George Foden
@georgefoden.bsky.social
58 followers 100 following 12 posts
All my qualifications and interests are leading me to a career that's very stressful and pays very little. Views my own. He/him. https://georgefoden.blogspot.com/
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georgefoden.bsky.social
"The challenge is not that our critics don’t believe in what we do. It is if we stop believing in why we do it. So, we retain idealism and hope, even now.

Especially now."

A statement on the Humanitarian Reset from @unocha.org

www.unocha.org/news/un-reli...
UN Relief Chief pushes for humanitarian system "even more rooted in the communities we serve"
Statement by Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher  The Humanitarian Reset – Phase Two
www.unocha.org
georgefoden.bsky.social
As the USAID shut down continues to dominate headlines in the humanitarian and development space, other donor countries are also retreating from their aid spending responsibilities.

The threat to the current global aid system is existential

sites.google.com/view/ourstop...
Bullet point list of funding cuts from donor states that reads:

The UK diverted its aid budget (from 0.5 to 0.3% of GNI) to increase defense spending. The UK International Development Minister resigned over the decision. Devex published articles (see also here) to see its impact.

The Netherlands cut €2.4 billion in development aid from 2027 and slashed funding for CSO by 1 billion from 2026 onwards.

Switzerland reduced its aid budget by CHF110 million for UN and Swiss NGOs, with an additional CHF321 million projected for 2026 - 2028. Such move could weaken international Geneva.

France's 2025 budget saw a 50% reduction in ODA compared to 2024. France also created a commission in March to evaluate ODA's transparency and accountability.

Belgium announced a 25% reduction in ODA over 5 years starting in 2024. The 2025 aid budget is 5% lower compared to 2024.

Germany is expected to reallocate funds and cut aid spending by half by 2025. Yet, Devex asks if Germany is the next ODA leader?

Finland plans to reduce its ODA budget by 25% over 2024 - 2027.

While Sweden 2025 ODA budget remain steady, the government announced a €300 million reduction annually between 2026-2028.

If elected, Canada's Conservative Leader said he will slash foreign aid to build Arctic base.

Saudi Arabia's budget remains dominated by military spending, a 5% increase compared to 2024. 

UAE 2025 federal budget does not mention its aid budget.
georgefoden.bsky.social
Read the latest exciting news from Kanji here!

SAF have been busy supporting students with equipment distributions, and have started some important work in the villages, helping to set up women's groups and engaging in food distribution with families in-need.

thekanjiproject.org.uk/news-from-ka...
georgefoden.bsky.social
I argued in my blog discussing the call for a 'progressive realist' FCDO that focusing on national security at a time of international struggle was a lost cause, and this decision will serve only to make the world more unstable and the UK more vulnerable.

georgefoden.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-...
The Future of a 'Progressive Realist' FCDO in the Age of Polycrisis
The Locarno Speech , delivered by Foreign Secretary David Lammy on 9 th January, lays out a bold new plan for British foreign policy in 202...
georgefoden.blogspot.com
georgefoden.bsky.social
An incredibly misguided symptom of the increasing isolationism we are seeing across the world.

A larger defence budget won't make Britain safer. We can build our walls higher and make ourselves appear tougher but this won't solve the causes of global instability www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Starmer announces big cut to UK aid budget to boost defence spending
PM confirms rise in military spending to at least 2.5% of GDP by 2027 – three years earlier than planned
www.theguardian.com
georgefoden.bsky.social
"A snapshot of key economic indicators paints a grim picture: fertilizer prices have risen by 250%, maize prices have increased by 50%, sugar prices are up by 30% and bread prices by 40%."

Malawi's economic crisis will undoubtedly shape the upcoming September election

mg.co.za/thought-lead...
Malawi electorate’s only option is to recycle a president
The untimely death of vice-president Saulos Chilima has resulted in many considering ousting Lazarus Chakwera and voting for former president Peter Mutharika
mg.co.za
georgefoden.bsky.social
"Malawi is one country that has invested heavily in efforts to eradicate poverty, disease and other socioeconomic ills, but, being a repetitive victim of disasters and economic woes, it is clear that Malawi still needs a hand." - Moses Kunkuyu.

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/f...
‘Devastating’: Malawi left in dire straits by Trump’s decision to freeze aid
African nation relies on US and other foreign donors to help fund healthcare projects and schools
www.theguardian.com
georgefoden.bsky.social
“The potential gutting of institutional knowledge, credibility, and core competencies at the Department as a result of these reckless and short-sighted decisions cannot be understated."

Trump's attacks on USAID will do irreparable harm to those most in-need globally.

www.devex.com/news/senior-...
Senior USAID officials put on leave amid fallout from executive order
In an email seen exclusively by Devex, the agency's acting administrator said the move was a result of "actions within USAID that appear[ed] to be designed to circumvent" Trump's recent executive orde...
www.devex.com
Reposted by George Foden
lboroias.bsky.social
An excellent way to kick off 2025, with a great seminar from IAS Visiting Fellow Dr Tanja D. Hendriks, about Malawian civil servants in disaster relief interventions - The recording of which is now on our YouTube Channel here - youtu.be/N-CSRwdzd-0?...
Dr Tanja D. Hendriks - Disasters, Duties and Dependencies: Malawian civil servants in disaster...
YouTube video by Loughborough University IAS
youtu.be
georgefoden.bsky.social
With the immediate impact of Trump's policies already being felt around the world, it falls to other countries to re-evaluate their roles in foreign policy and development activities.

Radical change is needed, which is why the new FCDO has a lot more to do.
georgefoden.blogspot.com/2025/01/the-...
The Future of a 'Progressive Realist' FCDO in the Age of Polycrisis
The Locarno Speech , delivered by Foreign Secretary David Lammy on 9 th January, lays out a bold new plan for British foreign policy in 202...
georgefoden.blogspot.com