261065 Less than 1% for peace: How robust US foreign aid can promote global peace and national security

Monday, October 29, 2012 : 5:42 PM - 6:00 PM

Sarah Kalloch , Oxfam America, Boston, MA
     
The United States currently dedicates less than 1% of our national budget to life-saving foreign aid. Yet research shows that poverty-focused foreign aid, which includes significant investment in global health, can help promote peace and national security. Oxfam America is building innovative partnerships with national security allies to educate key policy makers and the American public about how foreign aid can help prevent conflict and build peace worldwide. This session will discuss research and advocacy connecting foreign aid investment to peace and security.

Foreign Aid and National Security Research: This presentation will synthesize research by Oxfam and the Center for Naval Affairs, data from Quadrennial Defense Reviews and other sources to examine the national security and peace implications of public health challenges like climate change, global food security and humanitarian emergencies. It will also provide ideas for public health researchers on how to integrate a peace and national security lens into research and programming.

Foreign Aid and National Security Policy Advocacy: This presentation will also outline Oxfam's strategy for engaging key national security organizations and leaders in advocacy around strong US foreign aid policy and investment. The presentation will discuss Oxfam's overall national security organizing strategy as well as tactics like trainings, lobby days, and in state outreach. This will provide a roadmap to public health practitioners interested in bringing science and military perspectives together to advocate for robust foreign aid and global health investment.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Other professions or practice related to public health
Program planning
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Define ways foreign aid, incuding global health programming, promotes peace and US national security through 2-4 case studies Discuss ways public health advocates can work with the national security community to advocate for robust global health funding, policy and programming

Keywords: Advocacy, War

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As Oxfam’s Campaign Alliances Advisor, I coordinate Oxfam’s Sisters on the Planet Program and build innovative advocacy partnerships around food, agriculture, and climate change. Previously, I served as Director of Organizing and Outreach for Physicians for Human Rights, where I spearheaded PHR's efforts to build a movement of doctors, nurses, public health practitioners, researchers, students and others dedicated to health and human rights who can bring their expertise and voice to PHR's campaigns and research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3441.0: War and Public Health: A Lifecourse Perspective