Interview with Corentin Martiniault, Advocacy and Policy Analyst at Coordination SUD and representative of the Civil 7 (C7) on the occasion of the French Presidency of the G7.
Published on 12/06/2026.
This interview is part of Focus 2030’s G7 France 2026 Special Edition
Explore Focus 2030’s Special Edition on the French G7 Presidency, with background information, analysis and resources to follow development issues, international financing, global public goods and the main milestones of the 2026 G7 agenda.
Read the Special Edition →Interview with Corentin Martiniault, Advocacy and Policy Analyst at Coordination SUD and representative of the C7 on the occasion of the French Presidency of the G7
Focus 2030: As the Évian Summit approaches, what are the main expectations of civil society actors brought together within the Civil 7 (C7) withregard to the G7 countries?
Corentin Martiniault: The Civil 7 presented its two main expectations to the President of the Republic this Wednesday, June 10, during a meeting with the various engagement groups.
The first, unsurprisingly, concerns the place of civil society and its role in defending major issues that have so far been largely absent from G7 discussions: climate, the protection of rights and gender equality, and respect for international law and international humanitarian law. This expectation was very strong and has unfortunately already been unmet by the French government. Indeed, the conditions for dialogue have been particularly strained: few meetings have taken place with government representatives, and above all, no meeting could be organized with the French sherpa, and the C7 did not have access to technical discussions on topics such as development or the economy.
Finally, the second demand of civil society concerns the G7’s approach to development financing. Discussions have so far avoided addressing the debt crisis in Global South countries or mentioning the ongoing negotiations on international tax cooperation. On development, the G7 is attempting to define a new approach centered on international partnerships and mutual interests, but remains vague and does not propose solutions to the sharp decline in funding. The C7 is calling on states to clearly align their partnerships with human development and its core pillars—protecting the planet and safeguarding human rights—in order to improve the living conditions of vulnerable populations while leaving no one behind. The question of resources is, of course, crucial, as this agenda requires funding to expand access to essential services (health, education, social protection, water and sanitation) and to support the work carried out on the ground by civil society organizations (humanitarian aid, epidemic prevention, promotion of gender equality, etc.).
Focus 2030: Official development assistance (ODA) saw a historic decline of 23% in 2025. Given that G7 countries are responsible for 96% of these cuts, what avenues is the C7 considering to mobilize new sources of development financing?
Corentin Martiniault: The decline in ODA must be urgently halted. The consequences are already devastating for populations (with up to 22 million additional deaths by 2030 if nothing is done) and deprive vulnerable countries and the international community of the means to respond to global challenges, as illustrated by the current situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the severe resurgence of Ebola. The C7 recalls that nearly all G7 member states have committed to allocating 0.7% of their national income to ODA. This is a matter of political and budgetary priority, as well as of mobilizing new resources.
France experimented until 2025 with solidarity contributions on economic sectors that have a strong negative impact on the climate and human development, particularly aviation and financial markets. Two taxes were introduced in the early 2000s and generated significant resources for development; this mechanism could be reinstated in France and promoted among other G7 countries. Other options are being discussed internationally, notably regarding the maritime and aviation sectors, which are currently very lightly taxed.
Furthermore, civil society also expects G7 countries to address the root causes of under funding by supporting and contributing to a reform of international governance and the financial architecture in the areas of debt, taxation, and development. This is why the C7 is calling for international reform and sovereign debt relief, in order to establish a binding and transparent multilateral restructuring mechanism and to enable fair and swift restructuring processes. On the taxation front, ongoing discussions at the United Nations on a framework convention are promising, as they could lead to a fair distribution of taxing rights, stronger action against tax evasion and illicit financial flows, increased transparency through global public registers of assets and beneficial ownership, a rise in the global corporate tax rate to 25%, and a global tax on the wealthiest individuals.
Focus 2030: The French G7 presidency is highlighting international cooperation based on more balanced partnerships and the promotion of shared mutual interests. How do civil society actors view this shift, and what conditions do they identify for it to strengthen the effectiveness, accountability, and ownership of development policies by partner countries?
Corentin Martiniault: Civil society organizations support the French G7 presidency’s stated ambition to promote more balanced partnerships based on mutual interests. However, the C7 warns of the risks of instrumentalizing official development assistance (ODA) to serve the political, diplomatic, or economic interests of donor countries. ODA is currently the subject of multiple attempts at redefinition that tend to reinforce a transactional logic, thereby weakening trust, transparency, and the effectiveness of international cooperation. Truly balanced partnerships require that aid remain focused on its original objectives—namely reducing inequalities and fighting poverty—without conditionality.
To be effective and sustainable, development policies must be defined based on needs and priorities identified locally, rather than according to the political or strategic agendas of donors. In this regard, civil society organizations play a central role in identifying population needs, delivering essential services, fostering citizen participation, and monitoring public action. Their contribution must be recognized and supported through more accessible, flexible, multi-year funding that is directly directed toward national and local actors. Finally, effectiveness also depends on robust transparency and accountability mechanisms. Civil society organizations must be able to fully participate in monitoring, evaluation, and accountability processes related to state commitments, to ensure sustainable outcomes aligned with the priorities of the populations concerned.
The C7 also emphasizes that more balanced partnerships require deeper changes in global governance. This includes strengthening the representation and influence of Global South countries in international economic and financial institutions, as well as making progress on issues related to sovereign debt and international tax cooperation. These reforms are essential to enable countries in the Global South to have greater fiscal space in defining and financing their own development priorities. For example, in several African countries, debt servicing currently absorbs more public resources than some essential social sectors, thereby reducing governments’ ability to invest in development policies that meet the needs of their populations.
Note: The views expressed in this interview do not necessarily reflect the positions of Focus 2030.
This interview is part of Focus 2030’s G7 France 2026 Special Edition
Explore Focus 2030’s Special Edition on the French G7 Presidency, with background information, analysis and resources to follow development issues, international financing, global public goods and the main milestones of the 2026 G7 agenda.
Read the Special Edition →
