A Globally Responsible Wales

While extreme wealth inequality continues to surge, millions of people across the world are living with unstable governance and without adequate access to essentials like clean water, food and healthcare.

Many face a fatal combination of drawn-out conflict with ongoing and relentless devastation caused by our rapidly changing climate. Global shocks like the cost-of-living crisis add fuel to this fire.

What’s more, those oppressed by systemically entrenched inequalities, like race and gender discrimination, are often the worst affected. All of this comes together to create a situation of extreme vulnerability at times of renewed crisis for those already living in poverty.

Financial support to low-income countries is an important tool to help build a fairer world.

The people of Cymru have a well-deserved reputation for giving generously to overseas crises, including through appeals made by the Disasters Emergency Committee, of which Oxfam is a member.

The Welsh Government gives small, but symbolically significant, amounts of financial support to low-income countries in times of disaster. It also gives funds to help tackle entrenched global poverty, inequality and climate injustice, through its Wales and Africa programme.

While money is crucial, we know that global development is about more than just giving financial support to low-income countries.

It’s about what we buy, how we trade, how our how businesses operate, our global climate footprint, how we support refugees living in Wales, and about the impact of our wider domestic policy and spending decisions. We need to make sure all of our actions support equitable and sustainable global development.

That’s why we work closely with Wales’ Future Generations Commissioner, to raise the profile of Cymru’s wider global impact, both positive and negative, and then work to improve it.

As well as what we do, what we say matters. Whilst Cymru may not be able to contribute vast financial resources to global efforts to reduce poverty, leading the world in setting the language of the discussion is certainly within our grasp. Here at Oxfam Cymru we’re always working to ensure policymakers in Cymru speak out on issues that really matter, whether in support of equitable access to global vaccines or an end to devastating conflicts, like the war in Gaza.

At Oxfam Cymru we also recognise education as a powerful tool that can help drive transformative change. We must support young people to be active global citizens who understand the wider world, and their place in it.

Oxfam Cymru works in partnership with a rich network of other organisations in Cymru that are working to ensure that Cymru acts as a responsible global citizen.