Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Final Push To Achieve MDGs And Create Sustainable Post-2015 Development Agenda 22

ISPE       EAG
INTERATIONAL SOCIETY FOR POVERTY ELIMINATION                   ECONOMIC ALLIANCE GROUP

Briefing # 6: How to Implement AAAA and SDG Vision and Words with Action?
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.                                       2 September 2015


As the 69th UN General Assembly, UNGA rounds up its work and make resolution calling on the 70th UNGA 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 is gratifying to note that UNSDS has been scheduled to answer outstanding What and How questions in Six Interactive Dialogue Sessions before endorsing the SDG.


This is commendable and underlines the willingness of relevant authorities to respond to calls for urgent need to correct all flaws and failures in the Finance for Development, FfD and Post 2015 Development Agenda Processes before final endorsement of SDG by 70th UNGA.

The Big issue now is that work towards finding answer to How questions within the FfD and Post 2015 Development Process that ought to have started 9 months ago after the 4 December 2014 release of UN Secretary General’s Synthesis Report; had been left undone. Now effort is being made to get this huge and complex work done in 3 Days. But we urge all Stakeholders to recognize: What is worth doing at all is worth doing well.

If relevant Global Authorities decide to impose their own answer to How questions then, an agreement would be reached in 3 Days – but there will be a cost and the ultimate consequence is likely to be catastrophic.


If relevant Global Authorities decide that answer to How questions would be found in ways that effectively fill all identified gaps and link all identified disconnect in SDG and AAAA (Addis Ababa Action Agenda), it is clear that this would take at least 3 months leading to endorsement of revised SDG and revised AAAA that is Vision and Words with Action in November or December 2015 – and there are rewards: Sustainable 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.


The 69th UNGA and 70th UNGA meetings need to clearly address this Big Issue 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 and #5, we focused on need to answer HOW Questions now, in the FfD and Post 2015 Processes. Let us consider How to Implement revised AAAA and revised SDG Vision and Words with Action whose Design and Delivery is based on sound answer to revised AAAA and revised SDG What and How questions 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 AAAA and 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?


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.


Re-establishing WFUNA












The World Federation of United Nations Organization, WFUNA, has about 100 United Nations Associations UNAs’. UNAs are national civil society organizations that provide a link between the citizens of the world and the United Nations by seeking to ensure that the UN is relevant to the lives of the peoples it exists to serve.

UNAs have different programs and a variety of constituencies, such as individual members, member organizations, and partner schools and universities. If UNAs’ were fully operational where they exist and established in remaining about 93 UN Member States for effective operation; the past and current disconnect between UN Headquarters New York and Communities in each Local Government in each of 193 UN Member States will not exist. This shortcoming must be addressed as part of answer to AAAA and SDG How questions.

Re-establishing SDSN











Launched by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in August 2012, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) mobilizes scientific and technical expertise from academia, civil society, and the private sector in support of sustainable development problem solving at local, national, and global scales. This is a worthy Legacy.

SDSN aims to accelerate joint learning and help to overcome the compartmentalization of technical and policy work by promoting integrated approaches to the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world. The SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society. How well is SDSN delivering on these worthy aims?

Existing Regional SDSNs’ need to be re-established. New Regional SDSNs’ need to be established. Existing National SDSNs’ need to be re-established. New National SDSNs’ need to be established.

All necessary arrangements for Reinvigorating and Reinforcing SDSNs’ at Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global levels – in each of 193 UN Member States and each International level need to discussed and established on time.
  

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. 

How Can We Call Ourselves Civilized While Women Are Victims of Barbarity?
US Sectary of State John Kerry and UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Philip Hammond in a joint article have asked above question and noted that terrorists have turned kidnapping and the sale of women and girls into recruitment and fundraising tools that thousands of women have been enslaved and raped and that these practices are a stain on the conscience of the world. They summarized - We have seen global campaigns and calls to action draw attention to this issue and mobilize governments and organizations to act. But transformation requires the active participation of men and women everywhere. We must settle for nothing less than a united world saying no to sexual violence and yes to justice, fairness, and peace.

Our view is the full answer to this important question can best be found within full answer to AAAA and SDG How questions. Please find as appendix the article and our comments against background of #BringBackOurGirl Campaign Twitter Discussions.

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
















The UNSDS is evidence that many issues are still outstanding in the SDG. As long as these issues remain reoccurring decimal, even after endorsement by 70th UNGA 25 – 27 September 2015, the relevant authorities will be putting the cart before the horse; that is moving forward with endorsed AAAA and SDG that is Vision and Words without Action. There are bright prospects of success in the work towards finding answer to SDG How questions that make revised AAAA and revised SDG Vision and Words with Action, if all necessary arrangements are discussed and established on time. Again we ask can this be achieved in the 3 days of UNSDS?

There is much to be gained waiting 3 months to fully answer AAAA and SDG How questions in ways that deliver revised AAAA and revised SDG that is Vision and Words with Action. 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.





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 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


Appendix

How Can We Call Ourselves Civilized While Women Are Victims of Barbarity?
Dipnote - Official Blog of the U.S. State Dept.
Posted: 30 Aug 2015 11:41 PM PDT

The abhorrent sexual violence waged by groups such as Isis and Boko Haram must be countered by governments and at local levels.

In Syria and Iraq, Isis terrorists have turned kidnapping and the sale of women and girls into recruitment and fundraising tools. Thousands of women have been enslaved and raped. In Somalia and Nigeria, terrorists have abducted scores of young women to force them into sham “marriages” characterized by degradation and abuse.

These practices are a stain on the conscience of the world. Sexual abuse is not a legitimate tactic of conflict or war. Women and girls are not slaves to be awarded to terrorist fighters. And mislabeling this abuse as “marriage” does not alter the reality that rape is rape and rape is wrong.

Given its pervasiveness throughout history, some question our ability to combat sexual violence. We strongly disagree. That is why last summer, in London, the British government convened a global summit to end sexual violence in conflict. More than 120 nations came together to deliver a stark message: “Survivors must be shielded, rescued, and helped to reintegrate into societies. It is essential their voices are heard, that we learn the lessons and we act. Perpetrators must be identified, held accountable, and stopped.” By acting together, governments and their partners can make steady progress against sexual violence in conflict.

We remain resolute in opposing and defeating terrorist groups. Hypocrisy abounds in Isis propaganda, luring young men and women with false promises, a stark reminder that the voices to counter it must be stronger. Women are an important part of the solution. Around the world, they are enlisting themselves in efforts to promote peace and tolerance that are louder and more powerful than deception and violence.

We must continue to integrate women as equal partners in international efforts to counter violent extremism, prevent conflict, and build peace. Women are uniquely affected by war and their perspectives are indispensable in resolving disputes, ensuring accountability for crimes, minimizing the suffering of civilians and designing long-term recovery programs. Today, women are represented in formal, UN-led peace negotiating processes more than ever before; women’s civil society groups are deeply involved in legal advocacy, advocating for survivors of sexual violence, and caring for refugees. But we continue to fall short in enforcing a policy of zero tolerance towards sexual abuse and in addressing the shortage of women in military and security forces across the globe.

We must end the double damage survivors of sexual violence have faced – the horror of the abuse and the shaming that too often follows. There is no complete remedy for the psychological scars sexual abuse can inflict, but policymakers can help by investing in assistance and counselling. We should rally and expand efforts that support survivors of Isis brutality, including women and girls who have returned from captivity. Perpetrators should pay a price for their crimes, not survivors.

Accordingly, we were encouraged when the spiritual leader of the Yazidis and Kurdish officials in Iraq welcomed back women and girls who had survived Isis abuse. We were pleased to hear religious leaders in Nigeria call for compassion towards pregnant former captives of Boko Haram and for acceptance of the children they will bear. Such compassion is not only fundamental to human decency, it can spare these new generations from the intolerance that feeds violent extremism.

Faith leaders have a unique role to play, but the need for support for the reintegration of survivors goes beyond religion. The role of local communities, supported by the leadership of governments, is paramount. Iraq has taken an important step as the first Middle Eastern country to adopt a national action plan, an important measure to address the impact of Isis on women. More governments should follow suit.

Finally, we must recognize that the persistence of sexual violence is a measure of the distance we still have to travel in respecting the rights of women. Our goal must be to build societies in which sexual violence is treated – legally and by every institution of authority – as the serious and wholly intolerable crime that it is.

We have seen global campaigns and calls to action draw attention to this issue and mobilize governments and organizations to act. But transformation requires the active participation of men and women everywhere. We must settle for nothing less than a united world saying no to sexual violence and yes to justice, fairness, and peace.

About the Authors: John Kerry serves as the 68th U.S. Secretary of State. For more from Secretary Kerry, go to www.state.gov/secretary and follow @JohnKerry on Twitter. Philip Hammond serves as the U.K. Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. Follow him @PHammondMP on Twitter.
Editor's Note: This opinion piece was originally published in the Guardian.

Comment

@MayorNsukKa
#NeverToBeForgotten #BringBackOurGirls Believe me there is no really good idea,when dealing with terrorist.

Mayor, this is defeatist and giving up to the Terrorist. We must recognize that the #BringBackOurGirls Campaign is currently Empty Voice and need to CHANGE to Effective Voice. The starting point is for all Serious Activists Nigerians and Non Nigerians, within and outside Nigeria to Take Positive ACTION on all Good Ideas and Pertinent Suggestions harvested from 7 Days Global Week of Action marking 500 Days of abduction of our #ChibokGirls. Take a critical look at these Policy Briefings:-



against the background of above article by two Powerful Foreign Ministers and see if you still come to the same conclusion that “Believe me there is no really good idea,when dealing with terrorist”.

Time for ACTION is Now

@AishaYesufu Retweeted
#NeverToBeForgotten #BringBackOurGirls

Start from Demanding GWA Outcome Document harvesting all good ideas.

Aisha, welldone. This is a step in the Right Direction. Let more Activists who Genuinely LOVE #ChibokGirls JOIN in Retweeting. Let #BringBackOurGirls Campaing Leaders as well as ChibokGirls Family Join in DEMANDING early Release of the GWA Outcome Document and Let ALL Nigerians and Friends of Nigeria within and Outside the Country DEMAND that these two Powerful Foreign Ministers as well as UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon Match their Words with ACTION in Support of Full Implementation with Effective Monitoring and Evaluation of the Implementation of all good ideas and pertinent suggestions set out in the GWA Outcome Document.

We cannot keep doing the same old things in the same old ways and expect new RESULTS. That our ChibokGirls have been abducted for over 500 Days is a Scar on the Conscience of Nigeria Leaders and World Leaders.

If we are serious that Blood and Tears of ChibokGirls and Family will not be Shed in Vain, we - Nigerians and Friends of Nigeria, within and outside Nigeria, need to face New Direction and adopt New Priorities.

Time for ACTION is Now.

Contact:

Lanre Rotimi
Director General
International Society for Poverty Elimination /
Economic Alliance Group
Akure - Nigeria
West Africa.
Email: nehap,initiative@yahoo.co.uk

2 September 2015.


No comments:

Post a Comment