Global civil society platform CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE) has called on all development stakeholders to take a stand and safeguard global solidarity, in response to the US government’s decision to suspend foreign aid, an action that it describes as “a serious escalation in the crisis of multilateralism.”

The statement, published on the CPDE website, also rebukes similar actions of the US around past conventions, such as the Paris Agreement on climate change, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the UN Tax Treaty negotiations, and diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI). “[These] indicate that this power behind the superpower is not only uninterested in an alliance with the rest of the world to pursue common goals, it also does not intend to respect any previous international agreements, especially international human rights norms and standards.”

The CSO platform argued that international development cooperation, specifically official development assistance (ODA), remains a crucial pillar of global development particularly for the most vulnerable communities and that this disruption jeopardises years of investment in human rights, governance, and social progress, while also undermining international commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“CPDE holds fast to its mandate of advancing effective development cooperation that puts people and their rights at the centre. We believe that meaningful reforms in international development architecture can only be possible if there is multilateral consensus to act towards a better shared future, as represented by the SDGs,” the platform stated.

In addition, CPDE argued that the unilateral decisions of the US “contradict fundamental effectiveness principles (such as ownership, transparency, accountability, partnership, and a focus on results), are contrary to international consensus and undermine the basic assumption of a shared interest, values, and future.” The platform also sounded the alarm on the lives and livelihoods affected by the stoppage of US-funded humanitarian and development activities, and its impact on human rights and development norms, and global partnerships.

CPDE then called on the international community, including the UN member-states and all development actors, to take “a firm and coordinated stand against the suspension and to reaffirm their commitment to leaving no one behind.” “Strategic development partner engagement, alternative funding mechanisms, and a renewed push for multilateral cooperation are urgently needed to mitigate the fallout from this decision,” it continues.

The statement ends with a reminder to all development stakeholders to uphold cooperation around common goals: “We have to safeguard decades of hard-won development gains against arbitrary short-term political decisions. Civil society, governments, and development partners must work together to uphold the principles of justice, solidarity, and shared progress.”

Recently, CPDE has also urged parties at the 4th Financing for Development (FfD4) preparatory meetings to push for breakthroughs in development finance commitments, to address urgent challenges posed by multiple global crises, the derailment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the beleaguered aid system.

CPDE is an open platform that unites civil society organisations (CSOs) from six regions and seven major sectors (feminist, indigenous peoples, international CSOs, labour, migrants, rural, and youth) around the world on the issue of effective development cooperation.

Visit csopartnership.org today to learn more about CPDE’s engagements around development finance, and EDC.