Download our latest newsletter...
The following is a selection of briefings, policy papers and resources found on various agencies' websites. Whilst not exhaustive, they are a good starting point to find out about debt and trade justice issues.
The case for 100% multilateral debt cancellation for the poorest countries: A paper produced by CAFOD, ActionAid and Oxfam Great Britain for the 2004 Annual Meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.
CAFOD argues that any serious commitment on the part of the international community to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals requires a recasting of all financing instruments.
Paper written for the Expert Group Meeting on External Debt in Dakar, Senegal, November 2003
A new deal for low-income countries: financing development through debt cancellation and aid, a paper by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Eurodad and Jubilee Research.
Five years after the Birmingham human chain, what had been achieved, and what more needs to be done? A report by CAFOD, Jubilee Research and the Jubilee Debt Campaign.
How can debt-relief monies and the proposed Global Health Fund be invested to address HIV? CAFOD's view
A paper by Henry Northover of CAFOD, written on September 2002
2002 Briefing on Trade and Debt
This report calls on African governments, international financial institutions and the UK government to make their loan agreements transparent and open to the public. CA, Afrodad report April 2004
A Christian Aid briefing paper - April 2003
September 2002
Jubilee Debt Campaign & World Development Movement - March 2004
New report by JDC sister organisation, Eriassjahr, in Germany release to coincide with conference on Iraq's debt, being held in Berlin 16/17 March 2004
Resources to support workshops for young people, through which they can explore the debt crisis and the workings of the World Bank. They tie in with the video for young people "Third World Debt - Drop It"
Also useful:
December 2004
Joint agency paper - ActionAid, CAFOD, Oxfam - October 2004 (see CAFOD above)
A critical view of the IMF and World Bank's proposed approach to debt sustainability. Analyses for low-income countries. Joint paper May 2004 - CAFOD, Trocaire, Oxfam and Action AidPolicy & research on Debt found on Tearfund; www.tearfund.org
Financing development at the G8 Summit 2003: Tearfund has produced a briefing paper for the G8 summit in Evian (June 1-3 2003) on meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Features a range of debt worship resources - including a video PowerPoint presentation featuring Bob Geldof and Gordon Brown
(See JDC for details)
A case for radical reform of the World Bank and IMF at 60 - July 2004
How IMF and World Bank policies tied to debt relief are undermining development - May 2003
Briefing paper April 2003
Introduction to debt and conditionality
Leading African, Caribbean and Pacific and European civil society organisations respond to the EU's proposals for EPAs
Why the EU's proposals for free trade with Africa will not heal its scar of poverty.
What does CAFOD want the UK government to do?
Overcoming widespread fears of a collapse, the framework deal agreed on 1 August 2004 puts the WTO and the Doha Round on a healthier footing. Negotiations are now in a position to progress in 2005.
Lots of bets are being placed on agriculture as the key to poverty reduction - in particular for Africa. But what potential obstacles are there? And what does this mean for policy?
November 2003 briefing by CAFOD, Christian Aid, Action Aid, Oxfam and the World Development Movement.
2002 briefing on Trade and Debt.
The introduction of a Development Box would send an important message that the WTO wants policy makers to put the development needs of their people before dogmatic commitments to cutting tariffs and spending. Duncan Green and Matthew Griffith explain.
The European Commission in negotiating what are called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs), free trade agreements by any other name, with 77 of its former colonies in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) region. Christian Aid is campaigning to stop current EPA negotiations, which could lead to widespread job losses and damage the livelihoods of poor people. October 2004
September 2004
At least 900 million of the world's poorest people live in rural areas, which makes the future of agriculture and of small-scale and family farms and farmers a key Christian Aid concern. June 2004
Using innovative and participatory research techniques, Ghanaian farmers, traders and consumers were asked about how trade policy affects them, and how it might be improved. November 2003
A summary of the TJM's demands for 2004/5
September 2004
A glossary of trade justice terms - June 2002
The Trade Justice Movement Founding Statement, June 2002