. Urges increased liquidity to aid economic recovery
Clara Nwachukwu
Intergovernmental Group of 24 (G-24), has expressed concern over what it described as disproportionate affliction of climate change on developing countries, calling for a greater global financial commitment to ensure a just transition to a low carbon world.
The Group of 24 developing countries noted that “financing to invest in climate change has fallen far short of what is, and will be, needed, while financing gaps are amplified by pressing fiscal constraints and the high and increasing cost of capital.”
The Group comprises member countries from Africa (including Nigeria), Latin America and the Caribbean, and Asia, which help coordinate the positions of developing countries on international monetary and development finance issues, and to ensure that their interests are adequately represented in negotiations on international monetary matters.
In a Communiqué issued after a high-level meeting yesterday, the members called on advanced countries to deliver on their $100 billion commitment to support developing countries urgently and significantly increase this target in the years ahead to match investment needs.
Going forward, the G-24 urged that the COP27 climate meeting should aim for an accelerated and ambitious climate finance agenda, a process to track progress in fulfilling financial commitments, and the means to bridge financing gaps as needed.
The Communiqué called for faster debt restructuring under the G20 Common Framework, greater private sector creditor participation in sovereign debt restructuring, and more concessional financing.
Financing to invest in climate change has fallen far short of what is, and will be, needed, while financing gaps are amplified by pressing fiscal constraints and the high and increasing cost of capital.
Economic shocks, risks
In its review of the global economy, the Group admitted that recovery had gathered momentum, adding that new shocks and risks confront developing countries still struggling through COVID, now compounded by the impact of the war in Ukraine.
President of the Central Bank of Guatemala and Chair of the G-24 Sergio Recinos, said: “As we meet, our hearts are deeply saddened by the tragic deaths and devastation in Ukraine.
“We strongly support international efforts to provide humanitarian support and restore peace and stability and recognize that this crisis intensifies downside risks and undermines economic recovery worldwide.”
Recinos also cautioned that COVID is not defeated; adding that inflationary pressures are rising, driven by spikes in food, energy and commodity prices and disruptions in supply and trade.
Also interest rates in advanced countries threaten to drive up rates globally and trigger capital outflows from developing countries, reducing their access to financial markets, and increasing debt vulnerabilities.
All of those factors suggest there will be a need for significant new resources for countries in distress, the Group said.
“Extraordinary actions were taken globally to respond to COVID. There is a feeling that we have barely caught our collective breath, but the period ahead will require equally strong action to support vulnerable countries.
“This confluence of economic risks will put severe pressure on countries that have already exhausted their resources under COVID,” Recinos said.
Increasing financing needs
He noted that countries confront multiple shocks increasing liquidity financing needs. Constrained fiscal space and high debt burdens limit the ability of vulnerable countries to respond.
Urgent global action is needed to prevent hunger and food crises among vulnerable countries and poorer households and avert financial distress in highly indebted developing countries.
Strong multilateral cooperation is crucial to preserve rules-based trade, secure food and energy, protect financial stability, and ensure increased and sustained financing to developing countries in need.
Strong multilateral cooperation is crucial to preserve rules-based trade, secure food and energy, protect financial stability, and ensure increased and sustained financing to developing countries in need.
The G-24 members argued that a stronger global response is needed to improve vaccine access, especially in Africa.
They said all countries need to act to overcome supply barriers by facilitating cross border flows of vaccine and treatments and by sharing technologies to boost vaccine manufacturing in developing countries.
They urged advanced countries to ensure adequate funding to meet the global goal of 70% vaccination coverage in all countries by mid-2022.
As a result, the G-24 called for additional measures to cope with the coming pressures, saying the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will need significant new resources for lending in times of crisis and emerging shocks.
At a time of potentially high liquidity needs in developing countries, failure to deliver a quota increase will result in a sharp decline in the IMF’s available resources as temporary borrowing arrangements expire.
The World Bank Group (WBG) and other development banks were also encouraged to boost their lending capacity to meet urgent needs to sustain economic recovery.
“We urge the WBG to develop innovative means to assist fragile states that are not eligible to avail of its traditional lending windows but have been severely affected by the pandemic. We welcome the WBG’s timely financial assistance to Ukraine and look forward to its support to other countries harmed by the war.
“We urge the WBG to extend concessional financing to developing countries experiencing disproportionate migration and refugee flows, including from the impact of the Ukraine war,” the Communiqué stated.
