OECD/Development Assistance Committee – Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne at the development ministers meeting (videoconference, 9 November 2020)

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, took part in yesterday’s meeting of development ministers from the member countries of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC).

Among the topics examined at this meeting were the allocation of resources to the most vulnerable countries, especially in Africa; the transition to resilient, inclusive and sustainable growth models; and boosting the effectiveness of official development assistance, including in fragile states.

Mr. Lemoyne reaffirmed France’s commitment to invest alongside its partners in the fight against global inequalities and for the preservation of global public goods. This commitment will be accompanied by increased resources, in keeping with President Macron’s pledge to raise France’s official development assistance (ODA) to 0.55% of GDP in 2022, compared with 0.44% today, and better monitoring of results on the ground.

The minister stressed the need to align resources allocated to developing countries with Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement, ending funding for activities that are inconsistent with climate and environmental goals such as the use of fossil fuels. France also reiterated the need to combat illegal financial flows and to strengthen the sustainability of public debt in the countries concerned, within the framework of the G20 and the Paris Club.

Discussions on revamping global governance and sustainable financing in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic will continue within the framework of the Paris Peace Forum (on November 12 and 13), during which the minister will speak on the topic of reorienting financial flows toward the Sustainable Development Goals.