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    Devex Newswire: Cuts, controversies, and the fight for global solidarity

    A look back at 2024's EU aid cuts, and how AI can be used effectively and efficiently in the globaldev job hunt. Plus, Sudan's civil war: genocide, sanctions, and global implications.

    By Helen Murphy // 08 January 2025
    Sign up to Devex Newswire today.

    Foreign aid cuts across Europe are straining global solidarity, with the European Union redirecting funds toward strategic investments such as green energy, leaving humanitarian needs underfunded. Meanwhile, major donors such as Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands have made steep reductions.

    Also in today’s edition: We bring you tips for job hunting using artificial intelligence, and the latest on U.S. sanctions in Sudan and Syria.

    This is a preview of Newswire
    Sign up to this newsletter for an inside look at the biggest stories in global development, in your inbox daily.

    + Join us today for the 2025 development forecast. In this conversation, Devex President Raj Kumar will explore the forces shaping the sector and provide a forecast of what to expect this year, presenting insights essential for anyone involved or interested in global development. Save your spot now.

    Brother, can EU spare a dime?

    Foreign aid cuts hit hard across Europe over the last year, leaving advocates scrambling to defend global solidarity. Jutta Urpilainen, the outgoing EU commissioner for development, called the situation “very worrisome,” warning that slashing aid sends a damaging message to partners in the global south.

    The numbers back her up, my colleague Vince Chadwick writes. In February, the EU redirected €2 billion from development funds to boost Ukraine support and address irregular migration. For 2025-2027, many country budgets were gutted, with funding for the Central African Republic plummeting by 73% and cuts of nearly 50% in Togo and Guinea-Bissau. Instead, the EU is prioritizing strategic investments, such as green hydrogen and critical raw materials. However, critics argue this shift risks sidelining basic humanitarian needs.

    The pain isn’t confined to Brussels. Germany, Europe’s largest donor, slashed aid budgets in 2023 and plans to halve humanitarian aid this year. Advocacy groups such as Venro say this amounts to “turning its back on international solidarity.” Furthermore, France’s aid budget has faced back-to-back reductions, despite President Emmanuel Macron's high-profile summits on global development.

    Sweden and the Netherlands have also made ideological turns, prioritizing domestic and regional concerns. Sweden halved its aid budget in 2023, forcing NGOs to compete with low-income countries for dwindling funds. The Netherlands plans to slash civil society funding by two-thirds, with further cuts looming.

    Yet it’s not all gloom. Ireland bucked the trend, hitting record ODA levels in 2023, and some leaders are calling for a rethink. Belgian aid chief Jean Van Wetter argued international cooperation isn’t charity — it's a necessity for Europe’s own development, citing Africa’s critical role in the energy transition and workforce potential.

    Still, as budgets shrink and needs grow, the EU faces tough questions. Jozef Síkela, Urpilainen’s successor, has promised a pragmatic approach but admits resources are scarce. The challenge now? Convincing Europe that global development isn’t just about altruism — it’s about shared survival.

    Read: A look back at European aid’s slash-and-burn year (Pro)

    + Not a Devex Pro member yet? Start your 15-day free trial today to access all our expert analyses, insider insights, funding data, events, and more. Check out all the exclusive content available to you.

    Leave it to the robots

    AI tools are revolutionizing job hunting, but knowing how to use them is key to standing out — especially in global development, Devex Careers Editor Justin Sablich explains. Here are some takeaways from a recent Devex Career event on how AI can be used effectively and efficiently in the globaldev job hunt:

    • Know your own strengths. AI can streamline your search and improve efficiency if job hunting isn't your strong suit. But if you're already confident, overly relying on it can dilute your unique voice, warned social impact job coach Stephanie Mansueto during the Devex Career event.

    • Editing is key. AI is great for crafting first drafts of resumes and cover letters. Tools such as ChatGPT can help shape professional summaries or tailor content within specific word counts. Just remember: Edit carefully to maintain your personal touch.

    • Search broadly: Don't limit yourself to one job title. AI tools can generate alternative roles and uncover new employers in your field, ensuring you don’t miss hidden opportunities.

    • Interview prep: AI can't fully replace real feedback, but it can help prep tailored questions based on a job description and even provide sample answers. Use tools such as ChatGPT to simulate mock interviews.

    Want more tips? Check out the full event recording to sharpen your job search with AI strategies.

    Watch: 3 ways AI can help you find your next development gig (Career)

    + Your ultimate guide to development’s top sectors: Our latest career guide is our biggest one yet and balances need-to-know essentials with new salary data insights and insider advice on working in globaldev's leading sectors.

    This is exclusively for Career Account members. Not yet a member? You can try it out with a free 15-day trial to access all career advice guides, events, and articles, our full job board, and much more.

    Sudan's tragedy unveiled

    Since April of 2023, Sudan has been steeped in civil war. Tens of thousands have died. Hundreds of thousands are experiencing famine. And over 30 million people require humanitarian assistance, according to the U.S. government, my colleague Elissa Miolene tells me.

    Yesterday, the Biden administration said the Sudanese rebel militia Rapid Support Forces have committed genocide, with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken elevating his determination of war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity from late last year.

    “​​It is unthinkable that the Sudanese people have been subjected to genocide twice in a generation by criminals seized with greed and the evil intent to control and harm others,” USAID Administrator Samantha Power said in a statement supporting Blinken’s designation.

    The determination came with sanctions against Mohammad Hamdan Daglo Mousa — the RSF leader known as Hemedti — along with seven RSF-owned companies located in the United Arab Emirates and one individual. The companies and individual were sanctioned for procuring weapons for the militia force; Hemedti was charged with “gross violations of human rights in Darfur,” with Blinken highlighting the mass rape of civilians by RSF soldiers under Hemedti’s control.

    For months, the UAE has been accused of fueling Sudan’s conflict and of arming the RSF under the guise of humanitarian aid. It’s something the UAE has consistently denied, yet in a statement from the U.S. Treasury Department, the seven sanctioned companies were found to have provided the militia with money and military equipment. One was determined to be purchasing gold from Sudan and transporting it to Dubai “presumably for the benefit of the RSF.”

    “The United States continues to evaluate additional actions to impose costs on those perpetuating the conflict and atrocities against the Sudanese people,” Blinken said.

    ICYMI: ‘The world, as a whole, has dropped the ball’ on Sudan (Pro)

    Push and pull

    Earlier this week, the Biden administration lifted restrictions on humanitarian aid in Syria, a move that aid agencies are heralding as a “critical step” to ensuring assistance reaches those who need it most, Elissa tells me.

    “This move — in the form of a broad general license from the U.S. Treasury — acknowledges the immense challenges posed by outdated sanctions and designations that have left humanitarian aid organizations in an uncertain position over the last month,” says Kate Phillips-Barrasso, the vice president of global policy and advocacy at Mercy Corps.

    For more than a decade, Syria has been gripped by sanctions as it struggled through its civil war. The Department of the Treasury accused Bashar Assad, the country’s then-president, of supporting terrorism and destabilizing the Middle East — but a month after Assad was forced from power, some of those restrictions are now being eased.

    For the next six months, humanitarian groups will be able to operate more freely in Syria, with the U.S. Treasury stating they will ensure American sanctions “do not impede activities to meet basic human needs.”

    “The end of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal and repressive rule, backed by Russia and Iran, provides a unique opportunity for Syria and its people to rebuild,” said Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo in a statement. “During this period of transition, Treasury will continue to support humanitarian assistance and responsible governance in Syria.”

    Today, over 16 million people — nearly 70% of the Syrian population — are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. After 14 years of conflict, Syria remains a country in flux, with the U.N. Refugee Agency stating Syria’s outlook for 2025 continues to be “deeply concerning.”

    “We urge the U.S. government to extend this general license beyond six months to avoid uncertainty, and hope it marks the beginning of broader efforts to address financial and operational barriers facing aid organizations that already have stringent mechanisms to transparently ensure aid goes to Syrian civilians in need,” Phillips-Barrasso says.

    In other news

    The U.N. and Lebanese government jointly appealed for $371.4 million in additional humanitarian aid to support people who are displaced by the Israel-Hezbollah conflict. [Al Arabiya]

    Iran executed at least 901 people in 2024, the highest number since 2015, U.N. human rights officials reported. [Reuters]

    Social media giant Meta will replace its third-party fact-checking system with “community notes” on Facebook and Instagram. [Al Jazeera]

    Sign up to Newswire for an inside look at the biggest stories in global development.

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    About the author

    • Helen Murphy

      Helen Murphy

      Helen is an award-winning journalist and Senior Editor at Devex, where she edits coverage on global development in the Americas. Based in Colombia, she previously covered war, politics, financial markets, and general news for Reuters, where she headed the bureau, and for Bloomberg in Colombia and Argentina, where she witnessed the financial meltdown. She started her career in London as a reporter for Euromoney Publications before moving to Hong Kong to work for a daily newspaper.

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