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Amidst jubilant celebration, the new Republic of South Sudan entered the international stage in July 2011 albeit as one of the least developed countries in the world. The challenges and opportunities are enormous, and donors, the government, implementing agencies and most importantly the people of South Sudan have a lot at stake – but much more to gain. Against a backdrop of chronic under-development, the country is acutely vulnerable to recurring conflict and climatic shocks. More than 220,000 people were displaced last year due to conflict and more than 100,000 were affected by floods; and already this year, fighting in the disputed border areas, clashes between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) and militia groups, disputes over land and cattle, and attacks by the Lord’s Resistance Army, have forced nearly 300,000 people from their homes. South Sudan is a complex context that challenges normal humanitarian and development paradigms. Such complexity has not always been reflected in the strategies of either donors or implementing agencies. This paper presents ten areas that the Government of South Sudan (GoSS) and donors must prioritise in the first years of the country’s independence so as to ensure the best possible results for the people of South Sudan. The joint NGO paper was written as part of Oxfam’s Conflicts and Emergencies campaign aimed at highlighting the right to appropriate assistance and adequate protection for people caught in conflicts and crises. In light of independence the Government of South Sudan and many donors are seeking to establish aid and investment priorities and strategies. These new plans must: continue support for humanitarian needs; seek to prevent conflict; support community and civil society participation; ensure equitable development across the country; prioritise vulnerable populations; promote sustainable livelihoods; strengthen government capacity; enable an appropriate transition to government authorities; provide timely and predictable funding; and engage in multi-sectoral integrated programming . This is a critical time to get aid policies and programs right in order to ensure peace, security, and prosperity for the people of South Sudan. The accompanying note summarises views presented by the SSRRC and MFAIC at a meeting between representatives of the SSRRC and 6 NGO representatives (on behalf of the 38 signatory agencies to the report) held in Juba on 31 August 2011 to discuss the joint-ngo paper Getting it Right from the Start: Priorities for Action in the New Republic of South Sudan. NGOs welcome the Statement from government representatives and invite further discussion on the recommendations in the report and the views shared in the government response.

A Joint Briefing Paper by 29 Aid Organizations Working in Afghanistan for the NATO Heads of Government Summit, Lisbon, November 19-20, 2010 Security for the vast majority of Afghans is rapidly deteriorating. As 29 aid organizations working in Afghanistan, we are deeply concerned about the impact of the escalating conflict on civilians. It is likely that in-creased violence in 2011 will lead to more civilian casualties, continue to fuel displacement, cut off access to basic services and reduce the ability of aid agencies to reach those who need assistance most. This paper does not attempt to address all aspects of the current conflict. It concentrates on those that negatively impact civilians, particularly in the context of transition to Afghan responsibility for security. While this paper primarily focuses on the actions and strategy of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), it is important to remember that armed opposition groups (AOG), who are stronger and control more territory than at any time since 2001, also have clear obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL) to protect civilians. As such, this paper will make reference to AOG actions and issue recommendations to AOG where applicable. As world leaders meet in at the NATO summit Lisbon, we strongly urge them, along with all parties to the conflict, to minimize the harm to civilians and reduce threats and disruptions to basic services and development and humanitarian activities across Afghanistan. In addition, ISAF should do much more to ensure that ANSF, as they take on greater responsibility for security, fully respect human rights and the laws of war.

This paper makes recommendations on how the security strategy of the international community should be changed in order to minimise the harm caused to Afghan civilians and reduce the disruption to development and humanitarian activities in the current environment in Afghanistan. The paper does not attempt to address all dimensions of the current conflict, but focuses specifically on issues which concern or relate to international security strategies and military forces as they affect Afghan civilians. It therefore addresses issues of relevance to officials in troop-contributing countries, for whom the recommendations are primarily intended. In particular, the paper is directed at politicians, policymakers and military officials attending the NATO Heads of State and Government Summit on 3-4 April in Germany.

Today more than ever, the international community must share responsibility and stand firmly in support of Syria's civilian population. It is clear however that the aid response, as vital as it is, will only go so far and cannot fully address the needs of Syrian communities to be free from violence and the violations of international human rights (IHRL) and humanitarian law (IHL) that characterize the conflict., In this briefing, Oxfam joins with a variety of agencies and coordination fora to call on all members of the international community, in particular permanent members of the UN Security Council and the EU and EU member states who are discussing post-agreement planning, to insist on the full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Syria that relate to respect for IHL and IHRL, as well as implementation of the Geneva Communique of 2012., The Brussels conference should also set the foundation for inclusive and meaningful participation of Syrian NGOs and civil society, including youth and women's groups, as key partners in ensuring effective post-agreement planning that captures the needs and desires of the people of Syria and supports local community rebuilding and resilience.

Human-induced climate change is already happening. People – particularly poor people – struggle with its impacts every day. Whilst world leaders argue over how to tackle this immense issue, one thing must be agreed on now: the level of change the world needs to avoid. For millions, ‘safe’ levels of change have already been exceeded and international efforts must be ramped up to support the affected communities. But above 2°C the impacts will become progressively less manageable, perhaps uncontrollable. This paper explains why global average temperature rise must be kept as far below 2°C as possible (from pre-industrial levels), based on a review of evidence of the impacts at different temperature ranges. It explains how impacts on water resources, food production and ecosystems become catastrophic above that threshold, and how dangerous feedback mechanisms are much more likely to kick in, resulting in even faster warming.

The global consensus around the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) has elevated the development targets to the new “gold standard” of international development cooperation. This paper sets out the policy actions required by the World Bank, IMF, and bilateral donors if their stated commitment to the fulfilment of the MDGs is to be taken seriously.

The floods that began in August 2011 resulted in one of the most destructive disasters that Pakistan has experienced. Many thousands of lives have been saved by the efforts of Pakistani officials, aid workers and affected communities, and vital aid has reached millions of people. But the crisis is far from over. More than 2.5 million men, women and children lack basic necessities such as adequate food and durable shelter. This joint-agency paper argues that greater political commitment and resources are necessary to tackle the social and economic injustices that leave vulnerable groups such as women, children and elderly and disabled people at particular risk from hazards such as floods and earthquakes. And the international aid community should provide timely and adequate funding and technical support to Pakistan’s efforts.

By the end of 2014, the Afghan national army and police – under the authority of the Ministries of Defence and Interior, respectively – are expected to assume full responsibility for the protection of Afghan civilians. But, as international military actors prepare for withdrawal, there are serious concerns regarding the professionalism and accountability of the security forces they will leave behind. The report urges states supporting the national security forces to: Improve the quality of training for the national forces – ensuring that all components of the security forces are appropriately trained in human rights and international humanitarian law, and that training for the police includes sufficient emphasis on accountability, good governance, the rule of law, and community-based policing; Provide more substantial political and financial support to Afghan government institutions and mandated independent bodies that receive and investigate complaints against the national forces. States must also support the Afghan government to ensure that: Personnel who abuse their authority, violate codes of conduct or otherwise fail to fulfil their obligations under Afghan or international law are transparently investigated and appropriately disciplined and/or prosecuted; Incidents resulting in civilian harm are properly monitored and followed by credible investigations.

Millions of girls have entered school in Afghanistan, since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. It is one of the few good news stories of the last nine years. However, the deteriorating security situation and the international community’s focus on stabilization and counter-insurgency rather than on long-term development means this good news story is in danger of turning bad. A new approach from both the Afghan government and donors is urgently required to hold onto the gains that have been made. This report is based on field research carried out in the summer of 2010 in 17 provinces out of a total of 34 in Afghanistan. It was conducted by Oxfam and 15 partner organisations, including 13 Afghan NGOs plus CARE and Swedish Committee of Afghanistan (SCA). Oxfam is calling on the Afghan government and donors to develop a new approach to girls’ education to hold onto gains made, and to increase access to education for girls across Afghanistan. With NATO nations preparing for withdrawal by 2014, we also want to ensure that major donors sustain their support for development, especially in the education sector, over the long term. In particular, we want the international community to focus on improving secondary and higher levels of education. They need to support the Afghan government to increase the number of female-friendly, well-equipped schools for girls, especially in rural or remote areas; and to increase the number and quality of female teachers, especially in rural or remote areas. We also think it is important to support the Ministry of Education to improve the monitoring and accountability of schools. And the international community must ensure that girls’ access to education is not sacrificed in any political settlement (with insurgent groups) and girls’ access to education continues to improve.

Almost daily, a small band of rebels known as the Lord’s Resistance Army, or LRA, kills, abducts and attacks people across a vast area of central Africa. The LRA has become the most deadly militia in Democratic Republic of Congo, with Christmas time over the past two years marked by appalling massacres. Since 2008, more than 400,000 people have fled their homes after the LRA rampaged across remote villages in Sudan, Central African Republic and Congo. Attacks came in retaliation to an ill-planned military offensive against the militia by regional armies. The African Union and US government have recently announced initiatives to address the threat posed by the LRA. Renewed attention is welcome and vitally needed, but international and regional governments must learn the lessons of the past and ensure that future efforts provide effective security for local people. Women and men must be able to tend to their fields, children go to school and families sleep in their homes free from fear.

Nicaragua is Latin America’s poorest country, with some of the worst indicators for human welfare. It also has the world’s highest level of per capita debt, at around US$1,300 per capita, and one of the highest ratios of debt to GDP. Even though Nicaragua consistently fails to service its debt in full, actual debt repayments are two and a half times spending in health and education combined. This diversion of resources is taking place in a situation characterised by extreme poverty.

Liberia‘s newly approved water and sanitation policy states that 'water is life‘ and 'sanitation is dignity‘. These powerful statements signal a welcome commitment in a country where safe water and decent sanitation have long been absent for the vast majority of the population, with catastrophic impacts on life and social welfare. The key challenge for the Government of Liberia, and the donors who support it, will be to turn this commitment into positive outcomes for Liberia‘s 3.5 million people. This report therefore focuses on the questions that will be crucial in this process. Firstly, is the water and sanitation sector in Liberia prioritised to reflect this commitment? Are there clear, actionable plans to make this commitment a reality? Does Liberia have resources and sufficient support to ensure that communities stop risking their lives and dignity? Finally, what challenges remain and what can be done to address them?

Every half hour, an average of one Afghan woman dies from pregnancy-related complications, another dies of tuberculosis and 14 children die, largely from preventable causes. Eight years after the fall of the Taliban, the humanitarian and development needs in Afghanistan remain acute. Undoubtedly, Afghans have seen some improvements, particularly in the expansion of access to healthcare and education. While it costs approximately $1 million a year to support the deployment of one US soldier in Afghanistan, an average of just $93 in development aid has been spent per Afghan per year over the past seven years. Far too much aid has focused on “quick fixes” and band-aid approaches rather than on what will produce positive and lasting results for Afghans over the long term.

The next 12 months will be critical for the future of Sudan. As the country marks the fifth anniversary of the signing of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended a devastating civil war, southern Sudan has seen a major upsurge in violence. In 2009, some 2,500 people were killed and 350,000 fled their homes. With landmark elections and a referendum on the horizon, the peace deal is fragile and the violence likely to escalate even further unless there is urgent international engagement. Southern Sudan is one of the least-developed regions in the world. Its poverty, combined with limited government and aid agency capacity to respond to emergencies and deliver development, exacerbates the potential for renewed conflict. The people of southern Sudan have shown extraordinary resilience to emerge from decades of war. If they are to have hope for the future, they urgently need development and protection from violence. Sudan faces many interlocking challenges, but if the international community acts now, they are surmountable.

User fees for health care are a life or death issue for millions of people in poor countries. Too poor to pay, women and children are paying with their lives. People who can’t pay are often imprisoned in hospitals until their families can clear their bills. For those who do pay, over 100 million are pushed into poverty each year. User fees for health care continue to exist in most poor countries despite rarely contributing more than 5% of running costs for health services. This month will witness a global opportunity for world leaders to really make a difference to poor people by backing the expansion of free health care in a number of countries. The opportunity marks a true test of leaders’ commitment to save lives and accelerate progress towards health care for all in our lifetime. The question is, will they pass it?

Policy makers lament women’s vulnerability to HIV infection, yet for 15 years they have failed to utilise a technology which can help women to protect and empower themselves. The female condom is the only female-initiated method which provides protection from HIV infection; it also prevents unwanted pregnancy. Studies have shown it is acceptable to users, increases the proportion of protected sex acts, and is cost-effective when provided in addition to male condoms. Yet most women cannot access female condoms. New female-initiated technologies such as microbicides will not be available for many years. Female condoms exist now; the push for universal access to them should begin now.

Some donors and governments propose that health insurance mechanisms can close health financing gaps and benefit poor people. Although beneficial for the people able to join, this method of financing health care has so far been unable to sufficiently fill financing gaps in health systems and improve access to quality health care for the poor. Donors and governments need to consider the evidence and scale up public resources for the health sector. Without adequate public funding and government stewardship, health insurance mechanisms pose a threat rather than an opportunity to the objectives of equity and universal access to health care.

Nigeria, one of the poorest countries in the world, is in the process of giving a huge sum of money to the richest countries. UK organisations which are members of the Jubilee Debt Campaign are urging the UK government to return its share of this money to Nigeria to fight poverty.

Green Box subsidies, by definition of the World Trade Organization (WTO), are not allowed to distort trade. This is why, under the terms of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), countries may provide as many Green Box subsidies as they like. ActionAid, CIDSE, and Oxfam believe, as this briefing note will show, that the EU and the USA are using this provision to continue to give support that is manifestly trade-distorting, thereby causing serious damage to farmers in developing countries. At least $40bn of Green Box payments annually are likely to be trade-distorting and therefore break WTO rules.

Zambia is a country on the brink. One in 5 people are infected with HIV, life expectancy has dropped to 33 years and young people aged 20-25 actually have less education than their parents’ generation. Therefore, the achievement of Zambia’s new government in getting more children into school holds out a critical glimmer of hope. Yet in order to qualify for long-delayed debt relief, Zambia been forced to stop hiring the teachers and health workers it desperately needs – placing its education success story in jeopardy, and threatening to plunge the country into political crisis. At their meetings in Washington this week, the governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank can end this charade by announcing full cancellation of outstanding debt, ensuring macroeconomic targets don’t contradict poverty reduction needs, and urging rich countries to replace stop/start engagement with the predictable, long-term commitments needed to hire the teachers and health workers that countries like Zambia so desperately need to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The EFA Fast Track Initiative is a ground-breaking compact between rich and poor countries, which aims to close the education financing gap in countries that implement far-reaching reforms. In April 2003, the World Bank’s Development Committee requested a progress report on the FTI in time for their meeting in Dubai. They will not get one, because there is no progress to report. Country by country and donor by donor, this GCE “No-progress Report” documents the systematic failure of donors to keep their promise to Southern governments. The report also outlines what must be done to make the FTI effective.

The World Bank and IMF continue to drive forward policy reforms in developing countries with almost no prior analysis of the likely impact on poverty. Despite repeated commitments to ensure Poverty and Social Impact Analysis (PSIA) is carried out on all key reforms, very little progress has been made. The Spring Meetings are a perfect opportunity for the World Bank and IMF to present a comprehensive strategy to ensure that all key structural and economic reforms sytematically include country-owned PSIA based on genuine policy options.

The Fast Track compact has created a window for radical change in some of the poorest countries in the world -- change that would bring millions of children into schools and permanently transform the structure of human capital in these countries. To keep that window open, it is vital that donors release funds to get the seven first FTI plans off the ground, and agree a timetable for action on the remaining Fast Track partner countries.

In this paper, a series of agencies propose that the World Bank and IMF and their shareholders radically overhaul the way in which debt relief is calculated and provided. The over-arching objective of debt relief must be to help mobilise the finances needed to achieve the MDGs. If HIPC countries are to meet these targets the principle of a 100% debt cancellation option needs to be agreed. Similarly, a broad set of economic and human development objectives must be applied when deciding what level of debt repayments a country can afford to make.

This report, produced by six aid agencies operating in Sudan, articulates the appalling human cost of Sudan’s conflict. It calls for urgent and sustained action on the part of warring parties and the international community to bring about an immediate end to that suffering. Although the report refers to areas in which the warring parties can make progress, its primary audience is concerned governments, agencies, and NGOs working on and in Sudan.

The EU has reached a turning point in the way it relates to the rest of the world. Changes in the global political and economic landscape following the cold war, along with widespread criticism of the wasteful and inefficient use of aid, has forced the EU to take a closer look at its external relations. As a different world takes shape at the start of a new century, the EU has to decide what role it should play in that world. The European Union has considerable potential to be a meaningful force for positive global change. Yet its potential is yet to be realised, and current initiatives to shake up the EU’s role in development and poverty eradication fall short of what is required. Below Eurostep sets out a four-point agenda for political and institutional reform that the EU should follow if it is to realise its potential as a leading global player in tackling the challenges of the 21st Century.

Delivering and exceeding the MDGS - Why and how countries can take action at the UN Summit - A historic opportunity in 2005. The world’s largest anti-poverty campaign – the Global Call for Action against Poverty (GCAP) – is calling on leaders to make firm commitments at the UN on poverty, peace and security and human rights.