Press Briefing: Is the G-20 Keeping Its Promises to the World’s Poorest?

MEDIA ADVISORY

Jubilee USA Network • Heinrich Boell Foundation

Contact: 
Melinda St. Louis, Jubilee USA (in Pittsburgh), 202-441-7579
Selena Shilad, Shilad Strategies, 202-550-2547

PITTSBURGH, PA – On Thursday, September 24 at 12 noon, the Jubilee USA Network and the Heinrich Boell Foundation will hold a press briefing analyzing the G-20’s progress on its development commitments to the world’s poor and on the prospects for further developments on the issue at this week’s G-20- summit.

The luncheon press briefing will feature a panel of experts who will analyze the impact of the current economic crisis on Low Income Countries (LICs), and discuss findings of the just released report by Jubilee USA, entitled, “Falling Short:  The G-20’s Progress on its Commitments to the World’s Poorest.” 

Experts on the panel will include Neil Watkins, Executive Director of Jubilee USA Network, Sering Falu Njie, Deputy Director for Policy at the United Nations Millennium Campaign, Privilege Hang’andu, Debt Programme Officer for Jubilee Zambia, and Nancy Alexander, Program Director for Economic Governance at the Heinrich Boell Foundation. Biographies of panel participants are included below.

Press Briefing Information
WHEN:  Thursday, September 24th, 12:00-12:45pm
WHERE:  August Wilson Center, 980 Liberty Avenue. Pittsburgh, PA 15222
(One block from the David Lawrence Convention Center)

A complimentary light lunch will be provided for attendees.
Panel participants will be available for interviews immediately following the briefing.

The Jubilee USA progress report is available online at www.jubileeusa.org.

Panel Expert Biographies

Nancy Alexander, Program Director for Economic Governance, Heinrich Boell Foundation
Nancy Alexander is Director of the Economic Governance Program at the Heinrich Boell Foundation of North America.  Since the mid-1980s, she has been engaged in research, education and advocacy relating the global institutions, especially the IMF and World Bank.  Her work highlights the ways in which the institutions have affected social justice, environmental protection, economic performance, and democratic practices in borrowing countries.  Recently, she has consulted to the US House Financial Services Committee, the International Labor Organization, and the Bank Information Center.  From 1997-2007, Nancy founded and directed the Globalization Challenge Initiative and previously worked as Director of Government Relations for Bread for the World.  Her degrees are from Duke and Harvard Universities.

Privilege Hang’andu
Priviledge Hang’andu is the Program Officer for Debt and Public Resource Monitoring with Jubilee Zambia and the Jesuit Center for Theological Reflection in Lusaka, Zambia. The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection is a research, education and advocacy team that promotes study and action on issues linking Christian faith and social justice in Zambia and Malawi. The JCTR hosts Jubilee-Zambia, which aims at securing total debt cancellation and a just international trade system in order to facilitate poverty reduction. With significant debt cancellation for Zambia, Jubilee Zambia’s focus is now on ensuring use of freed resources for equitable poverty eradication and working to ensure responsible borrowing practices in the future. The campaign has strong links and networks at community, national and international levels, including a very active provincial outreach program.  Mr. Hang’andu is an expert on the impact of the financial crisis in Africa, the impact of debt relief and the
crisis in Zambia, and the ongoing challenges faced by the continent in mobilizing resources to meet the Millennium Development Goals.

Sering Falu Njie, Deputy Director for Policy, United Nations Millennium Campaign.
Sering Falu Njie is a development professional with over 20 years of hands-on experience working on poverty issues in Africa. He has spent the last 9 years working in the Government of Gambia, where his most recent position was Director General of the National Planning Commission.   While he was Director General, Falu managed the National Planning Commission and was in charge of implementation of all MDG-related activities. He was also responsible for Gambia's PRSP II.  Prior to that, he served as the Coordinator of the Poverty Reduction Programme, where his responsibilities included piloting a Social Accountability Mechanism and Community Score Cards in the health and education sectors. He has done extensive consulting stints with The World Bank in Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Uganda and Rwanda on social accountability. Prior to his long experience with the Government, Falu has also worked with leading international NGOs including Save the Children and ActionAid in the policy advocacy arena.     Falu holds a Masters degree in poverty reduction and development management  from the University of  Birmingham  in the UK and a Bachelors degree in  statistics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria.

Neil Watkins, Executive Director, Jubilee USA Network
Neil Watkins is the Executive Director of Jubilee USA Network, an alliance of 75 religious denominations, development agencies, and human rights groups building the political will for poor country debt cancellation and more responsible lending by international financial institutions. Watkins is a frequent commentator on debt and development issues on radio, TV, and in print media.  Watkins has testified before the House Financial Services Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health on debt and development issues.