All articles tagged with #global development
A $55 million donation to Cornell's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences has established the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, uniting two departments to foster interdisciplinary research and education on global and environmental issues, honoring Stephen B. Ashley’s longstanding support and leadership.
The appointment of Mike Waltz as US ambassador to the UN raises concerns about a potential shift towards an 'America first' approach, which could undermine UN initiatives, global development, and international cooperation, especially amid US funding cuts and ideological disagreements.
The US Agency for International Development (USAID), established in 1961 to promote global stability through humanitarian aid, has been systematically dismantled by the Trump administration, with its remaining programs absorbed into the State Department, raising concerns about the future of US-led international aid efforts and the potential rise in global food insecurity and migration. Experts reflect on the agency's significant impact and the risks posed by its dissolution, emphasizing the need for a resilient development community.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed solidarity with China at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, praising Chinese leader Xi Jinping's vision for a fairer, multi-polar world. The event marked the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, which aims to boost connectivity and trade through Chinese infrastructure projects. As the Middle East crisis escalates, China and Russia have called for a ceasefire and refrained from explicitly condemning Hamas, in contrast to the US and European leaders' support for Israel. Xi Jinping emphasized China's pursuit of global development and rejected ideological confrontation and geopolitical rivalry. The gathering showcased China's efforts to project itself as an alternative leader to the US, despite facing challenges at home and criticism of its infrastructure projects.
China's Belt and Road Initiative, founded by President Xi Jinping a decade ago, aimed to enhance China's geopolitical influence by providing loans and building infrastructure in developing countries. However, the initiative has led to unaffordable levels of debt for many poor countries and the construction of subpar projects. China's role is now shifting from being the largest bilateral lender to becoming the largest debt collector. The initiative is also changing shape, with a focus on smaller grants for environmentally sustainable projects. China's mounting debt and economic troubles are limiting its ability to project financial power abroad.
The G20 has expressed support for a larger role for a reformed World Bank in global development efforts. The group of major economies emphasized the need for increased international cooperation and coordination to address global challenges, including poverty, inequality, and climate change. The G20 also called for reforms within the World Bank to enhance its effectiveness and responsiveness to the evolving needs of developing countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the expansion of the BRICS group, inviting six countries - Argentina, Egypt, Iran, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates - to join. Xi stated that this expansion would inject new vitality into the group's cooperation mechanism and serve the common interests of emerging markets and developing countries. He also announced the launch of a $10 billion special fund aimed at bolstering global development, as part of China's Global Development Initiative (GDI). Xi emphasized China's commitment to being a member of the developing world and expressed the intention to strengthen cooperation with African countries.
Japan has dropped to 21st place from last year's 19th in the ranking of countries' performance in achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), according to the annual report published by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The report rates how well a country has achieved 17 SDGs on a scale of four. Japan's ranking in the annual survey has been dropping since peaking at 11th place in 2017.