Governments must deliver on overseas development aid commitments in the face of COVID-19 - GOAL Global Skip to content

Governments must deliver on overseas development aid commitments in the face of COVID-19

 

July 31, 2020 • 3 min read

As the world grapples with the unprecedented COVID-19 public health crisis, GOAL is committed to doing everything it can to protect some of the world’s most vulnerable populations in the Global South.

GOAL is calling for a community centred, integrated approach to be at the heart of the international response, and on the international community to urgently work together to prevent the loss of life and livelihoods by focusing on actions in six key areas.

Official Development Assistance and Finance for Development

In the OECD’s 2020 Development Cooperation Peer Review of Ireland, Ireland’s overseas aid is commended for its exemplary efforts to leave no-one behind as it seeks to achieve the clear targets set by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Its commitment to civil society and multilaterals was also evident.

GOAL has airlifted PPE and other material to the La Mosquita region in Honduras.

Humanitarian Response: GOAL Honduras staff loading liquid soaps, sanitizers, and COVID-19 awareness communications materials for dispatch to the remote La Mosquita region of North East Honduras where GOAL supports approximately 50,000 artisanal fishermen. Supported by Irish Aid the materials will be airlifted to La Mosquita by the Honduran government.

Financing for development involves several instruments including greater tax justice and debt relief. The commitment to funding quality humanitarian and development programmes through Official Development Assistance (ODA) is needed more than ever. Overseas development aid is a vital lifeline for some of the most vulnerable communities across the world and enables people to meet their basic needs and over time move out of poverty.

GOAL helps fishermen in La Mosquita, Honduras to formalise their businesses.

As the Covid-19 crisis escalates there will be an increase in the numbers of people who need support and it is imperative that no-one is left behind. Without quality overseas development aid, millions more people are at risk of poverty, hunger and disease.  GOAL is currently working closely with local communities, partners and authorities in 13 countries around the world, implementing a community centred and integrated approach to supporting community preparedness, emergency interventions and programmes for economic recovery.

GOAL is asking that:

• Ireland maintain its existing investment to overseas development assistance by protecting the current budget levels and making progress towards spending 0.7% of GNI on overseas aid. This funding commitment should include support to civil society partners as well as multilateral organisations such as the World Health Organisation.

   Ireland continues to ensure its overseas aid programme is of a high quality and is poverty-focused, grant-based and un-tied, to deliver on both the Sustainable Development Goals and Ireland’s International Development Policy, ‘A Better World’.

Refugees in Gawilan Camp, Iraq, receiving cash transfers from GOAL.

  All EU donor countries must continue to maintain their efforts to provide steady flows of overseas development assistance, keeping up the momentum to reach the target of 0.7% of GNI to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals. We also believe it is important that the EU agree on an ambitious external action heading in the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and that funding levels are maintained at no less than 10% of the overall MFF while continuing to remain closely aligned to the EU Consensus on Development and the SDGs.