Positive steps were made at the G20 meeting in Toronto, but World Vision is concerned that the development agenda is taking a back seat to the intense focus on economic growth.

The success of the G20 can’t be measured by only economic indicators, which are meaningless unless human lives are saved and vulnerable families’ well-being improved. 

These 20 countries are now the 21st century’s economic powerhouses, with 87 per cent of the world’s gross domestic product (GDP). Yet many are still failing to address dire living conditions and lack of access to health services in their communities.

Children Dying Unnecessarily
While G20 leaders were focused on finding concrete solutions to economic challenges, almost 14,000 children in their own countries will have died, mostly from preventable causes.
“In the G20 countries alone, 2.5 million children are dying each year before their fifth birthdays,” says Dave Toycen, CEO of World Vision Canada. “That's equivalent to the entire population of Toronto, and almost 30 percent of the 8.8 million babies and children who die globally.”

The right to be considered a global leader brings with it the responsibility to address the world’s most pressing problems, which of course means a focus on economic development but also major social crises like millions of needless child deaths.

Economic Progress Tied to Development
High burdens of disease and illness block economic growth. An estimated US$15.5 billion in potential productivity is lost globally each year when mothers and babies die. For example, across developing countries, malnutrition reduces national GDP by three to six per cent.

By contrast, each dollar invested in global health would create a $3 gain through extended healthy lifespan and faster economic growth.

“The development and prosperity our leaders are striving for can’t be sustained if our children are dying and a third of those who survive can’t realize their full potential as a result of childhood malnutrition,” says Sue Mbaya, advocacy director for World Vision Africa.

It is critical that the G20 make child and maternal health, the furthest off-track of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the priority of its working group on development.

G20 Working Group on Development
World Vision commends the creation of the G20 Working Group on Development. This group must:

• be made permanent to ensure accountability, and elevate the focus on human development alongside economic development;
• keep each G20 member accountable for rapid progress toward meeting development goals—particularly on child and maternal health and food security; and
• equip G20 nations to provide leadership within their own regions.

World Vision also welcomes the G20 leaders’ reaffirmation of their MDG commitments and applauds the cancellation of debt for Haiti.

3 Ways You Can Help
Visit World Vision’s Five for 5 campaign website for five simple ways to personally take action.

For just $30 you can buy two mosquito nets that will help protect as many as eight children from deadly but preventable diseases.

For $35 a month, you can make a real difference in the life of a child and her community through child sponsorship.