education

During my recent tour through Spain and Germany with Oxfam and the W8 I observed a new danger: The “new poor” – victims of the economic crisis, unemployed persons of the North.

I learned that there is a risk that because these people are more and more worried about their own situation, they may not consider it just that their governments spend money on the poor of other countries...

Just to show it's not over 'til it's over - and underline the power of targeted advocacy - the final communiqué on food security from the G8 leaders caught everyone by surprise by boosting the pledge for support to agriculture to US$20 billion.

It may not have been our critique that moved the leaders to set a more ambitious goal but our strong message to governments - and through the media to their citizens - can't have hurt in moving the bar.

It’s past 3 pm on the final day of the Summit and I’ve just started realizing that it’s over… after almost 2 years of working, sweating, worrying about the G8 there’s nothing more I can do to squeeze out positive results out of this summit for the world’s poor. What I see instead is yet another series of big announcements, good intentions and no action.

As photo ops go, it doesn’t get much better. A beautiful Rome morning. The ruins of Nero’s palace on the horizon. A backdrop of leaping flames augmented by fire breathers. And the heads of the G8 countries cavorting about in togas, fiddling while Africa burns.

In her much publicised book 'Dead Aid', Dambisa Moyo has argued forcefully that foreign aid is wasted and does more harm then good. Chikondi Mpokosa, Global Education Advisor for Oxfam responds.  

I’m writing this from a windowless room in the IMF basement where our Oxfam team has been camped out for almost a week covering the World Bank and International Monetary Fund Spring Meetings. You can really lose your perspective down here, away from the sunlight and the bustling streets of Washington. So we keep reminding each other to get outside to enjoy a few minutes of spring sunshine every once in a while to stay grounded.

Now that the hoopla is over, I feel compelled to answer my own questions (and address my fears) about what was achieved at the United Nations Financing for Development Conference in Doha. Of course, had we solved the problems of poverty and under-development, I would be out of a job (though I swear I wouldn’t mind!)

I’m huddled in a corner of the swank Sheraton Hotel in Doha, Qatar.  Around me, workers are carrying massive rows of theater chairs, and rolls of wallpaper.

Why am I here at the most famous hotel in Doha, in this tiny and extremely wealthy Gulf country? (Obviously not where I hang out on an average day)  And what on earth are they doing to this place?

It's been a whirlwind of activity in New York.  To give you an idea of the crazy week we have had out here, this is a snapshot of what I’ve seen and done…

8.30 in a taxi with bollywood movie star Rahul Bose talking about the progress on education and health in India.  Followed swiftly by briefing with Kristen Davis making the comparison of the 700 billion dollar bank bail out all over the media this week, and the mere 50 billion the G8 promised to poverty eradication and have still not delivered on.

The term horse trading is an Americanism that dates back to early 19^th century and refers to intricacies of assessing, bargaining and trading of horses. Apparently one had to be a shrewd dealer in order to obtain the best horse for the best price or vice versa.