The InterAction G8/G20 NGO Coordination Group believes this year to be a crucial turning point for international environmental, development and economic goals and has produced a series of policy briefs that will be shared within the community, with the U.S. government and international partners.

Canada is the host for the Summits, happening June 25-27. Leaders of the world’s largest economies will convene to discuss some of the most pressing problems facing our planet. The first one and a half days are dedicated to the G8 Summit in Huntsville, Ontario. The G20 Summit will immediately follow, 150 miles south in Toronto. The agendas have not been finalized, but we anticipate the G8 agenda will include maternal and child health; climate change; accountability, including water, AIDS and food security; the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); fragile states; and nuclear non-proliferation. The G20 agenda is expected to include accountability for existing agreements; financial regulation; financial sector reform; exit strategies and stimulus programs; climate financing; trade; protectionism; and growth strategies.

InterAction Policy Briefs

  • Accountability: Permanent, Robust, Credible, Public and Inclusive
    Without a transparent monitoring and accountability mechanism, it is impossible to determine if G8 and G20 countries have actually delivered on previously made commitments. A monitoring process was started in 2007 for health and expanded to include corruption, education, water and sanitation, Africa and food security in 2008. InterAction applauds these steps, but also urges the G8/G20 to build a robust, credible, public and inclusive accountability framework by continuing the existing working groups focused on these issues. Their missions, and the affiliation of all experts, should be made public. In preparing reports on implementing commitments, expert groups should be mandated to seek input and comments from other international organizations, governments and civil society. Moreover, they should (1) comprehensively evaluate resources pledged and delivered, (2) provide on-the ground monitoring of program implementation and outcomes, and (3) include time tables for future actions.
  • The Global Economic Crisis: Where’s the beef?
    The world’s poorest countries had no hand in creating the global economic crisis, and yet continue to suffer the consequences through high unemployment rates, food and fuel crises, and deteriorating climate conditions. G20 countries are urged to fully deliver on the $50 billion pledged to help low-income countries mitigate the impact of the economic crisis this year. Aid mechanisms should be transparent and accountable, including the use of anti-corruption measures and online quarterly reports that track aid actually delivered. International financial institutions must protect developing countries by delivering resources in the form of grants or debt relief only, in order to avoid accumulation of unsustainable debt and stimulating a new debt crisis. Finally, the G20 needs to commit to reforming both financial institutions and markets by halting the risky activities of hedge funds, “vulture funds,” off-balance sheet transactions, and credit rating firms.
  • Global Health: Universal, Accountable and Country Led
    The G8 should be applauded for its decision in 2009 to improve accountability on its global health commitments and to build on the revised “Toyako Framework for Action on Global Health.” However, to improve the health of the global poor, multilateral organizations and other G8/G20 countries should commit to at least double investments in maternal, newborn and child health, thus filling the funding gap with an additional $10-13 billion needed per year. That is the only way to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 (child mortality) and 5 (maternal health), which remain off-track from meeting MDG 2015 goals. G8 countries need to honor their commitments to reaching MDG 6 (HIV/AIDS and malaria) and to providing universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and care. They also must make up the $5 billion shortfall in the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Finally, G8 leaders should promote country-led health MDGs, which is in line with commitments pledged by the 2009 Summit, the President’s Global Health Initiative and the Paris Declaration.
  • Global Safe Drinking Water and Sanitation
    Water and sanitation related diseases account for 80% of illnesses in developing countries, killing more than 2 million people a year and leading to 50% of the world’s malnutrition. Improving access to safe drinking water and sanitation would contribute to achieving each of the MDGs by 30% and prevent 28% of the deaths to children under the age of five. Despite these facts, the issue continues to remain low on the international agenda, and many national agendas. The U.S. should lead other G8/G20 countries by example and create its own comprehensive strategy for water, sanitation and hygiene development assistance. This would follow the leadership it showed in 2005 with the bipartisan approval of the Senator Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act, which made water and sanitation a U.S. foreign policy priority. Since only 23% of aid for sanitation and water supply reaches countries most in need, G8/G20 countries should participate in the Global Framework for Action on Sanitation and Water Supply (GF4A), so national governments, donors and other development partners’ aid can be more effectively coordinated.
  • Basic Education
    In order to achieve the Education for All (EFA) by 2015 goal, G8/G20 countries should commit to providing the annual $16 billion needed, as estimated by UNESCO. The U.S. can be a leader by re-launching the Fast Track Initiative (FTI) as an independent global financing mechanism for EFA that advances new sources of funding, engages all stakeholders, monitors commitments and extends its impact within low-income countries (LICs). The IMF must: promote programs for LICs employing counter-cyclical policies that expand public sector spending for education; expand inflation and deficit spending targets; and support countries’ macroeconomic models that incorporate public investment in education.
  • Food, Hunger and Agriculture
    Hunger and malnutrition are the first risks to global health, affecting over 1 billion people worldwide. The G8/G20 countries must effectively address communities, household emergencies and intermediate and long-term needs. At the 2009 G8 Summit in Italy, the G8 committed to disburse $20 billion over three years for food insecurity in developing countries. So far, resources from the U.S. and other donors have fallen short of the levels needed. A mechanism to track the disbursement of pledged funds must be established. G8 countries should also create a holistic response to hunger, supporting humanitarian assistance, social safety nets, nutrition and agricultural productivity programs. Participation of small farmers, particularly women, is also vital in developing sustainable agriculture markets and trade opportunities both at local and international levels. Civil society should be integrated as a full partner in planning and implementation of global food security programs and the reform of world institutions.
  • Climate Change
    Impacts of climate change are threatening the lives of the most vulnerable people across the world. Urgent action is needed now more than ever before. G20 governments must provide effective mitigation policies in order to keep the increase of global temperatures as far below 2° Celsius as possible. Moreover, G20 countries are urged to appropriate new and additional public funding to help developing countries adapt to the impacts of climate change, transition to clean energy economies, and reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation. Most of this funding should be directed through the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties (UNFCCC-COP). Finally, the G20 is called upon to advance global plans for expanding the diffusion and deployment of clean energy technologies.

Additional Resources

  • Muskoka Accountability Report 2010
    The Muskoka Accountability Report reflects the efforts of the G8 (Cananda, France, United States, United Kingdom, Russia, Germany, Japan, and Italy) to achieve a number of development-related commitments. It reports on G8 performance, assesses the reults of G8 action, and identifies lessons for future reporting.