Daphne Jayasingue, Head of Policy at the International Rescue Committee says:

"This weekend, the UK G7 Presidency offered a unique opportunity to mobilise the wealthiest economies to build back better for everyone. The International Rescue Committee welcomes gestures towards dedicated initiatives to promote global vaccination and girls’ education around the world, however they are not enough. Turning words into action and meaningful change requires dedicated funding and a plan in place.

"The leadership and global Britain rhetoric was seriously undermined by devastating cuts to UK aid – cutting the commitment of 0.7% of Gross National Income to just 0.5%. The UK’s decision to decrease foreign aid has deeply damaged its credibility, as it attempts to galvanise support for recovery from the economic and health crisis created by the pandemic from G7 leaders and as it prepares to host COP26 later this year.

"We are highly concerned about the insufficient action or urgency on COVID vaccines displayed at the G7 Leaders’ Summit. The Summit has failed to deliver the financing and immediate action needed to end the global pandemic or tackle the climate emergency. While we welcome the G7 leaders’ commitment to climate finance, it is not the new money urgently required to support adaptation to withstand the mounting hunger crisis. Given that women and girls are disproportionately impacted by the economic and health shocks we are also disappointed not to see broader commitments to gender equality. 

"However, we warmly welcome the G7 leaders’ endorsement of the Famine Prevention and Humanitarian Crises Compact in their Communique and the role of COVID-19, climate, conflict and economic shocks in exacerbating hunger and malnutrition globally. We are now calling for the Foreign Ministers to match this high-level commitment with dedicated funding and specific well evidenced actions such as humanitarian cash and acute malnutrition prevention and response when they meet later in the summer."