Annual Report 2009

2009 GLOBAL TRENDS

FOCUS ON AID, CLIMATE, FOOD SECURITY AND MIGRATION

The international situation in 2009 was dominated by the financial and economic crisis-precipitated by financial market crashes in the North that spread across the globe. The global economic crisis is compounded by its convergence with the food and energy crises, which occurred against the backdrop of human-induced climate change. The adverse effects of this conflation of crises—financial, economic, food, energy, climate, increasing militarism, and wars-make life more difficult for the poor and marginalized in the global South, further weighing down their already challenged trajectories towards overcoming poverty and achieving equitable and sustainable development. The situation calls for a greater and renewed sense commitment for addressing the challenges of development work.