The 2015 deadline set for governments to meet their Millennium Development Goals to fight poverty approaches fast. But without free, universal, public health and education – and long-term, predictable financing to provide that – the goals are going to be missed by a long way. At the IMF and World Bank Annual Meetings, 18-22 October 2007, Oxfam is campaigning with others to demand action to support poor countries to provide health care and education for all. We're calling on the World Bank and rich countries to provide more predictable aid through budget or sector support – and greater support for building public systems – rather than offering private sector solutions. Only governments can reach the scale necessary to provide universal access to services that are free or heavily subsidized for the poor and geared to the needs of all citizens – including women and girls, minorities, and the very poorest. Building strong public services works. Poor countries just need the money and power to invest in free health, education, water and sanitation What is Oxfam calling for?
Oxfam is also campaigning with its partners in the Global Call to Action against Poverty. Hear Us!GCAP’s ‘Stand-up and Speak Out’ global action comes just two days ahead of the annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank in Washington DC. This year’s annual meetings is a crucial opportunity for GCAP to use the voices and actions of the millions who will Stand Up and Speak Out on 16-17 October to call for urgent reform of the IMF and World Bank. In 2007, the World Bank and the IMF will have new directors. Despite calls from civil society and some governments for a democratic process, the Bank has once again appointed an American to this position and it is almost certain that the Fund will appoint a European. GCAP is calling on the World Bank, the IMF and political representatives to hear the call from civil society for reform so that it can better combat poverty. Find out more: Stand Up and Speak Out events near you Latest news19 October 2007Today’s new World Development Report must galvanize a strong response from governments and institutions to correct many years of neglect of the millions of poor people who depend on agriculture, says international agency Oxfam. Oxfam welcomes the World Bank’s report in highlighting the vital contribution that agriculture can make to reduce global poverty. Donors and governments have until recently turned their backs on this vital sector, with overall global aid to agriculture falling by two thirds, from $11.5bn in 1987 to $3.9bn in 2005, despite the millions of poor people still living in rural areas.
18 October 2007Washington DC: As the new World Bank President is set to open the International Financial Institutions’ (IFIs) Annual Meetings, international aid agency Oxfam called on him to put health and education for the poorest countries on top of his agenda. Robert Zoellick will be opening the meeting and Oxfam urged him to bring results on the ground by working to bring better education and health benefits to the world’s poorest.
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Article from Oxfam International:
http://www.oxfam.org/en/programs/campaigns/health_and_education/imf_worldbank_2007
Published:
15
October
2007
