Oxfam calls on G7 countries to maintain their commitment to international aid
Ottawa, March 12, 2025 – As the G7 Foreign Ministers meet in the Charlevoix region under Canada’s presidency, Oxfam is urging them to reaffirm their commitment to international aid.
In 2021, G7 leaders pledged to address soaring humanitarian needs through the Famine and Humanitarian Crisis Prevention Pact. Barely four years later, many are reneging on their commitments by cutting international aid – an abdication of responsibility that is already having disastrous consequences for vulnerable communities and global security, as crises become more complex with climate change and armed conflict.
Every day, Oxfam receives dramatic accounts of the direct impact of cuts to international aid budgets. Some of our long-standing partners, who implement humanitarian and transformative projects funded by Canada and other G7 countries, have been forced to suspend their activities overnight, leaving millions of vulnerable and marginalised people in limbo.
“International aid saves lives and builds resilience to prevent and better address crises, while contributing to economic development. The COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us how interconnected we are,” said Oxfam Canada Executive Director Lauren Ravon. “Slowing the spread of disease and promoting equitable, inclusive and environmentally-friendly economic and social development directly contributes to our collective security. Cutting aid fuels instability, conflict and forced migration that will have repercussions right here at home. It also means abdicating our moral obligations.”
Canada has a long tradition of international solidarity. The discussions surrounding reductions in international aid, here and elsewhere, raise a fundamental question: what role does Canada want to play in the world? Canada must reaffirm its commitment to multilateralism and international solidarity. At present, Canada’s international aid represents only 0.26% of its GDP, well short of the 0.7% target set by the OECD, of which Canada is a member.
True security is not based on military force alone. It is built on commitments to stability, diplomacy, democracy and development. International aid is a lever for stability, prosperity and security. The G7 countries must recognize that financing aid is not an act of charity, but an investment in a safer and more equitable world.
Oxfam Canada calls on the G7 foreign ministers to make clear commitments to protect and strengthen international aid budgets.
MEDIA CONTACT
Laveza Khan, laveza.khan@oxfam.org; 613-240-4157