ISPE EAG
INTERATIONAL
SOCIETY FOR POVERTY ELIMINATION ECONOMIC
ALLIANCE GROUP
Achieving AAAA, SDG and COP21 Outcome Document Vision and Words with
Action Agenda by 2030 in 306/193 Member States – Part 12
Commentary on 18 – 20 April 2016 FfD Forum Outcome, 18 March 2016 SG
Report on Supporting Implementation of SDG and AAAA and co-Facilitators
Elements Paper on Review of SG Report on Follow Up and Review: A New Landscape
for Stakeholder Engagement in UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF?
FfD Forum 2016
The inaugural ECOSOC Forum on Financing for
Development, FfD Forum, 18 – 21 April 2016 held in New York with Stakeholders
from UN Member States; UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF and MGoS sides in
attendance.
Day 1 discussions focused current global economic challenges, including slow
economic growth and massive waves of forced migration, the need for concerted
action, and innovative development financing options, as well as their
contributions to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable
Development and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA);
Day 2 discussions focused on food security, gender equality and women’s
empowerment, global
framework for financing sustainable development, domestic and international
public resources, global infrastructure forum, and private business and finance,
global infrastructure forum, domestic and international public resources;
Day 3 discussions focused on debt and systemic
issues; trade, science, technology, innovation and capacity-building; and data,
monitoring and follow-up.
The forum closed its inaugural session on Day 3
with the consensus adoption of a brief set of intergovernmentally agreed
conclusions and recommendations. By that text, the forum recognized that the Addis Agenda provided a
global framework for financing sustainable development and was an integral part
of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and that it helped to
contextualize the 2030 Agenda’s means of implementation targets with concrete
policies and actions.
Further by the text, the forum welcomed the proposed
three-pronged approach of the 2016 Inter-agency Task Force on Financing for
Development report, and looked forward to future reports which contained a
discussion of the global context and its implications for the follow-up
process, as well as an overview of each chapter of the Addis Agenda.
Speaking after the document’s adoption, the
representative of Thailand, on behalf of the “Group of 77” developing countries
and China, expressed disappointment that the important mandates of assessing
progress, identifying obstacles, addressing new and emerging topics and
providing policy recommendations were not reflected in the outcome document.
He said that the Group had hoped for a substantive
outcome that reflected elements from all action areas of the Addis Agenda in a
balanced manner. The document adopted, however, failed to deliver on such
an aspiration. Calling for a “change of mindset”, he stressed that the
document adopted this year must not set a precedent for future sessions of the
forum.
The representative of the European Union noted that
the agreed conclusions were much less ambitious than his delegation would have
liked. However, he welcomed the report of the Inter-agency Task Force,
which, despite its brevity, was a testimony to what had been agreed in Addis
Ababa.
“What is most important in financing for development is our
shared commitment to working together,” said Oh Joon (Republic of Korea),
President of the Economic and Social Council, in closing remarks. Indeed,
that spirit of collaboration and the willingness of States to seek “win-win
solutions” were more important than putting words into an outcome
document. Without genuine collaboration, neither developed nor developing
countries would be able to achieve the 2030 Agenda. “We must keep the spirit of
collaboration alive at all levels,” he concluded.
Comments
Three important How questions were asked at the
forum:-
1. How the global partnership for
sustainable development could support the implementation of an integrated and
holistic agenda;
2. How to reach the most vulnerable and
marginalized; and
3. How the international community could move from
rhetoric to action.
The wide disappointment expressed in
forum outcome document, is evidence that these important How questions were
once again avoided or evaded while What questions were over answered. In
seeking to achieve AAAA, SDG, COP21, Agenda 21 aligned and harmonized with
National Development Plan Vision Ambition without first finding clear and
correct answers to all identified How questions, the Cart has been put before
the Horse.
Mr Oh’s concluding remarks is cold
comfort. We cannot leave undone what we ought to do and do what we ought not to
do and yet keep hoping to achieve the “win-win solutions” that promote and
protect Common Interest and Common future of Village to Global Stakeholders. As
long as Policy Makers and Decision Makers continue with Business as Usual, it
will be uphill task achieving AAAA, SDG, COP21 and Agenda 21 Vision ambitions.
18 April 2016 SG
Report on Implementation of SDG and AAAA
The report
raises many interesting points. We wish to comment on some:
Summary - The
report provides an description of how Member States are responding to the two
Agendas and the impact that the responses will have on the United Nations
system.
Comment
The report
intended to address How but again in reality has addressed What. The confusion
between What and How needs to be cleared. There is a need to distinguish
between What answers to What questions and How answers to How question. Providing
What answers to How questions is a major reason why Gaps in AAAA, SDG, COP21
and Agenda 21 aligned and harmonized with National Development Plans are
especially difficult to fill.
Paragraph 1 - The
report is prepared in response to General Assembly resolution 70/247, in which
the Assembly requested that the Secretary-General provide a comprehensive
proposal addressing the effective and efficient delivery of mandates in support
of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Addis Ababa Action
Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development by
the Secretariat, within the broader United Nations system, including the
Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Conference on
Trade and Development, the regional commissions and the United Nations
Development Account.
Comment
There is need for common agreement on definition of UN
System to include all entities in UNO, WBG and IMF. It is not helpful to select
some entities in UNO or entities in UNO and WBG while excluding all remaining
entities. Also it is not helpful to confuse entities in UNO Delivery as One,
DaO; with all entities in UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF DaO. If AAAA, SDG, COP21
and Agenda 21 Vision Ambitions are to be achieved by 2030 Target date then the
correct definition of UN System should be all entities in UNO, WBG and IMF.
There is need to recognize that AAAA addresses the
Finance Dimension of all 17 SDGs. The two Agendas cannot stand alone but need
to be complimented by three more Agenda – An Agenda Integrating COP21 and
Agenda 21 to address the Environment Dimension of all 17 SDGs; An Agenda to
address the Economic Dimension of the SDGs and An Agenda to address the Reform
Dimension of the SDGs. In the work towards implementing all 5 Agendas “as One”
to achieve Mr Oh’s “win-win solutions”, National Leaders and World Leaders need
to recognize that it is fail in one dimension fail in all dimensions.
There is also need to appreciate that each of the 5
Agendas has Development Communication and Development Research; Planning and
Implementation; Monitoring and Evaluation; Data and Digitization and
Performance Management and Measures of Success Dimensions. Again it is fail in
one dimension fail in all dimensions.
Paragraph 5 -
The 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda were shaped by States Members
of the United Nations and agreed by their Governments in 2015. The 2030 Agenda
is universal, integrated and indivisible. The full implementation of the Addis
Ababa Action Agenda is critical for the realization of the Sustainable
Development Goals and targets.
Comment
It is clear from outcome of FfD Forum 2016 that
National Leaders and Global Leaders – Policy Makers and Decision Makers on
306/193 UN Member States; UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF, MGoS Member CSOs/NGOs
and Non MGoS Member CSOs/NGOs sides are yet to demonstrate this realization. To
do this they have to address fundamental issues of Denial, Deception and
Delusion.
Paragraph 6 -
The 2030 Agenda and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda are interdependent.
Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals requires ambitious,
comprehensive, holistic and transformative actions that follow up on the
commitments reached in Monterrey, Mexico, in 2002 and in Doha in 2008 and
strengthen the means of implementation and financing for the development follow
up process. Both Agendas serve as the basis for actions to be undertaken within
communities and countries, under the leadership of national Governments and
with the engagement of a broad range of stakeholders.
Comment
This underlines urgent need to find clear and correct
answers to all How questions as well as recognition that the two Agendas cannot
be successfully implemented on sustainable basis without successfully
implementing the additional three Agendas identified above.
Paragraph 8 -
Countries will review progress through national processes that involve multiple
stakeholders. They will be able to share national experiences, describe
progress, outline challenges and identify emerging issues at the annual
high-level political forum on sustainable development and the Economic and
Social Council forum on financing for development follow-up. The forums provide
Member States with an opportunity to demonstrate political leadership and to
oversee a constellation of follow-up and review processes, facilitating
guidance and recommendations for follow-up. They will not only serve to
encourage the coordination of sustainable development policies, thus helping to
ensure that the 2030 Agenda remains relevant and ambitious but will also foster
coherence within the United Nations system. The two forums will interface with
the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and other relevant organs
and forums, in accordance with their mandates. There will be effective linkages
with the followup and review arrangements of all relevant United Nations
conferences and processes, including on least developed countries, small island
developing States and landlocked developed countries.
Comment
It will be uphill task to meaningfully involve
multiple stakeholders without finding clear and correct answers to MSP and
Lobbying How questions and related How questions. Records show that many
registered MSPs, on SDKP do not qualify as MSPs and at least one MSP that is
sufficiently “All Inclusive, All Embracing and Ambitious” to help achieve AAAA,
SDG, COP21, Agenda 21 aligned and harmonized with National Development Plans in
UN Member States has “current status” ranging from “rejected” in October 2015 to
“under review” February 2016 to “technical suspension” March 2016 to date. This
is not helpful.
Paragraph 11 -
The two Agendas provide strategic direction to the United Nations system, and
the entities within it are reprioritizing their activities and reallocating
resources in order to support Member States effectively. The new emphases on
universality, integration and indivisibility are already having an impact on
operational procedures and activities, and on the capabilities and expertise
that will be needed. Member States are examining options within the context of
the ongoing dialogue in the Economic and Social Council on the longer-term
positioning of the United Nations development system and of the quadrennial
comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the
United Nations system (see Council resolution 2014/14).
Comment
The UN Member States need help from UN System – UNO,
WBG and IMF. But the UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF themselves need help, if they
are to provide the type of help UN Member States desire. This underline urgent
need for Reforming the UN Systems to be fit for the 21st Century
through Re-establishing existing Entities and Establishing New Entities. The UN
System – UNO, WBG and IMF cannot give what they do not have.
Paragraph 13
-The United Nations system and the Secretariat support Member States as they
establish coherent whole-of-government policies and strategies, as well as
whole-ofsociety approaches to implementation. The objective is effective,
efficient, transparent and inclusive implementation at the local and national
levels, as well as among groups of countries at the subregional and regional
levels
Comment
Establishing coherent “Whole of Government”, “Whole of
Society” Approaches are elements of “One Worldwide Approach” which includes
“Whole of Bank”, “Whole of Institution”, “Integrated”, “Systemic”, “Common” etc
Approaches. Paragraph 20 identifies need for Data Revolution. However Data
Revolution within “One Worldwide Approach” “Individually or Jointly” cannot
stand alone but need to be Designed and Delivered within Interlinked,
Interconnected and Interdependent Primary Revolutions - Agricultural
Revolution, Enterprise Revolution, Government Revolution, Applied Research
Revolution, Attitudinal and Behavioral Change Revolution, Data Revolution,
Digital Revolution etc and Secondary Revolutions – Education Revolution, Health
Revolution, Water Revolution, Land Revolution, Tax Administration Revolution,
Justice Administration Revolution, Anti Corruption Revolution etc. This
underline need to involve creators ideas harvested from Global Consultations
and adopted by UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF Entities.
General Comments
on the SG Report on Implementation of SDG and AAAA
The FfD Forum 2016 Outcome underline Gaps in the SG Report
on Implementation of SDG and AAAA that need to be urgently filled. The
fundamental issues involved cannot be wished away. The necessary arrangements
cannot be left to happen on its own or by divine intervention but needs to be
discussed, negotiated and established and on time.
co-Facilitators Elements Paper
on Review of SG Report on Follow Up and Review
The Elements Paper contains many interesting points
but sadly remain Vision and Words without Action. All points made with regard
to the FfD Forum 2016 and SG Report on Implementation of SDG and AAA apply to
this Elements Paper. There is a need for the co-Facilitators to address these
fundamental issues and without delay.
There is a need to use correct nomenclature – Follow
Up and Review is Monitoring and Evaluation Dimension of each of the 5 Agendas
identified above. The Monitoring and Evaluation Dimension of each of the 5
Agendas need to be complemented with the Development Communication and
Development Research; Planning and Implementation, Data and Digitization and
Performance Management and Measures of Success Dimensions of each of the 5
Agendas. It is fail in one fail in all, of these Dimensions.
There is also need to optimize productivity of
physical and virtual participation in UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF Events. For example
Representatives of MGoS who wish to speak at the 28 April Global Consultation
have been given 2 minutes each. Are these Representatives speaking for
themselves or for their MGoS? If they are speaking for themselves, what is the
Role of the 9 MGs and 3 or 4 other Stakeholders Officially recognized by the
UNO? If they are speaking for their MGoS is 1 week enough for each MGoS to
conduct Global Consultation that is Transparent and fairly represent the Views
and Perspectives of their Members? Can the content of 2 minutes speech cover
all issues any MGoS can and should raise in response to this Element Paper?
Moving forward we suggest inclusion of 2 Elements
immediately after the “Framing the Resolution” Element:-
1.
Answering How questions – setting out clear and correct answers to How
questions.
2.
Filling the Gaps – identifying all gaps, including those highlighted in
FfD Forum 2016 Outcome and above comments on SG Report on Implementing SDG and
AAAA.
We suggest further
that the 28 April 2016 meeting have facility for Stakeholders outside New York
to be effective Virtual Participants through making provision for Webinar or Google
Hangout Interactive Live Video facilities. Live TV coverage does not allow for
interaction with the Co-Facilitators, Presenters and Participants in the
Consultation Venue.
Conclusion
The HLTD 21 April 2016 is holding Back to Back
with the FfD Forum 2016. It will be very sad if HLTD 2016 continue with
Business as Usual to produce Outcome that is Vision and Words without Action.
It is bad that fundamental issues that ought to
have been settled by end 1st quarter 2015 Year of Decision are still
outstanding in 2nd quarter 2016 Year of Implementation. Should National
and Global Leaders – Policy Makers and Decision Makers on 306/193 UN Member
States, UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF, MGoS Member CSOs’/NGOs’ and Non MGoS Member
CSOs/NGOs sides fail to adopt new priorities and face new direction, there is
high probability the situation will remain the same by end 4th quarter
2016 Year of Implementation. Allowed to occur the ultimate consequences could
be catastrophic for Citizens on both Developed and Developing Countries,
especially the over 2 Billion Poor the UN System – UNO, WBG and IMF claim to
serve.
We are willing to offer a more detailed
information / clarification on any of the points made in this Paper.
Contact:
Director General
International
Society for Poverty Elimination / Economic Alliance Group
5, Moses Orimolade
Avenue,
Ijapo Estate,
Akure, Ondo State,
Nigeria.
M: +234-8162469805
Email: nehap.initiative@yahoo.co.uk 21 April 2016.
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