International Policy Publications

Read Aid: Ending Aid Dependency

Aid dependency among 54 of the world’s poorest countries has declined by a third over the last decade, according to a new report from ActionAid.

Where Does it Hurt? The Impact of the Financial Crisis on Developing Countries

Africa will suffer a huge drop in income because of the financial crisis – with the worst affected countries seeing a fall in income of up to 50 percent.

Making Aid Accountable and Effective (6/27/07)

ActionAid’s ten point plan for real aid reform looks ahead to the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra next year.

Glaring Gaps Between Promises and Actions (5/28/07)

A communiqué by ActionAid International ahead of the Africa Finance Ministers meeting in May 30 – 31, 2007 in Accra, Ghana.

From Poverty of Ambition to Ambition on Poverty (2/8/2007)

What the G8 finance ministers must do in Essen to support Africa's development.

What progress? A shadow review of World Bank conditionality (12/09/2006)

This report shows how the World Bank continues to tie loans to unfair conditions.

Real Aid 2: Making technical assistance work (05/07/2006)

The report argues that the root-and-branch reform of the technical assistance is urgently needed to ensure that the aid increases pledged in 2005 result in genuine benefit for people living in the poorest countries.

The G8 Summit in 2006 (01/07/2006)

One year on from Gleneagles, what has been achieved in the fight against world poverty? What needs to be agreed in St Petersburg?

Mission Unaccomplished: One year on from Gleneagles, is the G8 hitting its target on debt, trade and aid? (26/06/2006)

While 2005 was the start of a long process, an agreement on a genuinely pro-poor trade deal continues to elude, the extent to which the G8 is progressing on last year's pledges is an important indication of their commitment to the fight against poverty. The picture varies, by country and by target, but our overall verdict is 'mission unaccomplished'.

Half a million Vietnamese footwear jobs at risk: Where’s the balance between trade and development? (01/05/2006)

The research report assessed the negative impacts that the anti-dumping tariffs would have on the livelihoods and the employment of workers in the footwear industry in Vietnam, the third biggest export of the country.

A development analysis of the WTO Hong Kong declaration (01/01/2006)

This assessment offers a development analysis of the outcome of the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration, a trade deal agreed after four years of negotiations.

Doha Deception Round (06/28/2006)

How the US and EU cheated developing countries at the WTO Hong Kong Ministerial.

The WTO's Empty Hong Kong Development Package (05/21/2006)

How the World Trade Organization’s 97% Duty-Free Proposal Could Leave Poor Countries Worse Off.

A depreciating asset, too high a price: The implications of the decision to end EU export subsidies by 2013 – and why dumping will continue. (04/16/06)

Why the EU' s offer to end export subsidies in seven years time is more "symbolic that substative."

Under the influence: exposing undue corporate influence over policy-making at the WTO (01/24/2006)

How multinational companies and big business lobbyists have such an influence over the making of global trade rules at the World Trade Organization.

Contradicting commitments (01/09/2005)

How the achievement of Education for All is undermined by the IMF. This report intends to demonstrate the IMF's role in constraining countries from increasing public expenditure in education in order to meet the Education for All and Millennium Development Goals.

Don't make poverty: What the G8 must do to make poverty history. (01.07.2005)

The G8 must take the necessary steps to support African efforts to make poverty history. ActionAid is calling for decisive action relating to trade justice, debt, HIV and Aids, climate change and aid.

In the balance (01/06/2005)

This is a joint briefing paper of ActionAid and other non-governmental organisations explaining why debts must be cancelled for the Millennium Development Goals to be met.

Real Aid: an agenda for making aid work. (01/06/2005)

In this report we show the extent to which the official aid figures exaggerate the rich countries’ generosity. By discounting for phantom aid, we establish the amount of ‘real aid’ that is promoting the basic rights in the poorest countries. The results highlight the urgent need for reform by the donor countries

Square Pegs, Round Holes, and Why You Can't fight HIV & AIDS with Monetarism. (01/03/2005)

Briefing on how the International Monetary Fund is blocking progress in the fight againts HIV & AIDS

Do the Deal: The G7 must act now to cancel poor country debts. (02/1/2005)

A joint briefing to urge the G7 finance ministers meeting in London to cancel the debt crippling the world’s poorest countries

The African Commission for Britain (02/01/2005)

A report by an all African team of ActionAid staff outlining ten actions Britain must make to support Africa's development.

Trade Invaders: The WTO and developing countries' right to protect (06/12/05)

How the EU and US are pushing poor countries into accepting a bad deal at the WTO

A Guide to the Hong Kong WTO Ministerial (05/12/2005)

Non-agricultural market access (NAMA) talks threaten development: Six reasons why a fundamentally difference approach is needed (02/11/2005)

Joint NGO paper arguing for a root and branch revision of NAMA and the creation of an approach that highlights development needs.

Down The Plughole (10/01/2005)

Why bringing water into WTO services negotiations would unleash a development disaster.

Looming Crisis (09/15/.2005)

Looming crisis: The threat of industrial trade liberalisation negotiations at the WTO on India's textile and leather industries.

The Trade Escape (09/01/2005)

The free trade Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) proposed by the European Union would have a devastating effect on African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries if they go ahead as planned.

Legal Advice for The Trade Escape (09/01/2005)

Whether the EU is currently in breach of its treaty obligations to African, Caribbean and Pacific countries in respect of the stance it has taken on the negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreement

Farmgate: The Development Impact of Agricultural Subsidies (08/04/2005)

Governments in rich countries are paying over $300 billion each year to subsidise their agricultural sectors - six times the total amount of aid to developing countries.

Bound and Tied

How rich nations are pushing a highly ambitious, but developmentally devastating agenda to open up developing countries’ manufacturing markets on behalf of their industrial exporters.

Tea Break: A Crisis Brewing in India (05/01/2005)

In the tea plantations of India there lies a tale of poverty, hunger and a denial of workers’ rights.

Rotten Fruit: Tesco Profits as Women Workers Pay a High Price (03/01/05)

Tesco recently announced record profits of £2 billion. But in South Africa thousands of women casual workers growing fruit on farms accredited by Tesco and other global retailers are being exploited as low prices and tougher standards are forced on local fruit farmers.

Power Hungry: Six Reasons to Regulate Global Food Companies (01/01/2005)

Global food companies have grown too powerful and are undermining the fight against poverty in developing countries.

Fool's Gold (01/10/2004)

A joint briefing calling for total multilateral cancellation of debt cancellation for poor countries

Trade Traps: Why EU-ACP Economic Partnership Agreements pose a threat to Africa's Development (1/12/2004)

Proposed Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and African, Caribbean and Pacific countries constitute a major threat to poverty reduction and development.

Divide and Rule: The EU and US response to developing country alliances at the WTO

Five Reasons Why a Comprehensive Review of Green Box Subsidies is required within the WTO (28.06.2004)

ActionAid's repsonse to the increasing use of direct payment subsidies by rich nations.

The EU and Agriculture: Post Cancun (06/01/2004)

A summary of the EU position on CAP reform, how this how this translates into the EU’s current position at the WTO, what flexibility the EU has in its negotiating stance and what are the development implications of these negotiating positions.

Submission to the DEFRA consultation on sugar reform (01/01/2004)

The EU sugar regime is in desperate need of reform. It is failing to deliver on a long list of criteria. None of these failings is as great or as manifestly unjust as its negative impact on developing countries.

Post-Cancun Reflections on Agriculture: Joint NGO submission to the European Commission

Towards effective partnership, untie aid. (04/01/2003)

The report recommends that donor countries immediately untie all their bilateral aid to all the developing countries, make better use of untied forms of aid such as budgetary support, simplify their bidding procedures and enhance transparency of procurement procedures

Syngenta: Switching Off Farmer's Rights? (10/01/03)

The possible impact of terminator or suicide seeds on poor farmers.

Agriculture Negotiations in the WTO: Six ways to make a new agreement work for developement (08/01/2003)

The General Agreement on Trade in Services (07/01/2003)

Ensuring affordable access to basic services like education, health, water and sanitation is key in poverty reduction strategies.

GM Crops: Going Against the Grain (05/01/2003)

It is claimed GM technologies will increase food production, reduce environmental degradation, provide more nutritious foods and promote sustainable agriculture. But can GM crops really alleviate world hunger?

Making a case for untying European aid (11/01/2002)

A briefing paper to highlight the implications of tied European aid before the General Affairs and External Relations Council will consider and European Commission proposal to untie aid across the EU

Tied aid and EU competition policy (06/01/2001)

A briefing dealing with the competition issues relating to a legal complaint submitted by ActionAid and 40 other European non-governmental organisations to the European Commission saying tying aid breaches EU competition and internal market rules.