International Development in a Contested World: Ending Extreme Poverty and Tackling Climate Change
Despite releasing a ‘International Development Strategy’ only 18 months ago, the UK released a new Development White Paper. It’s a long read (149 pages), but covers what role the UK cna play, the landscape, evidence of action, and why this is important. ODI shared “The document’s primary purpose appears to be draw a line under some of the more tubthumping rhetoric on development of the recent past … The case is made that a focus on ending extreme poverty (alongside climate and biodiversity) is in the UK’s national interest.“
Analysis:
- Oxfam have shared a helpful What to read on the new UK White Paper on International Development?
- The British Foreign Policy Group have shared their 10 key insights
- ODI have released their review with some great insights.
- The Guardian has done a great analysis of the China angle of the white paper, and the clear concern on Chinas role in Development.
InDev’s thoughts:
‘Indo-Pacific’ is mentioned a few times in the paper, but it’s not really a key focus.
Our main thought though is that there’s ambition in this paper; thinking about what the UK Development program can become and what it could acheive, how technology and innovation come into play, how investment and capital fits, and thinking on what the role of the UK is (including honest thinking on China). It’s certainly not perfect, but it’s good to see ambition in development.
Perhaps more ambition than a certain recent development policy closer to home…