Publishing Institution: Oxfam Publishing / Political Geography: Europe / Publication Year: within 25 Years

1. Analyzing European Union Institutions’ Flows for Total Official Support for Sustainable Development

Author:: Brian Tomlinson
Publication Date:: 02-2022
Content Type:: Research Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: This report analyses the first round of Total Official Support for Sustainable Development (TOSSD) data from European Union (EU) Institutions. The EU is a key stakeholder in the development of TOSSD, as Co-Chair of the International TOSSD Task Force, and in the promotion of this as an essential metric in the implementation of Agenda 2030. It is our hope that this paper’s detailed examination of the scope of what has been reported by the EU Institutions identifies trends and issues arising from the first reporting round for TOSSD, which can be addressed going forward. It is timely to acknowledge the level of transparency in the proceedings of the TOSSD Task Force, which has been open to comments and suggestions since its inception, and has recently seated CSO representatives as observers. This transparency has put into practical effect the notion that data validation can, to some extent, be entrusted to third parties provided that the relevant information is available to all interested stakeholders on a timely basis. Good norms, such as good reporting instructions, can help steer the development agenda in the right direction for the benefit of the communities of the Global South.
Topic:: Development, Regional Cooperation, European Union, and Sustainability
Political Geography:: Europe

2. Seeking Safety: Roma Refugees in Moldova – Challenges and humanitarian needs

Author:: Charlotte Greener and Emly de Andrade Costa
Publication Date:: 10-2022
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The war in Ukraine has displaced millions of people to neighbouring countries – but some groups who already face poverty and discrimination in society, including Roma people, are facing particular challenges accessing the safety they need. This paper outlines the results of Oxfam’s rapid assessment of Roma refugees in Moldova in July 2022, highlighting the challenges that Roma refugees face when trying to access assistance, and some key humanitarian needs of these refugees. It aims to help amplify the voice of Roma refugees and to inform a humanitarian response – from the Moldovan government, United Nations (UN) agencies, and non-government organizations (NGOs) – that is more inclusive of Roma refugees, and more responsive to their particular needs.
Topic:: International Cooperation, United Nations, Refugees, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe and Moldova

3. Detention as the Default: How Greece, with the support of the EU, is generalizing administrative detention of migrants

Author:: Vasilis Papastergiou
Publication Date:: 11-2021
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Putting migrants and asylum seekers into detention for administrative reasons is a common practice in Greece, despite this policy contravening human rights. Greek authorities are using detention and the new EU-funded closed compounds as a way to discourage people from seeking asylum in Europe. Detention, as outlined in Greek law, should only be used as a final resort and only then in specific instances. Detention carries with it not only a financial cost, but also a considerable moral cost. Detention without just cause violates basic human rights, such as freedom of movement, the right to health and the right to family life. Alternatives to detention exist and must be prioritized.
Topic:: Human Rights, Humanitarian Crisis, Detention, and Migrants
Political Geography:: Europe and Greece

4. Tipping the Scales: The role of responsibility- and solidarity-sharing in the situation on the Greek islands

Author:: Natalia-Rafaella Kafkoutsou and Spyros-Vlad Oikonomou
Publication Date:: 02-2021
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: This report assesses the impact of EU countries’ refusal to relocate asylum seekers on the Greek islands. It illustrates that they have consistently failed to show solidarity by not delivering on commitments to relocate people, either by refusing to participate in the first place or by not fulfilling their pledges. This has left thousands of people in need of assistance on the Greek islands. EU countries have also consistently tried to avoid their legal obligations by putting barriers in place to keep families apart.
Topic:: Regional Cooperation, European Union, Refugees, Asylum, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe

5. Development – A Private Affair? The involvement of the Italian private sector in rural development cooperation programmes

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 01-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Investment in small-scale agriculture is needed in order to meet the ambitious objective set by the United Nations and signed by the world leaders in 2015: to eradicate hunger, ensure food security, improve nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture by 2030 (SDG 2). However, reaching this ambitious goal with the current level of resources committed will not be possible without concerted action on global challenges such as worsening climate change, fluctuating energy prices, diversification of diets in emerging economies and a growing pressure on natural resources such as land and water for purposes other than food. In the world today, 795 million people – one in nine people – still experience limited access to healthy and nutritious food; essential for children to develop properly and for fostering good health. Most of the people affected live in developing countries – 98 percent –and in Africa, one person in four suffers from hunger.1 Paradoxically, those who suffer from hunger are mainly farmers or people who depend on agriculture as their main source of income. To end the injustice of hunger in the world, there is therefore a need for a shared effort from public and private players, geared to allocate more and better investment for the promotion of sustainable agricultural development. In this paper, Oxfam investigates the flows of official development aid (ODA) committed by Italy in the last ten years to promoting food security, sustainable agriculture and rural development in its partner countries. The analysis aims to identify the main features of Italian ODA in this sector in order to evaluate its level of transparency and accountability. It also aims to verify the coherence, in financial terms, between the real allocation of resources and the political importance that Italy has historically assigned to food security issues. In parallel, this paper examines the involvement of Italian agri-food industries in rural development programmes financed through Italian ODA. In light of the wide- ranging debate which aims to promote a greater involvement of the private sector in development, Oxfam investigated the experience gained to date by Italy in one of the priority sectors of its development cooperation policy. The paper’s analysis focuses on three case studies featuring different modalities and objectives for private sector involvement, with the aim to assessing the impacts of their contribution in terms of the reduction of poverty and food insecurity in local communities. Oxfam’s purpose is to contribute to the ongoing national debate in Italy on the eligibility criteria that would promote private sector support for co- financed cooperation initiatives in partner countries; in line with the objectives and goals of the Italian International Development Cooperation policy.
Topic:: Agriculture, Climate Change, Environment, Poverty, United Nations, Food, Hunger, and Rural
Political Geography:: Europe, Italy, and Global Focus

6. Safe but Not Settled: The Impact of Family Separation on Refugees in the UK

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 01-2018
Content Type:: Research Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Refugees in the UK often find themselves separated from their families by their brutal experiences of conflict and persecution, just at the time when they need each other the most. This separation can drag on for years or sometimes indefinitely because of the UK’s restrictive rules on refugee family reunion. This joint report by the Refugee Council and Oxfam is one of the first to look at how family reunion and ongoing forced separation from loved ones affect the ability of refugees to successfully integrate into UK society.
Topic:: Migration, Refugee Crisis, Displacement, Conflict, Borders, Family, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: United Kingdom, Europe, and Global Focus

7. Nowhere But Out: The failure of France and Italy to Help Refugees and Other Migrants Stranded at the Border in Ventimiglia

Author:: Guilia Capitani
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In Ventimiglia, near the border between Italy and France, refugees and other migrants are living rough, without access to the most basic services. Women, men and children are ‘pushed’ out of the Italian asylum system, which often fails to meet their most basic needs for safety, information and education. Across the border, the French police meet children with abuse, and send them back to Italy in violation of French and EU law. Stranded, hundreds of people are unable to seek even basic support.
Topic:: Regional Cooperation, European Union, Refugees, Borders, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe, France, and Italy

8. Supermarket Responsibilities for Supply Chain Workers’ Rights: Continuing challenges in seafood supply chains and the case for stronger supermarket action

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Case Study
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: International food supply chains provide employment for tens of millions of women and men around the world, demonstrating the potential for private sector actors to fight poverty and inequality. Yet far too many work in appalling conditions. The ongoing challenges in seafood supply chains are illustrative of the problems that can arise and the need for stakeholders to tackle their root causes. This is one of a series of in-depth studies to supplement Oxfam’s global campaign report, Ripe for Change: Ending human suffering in supermarket supply chains. This report assesses recent progress in realizing workers’ rights in seafood supply chains originating in Southeast Asia; provides new evidence of ongoing workers’ rights challenges in US and European supermarket shrimp supply chains beginning in Indonesia and Thailand; and explores the need, in particular, to address the buyer power of supermarkets and other lead firms to squeeze value from their suppliers.
Topic:: Agriculture, Food, Private Sector, Farming, Labor Rights, and Supply Chains
Political Geography:: Europe, Indonesia, Asia, North America, Thailand, United States of America, and Indo-Pacific

9. Human Suffering in Italy’s Agricultural Value Chain

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Case Study
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Poverty is widespread among the small-scale farmers and workers who produce and process our food, in an industry worth billions of dollars. Oxfam’s new campaign highlights the systemic inequality and human suffering in food supply chains – and shows how action by supermarkets, governments, small-scale farmers and workers could lead to a decent and dignified standard of living for millions of people. This case study reveals endemic economic exploitation of farm workers in Italy who supply fruit and vegetables to supermarkets across Europe. It highlights the particular vulnerability of women and migrant workers, many of whom are recruited by gangmasters and forced to live and work in inhumane conditions. Wages are deducted in return for transport, food and accommodation. Workers express fear of sexual harassment, violence and exploitation.
Topic:: Agriculture, Labor Issues, Food, and Supply Chains
Political Geography:: Europe

10. German Supermarket Supply Chains: Ending the Human Suffering Behind our Food

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Inequality is rampant across the global economy, and the agro-food sector is no exception. At the top, big supermarkets and other corporate food giants dominate global food markets, allowing them to squeeze value from vast supply chains that span the globe, while at the bottom the bargaining power of small-scale farmers and workers has been steadily eroded in many of the countries from which German supermarkets and others from around the world source. The result is widespread human suffering among the women and men producing our food.
Topic:: Agriculture, Labor Issues, Food, Private Sector, Farming, and Supply Chains
Political Geography:: Europe and Germany

11. A Fair Share for Georgia’s Grape Growers

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Case Study
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Poverty is widespread among the small-scale farmers and workers who produce and process our food, in an industry worth billions of dollars. Oxfam’s new campaign highlights the systemic inequality and human suffering in food supply chains – and shows how action by supermarkets, governments, small-scale farmers and workers could lead to a decent and dignified standard of living for millions of people. This case study describes how, despite the rapid growth of Georgia’s wine industry, small-scale grape growers are continuing to live in poverty and are unable to develop their businesses or to profit from the industry they supply. It analyses the strengths and failings of previous and current government interventions, and offers recommendations on how they could be improved for long-term impact.
Topic:: Agriculture, Poverty, Inequality, and Farming
Political Geography:: Russia, Europe, and Georgia

12. Dutch Supermarket Supply Chains: Ending the Human Suffering Behind our Food

Author:: Anouk Franck and Ioan Nemes
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Inequality is rampant across the global economy, and the agro-food sector is no exception. At the top, big supermarkets and other corporate food giants dominate global food markets, allowing them to squeeze value from vast supply chains that span the globe, while at the bottom the bargaining power of small-scale farmers and workers has been steadily eroded in many of the countries from which Dutch supermarkets and others from around the world source. The result is widespread human suffering among the women and men producing our food.
Topic:: Agriculture, Markets, Food, Farming, and Supply
Political Geography:: Europe and Denmark

13. UK Supermarket Supply Chains: Ending the Human Suffering Behind our Food

Author:: Rachel Wilshaw
Publication Date:: 06-2018
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Inequality is rampant across the global economy, and the agro-food sector is no exception. At the top, big supermarkets and other corporate food giants dominate global food markets, allowing them to squeeze value from vast supply chains that span the globe, while at the bottom the bargaining power of small-scale farmers and workers has been steadily eroded in many of the countries from which UK supermarkets and others from around the world source. The result is widespread human suffering among the women and men producing our food.
Topic:: Markets, Food, Farming, and Supply Chains
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

14. ‘The Lawyers Have Given Us Hope Again’: Legal aid for protection in Europe

Author:: Valentina Bacchin
Publication Date:: 07-2018
Content Type:: Case Study
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The migratory movement towards Europe through Spain, Italy and Greece is an old phenomenon, with peaks at times of conflict. But the summer of 2015 saw an exponential increase in arrivals, as people transited through Libya to Italy, through Turkey to reach Greece, and from there through the Balkans to continue their quest for safety. One of Oxfam’s biggest concerns as it has worked to respond to the crisis is that people’s fundamental human rights are not being respected, and that they face obstacles to accessing international protection for a variety of reasons. To address these issues, Oxfam has partnered with organizations in Greece, Italy and the Balkans to provide information and legal aid, and to conduct research and advocacy. This case study evaluates the work of the programme so far, analysing both its successes and challenges.
Topic:: Human Rights, International Cooperation, Migration, Legal Theory, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe, Greece, Serbia, Macedonia, and Italy

15. Tracing Swedish Development Flows: A Study of the Traceability of Swedish Aid to Tanzania

Author:: Marc J. Cohen and Tigist Mekuria
Publication Date:: 07-2018
Content Type:: Research Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: This report uses 2013–2015 International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) data to trace Swedish aid to Tanzania to its end use. It finds that general budget support (GBS) accounted for much of Swedish aid in 2013 and 2015, but could not determine final expenditures using IATI data. In the absence of GBS, the authors could only confirm that in 2014, 28 percent of Swedish aid arrived in Tanzania, via the government and Tanzania-based organizations. A key constraint to traceability is that Sweden does not require aid implementers to report to IATI. The report recommends that Sweden encourage such reporting. This report uses 2013–2015 International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) data to trace Swedish aid to Tanzania to its end use. It finds that general budget support (GBS) accounted for much of Swedish aid in 2013 and 2015, but could not determine final expenditures using IATI data. In the absence of GBS, the authors could only confirm that in 2014, 28 percent of Swedish aid arrived in Tanzania, via the government and Tanzania-based organizations. A key constraint to traceability is that Sweden does not require aid implementers to report to IATI. The report recommends that Sweden encourage such reporting.
Topic:: Humanitarian Aid, International Cooperation, Governance, and Transparency
Political Geography:: Africa, Europe, Tanzania, and Sweden

16. Youth Participation for Active Global Citizenship: Future Youth School Forums Project Report

Author:: Anna Jarkiewicz and Joanna Leek
Publication Date:: 09-2018
Content Type:: Research Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The Future Youth School Forums (FYS-Forums) project took place in Cyprus, Italy, Poland, Lithuania and the UK from 2015 to 2018 and was funded by EU Erasmus+. Its aim was to show how creating a group of engaged young global participants requires the engagement of teachers in activities to promote global citizenship – and to provide teachers and young people with the tools to promote effective and inclusive youth leadership across formal and informal education through global citizenship forums. This report on the project looks at the role of teachers and partnerships with students in raising critical awareness of global citizenship.
Topic:: Education, Citizenship, Youth, and Participation
Political Geography:: United Kingdom, Europe, Poland, Lithuania, Italy, and Cyprus

17. Together Again: Reuniting refugee families in safety – what the UK can do

Author:: Josephine Libel and Anna Musgrave
Publication Date:: 02-2017
Content Type:: Commentary and Analysis
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: This paper highlights how the UK government could do more to enable refugees with family members in the UK to travel here safely. The current rules leave families facing impossible decisions: bring some family members to safety but leave others behind, often at even greater risk as they may be isolated and alone in dangerous circumstances; or put their loved ones’ lives in the hands of smugglers in a desperate attempt to be together in the UK. By changing its restrictive policy, the UK government could help make families more resilient in the face of displacement, prevent men, women and children from embarking on dangerous journeys, and support the integration of refugees in the UK.
Topic:: Humanitarian Aid, Migration, Refugees, Displacement, and Conflict
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

18. Training Manual: Gender leadership in humanitarian action

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 03-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Gender interacts with multiple factors including but not limited to age, ethnicity, disability, caste, class, religion and environment, to determine an individual’s ability to be aware of, lay claim to, and access their rights and entitlements. In times of crisis ‘ whether slow or sudden onset, climate or conflict driven ‘ there are shifts in how these factors interact that present opportunities and risks for women, girls, men and boys in accessing their rights, in the short, medium and longer term. Humanitarian (and development) actors need to be sensitive to these risks and opportunities. The purpose of this training manual is to support the institutionalization of gender equality and women’s rights in all humanitarian action. It was developed by Oxfam to support the implementation of the project Institutionalizing Gender in Emergencies: Bridging Policy and Practice in the Humanitarian System, supported by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection department (ECHO) during 2015 to 2017. The aim of this initial training is to develop a critical mass of committed gender leaders ‘ some might call these ‘change agents’ or ‘change-makers’ ‘ who can together influence changes in policy and practice at different levels across the humanitarian system.
Topic:: Environment, Gender Issues, Minorities, Crisis Management, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe

19. The Reality of the EU-Turkey Statement: How Greece has Become a Testing Ground for Policies that Erode Protection for Refugees

Author:: Ashleigh Lovertt, Renata Rendon, and Claire Whelan
Publication Date:: 03-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: One year ago, European states closed their borders along the Western Balkan route and EU leaders put in place the EU-Turkey Statement, a so-called temporary measure to stop irregular migration to Europe. Now EU leaders are declaring their approach a success. The International Rescue Committee (IRC), the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), and Oxfam are providing humanitarian response on the Greek islands and mainland, and as their experience clearly shows, the context on the ground is far more troubling and complex. Beyond the deeply concerning situation in Greece, the EU is looking to replicate the EU-Turkey Statement model elsewhere, and in so doing, risks setting a dangerous precedent for the rest of the world. The EU has a proud history of commitment to international law and human rights which has driven its policies for 60 years. This joint agency paper argues that now is the time for Europe to show global leadership on migration by adopting policies that uphold these values, rather than triggering a race to the bottom.
Topic:: Regional Cooperation, European Union, Refugee Crisis, Borders, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe, Turkey, and Asia

20. One Year Stranded and What’s Changed? An Update to the October 2016 Joint NGO Policy Brief on the Situation for Displaced Persons in Greece

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 03-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: It is one year since the introduction of Europe’s flawed migration policies to close borders along the Western Balkan route and return migrants and refugees to Turkey, leaving thousands stranded in Greece. This update provides an overview of the current situation in Greece, and sets out what eight national and international responding agencies see as the most urgent issues to address and the major concerns with Europe’s response to this crisis.
Topic:: Regional Cooperation, Refugee Crisis, Borders, and NGOs
Political Geography:: Europe, Turkey, Greece, Asia, and Balkans

21. Joint NGO Briefing: Brussels Syria Conference

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 03-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Today more than ever, the international community must share responsibility and stand firmly in support of Syria’s civilian population. It is clear however that the aid response, as vital as it is, will only go so far and cannot fully address the needs of Syrian communities to be free from violence and the violations of international human rights (IHRL) and humanitarian law (IHL) that characterize the conflict. In this briefing, Oxfam joins with a variety of agencies and coordination fora to call on all members of the international community, in particular permanent members of the UN Security Council and the EU and EU member states who are discussing post-agreement planning, to insist on the full implementation of relevant UN Security Council resolutions on Syria that relate to respect for IHL and IHRL, as well as implementation of the Geneva Communique of 2012. The Brussels conference should also set the foundation for inclusive and meaningful participation of Syrian NGOs and civil society, including youth and women’s groups, as key partners in ensuring effective post-agreement planning that captures the needs and desires of the people of Syria and supports local community rebuilding and resilience.
Topic:: Civil Society, Gender Issues, European Union, NGOs, Local, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, and Syria

22. Opening the Vaults: The Use of Tax Havens by Europe’s Biggest Banks

Author:: Manon Aubry and Thomas Dauphin
Publication Date:: 03-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The world of tax havens is a murky place. In Europe, only one sector is required to publicly report its profits and tax on a country-by-country basis – the banking sector, as a result of regulation following the financial crisis. Since 2015 all banks based in the European Union have been obliged to report on their operations in this way. This report showcases research by Oxfam that uses this new transparency data in depth for the first time to illustrate the extent to which the top 20 EU banks are using tax havens, and in which ways. The urgent need now is to extend public country-by-country reporting to all sectors of the economy. If tax transparency is extended to all sectors, it will be easier for governments to clamp down on tax dodging and to repatriate lost tax revenues that could be used to fight inequality through investment in healthcare, education, social protection and job creation.
Topic:: Inequality, Tax Systems, Banks, Transparency, and Banking
Political Geography:: Europe

23. A Dangerous ‘Game’: The Pushback of Migrants, including Refugees, at Europe’s Borders

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 04-2017
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: People who are trying to access the EU in search of safety and dignity are being routinely abused by law enforcement officials in countries in the Western Balkans. State agents responsible for upholding fundamental rights are instead subjecting people to violence and intimidation and denying access to asylum procedures to those seeking international protection. Governments in the region must immediately end these violations and initiate processes to ensure safety and dignity for people on the move in their territories.
Topic:: Regional Cooperation, European Union, Refugee Crisis, and Leadership
Political Geography:: Europe

24. Good Jobs in Greater Manchester: The Role of Employment Charters

Author:: Emily Ball, Ceri Hughes, Donna-Louise Hurrell, and Tom Skinner
Publication Date:: 04-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: A more inclusive labour market would offer more people the chance to take part in rewarding, well-paid work, bringing both economic and social benefits. In the context of declining union membership, limited employment regulation and a growing disconnect between pay and living costs, employment charters are one means for cities to engage employers and start a conversation about how their employment practices can enable local people to live and work well. This paper and the accompanying case studies grew out of a conversation about ways to facilitate more inclusive growth in cities. It focuses on Greater Manchester and reviews the rationale, design and impact of several local employment charter initiatives in the UK to assess the role that they can play in creating and sustaining quality jobs.
Topic:: Poverty, Labor Issues, Employment, and Inequality
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

25. Building a More Equal Scotland: Designing Scotland’s Poverty and Inequality Commission

Author:: David Eiser, Ryan McQuigg, and Francis Stuart
Publication Date:: 04-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In 2015 Oxfam Scotland called for the creation of an Inequality Commission, building on Scotland’s politicians from across all parties stating their support to tackle economic inequality. The Scottish government has committed to establishing a Poverty and Inequality Commission in 2017–18, but its design will be critical. This report, produced in collaboration with the Fraser of Allander Institute, explores the scale of inequality in Scotland and the drivers behind it. The report examines some, but not all, of the intersecting and overlapping dimensions of economic inequality and poverty – as well as potential policy responses and the powers of the Scottish Parliament. The report then explores lessons from the work of previous commissions and makes a series of recommendations for the Scottish government as it establishes the new Poverty and Inequality Commission.
Topic:: Poverty, Governance, Inequality, and Economic Inequality
Political Geography:: United Kingdom, Europe, and Scotland

26. Dear Family: How European migration policies are keeping families apart

Author:: Angeliki Nika
Publication Date:: 06-2017
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In 2015, nearly a million people crossed the Aegean fleeing persecution or seeking a better life. Many of these people made perilous journeys to reunite with family members. The lack of accessible, safe and regular routes for family reunification has resulted in thousands of people taking dangerous journeys, making them vulnerable to abuse and exploitation at the hands of smugglers and traffickers. European migration policies put in place to prevent irregular migration into Europe make it likely that families will be separated and make it difficult for them to reunite. Many people in Greece that remain separated from loved ones in another EU member state are increasingly desperate to reunite with them. Most have been stranded in Greece for over a year, trying to navigate the asylum system and family reunification procedures. This report identifies the impact of European migration policies on family unity and the wellbeing of people stranded in Greece. It is based on a series of focus group discussions and key informant interviews conducted in Greece between February and May 2017. The report calls on the governments of Greece and other EU member states to protect the right to family life of refugees and anyone who applies for international protection.
Topic:: Migration, Regional Cooperation, European Union, Refugee Crisis, and Displacement
Political Geography:: Europe

27. Missing Out on Small is Beautiful: The EU’s Failure to Deliver on Policy Commitments to Support Smallholder Agriculture in Developing Countries

Author:: Jan Mayrhofer and Hanna Saarinen
Publication Date:: 06-2017
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: With the world on the brink of an unprecedented four famines, donor countries must urgently step up efforts to tackle the structural causes of hunger and poverty. Food security and sustainable agriculture are among the European Union’s key priorities for development cooperation. The EU is committed to long-term solutions, including empowering smallholders, in particular women, and supporting environmentally sustainable approaches in agriculture. In practice, however, its development aid to the agricultural sector does not live up to its commitments. An Oxfam analysis of more than 7,500 EU-funded projects reveals a significant lack of transparency in reporting, casting doubt on the accountability of the EU’s aid. Based on the reported data, only a small portion of the EU’s agricultural development aid complies with the aim of targeting small-scale producers and women. Funding is also biased towards industrial and export crops and countries of strategic interest, at the expense of smallholders and countries most in need.
Topic:: Agriculture, Climate Change, Regional Cooperation, Food, and European Union
Political Geography:: Europe

28. Multi-Stakeholder Partnership Development: For Sustainable Alliances in the South Caucasus

Author:: Ian Goodrich and Benoit Trudel
Publication Date:: 06-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The programme’s overall objective is ‘to contribute to the improvement of food security and nutrition in the South Caucasus through smallholder farmers’ representation in the governance processes’. It focuses on working with government structures and civil society actors to develop, implement and monitor food security-related strategies and legislation, ensuring that support mechanisms are in place for small-scale producers. The programme also supports national alliances and institution-building, enabling sustainable civil society engagement in the policy process, a critical component given Oxfam’s planned phase-out in 2017. This document particularly focuses on the programme’s use of the Social Network Analysis methodology to support the sustainability of its alliances.
Topic:: Civil Society, Development, Alliance, and Sustainability
Political Geography:: Europe, Caucasus, Asia, and South Caucasus

29. Beyond ‘Fortress Europe’: Principles for a Humane EU Migration Policy

Author:: Raphael Shilhav
Publication Date:: 10-2017
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In 2015, the EU announced its Agenda for Migration: a blueprint for managing migration. Two years on, it’s clear these policies have sacrificed people’s safety and well-being in order to stop irregular migration at all costs. This report outlines Oxfam’s proposal for a new and balanced approach to managing migration – one that protects people and promotes the benefits associated with migration for European host countries, people on the move and their countries of origin.
Topic:: Migration, Regional Cooperation, European Union, Regionalism, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe

30. Double Trouble: A Review of the Relationship between UK Poverty and Economic Inequality

Author:: Magali Duque, Abigail McKnight, and Mark Rucci
Publication Date:: 11-2017
Content Type:: Research Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The link between inequality and poverty has been highlighted by a number of international organisations, which have outlined a series of policy recommendations supporting the view that high levels of inequality need to be tackled even if the central objective is to reduce poverty. This report makes clear there is a positive correlation between income inequality and relative income poverty in the UK. The strength of this connection depends on which measure of inequality is used and this report makes no claim about causation – but the central conclusion is clear. We can no longer treat poverty and economic inequality as separate problems which can be tackled in isolation. They are instead closely linked and must be tackled together.
Topic:: Poverty, Labor Issues, Economic Inequality, and NGOs
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

31. Why is Women’s Work Low-Paid? Establishing a framework for understanding the causes of low pay among professions traditionally dominated by women

Author:: Jill Rubery
Publication Date:: 11-2017
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: This discussion paper was commissioned by Oxfam’s UK Programme to understand why certain occupations in the UK labour market, traditionally dominated by women, are low-paid. The paper argues that jobs associated with traditional and outdated notions of ‘women’s role in the home’ extends into the jobs market. This affects attitudes towards remuneration in professions such as cleaning and caring. The paper sets out a framework for understanding the risks of low pay and to explore the issue of the undervaluing of low-paid jobs with respect primarily to women. The author calls these the five ‘V’s: visibility, valuation, vocation, value-added and variance, and sets out a possible series of policy responses.
Topic:: Gender Issues, Poverty, Labor Issues, Inequality, Income Inequality, and Labor Rights
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

32. An Emergency for Whom? The EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa – Migratory Routes and Development Aid in Africa

Author:: Elise Kervyn and Raphael Shilhav
Publication Date:: 11-2017
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In 2015, the EU and its member states set up the ‘EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa’ to promote stability and economic opportunities and to strengthen resilience. An Oxfam analysis of all the projects approved under the instrument shows that its flexible nature has generated both opportunities and risks. This briefing argues that the Fund lacks sufficient checks and balances to ensure that European interests do not take precedence over the needs of the people that aid is intended to help.
Topic:: Humanitarian Aid, Migration, Regional Cooperation, European Union, and Refugee Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe

33. Blacklist or Whitewash? What a Real EU Blacklist of Tax Havens Should Look Like

Author:: Aurore Chardonnet and Johan Langerock
Publication Date:: 11-2017
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Tax havens deprive countries of hundreds of billions of dollars, fuelling inequality and poverty. The EU will soon release a blacklist of tax havens operating outside the EU, and issue penalties for those appearing on it. However, power politics means that several significant tax havens could be missing from the list. This report shows what a robust blacklist of tax havens would look like if the EU were to objectively apply its own criteria and not bow to political pressure. It also reveals four EU countries that would be blacklisted if the EU were to apply its own criteria to member states. While the EU’s criteria are not perfect and will not capture all tax havens, they are a step in the right direction. An objective blacklist, combined with powerful countermeasures, could go a long way towards ending the era of tax havens.
Topic:: Regional Cooperation, European Union, Tax Systems, and Banking
Political Geography:: Europe

34. Mobilising Domestic Resources to Help Mali’s Poorest Populations: The role of French Development Aid

Author:: Michael Siegel
Publication Date:: 12-2017
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Development cooperation has a major role to play in supporting fragile states to mobilize their own resources in order to fund basic social services. In Mali, French aid aims to build the technical capacity of Malian administrations to collect tax by fighting against fraud and tax evasion. However, collecting more domestic resources alone will not be sufficient to reduce poverty. France must support watch-dog organizations to ensure greater transparency and accountability on the use of these resources for the benefit of the poorest.
Topic:: Development, Inequality, Fragile States, Tax Systems, and Sustainability
Political Geography:: Africa, Europe, France, and Mali

35. Transitioning to a Government-Run Refugee and Migrant Response in Greece: A Joint NGO Roadmap for More Fair and Humane Policies

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 12-2017
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Two years on from the peak of the ‘refugee crisis’ in Greece, the Greek state is beginning to take over management and financing of aspects of the reception and integration system, and many international nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) that came to assist with the then-humanitarian emergency are downsizing or preparing to exit the country entirely. At this turning point, the 13 undersigned NGOs believe it is critical to reflect on our field experiences, build on the progress collectively made, and provide recommendations for a smooth transition and a sustainable Greek Government-managed refugee and migrant reception and integration system. The transition to a government-run response is a positive step if implemented transparently, promptly, and in close collaboration with local governments, as well as the organisations currently providing services, soon to fall under the responsibility of the Greek Government. It is under this current state of affairs, and with the goal of preventing regression, that we write this report.
Topic:: Migration, Governance, Refugees, and Displacement
Political Geography:: Europe and Greece

36. Europe, Don't Let Us Down: Voices of refugees and migrants in Greece

Author:: Renata Rendon and Matta Samiou
Publication Date:: 06-2016
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Since the beginning of 2015 more than one million migrants, including refugees, fleeing war, persecution, natural disasters and poverty, have travelled through Turkey to Greece in search of safety and a dignified life in Europe. Lacking safe and legal alternatives, they put their lives in the hands of smugglers and risk everything during perilous sea and land crossings. Oxfam and ActionAid have listened to hundreds of refugee and migrant women and men on Lesvos island, in Athens and in the Epirus region of northwest Greece to understand why they fled their countries, what their immediate needs are, and what they plan to do next. This paper presents the key messages that they want European people and their governments to hear.
Topic:: Migration, Refugees, Refugee Crisis, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe, Turkey, and Greece

37. Hotspots, Rights Denied: The lack of a legal framework is threatening the rights of migrants reaching Italy

Author:: Guilia Capitani
Publication Date:: 06-2016
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The flow of migrants into Italy continues to be dealt with as an 'emergency' situation. The EU's 'hotspot' approach, outlined in the European Agenda for Migration of May 2015 as a short-term measure, has been implemented in Italy and Greece and is an approach involving EU officers, in collaboration with national authorities, in the identification, fingerprinting and registration of migrants. This paper from Oxfam Italia examines the hotspot approach in Italy through the experiences of humanitarian agencies and civil society organizations on the ground, and through the voices of migrants themselves. It concludes that, due to the lack of a legal framework, the hotspot approach seriously violates the fundamental rights of people reaching Italian shores. Oxfam calls for the Italian government and the European Union to define hotspot procedures and activities in EU and national regulations and to take medium-term action to expand the capacity of the receiving and support systems in Italy.
Topic:: Migration, Diaspora, Immigration, Refugees, and Legal Theory
Political Geography:: Europe, Greece, Italy, and Mediterranean

38. Closed Borders: The impact of border closures on people on the move, with a focus on women and children in Serbia and Macedonia

Author:: Oxfam Publishing
Publication Date:: 11-2016
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In 2015 there was a huge increase in the number of migrants, including refugees, arriving in Greece and travelling along the Balkan route on their way to destination countries further north. According to UNHCR, more than one million refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean in 2015. This report looks at the protection concerns of people on the move, especially women and children, in Macedonia and Serbia following the closure of the Balkan route. It is based on research and information gathered by Oxfam and its partners: the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights and Atina in Serbia, and the Macedonian Young Lawyer Association and Open Gate/ La Strada in Macedonia. The report includes recommendations on how to protect and promote their safety, dignity and human rights.
Topic:: Human Rights, Migration, Refugees, and Humanitarian Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe, Serbia, and Macedonia

39. Pulling the Plug: How to stop corporate tax dodging in Europe and beyond

Publication Date:: 03-2015
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Tax dodging is receiving increasing political attention in Europe. From corporate transparency legislation to early reflections on a European wealth tax, European institutions are promoting tax reforms that have the potential to reduce economic inequality in Europe and beyond - if they are well designed and implemented. The need to find financial resources to restore European growth, combined with recent media scandals, have opened up opportunities for progressive reforms to fight tax evasion and tax avoidance which costs the European Union around €1 trillion a year. The European and global political context has never been so favourable, with new European institutions having to deliver on fighting tax havens, harmonizing corporate taxation, improving tax transparency and ensuring greater tax cooperation. This briefing explores some of the solutions for fighting corporate tax avoidance that the European Union shoultad present in 2015, and explains why it is important to adopt them as soon as possible.
Political Geography:: Europe

40. A Europe For the Many, Not the Few: Time to reverse the course of inequality and poverty in Europe

Author:: Teresa Cavero
Publication Date:: 09-2015
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Europe is facing unacceptable levels of poverty and inequality. Instead of putting people first, policy decision making is increasingly influenced by wealthy elites who bend the rules to their advantage, worsening poverty and economic inequality, while steadily and significantly eroding democratic institutions. Austerity measures and unfair tax systems across Europe are skewed in favour of powerful vested interests. It is time to reverse the course of poverty and inequality in Europe, putting people first.
Topic:: Poverty, European Union, Economic Inequality, and Elites
Political Geography:: Europe

41. For Richer or Poorer: The capture of growth and politics in emerging economies

Author:: Alice Krozer
Publication Date:: 09-2015
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The emerging economies Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Turkey - in short, the BRICSAMIT - have come to be considered the economic powerhouses of recent decades. Not only have these countries managed to reduce poverty; most have embarked on a steep economic growth path and play an increasingly influential role on the global scene. But today, all eight BRICSAMIT countries occupy the top ranks as some of the most unequal countries in the world. The price these countries - and millions of their citizens - pay for this is high. Excessive inequality hampers development prospects: negatively impacting growth potential, threatening poverty reduction, leading to mass migration flows and 'brain drain', and reducing opportunities for young people. This report, which was commissioned by civil society networks across the BRICSAMIT countries, aims to increase the urgency to tackle the structural causes of inequality by shedding light on the nature and scope of the issue in the BRICSAMIT, and the economic, political and social consequences these countries are now facing as a result.
Topic:: International Cooperation, Migration, Poverty, and Economic Inequality
Political Geography:: Africa, Russia, China, Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Asia, South Africa, Brazil, South America, and Mexico

42. British Foreign Policy in an Unequal World

Author:: Edmund Cairns
Publication Date:: 03-2014
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The UK needs a safe world in which to trade and invest, and to be free from the security threats caused by conflicts or fragile states. Yet spiralling inequality and climate change, among many other factors, threaten to create a more dangerous, unequal world. As the continuing tragedy in Syria shows, the world's old and new powers have not yet found a way to unite to end conflicts. The age of interventions, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan, is over. But a new rule-based world in which China, India, and others unite with Western powers to protect civilians and end conflicts has not yet come into being. Whoever wins the 2015 UK general election, the greatest test for UK foreign policy will be how much it can do to help build that world.
Topic:: Security, Foreign Policy, Climate Change, Poverty, Insurgency, and Fragile/Failed State
Political Geography:: Britain, China, Iraq, United Kingdom, Europe, India, and Syria

43. Trading Away Access to Medicines - Revisited: How the European trade agenda continues to undermine access to medicines

Author:: Sophie Bloemen, Tessel Mellema, and Leïla Bodeux
Publication Date:: 09-2014
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The failure of the current pharmaceutical research and development (R) system is revealed by the World Health Organization (WHO) alert about the lack of effective medicines to address antimicrobial resistance, and the absence of a treatment for the deadly Ebola virus that is ravaging communities in West Africa at the time of writing.
Topic:: Health, International Trade and Finance, and Health Care Policy
Political Geography:: Europe

44. Food, Fossil Fuels and Filthy Finance

Author:: Hannah Stoddart, Lydia Prieg, and Joseph Zacune
Publication Date:: 10-2014
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The world produces enough food to feed everyone. But every day more than 800 million people go to bed hungry. This is a scandal and climate change is set to make things even worse.
Topic:: Agriculture, Climate Change, Energy Policy, Environment, and Industrial Policy
Political Geography:: Europe

45. The Scottish Doughnut: A safe and just operating space for Scotland

Author:: Katherine Trebeck and Malcolm Sayers
Publication Date:: 07-2014
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: We live on a fragile planet which is under increased human stress, to the extent that we are transgressing several of the planetary boundaries as mapped out by the Stockholm Resilience Centre (SRC). We share this planet with over seven billion fellow human beings, too many of whom face extraordinary challenges in building a life free of poverty, indignity, powerlessness and fear. While a small number of people are using the most resources, simultaneously too many are unable to lead lives in which they can flourish and live with dignity.
Topic:: Economics, Environment, and Human Welfare
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

46. The BRICS Development Bank: Why the world's newest global bank must adopt a pro-poor agenda

Author:: Lysa John
Publication Date:: 06-2014
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In July 2014, a new multilateral and Southern-led development bank is expected to be launched by the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – better known as the BRICS. The BRICS Development Bank will provide a fresh source of finance for developing and emerging economies to meet their development needs. Little has been made public regarding the proposed Bank's core mandate or activities but while governments negotiate the technicalities of the Bank, it is critical that they also provide a solid vision of the principles, priorities and objectives on which the Bank's activities and operations will be premised. This policy brief recommends that these include commitments to: ending extreme poverty and inequality, with a special focus on gender equity and women's rights; aligning with environmental and social safeguards and establishing mechanisms for information sharing, accountability and redress; leadership on the sustainable development agenda; the creation of mechanisms for public consultation and debate; and the adoption a truly democratic governance structure.
Topic:: Development, Economics, Gender Issues, International Cooperation, and Poverty
Political Geography:: Africa, Russia, China, Europe, India, Asia, South Africa, Brazil, and South America

47. Truth and Lies about Poverty: Ending comfortable myths about poverty

Publication Date:: 12-2013
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In 1753 John Wesley, the founder of Methodism said, "So wickedly, devilishly false is that common objection, 'They are poor, only because they are idle'". Yet today many churchgoers and members of the general public alike have come to believe that the key factors driving poverty in the UK are the personal failings of the poor – especially 'idleness'. How did this come about?
Topic:: Security, Economics, Poverty, Social Stratification, and Sociology
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

48. A Cautionary Tale: The true cost of austerity and inequality in Europe

Author:: Krisnah Poinasamy and Teresa Cavero
Publication Date:: 09-2013
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Europe has often seen itself as a place where the social contract balances growth with development. A place where public services aim to ensure everyone has access to a high-quality education and no one need live in fear of falling ill. A place w here the rights of workers, and particularly of women, are respected and supported, and w here societies care for the weakest and the poorest; where the market has been harnessed to benefit society, rather than the other way round.
Topic:: Economics, Poverty, and Social Stratification
Political Geography:: Europe

49. Country Economic Forecasts: Germany

Publication Date:: 06-2012
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The German economy is clearly slowing in the face of the latest phase of the Eurozone crisis. We expect the impact of the crisis on business investment and exports to cause the economy to contract in Q2 before recovering slowly in H2. As a result, GDP growth is now forecast to slow to 0.7% in 2012 overall from 3.1% last year, before accelerating to 1.4% in 2013.
Topic:: Economics, Industrial Policy, Markets, and Financial Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe and Germany

50. Fit for Purpose? The European External Action Service one year on

Author:: Steven Blockmans, Natalia Alonso, and Tidhar Wald
Publication Date:: 01-2012
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The first anniversary of the European External Action Service (EEAS) finds the European Union (EU) in the midst of an economic, financial, and identity crisis that has aggravated the ongoing decline in Europe's stature on the global scene as new political and economic actors emerge. The new diplomatic service provides the EU with an opportunity to address its shortcomings in foreign policy by bringing greater coherence to external policy making; by enhancing consistency across EU instruments; and by adopting a more comprehensive and strategic approach to global challenges.
Topic:: Foreign Policy, Diplomacy, Economics, and International Trade and Finance
Political Geography:: Europe

51. Be Outraged: There are alternatives

Author:: Richard Jolly, Frances Stewart, Giovanni Andrea Cornia, Stephany Griffith-Jones, Rolph van der Hoeven, Diane Elson, Carlos Fortin, Gerry Helleiner, Raphie Kaplinsky, Richard Morgan, Isabel Ortiz, and Ruth Pearson
Publication Date:: 05-2012
Content Type:: Book
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Pushed to extremes, austerity is bad economics, bad arithmetic, and ignores the lessons of history. We, an international group of economists and social scientists, are outraged at the narrow range of austerity policies which are bringing so many people around the world to their knees, especially in Europe. Austerity and cutbacks are reducing growth and worsening poverty. In our professional opinions, there are alternatives – for Britain, Europe and all countries that currently imagine that government cutbacks are the only way out of debt. The low-growth, no-growth trap means that the share of debt in GNP falls ever more slowly, if at all. It may even rise – as it has in some countries.
Topic:: Debt, Development, Economics, Foreign Aid, and Financial Crisis
Political Geography:: Britain and Europe

52. Stay on Target: Will the UK fight the battle for tough arms controls?

Author:: Edmund Cairns
Publication Date:: 04-2012
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: A robust global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) is desperately needed to stop the irresponsible transfer of arms that fuels: Atrocities – like those in Syria, where more than 8,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since the crackdown on protests began in early 2011;Armed violence and conflicts – which is estimated to cost Africa alone $18bn a year; Corruption in the. defence industry – which costs $20bn a year, and which undermines the competitiveness of UK exporters.
Topic:: Conflict Prevention, Defense Policy, Arms Control and Proliferation, International Trade and Finance, Non-Governmental Organization, and Weapons of Mass Destruction
Political Geography:: Africa, United Kingdom, Europe, and Syria

53. The Hunger Grains: The fight is on. Time to scrap EU biofuel mandates.

Publication Date:: 09-2012
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In 2009, EU governments committed to sourcing 10 per cent of transport energy from renewable sources by 2020: they are set to meet this target almost exclusively using biofuels made from food crops. By putting a mandate in place, European governments are propping up powerful industry and farming lobbies without spending a penny from national budgets: as direct subsidies and tax exemptions are phased out, the cost is increasingly borne by the consumer. For example, by 2020 biofuel mandates are likely to cost UK consumers between £1bn and £2bn more each year—that's about £35 from every adult—and to cost German consumers between €1.37bn and €2.15bn more—up to €30 per adult. EU governments have replaced subsidies paid out of the public purse with a subsidy that consumers, often without their knowledge, pay directly to big business.
Topic:: Security, Agriculture, Development, Energy Policy, and Food
Political Geography:: United Kingdom, Europe, and Germany

54. Not a Game, Speculation vs Food Security: Regulating financial markets to grow a better future

Author:: Marc-Olivier Herman, Ruth Kelly, and Robert Nash
Publication Date:: 10-2011
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Food prices are a matter of life and death to many in the developing world. Financial markets that should be helping food growers and processors to manage their risk and set prices have become a potential threat to global food security. Deregulated and secretive agricultural commodity derivatives markets have attracted huge sums of speculative money, and there is growing evidence that they deliver distorted and unpredictable food prices. Financial speculation can play an important role to help food producers and end users manage risks, but in light of the harm that excessive speculation may cause to millions, action is required now to address the problem. This briefing explains what has gone wrong with financial markets and what could be done to fix them.
Topic:: Security, Agriculture, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Food
Political Geography:: Europe

55. Power to the People? Reactions to the EU's response to the Arab Spring

Author:: Jamie Balfour-Paul
Publication Date:: 11-2011
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The EU has a long history of co-operation with the Arab region. Its economic and security interests in the region are considerable. In line with the European Consensus on Development, respect for human rights and democracy have been explicit values within EU development policies. Past EU co-operation in the region, especially in health and education, has achieved successes and enabled people to claim certain rights.
Topic:: Civil Society, Democratization, Human Rights, Regime Change, and Bilateral Relations
Political Geography:: Europe, Middle East, and Arabia

56. Averting Tomorrow's Global Food Crisis: The European Union's role in delivering food justice in a resource-constrained world

Publication Date:: 05-2011
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Why, in a world that produces more than enough food to feed everybody, do so many – one in seven – go hungry? Oxfam's new global campaign, GROW, seeks answers to this question. GROW aims to transform the way we grow, share, and live together. GROW will expose the failing governments and powerful business interests that are propping up a broken food system and sleepwalking the world into an unprecedented and avoidable reversal in human development.
Topic:: Agriculture, Economics, Foreign Aid, and Food
Political Geography:: Europe

57. Medicine regulation – not IP enforcement – can best deliver quality medicines

Author:: Jennifer Brant
Publication Date:: 02-2011
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Access to medicines at affordable prices is critical to the enjoyment of the human right to health. Lower prices require the implementation of pro-access policies that include the promotion of generic competition. However, medicines cannot be selected on the basis of price alone. To ensure that only safe, effective, and quality products are on the market, effective regulation is necessary.
Topic:: Development, Health, Poverty, and Third World
Political Geography:: Europe

58. Exploring BME Maternal Poverty: The financial lives of ethnic minority mothers in Tyne and Wear

Author:: Chris Warburton Brown
Publication Date:: 01-2011
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: This report has grown out of Oxfam's commitment to tackling the poverty of black and minority ethnic (BME) women in the UK. It aims to improve our understanding of BME mothers' experiences of poverty, to address the way in which the poverty of BME mothers is hidden from conventional data collection, to raise awareness amongst policy-makers and practitioners of the material circumstances of low-income BME mothers, and to improve the ways in which poor BME women are supported to secure greater assets and resources.
Topic:: Economics, Gender Issues, and Poverty
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

59. Whose Economy? Winners and losers in the new Scottish economy

Author:: Katherine Trebeck
Publication Date:: 01-2011
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In the UK, persistent poverty exists alongside high economic prosperity, leading to significant inequalities in income and wealth, and in life chances and lifestyles, between individuals and communities. Scottish society is also deeply divided: 'wealthy and secure neighbourhoods are situated next to the most deprived and vulnerable communities [where]… inequality is tangible'.
Topic:: Development, Economics, International Trade and Finance, and Markets
Political Geography:: Europe

60. Women's Poverty and Social Exclusion in the European Union at a Time of Recession: An Invisible Crisis?

Publication Date:: 03-2010
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In October 2009, Oxfam and the European Women's Lobby (EWL) commissioned research to explore and analyse the hidden impact of the current economic recession on women's poverty in EU countries. The research was conducted with EWL member organisations, and supplemented with other research and information available at the end of 2009.
Topic:: Economics, Gender Issues, Poverty, and Financial Crisis
Political Geography:: Europe

61. Vulnerable Communities and Community Ownership in Scotland: A review of literature, policy and practice

Author:: Malcolm Sayers and Eddie Follan
Publication Date:: 12-2010
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The ownership of assets by communities has gained increasing prominence in recent years as a practical way by which local services can be owned and/or managed by local people. Proponents of community ownership argue that the development of such models contributes to increased community cohesion and confidence, community regeneration and enhanced sustainability through the development of income-generating initiatives.
Topic:: Civil Society and Communism
Political Geography:: Europe and Scotland

62. Trading Away Access to Medicines: How the European Union's trade agenda has taken a wrong turn

Publication Date:: 10-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Access to medicines poses a critical challenge in developing countries, largely because prices are high, and new or adapted medicines and vaccines to address diseases of the developing world are lacking. More than 5 million people in low and middle income countries still lack access to the anti-retroviral medicines needed to treat HIV and AIDS. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have unleashed a new epidemic of suffering across the developing world. Pandemics are a serious threat in rich and poor countries alike, but while rich countries can stockpile medicines, these are often unaffordable for poor countries. Most people in developing countries pay for medicines out-of-pocket, so even a slight price increase can mean that life-saving medicines are unaffordable.
Topic:: Development, Health, and Third World
Political Geography:: Europe

63. Who Cares?: How best to protect UK care workers employed through agencies and gangmasters from exploitation

Author:: Krisnah Poinasamy
Publication Date:: 11-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: There are an estimated 1.5 million workers in the adult social care workforce in the UK, working in residential care homes or providing care to people in their own homes. And with an ageing population the number of care workers is set to rise in the next two decades.
Topic:: Labor Issues and Sociology
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

64. Getting Women into Local Strategic Partnerships: Knowing your community, improving public services

Author:: Sue Smith, Antonia Bance, and Louie Fooks
Publication Date:: 12-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: This paper, based on two pilot projects conducted by Oxfam with LSPs in Sunderland and Thurrock in 2008-9, looks at how local authorities can increase the representation and participation of women in LSPs, and how needs differ by gender. The evidence from the pilot projects clearly shows that LSPs can, and must, take concrete steps to involve women more effectively in local decision-making – and take their particular needs into consideration in setting targets for services such as transport, unemployment, and housing – in or der to improve their economic and social well-being and tackle the poverty and social exclusion they face. The paper makes a series of recommendations to those involved in LSPs as to how to do this, and gives examples of good practice.
Topic:: Economics and Gender Issues
Political Geography:: Europe

65. Tackling climate change, reducing poverty

Publication Date:: 01-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Despite being a wealthy country, in the UK poverty is an ongoing problem. According to Oxfam GB today 1 in 5 people in the UK don't have enough to live on. There were 2.9 million children and 2.5 million pensioners living in poverty in the UK in 2006/2007. Children go to school hungry, or to bed without enough food. Poor communities are in poorer health and have shorter life expectancy.
Topic:: Climate Change, Energy Policy, Environment, Globalization, and Poverty
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

66. Towards a Sustainable Cocoa Chain: Power and possibilities within the cocoa and chocolate sector

Author:: Jan Cappelle
Publication Date:: 01-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The cocoa tree is an important source of income for millions of farming families in equatorial regions. Cocoa originates in the river valleys of the Amazon and the Orinoco in South America. Its discoverers, the Maya people, gave it the name 'cocoa' (or 'God's food'). Cocoa was introduced to Europe in the fifteenth century. Cocoa imports were heavily taxed, and as a result it was consumed as a drink only by the wealthy. Investment from Great Britain and The Netherlands, combined with the launch of the chocolate bar in 1842 by Cadbury, resulted in a greater demand for chocolate. This led to the gradual expansion of cocoa production, spreading to Africa in 1870.
Topic:: Economics, Globalization, International Political Economy, International Trade and Finance, Markets, and Poverty
Political Geography:: Britain, Africa, Europe, South America, Netherlands, and Amazon Basin

67. 4-a-week: Changing food consumption in the UK to benefit people and planet

Publication Date:: 03-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Food shopping may seem an innocent, even mundane, chore. But the food we buy every week can have huge impacts on people and environments seemingly worlds away from our regular dash round the shops. The futures of some of the world's poorest people and of the global environment are intimately linked to the contents of our shopping baskets.
Topic:: Environment, Political Economy, and Food
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

68. Close to Home: UK poverty and the economic downturn

Publication Date:: 04-2009
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The major social policy challenge of the current economic recession is how to prevent a precipitous rise in poverty in the UK. In addition to limiting the numbers of people plunged into poverty because of the recession, government must also mitigate the impact on people already living below the poverty line. But, this paper will argue, response s to the recession present an opportunity to make a step-change, ensuring that actions taken also help build a fairer, more sustainable society in which poverty is ended in the long-term.
Topic:: Economics, Globalization, Poverty, and Labor Issues
Political Geography:: Europe

69. Partnership or Power Play? How Europe should bring development into its trade deals with African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries

Publication Date:: 04-2008
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Europe is negotiating new trade deals with African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP) countries. A true partnership in trade could radically transform the lives of one-third of all people living in poverty, providing farmers and small businesses with sustainable incomes and workers with decent jobs. But Europe is choosing power politics over partnership. The deals currently on the table will strip ACP countries of important policy tools they need in order to develop. They will fracture regional integration, exacerbate poverty and make it harder for countries to break away from commodity dependence. Despite massive pressure, many ACP countries are holding out for a fair deal. Europe needs to rethink, and agree to change course. Ultimately, it is in its own interests to do so.
Topic:: International Political Economy and Treaties and Agreements
Political Geography:: Africa, Europe, Australia/Pacific, and Caribbean

70. Fast Forward: How the European Commission can take the lead in providing high-quality budget support for education and health

Publication Date:: 05-2008
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Developing-country governments desperately need more long-term and predictable aid, given through their budgets, to finance the expansion of health care, education, and other vital social services. The European Commission (EC) is one of the biggest donors providing this kind of essential budget support, and has innovative plans to further improve and increase this aid. European Union (EU) member states must support these ambitious plans. The EC in turn must do more to improve on this good start, delinking this aid from harmful International Monetary Fund (IMF) prescriptions, putting an end to unnecessary bureaucratic delays, and doing more to make its aid accountable to citizens in poor countries.
Topic:: Development, Education, and Health
Political Geography:: Europe

71. Kosovo's Fragile Transition - Europe Report N°196

Publication Date:: 09-2008
Content Type:: Working Paper
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Kosovo has taken first state-building steps, but the international community has not met its commitments to provide adequate support. A rule-of-law mission (EULEX), the EU's biggest ever European security and defence policy (ESDP) operation, was agreed in February 2008 but has only started to deploy. The International Civilian Office (ICO), projected to supervise independence, is a shell. The UN still functions in part as an interim administration, negotiating arrangements for Kosovo Serbs with Belgrade. The Ahtisaari plan, on the basis of which 47 states have recognised Kosovo, has been undermined by the international organisations meant to help implement it. The EU and U.S. are struggling to come to terms with Russia's attempts to portray its support for breakaway regions in Georgia as a mirror image of what they did in Kosovo. Most urgent now is for the EU to make EULEX fully operational before year's end and use its leverage with a Belgrade government that wants membership to begin to make pragmatic accommodations to Kosovo's new status.
Topic:: Development, Sovereignty, and United Nations
Political Geography:: Russia, United States, Europe, Kosovo, Balkans, and Georgia

72. Urgent need for change in Europe's approach to trade negotiations

Publication Date:: 10-2007
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Europe is currently negotiating trade agreements with 76 countries in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific (ACP). These so-called Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) would create a free trade area between these countries and Europe.
Topic:: International Trade and Finance and Treaties and Agreements
Political Geography:: Africa and Europe

73. Bio-fuelling Poverty: Why the EU renewable-fuel target may be disastrous for poor people

Publication Date:: 11-2007
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In January of this year, the European Commission published its Renewable Energy Roadmap, proposing a mandatory target that biofuels must provide ten per cent of member states' transport fuels by 2020. This target is creating a scramble to supply in the South, posing a serious threat to vulnerable people at risk from land-grabbing, exploitation, and deteriorating food security. It is unacceptable that poor people in developing countries bear the costs of emissions reductions in the EU. To avoid this, the Commission must include social standards in its sustainability framework, and develop mechanisms by which the ten per cent target can be revised if it is found to be contributing to the destruction of vulnerable people's livelihoods.
Topic:: Energy Policy and Environment
Political Geography:: Europe

74. Climate Alarm: Disasters increase as climate change bites

Author:: John Magrath
Publication Date:: 11-2007
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Climatic disasters are on the increase as the Earth warms up – in line with scientific observations and computer simulations that model future climate. 2007 has been a year of climatic crises, especially floods, often of an unprecedented nature. They included Africa's worst floods in three decades, unprecedented flooding in Mexico, massive floods in South Asia and heat waves and forest fires in Europe, Australia, and California. By mid November the United Nations had launched 15 'flash appeals', the greatest ever number in one year. All but one were in response to climatic disasters.
Topic:: Climate Change, Development, and Humanitarian Aid
Political Geography:: Africa, Europe, California, and Australia

75. Signing Away The Future: How trade and investment agreements between rich and poor countries undermine development

Publication Date:: 03-2007
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The quiet advance of trade and investment agreements between rich and poor countries threatens to deny developing countries a favourable foothold in the global economy. Powerful countries, led by the USA and the European Union (EU), are pursuing regional and bilateral free trade agreements with unprecedented vigour. This is happening without the fanfare of global summitry and international press coverage. Around 25 developing countries have now signed free trade agreements with developed countries, and more than 100 are engaged in negotiations. An average of two bilateral investment treaties are signed every week. Virtually no country, however poor, has been left out.
Topic:: Emerging Markets and International Trade and Finance
Political Geography:: United States and Europe

76. A fair foreign policy: Can the UK do more to protect civilians around the world?

Publication Date:: 04-2007
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: The UK's foreign policy does not matter for the UK only. It matters for millions of poor and vulnerable people caught up in the conflicts where Oxfam works around the world. In diplomacy, as well as development, the UK can have a real impact on men, women, and children struggling to survive in the world's war zones.
Topic:: Security and Foreign Policy
Political Geography:: United Kingdom and Europe

77. Poverty in Palestine: the human cost of the financial boycott

Publication Date:: 04-2007
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: In April 2006, key donors including the US A, EU, and Canada suspended international aid to the Palestinian Authority government (PA), following the overwhelming victory of Hamas in parliamentary elections. The Government of Israel had previously suspended the transfer of the tax and customs revenues it collects on behalf of the PA.
Topic:: Government and Humanitarian Aid
Political Geography:: United States, Europe, Middle East, Israel, and Palestine

78. The World is Still Waiting: Broken G8 promises are costing millions of lives

Publication Date:: 05-2007
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Poverty and suffering could be ended in our lifetime, and our leaders must do everything in their power to make this happen. This was the clear demand of the 40 million people in 36 countries who took part in the Global Call to Action Against Poverty in 2005. A year later, in the space of just one day, 24 million people across the world stood up against poverty as part of World Poverty Day.
Topic:: Education, Health, and Poverty
Political Geography:: Russia, United States, Japan, United Kingdom, Europe, Canada, Asia, France, Germany, and Italy

79. Oxfam Publishing: Euro-Med: Ensuring a fair deal

Author:: Nishant Pandey and Yara Abdul-Hamid
Publication Date:: 11-2005
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: When the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (Euro-Med) was announced in Barcelona with a great fanfare in 1995, it was hoped that it would herald a new age in relations between the European Union (EU) and its ten southern Mediterranean partner countries, bringing unprecedented opportunities in the social, economic, and political fields.
Topic:: International Relations, Health, and Human Welfare
Political Geography:: Europe

80. Oxfam Publishing: Green but not clean: Why a comprehensive review of Green Box subsidies is necessary

Author:: Liz Stuart
Publication Date:: 11-2005
Content Type:: Policy Brief
Institution:: Oxfam Publishing
Abstract:: Green Box subsidies, by definition of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), are not allowed to distort trade. This is why, under the terms of the Agreement on Agriculture (AoA), countries may provide as many Green Box subsidies as they like. ActionAid, CIDSE, and Oxfam believe, as this briefing note will show, that the EU and the USA are using this provision to continue to give support that is manifestly trade-distorting, thereby causing serious damage to farmers in developing countries. At least $40bn of Green Box payments annually are likely to be trade-distorting and therefore break WTO rules.
Topic:: Development, Globalization, International Trade and Finance, and World Trade Organization
Political Geography:: Europe

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COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY PRESS