This must begin by addressing the issue of sanctions that were imposed on the Assad regime, and which governments are dragging their feet to remove, harming - perhaps irrevocably - the recovery process. Comments, feedback, and disagreement warmly welcomed! 😊

💡 NEW #SUBSTACK: Syria’s rebuilding can’t wait — the international community must act now    After 14 years of devastating conflict, #Syria faces a critical turning point. Over half a million lives lost, millions displaced, and an economy shattered—yet the international community has hesitated to take decisive action.   Mohamed El Dahshan, Senior Research Fellow at Global Nation and leading voice in post-conflict recovery sets out what is needed now from the international community. Political, economic, and social stabilization must happen in parallel. The world has a choice: support Syria’s path to stability and prosperity—or fail to act and watch opportunities for recovery fade.   👉 Read the full version here:  https://lnkd.in/dm4SY7t6 #Syria #conflict #sustainability

Blended finance isn’t working. Public resources dominate, private risks are minimal, and the SDGs remain off track. How do we align public-private resources with missions like decarbonization or universal healthcare? It’s time to rethink how public and private finance can deliver real impact. Our latest policy brief with United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs offers a blueprint for action ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eFNeZxVp Read my recent policy blog on the same topic with UNDESA Voice ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e97fp2sS Substack post out tomorrow ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gB-zY2Hv