Briefing Papers Number 5, August 2008

Number 5, August 2008 briefing paper More Than Aid: Partnership for Development by Eric Muñoz www.bread.org Commitment to Development Index 2007 7 Components 6 Aid 5 Trade Investment 4 Migration 3 Environment Security 2 Technology Italy Greece Japan Portugal Switzerland Spain Belguim France United States Germany Ireland Austria New Zealand United Kingdom Canda Australia Finland Norway 1 Netherlands Denmark Sweden Bread for the World Institute provides policy analysis on hunger and strategies to end it. The Institute educates its advocacy network, opinion leaders, policy makers and the public about hunger in the United States and abroad. Source: Commitment to Development Index 2007 Center for Global Development. Key Points • Reducing global poverty requires resources and a supportive, enabling environment, including opportunities to improve livelihoods through access to markets, technology and jobs. • The Doha round of trade negotiations should include provisions to help developing countries build trade opportunities with developed countries, specifically duty-free, quota-free access, special and differential treatment, and technical assistance and aid for trade. • Current U.S. immigration policies fail to recognize the important role migration and remittances can play both for the United States and developing countries. • The transfer of technologies across international borders can provide important benefits to people in the developing world. But current trade policies, specifically the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), create unnecessary barriers to much-needed technologies. Eric Muñoz is a policy analyst for Bread for the World Institute. Abstract Providing aid is just one way that developed countries can support developing countries in their efforts to reduce poverty and improve human development. Policies on trade, immigration, and transferring technologies, especially essential medicines, also reflect their commitment to development. Developed countries have agreed to establish a policy environment that does not undermine efforts for developing countries to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Goal Eight calls for developed countries to ensure greater coherence among an array of policies critical to achieving the MDGs. On policies related to trade, migration, and intellectual property rights, the United States and other rich countries are not living up to this agreement. Improving its policies in trade, migration, and intellectual property rights would not only prove that the United States is fully committed to global development, but also would increase the effectiveness of U.S. foreign assistance.