Research & reports

Oxfam Impact April 2007

mborum — 2009-06-08T16:57:18Z

Immigrant workers helping to rebuild the US Gulf Coast have faced numerous hardships, from wage theft to squalid living conditions. With help from Oxfam America, the Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance (MIRA) has become a powerful voice on their behalf.

All Costs, No Benefits

mborum — 2010-08-10T20:42:41Z

Since enactment of the TRIPS (Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) Agreement in 1995, the US has imposed progressively higher levels of intellectual property protection on developing countries, which undermines access to affordable medicines. The US-Jordan free trade agreement introduced a rigid framework of such rules and medicine prices in Jordan have increased 20 per cent since 2001.

Signing Away the Future

mborum — 2009-05-27T22:24:19Z

The quiet advance of trade and investment agreements between rich and poor countries threatens to deny developing countries a favourable foothold in the global economy. Driven by the USA and the European Union, these agreements impose far-reaching rules that place severe restrictions on the very policies developing countries need in order to fight poverty.

Pricing Farmers Out of Cotton

mborum — 2009-05-27T22:25:39Z

With global trade talks stalled at the World Trade Organization (WTO), rich-country cotton subsidies remain unabated, hurting poor cotton farmers. World Bank led reforms to privatize the Malian cotton sector, including the adoption of a new price- setting mechanism, are further exacerbating the dire conditions in cotton-producing communities. A minimum level of price stability is vital for income security in the cotton sector and to prevent further slides into poverty. The wider donor community should provide adequate funds to finance a cotton-sector support fund, as well as invest in rural extension services and sustain capacity building of farmers to enable them to maximise their returns from new market opportunities.

How Does the USDA Farm Bill Proposal Measure Up?

mborum — 2009-06-08T16:10:53Z

On January 31, US Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns announced a proposed revision of the current Farm Bill, which could result in a decrease of the most trade-distorting forms of domestic support.

Overall, the proposal would spend an estimated US$10 billion less over the next 10 years than projected spending for the 2002 Farm Bill, which is set to expire in September 2007. Much of the anticipated savings are from expected high prices for many commodities in future years. However, the Johanns proposal actually would spend US$5 billion more from 2008 – 2012 than simply extending the existing provisions in the 2002 Farm Bill.

Download the attached file to read the full text of this report by Oxfam America employee Emily Alpert. (From Bridges No. 1, February-March 2007, published by the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development.)

Between Hope and Fear in Northern Uganda

mborum — 2009-05-28T23:29:52Z

Uganda is at a critical point in its history. After over 20 years of cyclical conflict between the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) and the government of Uganda, the Cessation of Hostilities (CoH) agreement signed on 26 August 2006 and last extended on 16 December 2006 has given new hope to conflict affected communities that peace may finally prevail. While there is no explicit deadline to the agreement, the signatories agree that the “implementation of the agreement shall be reviewed at the end of February 2007."

There is widespread fear in affected communities that this could signal a lapse in the agreement and a return to violence. As negotiations appear to be at an impasse it is vitally important that the parties come together as soon as possible to reaffirm their commitment to the ceasefire. Peace talks must be resumed before it is too late and the apparent deadlock reaches the point of no return.

Understanding the Effect of the Tsunami and its Aftermath on Vulnerability to HIV in Coastal India

mborum — 2009-06-30T16:12:18Z

The rush to provide basic food, water, shelter, and medical care after the tsunami left little time and attention for HIV-prevention programs. Yet, as this study documents, the tsunami and its aftermath triggered an increase in vulnerability to HIV infection in coastal Indian communities. The research findings have important implications for aid providers as they plan for future disasters.

Gender Mainstreaming During Disasters

mborum — 2009-06-30T16:12:33Z

The severity of the impact of the tsunami on individuals was shaped in part by their gender and gender roles. This study looks at post-tsunami programs carried out by ten Indian NGOs whose work reflected a commitment to empowering women and to meeting the needs of women, girls, and other vulnerable groups in the aftermath of disasters.

Oxfam America Testimony on US Trade Agenda

mborum — 2009-06-08T16:13:17Z

Oxfam America submitted written comments to the House Committee on Ways and Means in response to a hearing held by the Committee on the United States Trade Agenda, which took place on February 14, 2007 with U.S.T.R. Susan Schwab as the only witness. The document presents Oxfam's critique of current U.S. trade policy and suggests ways in which this policy should change. Oxfam explains that U.S. trade policy should have development as a core objective and should seek to ensure that trade rules will help reduce poverty and inequality, which it has failed to do in recent years. The document critiques the U.S. approach to the World Trade Organization's Doha Development Round negotiations and bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and makes suggestions to reorient those agreements, as well as to improve U.S. trade preference programs. Finally, Oxfam explains that a new framework of objectives and priorities is needed for Congress to grant presidential trade negotiating authority.

Oxfam Impact February 2007

mborum — 2009-03-25T20:40:47Z

Oxfam America's Saving for Change program in Mali is helping more than 24,000 women. With deposits of sometimes no more than a few cents a week, women are saving money, investing in small businesses, and becoming more active in their communities.

A Fragile Future

mborum — 2009-07-30T20:56:54Z

The Democratic Republic of Congo today finds itself at a critical turning point, confronted with both the challenges and opportunities of rebuilding a nation from the ground up. The presence of United Nations peacekeepers (MONUC) has significantly reduced fighting and organised violence, and must be maintained with an appropriate troop strength and mandate to guarantee peace and long-term stability.

MONUC should not scale down its activities until the Congolese security forces--and in particular the army--stop posing a threat to their own populations and instead begin providing security and protection to the Congolese people.

Hidden Treasure?

mborum — 2009-06-30T22:10:24Z

Gold is now Mali's leading export. If the country's mineral wealth is managed wisely, it holds the potential to contribute to economic development and poverty reduction. Increasing the transparency of mining revenue management is a critical part of this equation.

This report examines current laws and practices relating to mining revenue management in Mali, and presents a series of recommendations for improving transparency and information disclosure.

The authors are A. Rani Parker, Ph.D., and Fred Wood, Ph.D., of Business-Community Synergies (www.bcsynergies.com).

A French language translation of this report is available below.

Oxfam International Humanitarian Policy Notes

mborum — 2012-09-14T17:21:14Z

These policy notes describe key issues for humanitarian organizations in the twenty-first century and provide recommendations derived from our experience working in the field as well as in the policy arena. This series will be expanded and updated over time.

Seeking Common Grounds

mborum — 2009-05-27T22:30:27Z

The International Coffee Agreement (ICA) establishes the only dedicated intergovernmental forum for coffee-related matters: the International Coffee Organization (ICO). The ICO brings together various stakeholders--including coffee importing and coffee-exporting countries, the private sector, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)--to discuss, negotiate, and cooperate on shared strategies and policies regarding the global coffee economy.

The current ICA expires in September 2007. Negotiations regarding the next ICA are an excellent opportunity to implement policies to advance international cooperation on the development of a more sustainable, participatory, and equitable coffee supply chain. Oxfam urges reforms along three general themes:

Enhancing participation by small-scale producers.
Promoting sustainability.
Providing tools for small-scale farmers to compete in challenging and changing markets.

Fairness in the Fields

mborum — 2009-06-08T16:14:46Z

For far too long, the federal government has tried to use the Farm Bill as an all-purpose policy solution. But the current Farm Bill does very little to help poor farmers, and even less to assist impoverished rural communities. Instead, it gives large government payments, or subsidies, to a small number of large farmers. Most American farmers get little or nothing. Meanwhile, subsidies don't alleviate the biggest problems in rural communities: lack of medical services, poor schools, population loss, and environmental degradation.

While the Farm Bill does little to help poor farmers in the US, it actually harms rural communities around the world. After receiving massive subsidies, US cotton farms produce more than they otherwise would, and sell their surplus at less than the cost of production. These subsidies hurt African cotton farmers by reducing the world price of cotton and shrinking their share of the market. This situation is not only unfair; it violates international rules set by the World Trade Organization.