Bond launches the UK International Development Sector 2024 Manifesto: ‘A Global System for People and Planet’

Today, Wednesday 20 March, Bond, the UK network for organisations working in international development, launches its 2024 sector manifesto, ‘A Global System for People and Planet.’

As all political parties look to the upcoming General Election this year, this manifesto has been created with input from Bond’s 350 member organisations and sets out the practical steps the next UK government could take to help secure a global system for people and planet, the delivery of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and evolve the UK’s global role from that of a donor to a development partner acting in solidarity. It includes policy recommendations from the UK international development sector, including humanitarian assistance, development cooperation priorities and the UK’s role in global policies on locally-led development, climate, trade, tax, civic space and multilateral finance reform.

The manifesto will be launched in Parliament in the CPA Room from 6-8pm on Wednesday 20 March.

There will be a range of high-profile speakers, including Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell, Minister of State for Development and Africa, Lisa Nandy MP, Shadow Minister for International Development, Lord Purvis, Liberal Democrat Lords Foreign Affairs and International Development spokesman, Romilly Greenhill, Bond CEO, Fola Komolafe, CEO of WorldVision and Chilande Kuloba-Warria, the Founder and Director at Warande Advisory Centre and Spéro Hector Ackey, Director at Mily Translation Consulting who are both advocates for locally led development. Spaces are limited, if you would like to attend, please email [email protected].

Key manifesto highlights and asks:

There needs to be a fundamental shift in the global development system: the global system is not working for people or the planet.

The UK as a responsible and ambitious development partner: through championing locally-led development and humanitarian assistance, challenging power imbalances and addressing racism in the sector, all development programmes should be led by the countries and communities that are being supported and empower citizens to lead their own sustainable development. The UK has a chance to meaningfully engage diaspora communities on this agenda as well.

An equitable, fair and just international finance system that works for all: The UK should pursue ambitious reform of the IFIs so that they fairly represent the needs of all countries and promote inclusive and sustainable growth. The UK’s global role in promoting sustainable development stretches well beyond ODA to focus on its policies on advocating for financial reform, global debt reform, OECD DAC rules change and Bridgetown. As well as the UK’s policies on trade, finance, migration, security and energy.

Debt relief: Utilise the UK’s significant responsibility for how private lenders operate by legislating to compel all creditors, including the private sector, to participate in debt relief processes.

A new approach to global tax and trade: The UK should advocate for global tax reform and support the UN Tax Convention to make the global tax system more inclusive, democratic and fairer. The UK should also support the Africa Free Trade Area, a UK trade strategy, UK supply chain due diligence, and parliamentary scrutiny of trade deals.

A recommitment to the SDGs and to leave no one behind: SDGs domestic and international, private sector engagement on the SDGs, policy coherence.

A secure and stable world, with freedoms and rights respected: there is a need for improved civil society engagement.

Need policy coherence across government to meet global commitments (Paris Agreement and SDGs) and ensure government policies and spending promote sustainable development.

Actively promote locally led and diaspora approaches to humanitarian assistance.

A sustainable plan to tackle the climate and environment crisis: The UK government must engage with NGOs both here and in lower-income countries to ensure that they are acting on the latest intelligence, using both local and institutional knowledge in support of ending poverty, inequality, and tackling the climate and environment crisis.

This should all be underpinned by an ODA budget that is 0.7% of GNI and an independent department for international development and humanitarian assistance.

Romilly Greenhill, CEO of Bond, said:

The next UK government has an opportunity to work with partners in reshaping global development towards a more equitable and sustainable future. By championing initiatives and partnerships led by local communities and organisations and advocating for a fairer financial system to tackle global economic inequality, the UK can help address the many challenges facing our world. This manifesto, developed by the UK’s development and humanitarian sector, sets out a roadmap which maps out a progressive global role for the UK and one that ensures that the global economic system can work for people and planet.

ENDS.

Notes for editors

The embargoed copy of the manifesto is attached to this email and will be available via this link on the Bond website at 9am on Wednesday 20 March.

Bond member organisations contributed to this manifesto, view a list of Bond’s members here.

Bond is the UK network for organisations working in international development. Bond unites and supports a diverse network of over 350 civil society organisations from across the UK, and allies to help eradicate global poverty, inequality and injustice.

If you would like to attend the manifesto launch or for further information, please contact Jess Salter, Media Adviser at Bond at [email protected] or call 07493200979.