1. Rese Fox Nathan Gray Dana Linnane Jennifer Wurtz ActionAid www.actionaid.org

2. “ We are an international development agency whose aim is to fight poverty worldwide. … For over 30 years we have been growing and expanding to where we are today - helping over 13 million of the world's poorest and most disadvantaged people in 42 countries worldwide. … We work with local partners to make the most of their knowledge and experience. ” Who We Are www.actionaid.org

3. We work together with poor people, local partners and organizations in combating poverty, through a focus on fighting the causes of poverty, not just the results. Key work areas include: Education, HIV/AIDS, Food, Emergencies, Women and Girls. What We Do www.actionaid.org

4. 1billion people – that’s 1 in 6 – are officially illiterate. 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. 50 million people have been killed in wars in the last 60 years. 800 million people are permanently hungry. www.actionaid.org Why We Do What We Do

5. Where We Work www.actionaid.org

6. Goals are not mutually exclusive, but often overlap. 1.Equity in Governance 2.Reformed Conditionality 3.Debt Relief & Grant Programs Top Three Reform Goals www.actionaid.org

7. Borrowers and Creditors should have an equal amount of votes. It is inequitable for the primary recipients of IMF and World Bank loans to have the least amount of say in the institutions ’ policies. Democracy demands equal voices. “ Poor countries, where IMF policies have the greatest impact, must also get a fairer say in how the institution is run. It ’ s simply not acceptable, in the 21st century, for Europe to have 5 times as many seats on the IMF board as Africa. Unless we see movement on this issue … rich country promises to ‘ help ’ Africa will start to look increasingly hollow. ” - Victorine Kemonou Djitrinou, ActionAid International Education Advocacy Coordinator Equity in Governance www.actionaid.org

8. Conditions are so restrictive that loan recipients are unable to freely invest in poverty-alleviation programs. Any conditions should be mutually agreed upon by both lenders and borrowers and be narrowly focused on project outcomes. “ While IMF loans help to build capacity in poor countries, their restrictions impose stringent spending and inflation caps on national budgets, while simultaneously forcing nations to privatize their most valuable resources and services, including power, water, education, and healthcare. ” Said Rick Rowden, ActionAid International Policy Analyst, “ what this means is that sovereign nations are prevented every day from determining how they can spend their money. Instead of being accountable to the needs of their population, leaders are beholden to the unyielding demands of unelected IMF bureaucrats who are more concerned with keeping inflation unnecessarily low rather than putting children in school. ” Reformed Conditionality www.actionaid.org

9. Developing countries are saddled with billions of dollars of debt, much of which was lent undemocratically to dictators and prior regimes. Debt relief is necessary if countries are to be able to move forward and increase investment in poverty programs. However, debt relief should come with fewer strings, to allow sovereign countries to determine the best courses of action. The IMF and World Bank should move towards 100% grant-based aid system, allowing the private market to provide loans to those countries that can actually afford them, and enabling poor nations to make the best use of aid funds for poverty relief rather than paying off foreign debts. Debt Relief & Grant Programs www.actionaid.org