Please send money. That’s essentially the message from the UN, which hosted its largest funding appeal in a decade after the US stepped back from aid agreements influenced by global organizations.
At least 50 global leaders, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Kenya’s William Ruto, EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, are aiming to gather around $4 trillion to help satisfy the UN’s aid objectives.
According to reports, discussions involving the US have ramped up following actions taken by former President Donald Trump to impede the US development agency USAID.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized what he referred to as the “foreign aid industrial complex” in the U.S. during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee meeting earlier this year.
Rubio specifically pointed out the organization, arguing that it was crucial for a complete overhaul. He stated, “In USAID, only 12 cents of every dollar actually reached the intended recipients. This means that to provide assistance, all other resources had to be utilized to sustain this foreign aid structure.”
He emphasized finding a more effective way to assist individuals directly, noting that local initiatives would oversee these efforts as part of a broader strategy for foreign policy.
The conference in Seville brings together over 4,000 participants from various sectors, including businesses, civil organizations, and financial institutions, as part of the fourth International Financing Conference organized by the AFP.
Antonio Guterres also cautioned that the budget for foreign aid is “in ruins,” not due to a lack of figures, but because of serious issues like families facing hunger, unvaccinated individuals, and children leaving school.
He pointed out that achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals—aimed at eradicating poverty, protecting the environment, and fostering peace—demands roughly $4 trillion annually.
“But we are here in Seville to pivot,” he added.
