Our contract with the world s poor

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1 Our contract with the world s poor There is no one who has nothing to give, no one who has nothing to receive. No one flourishes without all others flourishing, all are damaged when one is Dr Rowan Williams Chair of Christian Aid

2 Global leadership and government-wide commitment Early in the life of the next Government, countries will commit to new global agreements on eradicating poverty, tackling climate change and making the global humanitarian system fit enough to manage the changing nature of crises and disasters. Led by the Prime Minister, the entire Government must seize this opportunity to tackle the root causes of poverty. the new Government must commit to securing ambitious agreements on development and climate at the United Nations (UN), and implement them in an accountable way the new Government should publish a Sustainable Development Plan, setting out its cross-whitehall activities to deliver an integrated post-2015 agenda. Climate and sustainability Climate change is already costing lives and destroying the livelihoods of those who did least to cause it. Here in Britain its impacts are now also being felt. But the risk associated with climate can be averted by moving to renewable clean energy economies and boosting sustainable growth in the UK and developing countries. fully implementing the Climate Change Act working within the EU to increase ambition on carbon emission reduction targets, and to provide greater incentives to encourage renewable energy and energy efficiency increasing support to developing countries to adapt to climate change and access clean energy ensuring that action on climate change is a central element of the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals, promoting resilient and low-carbon development making ambitious plans to achieve a fair global deal to keep climate warming below two degrees, with the UK backing an ambitious EU climate and energy package and a strong EU position in UN climate negotiations, including a phase out of dirty energy and phasing in of a 100% clean energy future by

3 Fair tax systems Tax avoidance and evasion rob countries of vital revenues to provide public services and an enabling environment for enterprise a path to ending aid dependency. They cost developing countries more than they receive in aid, draining funds from crucial services such as health and education. Tax avoidance also increases inequality, both globally and nationally. As the UK is a major financial centre, with control over many tax havens, the next UK Government must be a champion for reform of the global tax system and, crucially, ensure that developing countries benefit. all UK firms should be required to report their tax payments publicly on a country-by-country basis so that developing countries have the information they need to ensure sufficient taxes are paid. The UK must share this tax information with developing countries automatically, and support this practice as a new global norm ensuring that UK tax policy does not adversely affect poor countries, for example by carrying out analysis of the likely impacts of tax policies on poor countries ensuring that the UK s Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies can no longer operate as tax havens by improving financial transparency and the sharing of tax information in line with UK standards, including new legislation before this Parliament on the publication of company ownership information working with the EU and G20 to end the abuse of shell companies, used to launder illicit funds, by making information about company ownership publicly available ensuring that taxation is included within the post-2015 agenda and is at the heart of discussions around new global financing for development plans. 2 Gender equality The Department for International Development (DFID) should continue to focus on gender equality, the achievement of which is crucial for ending poverty and fulfilling women s human rights. a stand-alone goal on gender targets within the post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals agenda investing in long-term social and cultural change, including through the engagement of faith leaders and faith-based organisations, and ensuring funding for those working to tackle discrimination.

4 Reform of the humanitarian system In the past 20 years, disasters from natural hazards have affected 4.4 billion people, claimed 1.3 million lives and caused $2 trillion in economic losses. The UK public are among the most generous responders to emergency appeals, such as the Haiyan emergency response in the Philippines. They also see the increasing need for governments to act not just to respond to disasters but, where possible, to prevent them. renewed action to end impunity for gross violations of international humanitarian and human rights law, including providing life-saving aid to isolated communities experiencing violence greater support for countries to prevent and respond to disasters. DFID should reexamine its risk-averse control requirements that hinder efforts to strengthen local humanitarian capacity delivering strong commitments on disaster prevention and accountability to disaster-affected populations in key global agreements in 2015 strong financial support for the Start Fund, a leading-edge flexible funding mechanism that enables NGOs which are responsible for 70% of global humanitarian assistance at point of delivery to provide rapid support to under-funded crises. 1 We are a member of The Climate Coalition and endorse its campaign objectives. 2 We, in partnership with other UK groups, will also be bringing forward more detailed proposals to include a number of these measures in a Tax Dodging Bill in the next Parliament.

5 Introduction We have been working to help the world s most vulnerable people and to tackle the root causes of poverty for almost 70 years. We are not party political, but we know poverty does not happen by accident. Wherever it exists, poverty is the result of unequal access to power and resources, more often than not as a consequence of political decisions. In a world of plenty, the scale and reach of suffering around the globe is a scandal. Some 1.4 billion people suffer from the injustice of extreme poverty. It robs them of their dignity, and denies them shelter, food, healthcare, education, safety and a life of fulfilment. But we know that where we choose not to accept this, we can restore hope and dignity. We have not been untouched in this country by growing personal financial insecurity, increasing extreme weather or anger at the yawning chasm between rich and poor. These are local manifestations of global problems that have the greatest impact in poorer countries. People living in poverty at home and abroad are not in competition, but in common cause. We believe political parties manifestos for the next General Election should be informed by five principles: Power to change institutions. We must commit to working in solidarity to demand that governments, businesses and other institutions share power with those they serve in just, accountable and inclusive ways. The right to essential services. Basic rights and needs should be provided by governments focusing on excluded communities, and funded and managed effectively. Fair shares in a constrained world. We must work to transform unjust and unsustainable economic policies and practices so that poor and vulnerable people can gain thriving livelihoods. Equality for all. We want to see a world in which different identities are no longer a barrier to equal treatment. Tackling violence, building peace. We must protect vulnerable people from violence, identify and challenge its causes, and transform it peacefully. This document contains some policy recommendations to turn these principles into reality.

6 More information on our full policy recommendations for the political parties 2015 General Election manifestos is available on #contractwiththepoor christianaid.org.uk Photo: after receiving a grant from a Christian Aid partner, Anoon Aleu s husband, Madut, can afford to build his family a new home. In South Sudan, we are supporting people to rebuild after conflict, find sustainable jobs and cope better with disaster. Christian Aid/Andrew Testa/Panos UK registered charity no Company no Scot charity no. SC NI charity no. XR94639 Company no. NI ROI charity no. CHY 6998 Company no Christian Aid is a key member of ACT Alliance, a coalition of 100 churches and church-related organisations working together in humanitarian assistance and development. The Christian Aid name and logo are trademarks of Christian Aid. Christian Aid August 2014 J2941