Standing in Solidarity Against Russian Aggression
2 days, 3 commitments to global partnerships from the G7 Leaders Summit
For 48 hours late last month, leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) — the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and representatives from the European Union — gathered in Germany to coordinate a shared approach to some of the most immediate and pressing international issues: Russia’s brutal, unprovoked war in Ukraine, the escalating global food security crisis exacerbated by Putin’s war, the effects of climate change, and advancing shared global goals.
As the premier development agency, USAID continuously and proactively tracks and coordinates updates from other governmental and non-governmental donors to help maximize the effective use of every donor dollar — and to ultimately ensure support reaches those who need it most.
With the ripple effects of Putin’s actions reverberating across the world and threatening to push an additional 40 million people into extreme poverty and food insecurity this year, this two-day summit was critical.
While USAID played a key coordination role, our clarion call also rallied our allies. The needs are simply too great — as USAID Administrator Samantha Power explained yesterday in a major address on the growing global food security crisis. No one nation can or should have to meet these challenges alone.
Keep reading for three announcements from the G7 Leaders’ Summit that showcase the United States’ global commitment to these vital issues.
Protecting the Most Vulnerable
President Biden announced $2.76 billion in additional U.S. government commitments to protect the world’s most vulnerable populations from the escalating global food security crisis and the severe drought in the Horn of Africa region.
USAID is immediately providing $2 billion for direct food assistance and other services in countries with high levels of acute food insecurity, reliance on Russian and Ukrainian imports, and vulnerability to price shocks. President Biden also announced $760 million in additional funding to combat the effects of high food, fuel, and fertilizer prices — now being driven by Putin’s war — in those countries that need it most.
The United States is also expanding Feed the Future, the U.S. Government’s global food security initiative led by USAID, to eight new countries, including those vulnerable to the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The expansion brings the list of prioritized countries from 12 to 20, and now includes the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia.
Investing in Infrastructure
The President and G7 Leaders also launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure (PGII) to mobilize hundreds of billions of dollars that will deliver quality, sustainable infrastructure that makes a difference in people’s lives around the world; strengthen and diversify our supply chains; create new opportunities for American workers and businesses; and advance our national security.
Among PGII’s flagship projects are USAID programs in health security, digital connectivity, and gender equity and equality. USAID will aim to provide up to $50 million over five years to the World Bank’s new global Childcare Incentive Fund — a public-private partnership between the Governments of Canada and Australia, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, the LEGO Foundation, and others to make childcare and jobs for women more easily accessible, and provide early learning opportunities for children.
USAID is also investing $40 million in Southeast Asia’s Smart Power Program, an effort to combat climate change while strengthening the region’s power system. This project is expected to mobilize $2 billion in private-sector financing as a result of U.S. Government assistance.
Additionally, USAID’s Digital Invest program will leverage $3.45 million in U.S. Department of State and USAID funding to mobilize up to $335 million in investment capital for internet service providers and financial technology companies to promote resilient, secure digital ecosystems in developing countries.
Standing in Solidarity
At the Summit, G7 Leaders issued a statement condemning Russia’s brutal, unprovoked, unjustifiable, and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. They also reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to address the global impacts of the war, especially on the most vulnerable, supporting Ukrainians in efforts to end the war, providing humanitarian assistance, increasing food security, and more.
The U.S. stands with G7 nations, and will continue to work to strengthen the resilience of our partner countries so that they are empowered to withstand the shocks of Russia’s war while continuing to make strides in their own development goals.
“We have to stay together” — because we are stronger together, Biden said at the summit.
And through partnerships and collaboration, USAID has an opportunity to create meaningful and lasting impact.
About the Author
Michele Sumilas is the Assistant to the Administrator in USAID’s Bureau for Policy, Planning and Learning.
