Saturday, September 26, 2015

Global Push To Achieve SDGs Vision and Words with Action Agenda 1


The 193 UN Member States on 25 September 2015 formally adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – a set of 17 bold new Global Goals which the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon has hailed as universal, integrated and transformative Vision for a better World.

“The new agenda is a promise by leaders to all people everywhere. It is an agenda for people, to end poverty in all its forms – an agenda for the planet, our common home,” declared Mr. Ban as he opened the UN Sustainable Development Summit, UNSDS 2015 which kicked off on Friday 25 September 2015 and wraps up Sunday 27 September 2015.

It will be recalled that in 2014 Mr. Ban embarked upon a Final Push to achieve MDG by 2015 and Post 2015 Development Agenda that mobilized Global Collective Action to get more Countries achieve more MDG Targets as well as produce its replacement – the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, the new Global Goals that have been adopted.

It will be recalled further that as part of this Final Push a Data Revolution Report was released 6 November 2014; Synthesis Report was released 4 December 2015; Addis Ababa Action Agenda was adopted in July 2015 and now the SDG was adopted 25 September 2015.

The UN deserves commendation for Giant Strides made that got our World thus far. However, the Data Revolution Report, Synthesis Report, AAAA and SDG How questions have not been answered and this explains why the UNSDS 2015 has 6 Interactive Dialogue Sessions all focus on helping to find answer to Data Revolution, Synthesis Report, AAAA and SDG How questions. Can UNSDS deliver on this responsibility? Or is UNSDS kick starting process of getting fair answer to SDG How questions?

The implication of holding UNSDS after adoption of SDG, is that what World Leaders have adopted is SDG that is Vision and Words without Action and what UNSDS 2015 seek to achieve is ways and means of converting current AAAA and SDG into new AAAA and SDG that is Vision and Words with Action. Unless this conversion is achieved, it will be an uphill task for World Leaders to deliver on their promise identified above by Mr. Ban.

The acid test of credibility of SDG is how it delivers:-
1.     Better Domestic and International Trade in each of 193 Member States.
2.     Better Financing – Equity, Loan and Grant for all particularly the Poor
3.     Better War on Corruption and Terrorism and
4.     Better Environmental Sustainability.

The only way World Leaders can deliver on their promise during the adoption of SDG is to improve Coordination, Collaboration, Cooperation, Solidarity and Accountability in the design and delivery of mutual support mechanism that help each of the 193 Member States to pass this acid test of credibility of the SDGs.

To achieve this, the 193 Member States jointly and severally must demonstrate and be seen to demonstrate:-
1.     Willingness to accept new ideas, new thinking, new ways of doing things
2.     Willingness to establish new coordination, new collaboration, new cooperation, new solidarity, new accountability and new partnership
3.     Readiness to accept past flaws, past failures, past drawbacks, past shortcomings and past hindrances
4.     Readiness to build bridge between lessons learning and lessons forgetting, create learning organization and create learning society
5.     Readiness to create Demand for Planning – Research, Planning, Data as basis for creating Supply for Planning – Research, Planning, Data
6.     Readiness to create Demand for Implementation as basis for creating supply for Implementation
7.     Readiness to create Demand for Evaluation – Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment as basis for creating Supply for Evaluation – Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment
8.     Readiness to create Demand for Accountability – Transparency, Accountability, Citizen / Stakeholder Participation as basis for creating Supply for Accountability – Transparency, Accountability, Citizen / Stakeholder Participation
9.     Readiness to create Demand for Learning – Learning and Result as basis for creating Supply for Learning – Learning and Result
10.                         Readiness to accept One Nationwide / Region wide / Worldwide 3PCM – Policy, Program, Project Cycle Management Approach and Methodology to Sustainable Benefits focused National and International Development Cooperation Policy, Program, Project Intervention, 3PI and 3PI Training as One in each Action Agenda Item in each of the 17 SDGs applicable to specific context – Village to Global in each of the 193 Member States

These fundamental issues of Willingness and Readiness need to be complemented by fundamental issues of Ability – Capacity Building; Ability – Resources and Invitation – Mandate within National and Global Platform.

Capacity Building should be on three levels:-
1.     Individual – Hard Competences: Learning and Skills and Soft Competences: Character, Courage and Mindset
2.     Institution / Government – Processes, Procedures, Systems, Operations that empower Individuals to operationalize in practice Competences they acquire through formal and informal education and training to help achieve increasing convergence between Institution / Government Vision, Mission and Mandate Intention and Reality.
3.     Society – Political and Cultural; Economic and Financial; Social and Environmental; Peace and Security; Religious and Moral Space that empower Individuals and Institutions to Thrive in the work towards achieving Institution / Government Vision, Mission, Mandate Intention and Reality with or without chaos.
Resources include: Influence, Science, Technology, Innovation, Fund, Manpower, Spiritual, Land and Water.

For World Leaders to deliver on their promise they need to focus on Diplomacy, Development, Defense, Security, Politics, Business, Philanthropy, Religion, Communication and Advocacy within One Worldwide Approach / Methodology; One Worldwide Evaluation; One Worldwide Competences; One Worldwide Programming etc guarded and guided by:-
1.     High Level Leadership Personal and Official Commitment
2.     Common Stakeholder Language and Definitions
3.     OH2A2T2LRP – Ownership, Harmony, Alignment, Accountability, Transparency, Transformation, Leadership, Learning, Results and Participation
4.     Eliminating Duplication and Fragmentation
5.     Inclusion and Regeneration
6.     Clarify Roles – Duties, Responsibilities and Rights
7.     Agree Sanctions and Enforcement Mechanism
8.     Agree Reward and Celebration Mechanism
9.     Maintain Clear Focus on Development Results and Development Impact
10.                        Measure, Monitor and Evaluate Progress towards achieving Goals and Targets
11.                        Mobilize required Resources (see definition above) and use prudently and productively.
12.                        Build required Capacity (see definition) and ensure match between Capacity and Scope of Work.

Whereas the MDG focused on Developing Countries, the SDG is focused on both Developing and Developed Countries, that is, all 193 Member States. The High Performing Countries have much to do if they are to achieve all SDG Goals and Targets by 2030. The Laggard Countries have much more to do, first to cover lost ground achieving MDG and then accelerate to achieve SDG Goals and Targets by 2030. This underlines urgent need to select the One Worldwide Approach / Methodology for Implementing and Evaluation SDG in each of the 193 Member States driving domestication of SDG that is aligned with National Development Plan in each Country.

Should 193 Member States, UN Family Organization including World Bank Group and IMF and their Partners jointly agree to convert SDG to Vision and Words with Action within the next 3 months; for adoption of revised AAAA and SDG during Paris Climate Change Summit in December 2015, there are bright prospects of success achieving SDG Goals and Targets in all 193 Member States by 2030.

If World Leaders are to deliver on their promise, SDG Stakeholders from Village to Global level need practical help and support from External Consultants. Few Professionals have the willingness and the ability – competences required to provide such support. Of these none has the ability – resources. Those who have the willingness and the ability – competences need to be identified, invited and empowered with ability – resources to provide SDG Stakeholders from Village to Global levels with the needed practical help and support required to achieve increasing convergence between SDG Vision and Words with Action Intention and Reality in each Community in each Local Government in each of the 193 Member States.

The momentum built by Final Push to achieve MDG by 2015 and Post 2015 Development Agenda need to be stepped up to be next level and not diminished. We need a Global Push to achieve SDG Vision and Words with Action Agenda by 2030 that is a Global Movement taking the Final Push to the Next level. We need a Roadmap to Paris that delivers SDG Vision and Words with Action. We need a Global Movement that ensures all 193 Member States achieve SDG Goals and Targets by 2030. We need World Leaders to deliver on their Promise.
Will World Leaders fail over 2 Billion World Poor...?

If you require some clarification or additional information, please send email to:-

Lanre Rotimi
Director General
International Society for Poverty Elimination, ISPE /
Economic Alliance Group

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Final Push To Achieve MDGs And Create Sustainable Post-2015 Development Agenda 24

ISPE       EAG
INTERATIONAL SOCIETY FOR POVERTY ELIMINATION                   ECONOMIC ALLIANCE GROUP

Briefing # 8: Achieving AAAA and SDG Vision and Words with Action Ambition – Why World Leaders Need to Postpone Endorsement to Nov / Dec 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.                                       24 September 2015


In just a few days the 70th UNGA is 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.

It will be recalled that World Leaders in September 2000 adopted a set of eight Goals, MDGs focused on sustainable development of countries in the global south. The UN deserves high marks for work done towards achieving the MDGs. Giant strides were made in the past 15 years but much more remains to be done.

The SDGs is the ambitious new development agenda to replace the MDGs but it’s focused on World Sustainable Development, that is, the sustainable development of countries in both the global south and global north. Again the UN deserves commendation for work done on SDGs thus far.

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, leading to the forced adoption of AAAA (Addis Ababa Action Agenda) in July 2015 and the expected forced adoption of SDG in September 2015 with a view to determining whether fair answer to SDG and AAAA How 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 even at this eleventh hour 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 UNSDS 2015 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.


It is a shame that enough Individuals, Institutions and Governments who felt 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"  failed to join ISPE / EAG (International Society for Poverty Elimination / Economic Alliance Group) to jointly raise their Voices, and effectively 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; with revised AAAA and SDG that is Vision and Words with Action.

Although many privately endorsed our advocacy and agree that current AAAA and SDG put cart before the horse, none was willing to give public endorsement and openly participate in this type of advocacy. Why is this the case? World Leaders have started arriving New York and are set to participate in UNSDS 2015 hoping to get the best they can before yielding to forced adoption of SDG. Yet if there is a spirit of give and take and if there is appreciation that it is in enlightened self interest of powerful stakeholders pushing for forced adoption of the SDG, to accept fair answer to SDG and AAAA How questions, then current AAAA and SDG gaps can be filled and disconnect linked within 3 months of Global Consultation kick started at UNSDS September 2015 leading to World Leaders adopting in November or December 2015 revised AAAA and revised SDG that is Vision and Words with Action, with higher potency of helping to find sustainable solutions to World Sustainable Development problems on the ground in each of the 194 UN Member States.


In Briefings #1, #2 #3, #4, #5, #6 and #7, we focused on need to answer HOW Questions now, in the FfD and Post 2015 Processes. Let us consider Why World Leaders need to consider postponing endorsement of SDG till November or December 2015:

Shift to SDG Vision and Words with Action



The current SDG document answer what and why questions but does not answer How questions. That UNSDS 2015 is focused on answer to SDG How questions is evidence of failure in the FfD and Post 2015 processes to date. If Europe Leaders are grappling with fundamental issues of Europe Solidarity to address root problems of Asylum Seekers and Economic Migrants and this is just one of many real and complex World problems on the ground, including Terrorism, Corruption, Inequality, Injustice, Hunger, Poverty etc, is it not denial, deception and or delusion to expect that fair answer to AAAA and SDG How questions could be found in just 3 days of UNSDS 25 – 27 September 2015? In the likely event that forced answer to SDG How question is the basis for World Leaders adoption of SDG, will World Leaders not be shooting themselves in the feet and starting the implementation of SDG putting the cart before the horse? Will World Leaders not pay a heavy price in the future for failure to wait 3 months to adopt SDG that put horse before cart?

We urge World Leaders to recognize that a shift from SDG that is Vision and Words without Action to SDG that is Vision and Words with Action is the first condition for achieving increasing convergence between AAAA and SDG Vision Intention and Reality in each of the 194 UN Member States by 2030.

Post World War II Consensus



The Europe crisis is another evidence of failure of the UN System today. The adoption of SDG in 2015 coincides with the 70th Anniversary of the UN. There is a need to review the first 70 years to identify successes and how it could be improved as well as flaws and failures and how it could be corrected and prevented in the second 70 years.

It is pertinent to note that in May 1944 before the Second World War ended, the Philadelphia Declaration which recognized that “lasting peace can be adopted only if it was based on social justice” was adopted by World Leaders. The World Leaders went on to establish the UN as the Platform for Global Collective Action for Political Stability; the IMF to help Countries overcome balance of payment difficulties as well as “to direct economic and financial policies toward the objective of fostering orderly economic growth with reasonable price stability” and the IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development) later known as the World Bank support long term investment and development in health, education, public services, social protection etc.

The UN Family Organization including World Bank Group and IMF need to be reformed to be International Institutions fit for the 21st Century, such that its Scorecard in 2085 the second 70 years will be much better than its Scorecard in 2015. It is pertinent to note that the WBG is sometimes increasing Poverty and the IMF is worse and this is contrary to their respective Vision, Mission and Mandate. These flaws and failures should be corrected in the second 70 years of UN Family Organization.

At the end of Second World War the US announced a Marshal Plan for the re-industrialization of war torn Europe. This generous infusion of U.S. aid and favourable acceptance of, if not support for national developmental policies, ensured the rebirth of modern Europe. For many Europeans, this is still seen as America’s finest hour.
In the decades that followed, the Marshall Plan developed into what is probably the most successful economic development assistance project in history. Similar economic development policies were introduced in Japan, Taiwan and South Korea following the establishment of the People’s Republic of China and the Korean War.
This experience offers valuable lessons today. Europe and Northeast Asia industrialized with policies including government economic interventions such as high duties, quotas and other non-tariff barriers. Free trade would only be fair after international competitiveness had been achieved not before. Also Economic Justice is best won by Free Men through Free Enterprise. There is something wrong with current Free Market Model that does not deliver Economic Justice. There is Regulation in Deregulation because the Right of One Citizen stops where the Right of another Citizen start.
Marshall, former UN Secretary of State, knew that shared economic development is the only way to lasting peace. He also emphasized that aid should be truly developmental, not piecemeal or palliative. The productive capacities and capabilities of developing nations must be nurtured. Current US Leaders should learn from Marshall. If they do our World will be a much better and safer place to live, work and raise. If they do not and other World Leaders are not able to persuade or pressure them to do so, then we – Citizens in all 193 UN Member Countries will suffer the catastrophic consequences.
There is no better time than now for the promoters of “Washington Consensus” to accept past failure and shift from Business as Usual to Business Unusual, at least in their own enlightened self interest. Revised AAAA and SDG should address fundamental issues of Aid, Trade, Debts, Conflict, Religion, Data and Corruption.

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 postponing World Leaders adoption of revised AAAA and SDG to November or December 2015 as we have suggested.

Go To Think Tanks and Consultants



The 194 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 revised 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 and it should create demand for M & E as basis for creating supply for M & E from Village to Global levels in each of 194 UN Member States, UN Family Organization Entities and other relevant Village to Global Stakeholders.

Our Planet’s Future – Next 15 years


The next 15 years will be decisive for our Planet’s future. Domesticating SDG in each of 194 UN Member States with implementation and evaluation aligned to National Development Plan in each Community in each Country will be very challenging.

Overcoming hunger and extreme poverty are foremost among those challenges. Today nearly 800 million people do not have enough food to eat. Yet enough food is being produced in the world to feed everyone. Clearly we need urgent solutions to overcome the structural bottlenecks that prevent the hungry from accessing food.
In other words, social inclusion, financial inclusion and financial cooperatives must become the backbone of development. Yet we will achieve neither social inclusion nor development, unless our choices are guided by sustainability.
We are the first generation that can end poverty, end hunger and make food and nutrition security truly universal. And perhaps we are also the last generation in a position to avoid irreversible damage brought about by climate change.
The political framework needed to move us in the right direction requires an unprecedented degree of political commitment. This demands World Leaders face new direction and adopt new priorities as they lead Village to Global Stakeholders to Jointly address fundamental issues of Diplomacy, Development, Defence, Security, Politics, Business, Philanthropy, Religion, Communication and Advocacy at Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global levels in each of 194 UN Member States.
One critical step in that direction will be taken in few days or 3 months, when World Leaders adopt the 17 / 21 SDG that is Vision and Words, with an ambitious Action Agenda to Change our World for the better in the next 15 years. It is very important that World Leaders get this critical step right and this underlines the need to postpone adoption of the 17 / 21 SDG to November or December 2015 to allow for all necessary amendments to current AAAA and SDG final draft to be made.
This new global pact for the future crucially includes ending poverty and hunger by 2030, mitigating and adapting to climate change and finding more sustainable ways to make supply meet demand. The choices we make as consumers have now become just as important for the future as the ones we make as producers.
In addition to the around 800 million people who are chronically undernourished, malnutrition is also a major problem with some two billion people suffering from micronutrient deficiencies and 500 million who suffer obesity, the latter a malady that is increasing in many medium- and high-income countries.
Paradoxically this is all happening in a world where nearly a third of all food produced is lost or wasted, generating even more pressure on production. The world being envisaged through the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals is not an unattainable pipe dream. It is not utopia; we can make it real.
The solution lies in the problem. As wealth continues to gain distance from justice, survival depends more and more on the imperative of cooperation.
Either we build a future for all, or there will be no acceptable future for anyone. Any doubt in this regard pales before the exodus we are witnessing where desperate refugees attempt often deadly land and sea crossings in a desperate attempt to find a better life elsewhere.
More than 70 percent of the world’s food insecurity is concentrated in the rural areas of poor and developing countries. One of the solutions is to acknowledge and support the role that small-scale family farming can play to achieve zero hunger in a sustainable way. To achieve this we need public policies that build people’s capacities, support production, facilitate access to financial cooperative, financial credit, technology and other services and promote international cooperation.
To eradicate hunger and poverty we must begin by moving beyond dealing with emergencies when they occur and instead direct our efforts at addressing the conditions that cause them. There are bright prospects of success in the work towards achieving AAAA and SDG Vision ambitions in each of 194 UN Member States. Choices World Leaders and Global Citizens make determine if the prospects are utilized or squandered.

MDG Gap Task Force Report 2015


The UN MDG Gap Task Force has issued its final 2015 report on achievements and gaps in the implementation of Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 8 on a global partnership for development. The 2015 report notes challenges in international cooperation, alongside significant progress toward the MDGs in the past 15 years, and underscores the importance of a new global partnership for development in achieving the proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking at the report's launch, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon stressed that “achieving the SDGs will require an even stronger global partnership, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships to mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial resources.” Ban expressed his commitment to delivering on unfinished MDG commitments while tackling new challenges through the SDGs, noting major gaps remaining in reducing vulnerabilities for developing countries, including least developed countries (LDCs), land-locked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS).

The Task Force - created by UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in 2007 - is an inter-agency initiative that includes over 30 organizations with competence in the five areas of the global partnership for development: official development assistance (ODA); market access and trade; debt sustainability; access to affordable essential medicines; and access to new technologies. The report, ‘Taking Stock of the Global Partnership for Development,' presents progress on these five areas.

On ODA, the report finds that ODA increased 66% between 2000 and 2014, particularly to the LDCs, but increased ODA and additional resources will still be necessary to achieve the SDGs. It recommends better targeting resources to the poorest developing countries and promoting innovative uses of ODA, such as using it leverage private finance.

On market access and trade, although developing countries' access to developed country markets improved from 30.5% to 43.8% between 2000 and 2014, the report highlights persistent challenges in eliminating trade barriers and the failure to conclude the Doha Development Round after 13 years of negotiation. It states that duty-free treatment on developing country exports to developed countries only improved from 65% in 2000 to 79% in 2014.

The report offers “many insights…on what could be helpful in achieving the SDGs,” UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark at the launch. She welcomed progress in debt relief and the availability of new technologies but said significant gaps remain even in areas where there has been progress, such as the increase in ODA, which is concentrated in a few countries.

“All available resources need to be mobilized in addition to public financing” to implement the SDGs, said UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs, Wu Hongbo. He called for policy guidance to encourage the private sector to financially support implementation of the new agenda.

Other gaps identified in the report include the lack of quantitative time-bound targets in the five areas, and lack of data to track commitments in a timely manner, as well as a mismatch between targets and indicators selected to measure progress.

Had the recommendations in each of the Gap Reports been implemented with effective monitoring and evaluation of this implementation, the MDG could have achieved much more. That AAAA and SDG are Vision and Words without Action suggest that Lessons have not been Learnt in the implementation of MDG with implication for repeating the mistakes of implementation and evaluation of SDG, this underline need to build bridge between Lessons Learning and Lessons Forgetting. Again postponing adoption of SDG till November or December 2015 is intended to correct this problem.

 

Global Partnerships for Funding and Non Funding Dimensions of AAAA and SDG


The SDG is ambitious World Sustainable Development Agenda. The AAAA addresses funding and related issues within SDG. Both AAAA and SDG require effective Global Partnerships for Funding and Non Funding Dimensions of AAAA and SDG.

The Global Policy Watch Report “Fit for Whose Purpose? Private Funding and Corporate Influence in the United Nations” raise serious issues of serious business demanding serious attention of World Leaders before adopting AAAA and SDG.

The Report has come up with many interesting recommendations. However, it essentially addresses What and Why questions. Answers to How questions remain outstanding and underline the need for World Leaders to ensure fair answers to AAAA and SDG How questions are found before AAAA and SDG that are Vision and Words with Action are adopted in November or December 2015. Please find link to the Report:

 

Words of Wisdom

 

Reforming UN System



The UN is a member driven organization. The member states decide what is corruption, how to fight it and how the UN can help. I am here to comply with these rules as my view is one of 7 billion. This is no UN Dictatorship no UN Marines who will persecute you. The UN Security Council is the only body who can. So UN lives and strives to consensus by the member states. If you want to change our work; your and other governments can help us. No other way, that's the transparent rules the member states, including yourself, have dictated us”.

UNECE Senior Official

It is clear that without achieving Corruption Free Society in any of the 194 Member States, seeking to achieve SDG Vision Ambition in that Country will be a mirage; that the view of this UNECE Senior Official needs to be taken seriously and that revising the AAAA and SDG as suggested can help addresses these fundamental issues.

 

What is the Role for Parliaments?


“As has been stressed in the EU Strategy for Africa and elsewhere, parliaments are the guarantors of democratic legitimacy and are key actors in European Development Policy. It is vital that the national, regional and continental parliaments of Africa should be consulted fully on the preparation of the Joint Strategy, but this is a process that must be initiated independently by our African Partners. The Commission therefore wishes to urge Parliament to engage in dialogue with the Commission of the Africa Union to ensure that it actively consults the Pan African Parliament as soon as possible on the development of the Joint Strategy. It is essential that the Pan African Parliament should make its Voice heard on its Vision for the Joint Strategy and that it should provide the necessary positive momentum to enable the national and regional African Parliament to participate fully in the debates. Any Joint Action between the European Parliament and the Pan African Parliament would be welcome in this regard”.
Mr. Louis Michel, European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid on EU Africa Strategy 2007
It is clear that Parliaments at Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global levels need to be reinvented where they exist and established where they do not exist, if there is to be increasing convergence between AAAA and SDG Vision Intention and Reality is to be achieved in each Community in each of 194 UN Member States.

Be a Solution



A father left 17 camels as assets for his 3 sons. When the father passed away, his sons opened the Will. The Will of the father stated the eldest son should get half of the 17 camels, the middle son should get 1/3 of 17 camels and the youngest son should get 1/9 of the 17 camels. As it is not possible to divide by 2, 3 or 9, the sons started to fight with each other. So they decided to go to a wise man. The wise man listened patiently to the Will. The wise man after giving it a thought, brought one camel of his own and added it to the 17. That increased the total to 18 camels. Now he started reading the deceased’s Will:-
Half of 18 = 9. So he gave 9 camels to the eldest
1/3 of 18 = 3. So he gave 3 camels to the middle son
1/9 of 18 = 2. So he gave 2 camels to the youngest son
Now add this up – 9 + 3 + 2 = 17
This leaves 1 camel which the wise man took back.
Moral: The attitude of negotiation and problem solving is to find the 18th camel, that is, the common ground. Once a person is able to find the common ground, the issue is resolved. It required the right attitude and behaviour, sometimes with an arbitrator or facilitator. To reach a solution, the first step is to believe that there is a solution. If we think that there is no solution, we won’t be able find any. The wise man became the solution to the battle of the 3 brothers. The wise man had the ability - resources and the willingness - competences. There are few that have willingness serve as wise man to Stakeholders in World Sustainable Development fighting over World Resources. Of the few none has the ability. World Leaders need to find the wise man and empower him to help Configure our World to achieve AAAA and SDG Vision Ambitions and on schedule date.

 

What are the How Questions?



In the circumstance Developed and Developing Countries find ourselves today, the more Transparent and Accountable the System we collectively put in place to “Leave No One Behind” and to design and deliver “People Centred” “Policy, program, Project Interventions”, the more successful and sustainable the effort to overhaul the current decayed Systems will be. 

UNDESA, UNNLGS, other UN Family Organization Members including World Bank Group and IMF and Partners on Developed and Developing Countries sides will find its effort more productive, if it works effectively with other stakeholders, within existing space to help address Transparency, Accountability and Participation, TAP; Evaluation, Learning and Result, ELR and Means of Implementation, MOI Issues as One within One Worldwide Approach with Local Context Driving Design and Delivery of Post 2015 and FfD Processes Interventions from Village to Global levels.

Our World today, need to re-establish existing National and International Institutions and also establish new National and International Institutions fit for the 21st Century who individually and collectively promote and protect WIN - WIN Benefits that Drive Common Interest and Common Future of Citizens in the over 200 Countries in our World today. That is, we need a New World Vision within reinforced and reinvigorated FfD Process and Post 2015 Process that address all issues raised in this Policy Brief.

To contribute effectively and efficiently to the important work towards the Design and Delivery of this New World Vision, the Big Challenge that face UNDESA, UNNLGS, other UN Family Organization Members including World Bank Group and IMF and Partners on Developed and Developing Countries sides is effectively Mobilizing Village to Global Stakeholders in FfD and Post 2015 Processes to answer a set of HOW Questions:-
1. HOW governments will constructively engage with all relevant stakeholders in the implementation of the post-2015 agenda, as well as in the follow-up and review and accountability of the Post-2015 agenda – Post 2015 and FfD Processes, and at all levels and stages of review processes - including design of accountability mechanisms and verification of data”. The focus of this HOW question is on Government Coordination.

2. HOW do Stakeholders – sub-national, national, sub-regional, regional and global correctly diagnose the national and global problems on the ground and JOINTLY come up with correct prescription, surgery and recover management solutions in ways that answer the above HOW question. The focus of this HOW question is on Stakeholder Involvement that is, Citizen / Stakeholder Participation.

3. HOW to Design and Deliver Solutions to real and complex problems on the ground within:-
·        Filling the awareness raising, mobilization, planning, research, data, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, learning, results and partnership gaps and disconnect at sub-national, national, regional and global levels.
·        Promoting and protecting harmony, alignment, accountability, transparency, transformation, leadership, learning, participation, result and amplification of voices of Nigeria and other Countries – Developed and Developing / Africa and other Continents / World grassroots and marginalized communities’ expectations and realities on Nigeria President Buhari  National Transformation Agenda that is an Integral Part of AU Agenda 2063 and UN Post 2015 Development Agenda to sub-national, national, sub-regional, regional and global policies, programs and projects, in a way that builds synergy and maximizes resources and efforts and that help find answers to HOW questions in all relevant Conference Reports, Study Reports and Position Papers. The National Transformation Agenda of other Countries and Continents will be integrated into the Process.
·        Ensuring credibility and ownership of Nigeria President Buhari  National Transformation Agenda that is an Integral Part of AU Agenda 2063 and UN Post 2015 Development Agenda processes, reports and reviews through multi-stakeholder monitoring and evaluation at sub-national, national, regional and global levels. The National Transformation Agenda of other Countries and Continents will be integrated into the Process. The focus of this HOW question is Achieving Ambition of each Item Action Agenda in all 17 / 21 SDG.

Urgent Need to Select One Worldwide Approach


It will be recalled that the Synthesis Report has recommended a One Worldwide Approach for implementing its recommendations. It is clear that a One Worldwide Approach is a necessary condition for full implementation of all recommendations in Data Revolution Report, Synthesis Report, AAAA and SDG as well as complimentary Reports within SDG Initiative, recommendations in ways that help achieve increasing convergence between AAAA and SDG Intention and Reality.

If concerned Stakeholders genuinely accept to tackle the Challenge of finding correct answer to HOW Questions and in ways that help achieve increasing convergence between AAAA and SDG as well as complimentary Reports within SDG Initiative Vision Intention and Reality then UNDESA, UNNGLS other UN Family Organization Members including World Bank Group and IMF and Partners need to recognize that there is urgent need to ensure that a “One Worldwide Approach” with “Local Context” that is “Fit for Purpose” is selected without delay.

We suggest that selection is based on the most advance known “One Worldwide Approach” with clear “Principles, Instruments corresponding to each Principle, Practices and Database” that ensures critical principles of “Transparency, Accountability and Participation, TAP; Evaluation, Learning and Results, ELR and Means of Implementation, MOI as One” cannot and will not be left behind in the work towards achieving increasing convergence between Final Push to achieve MDG by 2015 and Post 2015 Development Agenda Vision Intention and Reality.

 

3PCM Approach



The Policy, Program, Project Cycle Management, 3PCM Approach to Benefit focused National and International Development Cooperation. 3PCM is probably the most advance such One Worldwide Approach in the World today and it is available to Stakeholders. Information on 3PCM is available upon request. 3PCM has 4 Principles, 4 Instruments corresponding to each Principle, 4 Practices and 1 Database.

The SDG Initiative is All Inclusive, All Embracing and Ambitious. It requires a One Worldwide Approach with Local Context that is also All Inclusive, All Embracing and Ambitious. It will be helpful if World Leaders ensure that stating from UNSDS September 2015 till fair answer to SDG and AAAA How questions are found in the next 3 months at appropriate Event during the Global Consultation, put all known such Worldwide Approaches on the table and select the Best that could help achieve increasing convergence between revised SDG, revised AAAA, Synthesis Report, Data Revolution Report and related Reports within the SDG Initiative Vision Intention and Reality.


Conclusion

The Words of Wisdom has cut out the work World Leaders need to do if they are to adopt AAAA and SDG that is Vision and Words with Action capable of Design and Delivery of Sustainable Solutions to real and complex Europe Crisis, Africa Crisis and World Crisis problems on the ground in our World as is and not as any Stakeholder wish it to be. To achieve this World Leaders need to tackle Greed and Mistrust.

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. To delay or refuse to identify the wise man/woman and invite him/her to work with World Leaders, 194 Member States Governments, International Institutions, Businesses, Financial Institutions, Universities, CSOs’, Media and Global Citizens on Sustainable Solutions to World Sustainable Development is to put bright prospects of success in the work towards achieving AAAA and SDG Vision Ambitions in jeopardy.



Our Suggestion: UN Executives and Staff can help 194 Member States; CSOs’ and other Stakeholders guided by Wise Man / Woman, make the Right Choice if UNDESA, FfD Office, ECOSOC Office, EOSG 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 Family Organization.






God Bless our World.








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