All Publications

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.

OXFAMExchange Winter 2007

mborum — 2009-04-30T21:43:06Z

This issue of EXCHANGE takes an in-depth look at the peace building activities Oxfam America and our partners are implementing in Africa to reduce violence and thus target the root causes of much hunger and poverty.

Open publication

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.

OXFAMExchange Fall 2006

rbaker — 2009-04-30T21:44:16Z

This issue of Exchange focuses on the people who benefit from our new program, Oxfam America Unwrapped, and how their stories inspired the gifts that symbolize our work around the world.

Open publication

Oxfam in Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean

Oxfam America — 2009-06-24T19:40:06Z

Half the population of Central America lives in poverty. The chronically poor—women, small farmers, and those in rural communities—lack the access to government services, economic opportunity, and basic rights that could enable a secure existence. Since the 1980s, Oxfam America has supported promising community-driven organizations, helping their leaders and members develop skills and resources—and a voice to achieve their visions for a fairer, more prosperous future for all.

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.

Patents versus Patients

mborum — 2010-08-10T20:47:44Z

Five years ago, members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) signed a ministerial agreement to ensure that intellectual property rules would no longer obstruct developing countries’ efforts to protect public health. Since then, however, little has changed.

Patented medicines continue to be priced out of reach for the world's poorest people. Trade rules remain a major barrier to accessing affordable versions of patented medicines (generic medicines).

The prevalance of debilitating and life-threatening diseases in poor countries is growing, but medicines are simply not available. Urgent action is needed.

Tarnished Gold

mborum — 2010-01-12T16:57:59Z

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) continues to dress up money-making gold mining investments as development, yet it fails to demonstrate how these projects actually reduce poverty. On its “golden” 50-year anniversary, we challenge the IFC to “prove it” by reporting its development impacts on a project-by-project basis.

Arms Without Borders

mborum — 2009-05-28T23:42:03Z

The globalization of the arms industry has opened up major loopholes in all current arms export regulations, allowing sales to human rights abusers and countries under arms embargoes, according to a new report by the Control Arms Campaign.

Free, Quality Education for Every Afghan Child

mborum — 2009-05-29T19:46:41Z

Half of the children in Afghanistan still do not go to school despite a 500 per cent increase in enrolments in the last six years. With the establishment of democracy, the main symbol of national regeneration lay in the dream of educating every child—boy and girl. However, there remain many obstacles to achieving this dream.

Household contributions to education are steep and deter new entrants. Those in schools are faced with inadequate educational materials, textbooks, and teachers. Budget allocation and spending in the education sector by various stakeholders remain largely uncoordinated and opaque.

This briefing paper outlines some of the key concerns, and proposes a plan for not only increased funding, but also reforming budget allocation and planning within the Ministry of Education and amongst other actors in the education sector.