Policy Papers

This report describes some of the work that Oxfam International has done so far around the world in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Three months into the crisis, we have reached over 4.5m people and aim to reach 14m people by raising €100m. 

Burkina Faso is currently experiencing one of the most rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crises in the world, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study describes the impact of the conflict on women and looks at their role in strengthening social cohesion and building peace.

Rather than demonstrating the urgency of achieving an equitable, rights-based resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the coronavirus pandemic has given cover to increased violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and an accelerated effort by the Israeli government to formally annex Palestinian lands in the West Bank.

The coronavirus pandemic will have devastating health, social and economic impacts in the world’s poorest countries. To measure up to this once-in-a-century crisis, save lives and build a better future, donors must urgently and massively increase international aid funds.

Domestic Revenue Mobilisation is key for governments to fund their own development goals, finance gender-responsive public services and to reduce economic, social and gender inequalities. While the EU is leading the way when it comes to the quantity of aid it provides towards domestic revenue mobilisation, there is significant room for improvement when it comes to the quality of the aid provided.

The Coronavirus crisis could result in a catastrophic loss of life in poorer countries and push half a billion more people into poverty. This week, the G20 finance ministers, the IMF and the World Bank can offer an instant lifeline – by cancelling all external debt payments for 2020. This could save $40 billion immediately and support almost 500 million of the world’s poorest to survive this crisis.

Every country in the world is experiencing an economic shock as a result of the Coronavirus crisis, and all governments must act now to protect their people from destitution. Unless dramatic action is taken to shore up the economies of developing countries, the crisis could push as many as half a billion people into poverty.

Amidst the ongoing crisis on both sides of the Myanmar-Bangladesh border, Rohingya women are actively supporting their rights and wellbeing, and those of their families and communities. However, their efforts are going unrecognized by those involved in delivering humanitarian assistance and developing political solutions to the crisis. This must change.

The coronavirus threatens to take many millions of lives and push billions more into poverty. Oxfam proposes two things that the G20 and other leaders can do now: develop a global public health plan and emergency response to tackle the disease head on; and create an economic rescue plan to cope with the huge economic costs precipitated by this virus. 

Two years after Iraq declared military victory over ISIS in December 2017, 1.4 million people are still internally displaced. Efforts to rebuild are underway against a backdrop of continuing insecurity, the high presence of armed groups, ethnoreligious tensions and a looming ISIS insurgency. This report sets out to explore the perceptions of communities in Kirkuk and Diyala of the main protection risks they face. 

Across Africa, ambitions to achieve inclusive and sustainable development are being undermined by inadequate investment in the care economy. Women and girls are providing millions of hours of unpaid care and domestic work – a provision which props up the economy and underpins society, yet remains under-recognized, undervalued and under-invested in. 

The ‘EU Emergency Trust Fund for stability and addressing root causes of irregular migration and displaced persons in Africa’ (the EUTF for Africa) is the financial instrument at the forefront of the EU’s attempts to integrate migration politics, foreign policy and partnerships for development

South Sudanese women have played critical roles in efforts to achieve peace in South Sudan, yet their contributions have been under-recognized and under-documented.This paper contributes to remedying this by sharing women’s stories of their roles in peacemaking.

Economic inequality is based on a flawed and sexist economic system that values the wealth of the privileged few, mostly men, more than the billions of hours of the most essential work – the unpaid and underpaid care work done primarily by women and girls around the world. This has to change.

In 2018, less than 5% of people identified as needing resettlement by UNHCR were resettled – just 0.2% of the global refugee population. This paper calls for refugees to be meaningfully included in discussions and decisions about their future, and for higher-income countries to do their fair share by increasing their commitments.

People who have fled war, violence and persecution need support to find safety and rebuild their lives. However, in the EU 'hotspots' in Greece, people are faced with an asylum process which is extremely complicated to navigate.

Climate-fuelled disasters were the number one driver of internal displacement over the last decade – forcing an estimated 20 million people a year from their homes. While no one is immune, it is overwhelmingly poor countries that are most at risk.

This study explores how land governance and administration contributes to inequality in Uganda. It looks at factors that have impacted poverty and vulnerability, and how policies, laws, regulations and cultural practices can be made more inclusive.

The war in Yemen has been marked by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, often in serious violation of International Humanitarian Law. Such use of explosive weapons has a gendered impact, affecting men and women differently.