Monday, September 14, 2015

Final Push To Achieve MDGs And Create Sustainable Post-2015 Development Agenda 23

ISPE       EAG
INTERATIONAL SOCIETY FOR POVERTY ELIMINATION                   ECONOMIC ALLIANCE GROUP

Briefing # 7: Can How Answer to AAAA and SDG Vision and Words with Action Be Found in 3 Days of UNSDS 2015?
Global Call to World Leaders, Representatives of 193 UN Member States, 9 Major Groups, other CSOs’ and other Stakeholders.
By Lanre Rotimi and Peter Orawgu.                                       14 September 2015


As we race to the 70th UNGA that appear set to adopt the latest SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) outcome document, “Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”, during the UN Sustainable Development Summit, UNSDS, New York, 25 – 27 September 2015, the appalling situation in Europe suggest urgent need for pause to reflect on 70 years of UN, to determine if the UN is fit for the 21st Century alongside reflecting on flaws and failures in the Finance for Development, FfD and Post 2015 Development Agenda Processes, with a view to determining whether fair answer to SDG and AAAA (Addis Ababa Action Agenda) questions could be found in 3 Days of UNSDS 2015 as well as the implication for our Fragile Planet of arriving at forced or failed answer to SDG and AAAA How questions as basis for final endorsement of SDG by 70th UNGA in September 2015.

It is clear that it would take at least 3 months to negotiate fair answer to SDG and AAAA How questions leading to endorsement of revised SDG and revised AAAA that is Vision and Words with Action in November or December 2015.

The Big Question World Leaders and World Parliamentarians - IPU Members need to answer and very quickly too is: Why the rush to endorse SDG that is impotent to address European Crisis, Africa Crisis, US Crisis and Crisis in other parts of our World as is today? Why endorse SDG after 3 Days UNSDS, that is impotent in the Design of Practical Solutions to real and complex problems on the ground at sub-national, national, sub-regional, regional and global levels as well as in each of the 193 UN Member States that Deliver Development Impact and Development Effectiveness on Sustainable and Successful basis at each level?

The 69th UNGA and 70th UNGA meetings need to clearly address this Big Question in the Common Interest and Common Future of Global Citizens, particularly the over 2 Billion Poor Worldwide that they claim to Serve.


If enough Individuals, Institutions and Governments who feel strongly that "negotiators would extend the negotiations rather than rushing to agree on the issues that will really matter for people in our world, only to make avoidable mistakes because of this rush"  actually raised their Voices, and mobilize Global Collective Action to Persuade and if necessary Pressure co-Facilitators, 193 Member States and other concerned Stakeholders to DO the Needful, to produce a revised and reinvigorated AAAA and SDG that is Masterplan with ACTION providing real solutions to real problems facing real people; to replace the current AAAA and SDG that is Vision and Words without ACTION not providing real solutions to real problems facing real people; there is no reason why the 70th UNGA cannot wait till November or December 2015 to adopt revised AAAA and revised SDG that has filled identified gaps and linked identified disconnect in current AAAA and SDG. And there is precedent - Synthesis Report was to be released on 17 September 2014 at 69th UNGA but the release was delayed until 4 December 2014.

In Briefings #1, #2 #3, #4, #5 and #6, we focused on need to answer HOW Questions now, in the FfD and Post 2015 Processes. Let us consider What our World stand to lose if 3 Days of UNSDS 2015 find forced or failed answer to AAAA and SDG as well as What our World stand to gain if fair answer to AAAA and SDG How questions is found in 3 months as basis for endorsing revised AAAA and revised SDG in November or December 2015 that is Vision and Words with Action whose Design and Delivery is based its domestication and implementation alongside National Development Plan in each of the 193 Member States and in ways that help achieve increasing convergence between revised AAAA and revised SDG Vision Intention and Reality in each of the 193 UN Member States:

The World We Want



The World we have today is one in which many countries – developed and developing are experiencing hunger in all its forms – absolute, chronic and hidden and poverty in all its forms – extreme poverty and relative poverty; terrible human tragedies – civil wars and interstate wars. Europe is confronting many challenges in asylum seekers and financial crises. Many Local Governments and State Governments in US are bankrupt. In fact if the US Dollar is uncoupled from the World Dollar, the US National Government will be bankrupt. National Economic Growth largely does not trickle down to benefit the poor in the rural communities in both developed and developing Countries. Can we get the World We Want, if concerned Stakeholders do not jointly answer AAAA and SDG How questions in ways that address these real and complex problems on the ground?

A situation where a Cow in Europe and US, is subsidized by about US$ 2 a day and over 2 Billion Poor People live on less than US$ 2 a day is a Scar on the Conscience of World Leaders.

A situation where Developed Countries: seek contradictory political and economic goals for the same US$ of Foreign Aid, as well as give US$1 of Aid to block US$10 of Trade should no longer be tolerated, if we are to Get the World We Want.

The effective answer to revised AAAA and revised SDG How questions should address these and all related real and complex sub-national, national, sub-regional, regional and global problems on the ground, if we are to Get the World We Want. Again How can all these delicate and sensitive arrangements be discussed and established in just 3 Days of UNSDS? Who is afraid of waiting 3 months to find fair answer to revised AAAA and revised SDG How questions? Is it not Denial, Deception or Delusion seeking to find answer to real and complex problems on the ground in our World as is without seeking to find fair answer to revised AAAA and revised SDG How questions?


Accountable National and International Institutions



The Parliament is the Government Arm saddled with responsibility to ensure that Governance stays close to the People at all times. In our World today Parliaments on both Developed and Developing Countries have flaws and failures that hinder them from delivering on their major statutory responsibilities – Passing Good Laws and ensuring their effective Implementation and ensuring Good Oversight of the Government Executive Arm activities.

It is worrisome that debates at the 4th IPU, Interparliamentary Union meeting in New York, 31 August – 2 September 2015 called for shift from Rhetoric to Action; recognize that there is no time to waste and Action must be taken now; yet no concrete proposals have been made with respect to clear answer to AAAA and SDG How questions.

The outcome of 4th IPU could sadly be Motion without Movement and contribute nothing to move AAAA and SDG from Vision and Words without Action to Vision and Words with Action unless something is done on the last Day to correct this lapse. This is more regrettable given the fact that UNSDS Program had been released before 4th IPU started and they were therefore aware that SDG How questions are still outstanding, yet Parliamentarians avoided or evaded addressing this very important point.

Parliamentarians Worldwide on the last day of 4th IPU and beyond need to raise their Voices to Demand that all AAAA and SDG How questions are answered in the Common Interest and Common Future of Citizens in each of the 193 UN Member States, especially the over 2 Billion Poor that Parliamentarians in each Country claim to serve.
  
Sub-national, National, Sub-regional and Regional Parliaments existing today need to be urgently re-established to be fit for the 21st Century. There is no Global Parliament. One needs to be established as soon as possible. To effectively address these points there is need to Reinvent Governments – Executive, Legislature and Judiciary as well as Governance at all levels – Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global.

As long as these steps are not taken, there cannot be Accountable National and International Institutions and as long as there are no Accountable National and International Institutions with minimum certain levels of competences; the work towards achieving revised AAAA and revised SDG Vision Ambitions would be uphill task.


Europe Crisis
















Martin Schultz, President European Parliament in a recent article in the Washington Post called for Europe not to be blamed for the Refugee Crisis. Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that Europe is getting what it deserve having destabilized the Middle East. Mr Schultz argues that it is the intergovernmental decision making process guarded jealously by national capitals that has once again proven its ineffectiveness; that one could be harsh with European Leaders but one should think twice before criticizing European Citizens and that blame game will not help find solutions but courage and solidarity will.

Is there something to be gained from turning the European Refugee Challenge into Opportunities in other to mitigate the Political, Economic and Social risks? If World Leaders, European Leaders, World Citizens and European Citizens do not know the Root Problems underlining the European Refugee Crisis, there is no way that they can turn the European Refugee Challenge into Opportunities that mitigate Political, Economic and Social Risks. Can these Transformations be made on successful and sustainable basis without fair answer to revised AAAA and revised SDG How questions? Do World Leaders, European Leaders, World Citizens and European Citizens recognize that it is in their rational self interest that this Transformation is made?

Poverty Crisis



Those fighting Poverty do not understand the nature of poverty. An IMF Official flies into a Country on a Mission, stays in 5 Star Hotel, visit only government agencies of his choice and has no qualms writing a callous report that worsens rather than reduce poverty. If he lives with the people and witnesses first hand, the misery and sorrow flowing from his recommendations and if his career progression is determined by short term 1 – 5 years, medium 7 – 15 years and long term 20 – 30 years evaluation of his decisions, he will think twice before making such callous recommendations, sometimes with impunity.

The current SDG that is Vision and Words without Action is evidence that in the design of SDG, no lessons have been learnt in the implementation of MDG and so in the implementation of SDG, lessons learning will continue to proceed at the same pace as lessons forgetting. As long as the Root problems of Poverty in both Developed and Developing Countries are not known, they cannot be addressed.

As long as this is the case the Poverty Challenge cannot be turned into Opportunity for tackling Political and Cultural; Economic and Financial; Social and Environmental; Security and Peace; Religious and Moral problems on the ground in each of the 193 UN Member States in our World today. Can these Transformations be made on successful and sustainable basis without fair answer to revised AAAA and revised SDG How questions? Do World Leaders, European Leaders, World Citizens and European Citizens recognize that it is in their rational self interest that this Transformation is made?

International Development Cooperation Scorecard

ISPE / EAG Study finding on first 50 years of Development Cooperation 1960 - 2009, coincide with EC Study finding with the following Scorecard:-
Policy, Program, Project Evaluation
1/3 Good; 1/3 Flawed and 1/3 Failed

Policy, Program, Project Implementation
1/3 Good; 1/3 Flawed and 1/3 Failed

Regretfully because Lessons have not been Learnt, in the first 6 years of the second 50 years of Development Cooperation 2010 - 2059, the Scorecard is the same. Thus although Synthesis Report called for CHANGE in December 2014, there is no difference in 2015 Scorecard and there is likely to be no difference in 2030 Scorecard after SDG end or 2059 after second 50 years of Development Cooperation unless Village to Global Stakeholders Jointly agree to face new direction and adopt new priorities.

Should Village to Global Stakeholders accept Transformation Change through addressing all fundamental issues we consistently raise; a new Scorecard can be recorded in 2030 and 2059:-
Policy, Program, Project Evaluation
90% Good; 5% Flawed and 5% Failed

Policy, Program, Project Implementation
90% Good; 5% Flawed and 5% Failed

The work towards achieving this new scorecard could start from Reviewing Design and Delivery of UNGA Solutions Summit and the 2 Track Approach to endorsing AAAA and SDG that we have suggested.

Go To Think Tanks and Consultants



The 193 Member States and UN Family Organization including World Bank Group and IMF consult Go To Think Tanks and Consultants for Policy Advise and Policy Reform. Given above Poor Scorecard; if there is to be increasing convergence between AAAA and SDG Vision Intention and Reality by 2030, now is the time to review the process of Commissioning Go To Think Tanks and Consultants. All those who contributed ideas included in Synthesis Report, Data Revolution Report, revised AAAA and revised SDG should be effectively included in its implementation.

Re-establishing Country Led Monitoring and Evaluation Systems











The Country Led Monitoring and Evaluation Systems on both Developed and Developing Countries sides are is a State of Decay.

There is a need for New Monitoring Systems that promote and protect Quality of Service in each Duty Bearer through identifying:-
1.     Increase in convergence between Projected Results and Actual Results and How it could be sustained or improved.
2.     Increase in divergence between Projected Results and Actual Results and How it could be corrected.
The System will generate Monitoring Reports on Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, Half Yearly and Annual basis. Once Professionals know that their work will be objectively measured through credible Monitoring Reports; then What gets Measured Gets Done.

There is a need for New Evaluation Systems that promote and protect Organization Learning in each Duty Bearer through identifying:-
1.     What is done correctly and How it could be improved.
2.     What is done wrongly and How it could be corrected.
3.     Best Practices and How it could be Benchmarked and Scaled Up.
4.     How to Build Bridge between Lessons Learning and Lessons Forgetting

The System will generate Evaluation Reports:-
1.     Short Term: 1 year; 3years; 5 years
2.     Medium Term: 7 years; 10 years; 15 years
3.     Long Term: 20 years; 25 years; 30 years
Once Professionals know that their decisions will be Objectively Assessed in the Short, Medium and Long Term, with reward or sanction as appropriate, even post humus; they will reflect more before taking any decision today.

The Design and Delivery of these New Monitoring Systems and New Evaluation Systems will be based on One Worldwide Approach to Evaluation that is an Integral Part of One Worldwide Approach to National and International Development Cooperation


Conclusion



For How long can World Leaders Play Ostrich, pretending that all is well with AAAA and SDG and that a Stage Managed UNSDS 2015 that find at best forced answer to SDG How questions is good enough to ensure inevitability of endorsing SDG this September 2015 by 70th UNGA.


The unshakeable fact is that there are flaws and failures in FfD and Post 2015 Development Agenda Processes that must be addressed; that without fair answer to Synthesis Report, Data Revolution Report, AAAA and SDG How questions, attempt to negotiate and agree SDG that is Vision and Words with Action is a Mirage. The ultimate consequences of avoiding or evading answer to all fundamental issues raised in this and earlier Policy Briefings is likely to be catastrophic.


To rush answer to AAAA and SDG How questions in the 3 Days of UNSDS is to risk squandering bright prospects of success in the work towards achieving AAAA and SDG Vision Ambitions on successful and sustainable basis. To delay 70th UNGA endorsement till November or December 2015 is in Global Interest.










Our Suggestion: UN Executives and Staff can help 193 Member States; CSOs’ and other Stakeholders make the Right Choice if UNDESA, FfD Office, ECOSOC Office, EOSG and 69th OPGA and 70th OPGA accept to jointly nudge all remaining Stakeholders to address all issues raised in this Policy Briefing and earlier Policy Briefings and on time. The Time to raise Voices is NOW. Delay is Dangerous.


God Bless UN.











God Bless our World.

















Contact:
Lanre Rotimi
Director General,
International Society for Poverty Elimination /
Economic Alliance Group,
Akure – Nigeria,
West Africa.
M: +234-8162469805