Center for Global Development

Statement Before The U.S. House Of Representatives Committee On Financial Services: Hearing on ...

Tue, 13 May 2008 16:00:00 GMT

Statement Before The U.S. House Of Representatives Committee On Financial Services: Hearing on Contributing Factors and International Responses to the Global Food Crisis. By Arvind Subramanian.

The Commitment to Development Index for Africa: How Much do the Richest Countries Help the ...

Mon, 12 May 2008 21:15:00 GMT

How committed are the world's richest countries to the development of Africa, the world's poorest continent? Rich countries are usually compared on how much foreign aid they give as a percentage of their GDP, but helping Africa involves much more than aid. CGD's Commitment to Development Index has long compared 21 rich countries on aid, trade, migration, and other policies that affect the entire developing world. In the new CDI for Africa, research fellow David Roodman trains the CDI methodology on rich countries' links to this one continent. While the results may not be what you expect, one message is clear: all rich countries could do much more to foster development in Africa.

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New RSS Feed: Global Development Policy News

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:45:00 GMT

Having trouble keeping up with the floodtide of global development policy news and views? Let CGD help! Each week, CGD media assistant Ben Edwards compiles Global Development Policy News, a selection of mainstream media reports and commentary on rich world policies and practices that affect poor people in developing countries.

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George Bush's Foreign Aid: Transformation or Chaos?

Mon, 12 May 2008 18:15:00 GMT

In her new book George Bush's Foreign Aid, Carol Lancaster analyzes the dramatic changes in U.S. foreign aid during the Bush administration, including increased spending; the use of aid to address failed states and the global war on terror; and the establishment of the Millennium Challenge Corp. and the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Lancaster analyzes the origins of these shifts, their promise, and their potential problems. Join us for what promises to be a lively discussion, with Lancaster sharing her conclusions and recommendations on the purposes and organization of U.S. aid for the future.

The Commitment to Development Index for Africa: How Much do the Richest Countries Help the ...

Mon, 12 May 2008 17:00:00 GMT

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Congressional Hearing: Contributing Factors and International Responses to the Global Food Crisis

Mon, 12 May 2008 14:45:00 GMT

House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank today announced the committee will hold a hearing entitled "Contributing Factors and International Responses to the Global Food Crisis" to examine the underlying causes of the current intense pressures on the world’s food system and focus on the immediate and urgent short-term humanitarian challenges to the crisis. A panel of leading world scholars, experts, and advocates representing a wide range of experience both within the U.S. government and at international organizations such as the UN, the FAO, the World Bank and the IMF will testify on the international food crisis on. The hearing will also focus on what kinds of trade policies and other interventions by governments, aid agencies, and international institutions -- including the World Bank, the IMF, and International Fund for Agricultural Development -- would be necessary and most effective in establishing a sustainable and secure food system that meets the basic food needs of all people.

Unwanted Rice in Japan Can Solve the Rice Crisis--If Washington and Tokyo Act

Fri, 09 May 2008 21:15:00 GMT

The loss of rice production in Myanmar is worsening the crisis in world rice markets, where prices have trebled this year. Meanwhile, Japan has 1.5 million tons of surplus rice, most of it imported from the U.S. Releasing this rice to global markets would prick a speculative bubble and bring rice prices down fast, while also encouraging China and Thailand to release their surplus stocks. But first Washington must lift its objections and Japan must decide to re-export rice that it imported from the U.S., Thailand, and Vietnam. Failure to act would mean that high-quality U.S. rice would be fed to Japanese pigs and chickens while millions of poor people suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Tom Slayton, a former editor of The Rice Trader, and Peter Timmer, CGD non-resident fellow and visiting professor at Stanford University, explain how prompt action could prevent the rice price crisis from becoming a hunger crisis.

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World Bank Power Projects: Crossroads on Renewable Energy (Slide Show Commentary)

Fri, 09 May 2008 18:45:00 GMT

David Wheeler offers commentary on slides that illustrate his forthcoming paper with Kevin Ummel on a dynamic strategy for developing solar thermal power as a cost-competitive alternative to coal-fired power. They have presented versions of these slides at a number of conferences and policy workshops during the past two months. This is a summary of the forthcoming paper and its conclusions.

Sailing Calm in a Stormy Sea? Latin America's Response to Global Financial Turmoil and the Food ...

Fri, 09 May 2008 17:30:00 GMT

Latin America is showing strong resilience in the midst of a number of adverse global shocks, running from the financial turmoil in the US and other advanced markets to the rise in oil prices and the food crises. Indeed, in most Latin American countries, local banking systems remain sound, corporations remain liquid and export growth remains strong thanks to high commodity prices. But we must ask, are the good times in the region helping to build the foundations for long-term growth? Or will the region face a reversal of fortunes after the international environment stabilizes? Can the region effectively deal with the increased food prices that are hurting the poor the most? Can we still talk of a Latin American region or have countries become so differentiated that regional aggregates are now irrelevant?

Aid Effectiveness: How Well is EU Aid Spent?

Thu, 08 May 2008 21:15:00 GMT

In the run up to Accra High Level Forum on Aid Effectives, Koos Richelle, Director General for EuropeAid, the European Commission's development implementation entity, will talk about the EU's commitment to Aid Effectiveness (European Consensus). Richelle will examine whether Europe is delivering on its promises on financing for development, the related issue of pledges versus disbursements, and the need for proper needs assessment and analysis before pledges take place. With respect to results, Richelle will candidly examine how the development community faces hurdles that derail the process of economic development (the most recent issues of climate change and food scarcity will be discussed).

The Future of Foreign Aid (Event)

Thu, 08 May 2008 20:45:00 GMT

At a recent luncheon hosted by InterAction, The Future of Foreign Aid, Center for Global Development senior fellow Steve Radelet discusses ways the next administration can improve U.S. foreign aid.

Accounting for Climate Change in Bilateral Development Aid: A German Perspective

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:45:00 GMT

Germany has been a strong supporter of multilateral efforts to combat climate change, for example, through the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the more recent efforts of the World Bank. In addition, Germany is a leader among donor countries in reshaping its bilateral aid activities to take into account climate change issues. Wolfgang Schmitt, Managing Director of the German GTZ (Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit), a government-owned development corporation, will give a short overview of the goals and approaches of Germany's pioneering efforts to incorporate both emissions reductions and adaptation issues in its development assistance activities. A discussion will follow.

Global Development May Meetup

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:15:00 GMT

On Thursday, May 8th we will be joined by Steve Rosenzweig, Program Coordinator for the HIV/AIDS Monitor at the Center for Global Development. Rosenzweig will discuss his recent trip to Uganda, where he coordinated a workshop with the Monitor's African research partners from Mozambique, Zambia, and Uganda to wrap up their first phase of research and lay the groundwork for the next phase of research on the policies and practices of PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and the World Bank Multi-Country HIV/AIDS Program in these three countries. Rosenzweig will discuss the HIV/AIDS Monitor's next phase of research, which includes three studies on 1) how the donors are addressing issues of gender in their programs, 2) the effect of donor programs on the labor market for health workers in recipient countries, and 3) how donors are or are not integrating HIV/AIDS programs with reproductive health and family planning programs. The studies aim to analyze how donor programs are operating on the ground and make recommendations based on the analysis to improve their effectiveness. Join us at 6:30pm for casual conversation and snacks -- and we'll get the official part of the program started around 6:45pm.

Is Food Aid the Answer? Q&A with Arvind Subramanian

Mon, 05 May 2008 22:00:00 GMT

President Bush asked Congress last week to provide $770 million in emergency food aid to help alleviate the food price crisis that is destabilizing parts of the developing world and threatening to reverse years of progress in global poverty reduction. Arvind Subramanian, a CGD senior fellow with a joint appointment at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, discusses the president's surprise announcement in a Q&A that highlights the complex policy relationships between food, trade, and energy.

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Open Source, Open Education and Eco-friendly: Can Sharing Improve Policy? (Event)

Mon, 05 May 2008 21:15:00 GMT

Founder and Chairman of Sun Microsystems Scott McNealy discusses the role of open source technology in international development.