More than a 1,000 civil society representatives gathered in Seville this week for a major United Nations conference on development financing, but many said they left feeling side lined and frustrated, with expectations already low before the event began.
The four-day summit aimed to mobilise funding to help developing countries close a $4.3 trillion gap needed to address debt, climate challenges, and inequality. However, wealthy nations’ growing focus on defence spending and shrinking aid contributions cast doubt on the feasibility of the summit’s goals.
Civil society organisations (CSOs) criticised the final 'Seville Commitment' as diluted by richer countries unwilling to commit fully, and many objected to the emphasis on private sector-led solutions. ActionAid’s secretary general, Arthur Larok, said that Global South nations were leaving with nothing, while Global North governments avoided accountability.
Some proposals, such as a global wealth tax and levies on luxury travel, were welcomed by CSOs. Still, many were frustrated by limited access to the event, reporting difficulties with accreditation and exclusion from key talks. This led to a protest by civil society delegates on the summit’s final day.
Oyebisi Babatunde Oluseyi of the Nigeria Network of NGOs said civil society voices were systematically ignored and called for a new system to ensure their input. U.N. Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed acknowledged these concerns and promised efforts to widen their participation.
Oxfam’s Hernan Saenz warned that if the U.N. continues to restrict civic space, it risks losing its credibility. In a joint declaration, CSOs called the global financial system unjust and demanded a complete overhaul.
Despite the disillusionment, all interviewed CSO delegates affirmed their belief in the U.N., with Hirotaka Koike of Japan’s NGO Center for International Cooperation stating that, despite its flaws, it remains the only platform where all nations have equal standing.
The European Parliament approved an overhaul of the European Union's migration policy on Wednesday, paving the way for faster deportations and allowin...
The U.S. and Iran released the text of an interim agreement their presidents have signed to end their war on Wednesday, with U.S. President Donald Tru...
Millions of people across 13 countries are expected to face worsening food insecurity between June and November 2026, according to a new report from t...
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has announced that Italy will reopen its embassy in Tehran on Friday (19 June), marking a rare reversal in a p...
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said artificial intelligence will ultimately lead to labour shortages rather than widespread unemployment, pushing back ...
The European Parliament approved an overhaul of the European Union's migration policy on Wednesday, paving the way for faster deportations and allowing member states to establish detention centres outside the bloc.
Millions of people across 13 countries are expected to face worsening food insecurity between June and November 2026, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has announced that Italy will reopen its embassy in Tehran on Friday (19 June), marking a rare reversal in a period of heightened regional instability and disrupted diplomatic ties across the Middle East.
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has said artificial intelligence will ultimately lead to labour shortages rather than widespread unemployment, pushing back against growing fears that AI will replace human workers.
Donald Trump has said the U.S. will resume bombing Iran if Tehran doesn't "behave," at the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. Earlier, the U.S. President criticised Israel for its tactics against Hezbollah, saying it was unnecessary to bomb entire apartment buildings to tackle militants.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring four, according to emergency authorities.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to be made public and both countries said a permanent truce is yet to be negotiated.
Australia's weather bureau warned on Tuesday that an El Niño weather pattern has formed in the tropical Pacific and could intensify in the second half of 2026, becoming one of the strongest events recorded in seven decades.
Pakistan's heavy reliance on imported energy was laid bare by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which disrupted regional supplies, drove up costs and exposed vulnerabilities in the country's energy security. However, a proposed peace agreement now offers hope for economic relief.
Millions of people across 13 countries are expected to face worsening food insecurity between June and November 2026, according to a new report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The European Parliament approved an overhaul of the European Union's migration policy on Wednesday, paving the way for faster deportations and allowing member states to establish detention centres outside the bloc.
Ukraine is seeking an additional $20 billion in military funding from its allies, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov said on Wednesday, as Kyiv looks to strengthen its battlefield position and increase pressure on Russia ahead of potential negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he had a "very good" conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G7 summit in France, adding that Washington and New Delhi were working on trade agreements despite recent strains in bilateral ties.
Polish police have launched an investigation after videos circulating online showed men in military-style uniforms patrolling Warsaw Central railway station and questioning people they believed to be foreigners.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment