OneWorld.net (U.S.)

UK development groups broadly welcomed the changes ushered in by the new Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, as they outlined the areas in which they wanted action.

CAFOD George Gelber, head of public policy, said Alexander “needs to dust off his previous progressive statements on trade and work to ensure developing countries’ concerns translate to real change in trade talks. "Current talks between the EU and the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries are dangerously off course. The European Commission is taking a narrow hard-nosed approach that threatens to hurt ACP countries.

"Alexander needs to be bold and ensure that the EU’s negotiations with Africa sees a priority given to opening EU markets and backing away from aggressive negotiating demands.

"DFID needs to work to put the needs of weakest countries first and reign in the gung ho mercantilism of the European Commission."

CAFOD also welcomed the suggestion that DFID will hold some responsibility on trade, instead of the newly-abolished Department for Trade and Industry.

"Potentially, this could mean a better deal for developing countries,” said Gelber. “Although the UK has long talked the talk on making trade development-friendly this has been stifled by the culture of the DTI, the default position of which has been to bat for Britain in trade talks.

"If DFID is to take responsibility for trade talks this could indicate that Brown recognises that trade should not be just about narrow national interest but also about shaping fairer global rules for all not just the privileged few."

+Save the Children

Brown is urged to kick off a radical new agenda for children during his first hundred days by addressing four key issues affecting children:

• Introducing seasonal grants for the UK’s poorest children The Government should introduce seasonal grants for low-income families. They could lift over 400,000 children out of poverty and should be part of a wider investment of £4 billion, which is needed to meet the target of halving child poverty by 2010.

• Immediately ending the detention of children in the asylum process An end to the detention of children should be immediately introduced. Currently, the UK can treat asylum-seeking children differently from citizen children because they have entered a reservation under the UNCRC. This must end immediately and all children should be treated equally.

• Creating an action-plan to tackle outrageous levels of child mortality in Africa, through international backing of African health plans Brown must follow his success on education internationally by showing immediate UK support for African-led development of health services based on the African Health Strategy. He must also galvanise EU support on international development through strengthening the EU/African Union relationship.

• Signalling his intention to conduct foreign policy that is more driven by humanitarian concerns

The UK’s reputation as a humanitarian actor is heavily tarnished because of foreign policy decisions since 9/11. Brown should signal his intention, through decisive action or the clear expression of principles, to demonstrate that his foreign policy will be humanitarian, guided by human rights and global justice, considerate of child rights and multi-lateral.

“Gordon Brown has always said that children will be a priority in his Government,” said Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive of Save the Children. “His record as Chancellor and his pronouncements on the campaign trail give us hope, but we’re watching his first hundred days to see if the rhetoric is underpinned by the much-needed radical policy agenda.

“The new Prime Minister has an opportunity to change millions of children’s lives: he must show he is up to the challenge.

+Oxfam

Phil Bloomer, Director of Campaigns and Policy, welcomed David Miliband's appointment as Foreign Secretary: “Mr. Miliband has shown a strong commitment at DEFRA to tackling climate change and this experience should stand him in good stead in his new role, where the ability to show strong leadership and work multilaterally will be key.

"In his new role, Mr Miliband must ensure that Britain has a just foreign policy that prioritises the protection of people threatened by conflict, genocide and human rights abuses worldwide. In particular he should turn his immediate attention to help resolve the humanitarian crises in Darfur and Gaza.

"He should also ensure that the UK continues to show leadership in tackling the global arms trade, by driving forward efforts with others to achieve an international arms trade treaty by 2010."

On Douglas Alexander, the new Secretary of State for International Development, Bloomer said Alexander had an enormous opportunity to further the fight against global poverty, making sure the needs of the poorest are met, and ensuring UK foreign policy prioritises the protection of people threatened by conflict, genocide and human rights abuses.

"As an MP he has already shown his commitment to international development issues - for example in his support for trade justice and the need for trade rules that help people out of poverty.”

Bloomer “strongly welcomed” the integration of trade issues within the Department for International Development's: “We hope this means that trade policy will be placed much more at the service of development. Trade could be a powerful engine for poverty reduction but the current rules and practices often hurt rather than help poor countries.

“The new Secretary of State should urgently focus on using Britain's influence to ensure pro-development conclusions both to stalled WTO talks, and the new agreements being negotiated between the EU and some of the world's poorest countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Pacific."

Oxfam highlighted four areas for the new Development Secretary to prioritise:

* Ensure the UK responds swiftly and strongly to humanitarian emergencies, including the crisis in Darfur and the worsening situation in Gaza.

* Ensure the UK meets its promises on aid and debt relief as soon as possible and not keep those we have promised aid to waiting any longer.

* Work to extend health and education provision to the millions of people who have no access to those services, and who live shorter and poorer lives as a result.

* Take action to ensure that poor countries have the necessary resources to adapt to the effects of climate change they are least responsible for causing, and make aid additional to resources already promised for poverty reduction.

+ ActionAid Women’s rights and trade should top Alexander’s to-do list

+ An Overseas Development Institute blog looked at the approach of the main parties to international development.

+ Index on Censorship, English PEN and Article 19 presented a 10-point plan through which Brown could protect and enhance freedom of expression.