When Presbyterians ask how they can participate in the Massive Effort Against the Diseases of Poverty they are told about the 0.7 Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to increase the USA contributions to international aid to the level of 0.7 % of the Gross National Product by the year 2005.

“The international community must rise to the challenge of helping Africa. It is simply unacceptable that while the developed world enjoys unprecedented prosperity, one in seven African children will die before his or her fifth birthday. It is time that politicians and voters in rich countries realized that without a bright future for the poor, the future cannot be bright for the rest of the world.” In 1970 the UN General Assembly set the international aid target for the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member nations, of which the United States is a member, of 0.7% of the Gross National Product (GNP). Currently the average across all OECD donor nations is 0.39%, across the wealthy G8 countries (excluding Russia) is 0.19% and the United States itself gives only 0.1%. This year the concept of giving 0.7% of GNP has been revived again through the United Nations General Assembly Special Session, (UNGASS) on AIDS final declaration, the FBO Statement facilitated by the World Council of Churches (WCC) for the UNGASS on HIV/AIDS and the WCC Pharmaceutical Working Group as a way to fight the diseases of poverty (AIDS, malaria and TB) and to help move countries out of the cycle of poverty.

Disease and Poverty

“Poverty is the underlying obstacle to human well-being. Despite the unprecedented prosperity and quality of life enjoyed in large parts of the world, 1.2 billion people survive on less than one dollar a day and another 1.3 billion scrape out a living on less than two dollars a day. Being poor is bad for your health. But being ill also reduces your chances of getting out of poverty.” This vicious circle of disease and poverty is being played out throughout the world, especially in countries that are not able to afford adequate infrastructures, including a national health service in some form, where the diseases of poverty are rampant. These diseases include AIDS, TB and Malaria along with the effects of poor nutrition.
The situation is compounded by the fact that many of the poorest countries, which are also the countries most affected by the diseases of poverty, are also countries that are heavily indebted to the western world. Of the 23 countries that have had some of their debt canceled, many are in Sub-Saharan Africa where the HIV/AIDS crisis has hit the hardest. These 23 countries are still repaying over US$2 billion per year while they are only able to put US$1.4 billion per year into their health care system.

The Worldwide AIDS Ministries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) will ask Presbyterians who are concerned about the growing gap between rich and poor nations to consider the example given to us by Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan, to share what we have and to work to bring health and wholeness to those who are hurting and in despair. It is for us a matter of stewardship of the gifts God has given us and a commitment to be responsible members of the family of God. The 0.7 Initiative will challenge us to do the following:

1)     Examine their patterns of giving in order to determine if they are giving at least 0.7% of their income to work that is bringing health, education, development and wholeness to our neighbors overseas in poor countries. They will be encouraged to ask others in their congregations and community to make the same assessment.

2)     When interested individuals and groups have made a commitment to the 0.7% Initiative they can then bring the Initiative to their church as a whole to educate and encourage the church to adopt the 0.7% Initiative as a form of stewardship of its resources.

3)     After the church has made a commitment to the 0.7 Initiative the church as a body can address their congressional representatives from the perspective of a body that is already giving at least 0.7% to international development and demand that our government do likewise.

As part of their Massive Effort Advocacy strategy Presbyterians are working with other Christian denominations on the creation of a 0.7 Initiative – Ecumenical Concept paper and working to build a coalition with other Christian and secular organizations which seek an increase in the US contribution to international aid.

If you have any further questions or would like more information on the 0.7 Initiative please contact Janet Guyer at tel. (888) 728-7228 ext. 5882 or e-mail wamaids@ctr.pcusa.org .