Watch "Global Responses to Poverty and Human Development."

Politicians and activists grappled with global poverty and the changing dynamics of international development assistance in ILF’s "Global Responses to Poverty and Human Development." Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai; former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle; Ashley Judd, actress, humanitarian and board member, Population Services International; and former British Foreign Minister David Miliband joined Michael Elliott, CEO of the ONE Campaign, to discuss global solutions to poverty.

Tsvangirai challenged the idea of “Afro-pessimism,” deriving from extended periods of violence and poverty on the African continent. However, over the last 10 years, there has been a shift away from that perspective as leadership improves across the continent. To encourage good leadership and accountability, he urged aid organizations to help local communities help themselves.  While money is still important, technical assistance and skills training can be more important.  As a result of its own domestic leadership and international assistance, said Tsvangirai, “Zimbabwe has moved away from the precipice.”

Daschle affirmed that Americans do appreciate the importance of international assistance and development, particularly with regard to poverty alleviation. “There has been a titanic shift in civilization,” he said. “Going from isolation to inter-relation to integration.” However, in the current financial situtation, voters are shying away from international aid and politicians are focused on domestic issues.  Explaining the importance and priority of international aid to voters remains a challenge. While the U.S. spends less than 1 percent of its budget on aid, voters often think it's 25 percent or more.  

Judd credited young people, often spreading information on global poverty through social media, as the main reason Americans are more aware of these issues than ever before. Though the problems can seem so big and overwhelming, telling individual stories and connecting on an emotional level can help. When hearing a story of international poverty and suffering, she said, focus on the element that makes you angriest, and then channel that anger into action.  

Miliband noted a shift over the last 2o years from emphasizing direct aid and money to supporting development and trade, good governance and conflict prevention. But, he said, in this time of financial crisis, the West is on the retreat from the world. Other countries are boosting their own international aid, particularly China. Tsvangirai agreed, noting that China has become a leader in African development efforts. “Two things that have made a significant change in Zimbabwe’s development over the last decade: cell phones and the Chinese,” he said. “The Chinese are not philanthropists,” he continued.  “They see their long-term national interest in partnering with the developing world.” There are now 10,000 Chinese in Zimbabwe building infrastructure. “For us, these are partners, helping us out of poverty. For Western governments, it is in your long term interest to continue your partnerships in Africa, or you will be replaced.”

“Empathy plays a huge role,” Judd said. She emphasized three main narratives to explain the importance of foreign development assistance: healthy development is in our national security interest; aid helps the American economy; and that it is the right thing. “It’s understandable that people are concerned with our economic situation,” she said. “However, we must transcend local loyalties, as citizens of the world.” Elliott agreed; “Every time I see a poll on the best reasons for supporting foreign development assistance, the most common answer is that it is the right thing to do.”

English
Copyright 2024 © - National Democratic Institute - All rights reserved