Dhaka, May 12 (UNB) – G7 development aid must prioritise the needs of women and girls if they are to tackle poverty and economic inequality, said Oxfam on Sunday.
The Group of Seven (G7) is a group consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The G7 accounts for three quarters of total international development aid and these countries, with the seven largest IMF-described advanced economies in the world, represent 58 percent of the global net wealth ($317 trillion).
A new Oxfam report, “Feminist aid: a call for G7 leaders to beat inequality,” called for increased funding for feminist organisations in developing countries.
The report also called for increased funding public services that support poor women – particularly healthcare, education and social protection.
The report suggested involvement of women in the development and delivery of programmes funded by overseas development aid.
More consideration given to the existing structural imbalances that make women more vulnerable to poverty and inequality in the design of aid programmes, it said.
Robin Guittard, Senior Campaigner on Financing for Development said putting women and girls at the heart of the development agenda is key to fighting poverty and inequality – yet just US$97 million of the US$110 billion the G7 spent on overseas aid in 2017 was channelled through women’s organisations.
“G7 leaders must commit to a feminist development agenda – including more funding for women’s organisations in developing countries and more funding for public services which benefit women and girls such as healthcare and education,” added Guittard.
