Final Push To Achieve MDGs And Create Sustainable Post-2015 Development Agenda 19

ISPE       EAG

INTERATIONAL SOCIETY FOR POVERTY ELIMINATION                   ECONOMIC ALLIANCE GROUP

Briefing # 3: AAAA and SDG – So What Can We Do Next?

Global Call to World Leaders, Representatives of 193 UN Member States, 9 Major Groups, other CSOs’ and other Stakeholders.

By Lanre Rotimi and Charles Sheke.                                                            14 August 2015

We celebrate achievements so far moving forward Post 2015 Development Agenda. Giant Strides have been made and much has been achieved. However, much more remains to be done. We now have SDG that has been agreed in August and could be adopted in September 2015 during the 70^th UN General Assembly.  

In Briefings #1 and #2, we focused on need to answer HOW Questions now in the Finance for Development, FfD and Post 2015 Processes. It is pertinent to note that the latest outcome document, Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, improves on language and text. This is commendable. However, improvements where it matters the most - answer to HOW questions is still missing.

It is a puzzle that many UN Staff including Experts with responsibility for Public Communication of Addis Ababa Action Agenda, AAAA and Sustainable Development Goals, SDG issues as well as Technical Experts in UNDESA, FfD Office, ECOSOC Office, EOSG and OPGA etc are aware that: many people outside New York – in communities in 193 UN Member States tend not to know what is going on in New York in terms of AAAA and SDG; there are gaps in AAAA and SDG that need to be filled and disconnect that needs to be linked; and that NOW is the time to think ahead about - How to promote and protect an exciting Post 2015 Development Agenda; How to mobilize for Implementation Impact and How to mobilize for Global Collective Action driven by Collective Action at Sub-national, National, Sub-regional and Regional levels; yet these same UN Staff and Representatives of 193 UN Member States seek to avoid or evade answer to FfD and Post 2015 Processes How questions that we have consistently raised.

So What Can We Do Next?

There are many knotty and sensitive outstanding issues in the AAAA and SDG documents whose successful resolution greatly determine if the AAAA and SDG will be Vision and Words that do not become Action or Vision and Words that are Action Plans with Action. Yes, AAAA and SDG are scheduled for adoption by World Leaders on 25 September 2015. However World Leaders will be doing our Fragile Planet Great Service, if additional time is given to the successful resolution of these knotty and sensitive outstanding issues. If World Leaders have to wait till November or December 2015 to adopt AAAA and SDG documents with little or no gaps and disconnects, this will be a very worthwhile wait indeed.

The AAAA and SDG documents that are finally adopted must demonstrate that indeed Lessons have been Learnt from the first 70 years of the UN and that in the next 5 years Reforms are Designed and Delivered to produce a UN as International Institution fit for the 21^st Century, thus ensuring that in 70 years when the generation then look back they would indeed thank this generation for taking the Right Decisions on AAAA and SDG.

Big Questions

From now till World Leaders adopt AAAA and SDG before the end of 2015, ACTION on the part of Stakeholders in each Community in each of the 193 Member States is the Key because as a Stakeholder – What you do and What you say is GOING to Influence the Process leading to the AAAA and SDG document that is finally adopted.

Stakeholders must ensure clear delineation of Rights, Duties and Responsibilities of each AAAA and SDG Stakeholder. In the AAAA and SDG document that is finally adopted, it must be clear What each Stakeholder in going to do?, that is, Who is going to do What?; Who is going to provide What Fund?; Who is responsible for mobilizing What Fund?; Exactly How is each Agenda Item going to be Implemented? Exactly How is the Implementation of each Agenda item going to be Monitored and Evaluated?

It will be grave error of putting the cart before the horse to assume that these knotty and sensitive issues can be avoided or evaded at this time. It is wishful thinking to assume that the authorities could go ahead to persuade or pressure World Leaders to adopt AAAA and SDG as is, despite their flaws and failures, on 25 September 2015 as scheduled and move forward to try to reach the over 7 Billion People in our World today within 7 days of the adoption of AAAA and SDG in the vain hope of mobilizing Action for Delivery of AAAA and SDG that could be successful on sustainable basis.

Achieving Result on Sustainable Basis

UN Executives and Staff, 193 Member States Leaders and Bureaucrats need to recognize that some Results could be achieved if World Leaders adopt AAAA and SDG as is, on 25 September 2015 and move forward as scheduled. However, this type of Result is likely to have minimal impact on the successful resolution of real and complex World Political and Cultural; Economic and Financial; Social and Environmental; Peace and Security; Religious and Moral problems on the ground in the specific context of each Community in each of the 193 Member States. The implication is that moving forward without resolving knotty and sensitive AAAA and SDG outstanding issues, is likely to have catastrophic consequences for Citizens on both Developed and Developing Countries sides in our World today.

UN Executives and Staff, 193 Member States Leaders and Bureaucrats need to recognize that Amazing Positive Results on Sustainable basis could be achieved if World Leaders adopt AAAA and SDG documents in November or December 2015 that effectively answer above Big Questions and in ways that properly and practically address, from Village to Global levels in each of the 193 Member States, the following issues:-

1.     Development Impact

2.     Development Effectiveness

3.     Development Results

4.     Development Learning

5.     Inclusion

6.     Proportional Benefit

7.     Delineation of Responsibilities, Duties and Rights

8.     Universal Values

9.     Sustainability

As long as this is not done, the probability is high that AAAA and SDG will end up as Vision and Words that Do Not Become Action. It is our prayer that this does not become the case in reality because in rejecting Ordered Change that promote and protect Coordination, Collaboration and Cooperation in accelerating Stakeholders on Road to Boom, we make inevitable, Disordered Change that promote and protect Distrust, Corruption, Injustice and Inequality in accelerating Stakeholders on Road to Doom.

Powerlessness  

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Many Stakeholders in Communities in each of the 193 UN Member States are looking up to UN Executives and Staff to solve their National and International Development Cooperation problems. The UN Executives and Staff in turn are looking up to Stakeholders in Communities, particularly Civil Society including Academia, Media, Women Groups, Youth Groups, CBOs’, NGOs’, Traditional Institutions, Religious Institutions, Labour Unions, Student Unions, Market Men and Women, Organized Private Sector etc to strengthen its hand in the work towards helping to solve National and International Development Cooperation problems on the ground in 193 Member Countries. The AAAA and SDG must break this Viscous Circle of Powerlessness.

Root Problems

Our study finding is that root problems of coordination, collaboration and cooperation worsened by root problems of leadership and followership make root problems of hunger, poverty, inequality, terrorism, corruption etc appear insoluble.

To solve these complex root problems on successful and sustainable basis, Stakeholders in the Economy of each of the 193 UN Member States need to recognize that:-

1.     Root problems on Planning Side - Research, Planning, Data; Implementation Side - Implementation; Evaluation Side - Monitoring, Evaluation, Assessment; Learning Side - Learning and Results; Accountability Side - Transparency, Accountability, Citizens / Stakeholders Participation.

2.     Root problems of Common Definition of Goals, Targets, Indicators, Advocacy, Development Research, Standards.

3.     Root problems of SMART OVI - Specific: Measurable and Unambiguous: Attainable and Sensitive; Relevant and Easy to Collect; Time Bound Objectively Validated Indicators - OH2A2T2LRP: Ownership, Alignment, Accountability, Transparency, Transformation, Leadership, Learning, Results, Participation.

4.     Root problems of Common Approach

need to be Jointly tackled within Sub-national, National / Sub-regional / Regional / Global Collective ACTION for Political Stability, Economic Stability, Financial Stability, Peace and Security and Fighting Corruption within Integrated Solutions - Technical, Security, Political, Economic, Financial, Spiritual and Technology.

Once Stakeholders produce credible Action Plans with ACTION, through AAAA and SDG that address all outstanding knotty and sensitive issues, Implementation of the Action Agenda Items in AAAA and SDG cannot be thwarted for lack of Resources - Influence, Science, Technology, Innovation, Manpower, Funding, Spiritual, (Land and Water for Food and Agriculture).

As long as Non Integrated Solutions continue to be sought to complex National and International Development problems through Multiple Approaches with weak / no theory and weak / no practice, Stakeholders in each of the 193 UN Member States shall continue to dance around National and International Development issues / problems, with ultimate catastrophic consequences. 

The good news is that adequate Integrated Solutions and One Worldwide Approach that are sufficiently All Embracing, All Inclusive and Ambitious, exist and are available to Governments, International Institutions and Partners in the Economy of each of the 193 Member States.

AAAA and SDG for both Developed and Developing Countries

It is erroneous to assume that it is only Developing Countries that need help implementing AAAA and SDG – No Developed Countries and International Institutions including UN Agencies, World Bank Group and IMF need help too. It is erroneous to assume Developed Countries are participating in AAAA and SDG as Act of Charity and Morality to support Developing Countries – No Developed Countries have Decayed Infrastructure and Decayed Systems and need to fully implement all 17 / 21 SDG as One as Act of Economic Well Being and National Security. These errors need to be identified and tackled if the above Root problems are to be identified and tackled successfully.

 

Needed Reforms

Each of the 193 UN Member States needs to make minimum certain levels of continuous improvements in Economic Employment and Empowerment, Growth and Development; Governance, Anti-Corruption, Conflict Resolution and Religious Affairs; Data Management; Partnership Platforms and Communication Management, if it is to make serious inroads into poverty elimination and environmental sustainability. To do that requires partnership within each UN Member Country by the public and private sectors at Community, Local Government, State Government and National Government levels and internationally, a partnership between the UN Member Country and Countries in its Sub-region, Region and rest of the World.

These national and international partnerships need to be re-established where it exists, established where it does not exist; nurtured for empowerment, growth development and sustainability within National Sustainable Development Strategy, NSDS, including the entire National Government Reform Program, All State Governments Reform Program, All Local Governments Reform Program and each community of each Local Government Reform Program in the specific UN Member Country.

The Stakeholders in these Reforms need to be Strengthened by Internal Consultants and External Consultants who have required levels of Hard Competences – Learning and Skills and Soft Competences – Character, Courage and Mindset to support each Stakeholder to acquire and sustain minimum certain levels of Hard Competences and Soft Competences required to achieve AAAA and SDG Goals and Targets that their specific Institution and or Sector have been saddled with responsibility to achieve.

Doing More with Same

UN Executives and Staff are expecting Stakeholders to come to the September 2015 Summit with Commitments on How to take AAAA and SDG forward and that from the September Summit to the Paris Summit Action is the Key. The problem with this approach is that it assumes that all necessary arrangements for effectively Mobilizing Peoples Voices and Aspirations in each Community in each of the 193 member Countries can just be left to happen and that they can just do their best in the hope that this will be good enough to achieve AAAA and SDG Vision Ambitions. Are they really doing their Best? Are they actually Learning Lessons from Lessons Learnt? Can fine-tunings not be made to do more with same and in the process significantly improve Stakeholder coordination, collaboration and cooperation? We urge UN Executives and Staff to Reflect on these questions and do the needful.

Conclusion

The gaps and disconnect in AAAA and SDG due to flaws and failures in FfD and Post 2015 Processes suggest that this assumption is not likely to hold true in reality. If UN Executives and Staff as well as Developed Countries Leaders and Bureaucrats continue to over celebrate the successes of FfD and Post 2015 Processes thus far while Developing Countries Leaders and Bureaucrats and CSO – particularly NGOs’ and CBOs’ Executives and Staff continue to bemoan or overlook their disappointments, the probability is that Village to Global Stakeholders will continue with Business as Usual while taking chance that World problems will fizzle out or accept our lot should catastrophe occur – starting with Global Recession that could make that of 1930s’ Child’s play.

If UN Executives and Staff as well as Developed Countries Leaders and Bureaucrats decide to put the horse before the cart and change to Business Unusual as recommended in the Synthesis Report, the probability is high that bright prospects of success implementing AAAA and SDG that has all is’ doted and all t’s crossed would become reality unleashing unprecedented Prosperity on successful and sustainable basis in our World.

UN Executive and Staff; Developed Countries Leaders and Bureaucrats; Developing Countries Leaders and Bureaucrats and CSO Executives and Staff have a choice to make from the above options. No choice is a choice.

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 Briefings and on time.

God Bless UN.

God Bless our World.

Contact:

Lanre Rotimi

Director General

International Society for Poverty Elimination /

Economic Alliance Group

Akure – Nigeria, West Africa.

Email: nehap.initiative@yahoo.co.uk

M: +234-8162469805

Final Push To Achieve MDGs And Create Sustainable Post-2015 Development Agenda 18

ISPE       EAG

INTERATIONAL SOCIETY FOR POVERTY ELIMINATION                   ECONOMIC ALLIANCE GROUP

Briefing # 2: Post 2015 and FfD Processes – Which Way to Go?

Global Call to World Leaders, Representatives of 193 UN Member States, 9 Major Groups, other CSOs’ and other Stakeholders.

By Lanre Rotimi and Charles Sheke.                                                                  29 July 2015

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), has elected Oh Joon, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, as its 71^st President. It also elected Members of the ECOSOC Bureau for the July 2015 to July 2016 cylce. President Oh has set a 4 Point Agenda for ECOSOC under his watch:-

1.     Making ECOSOC more flexible in its Agenda and its coverage of issues to keep the Council “up to date to this fast changing world”.

2.     Ensuring that ECOSOC is ready to tackle emerging and pressing issues such as inequality, strengthening the coordinating role of ECOSOC in the context of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, HLPF, especially with regards to the implementation of the Post 2015 Development Agenda.

3.     Establishment of an effective Follow Up and Review / Monitoring and Evaluation Mechanism; Strengthening and Harmonizing the work of the ECOSOC System as a Whole and “rationalizing the agendas” of the Council and its functional Commissions and

4.     Building an “inclusive and engaging” Global Partnership particularly through the Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) and Multi-stakeholder Partnerships.

In Briefing #1, we focused on need to answer HOW Questions now in the FfD and Post 2015 Processes. It is pertinent to note that the latest 26 July 2015 Post 2015 Zero Draft improves on language and text. This is commendable. However, improvements where it matters the most - answer to HOW questions is still missing.

It is clear that without Renewing Minds, Safer World, Progressive Values etc (UNDESA, UNNGLS, other UN Entities focal areas), it will be uphill task seeking to achieve increasing convergence between AAAA (revised), SDG, Synthesis Report and Data Revolution Report Vision Intention and Reality; that should Village to Global Stakeholders fail to shift from current acceleration on Road to Doom and shift to acceleration on Road to Boom, the ultimate consequences could be catastrophic.

Points raised in these Policy Briefings as well as in 7^th Intergovernmental Negotiation, IGN Meetings, New York 20 – 24 July 2015, Monday Group 4 and Friday Group 8 Brief Statements and Longer Statements, can help achieve increasing convergence between AAAA (revised), SDG, Synthesis Report and Data Revolution etc Vision Intention and Reality - if well supported for full implementation with effective monitoring and evaluation of this implementation by UN Secretary General, UNDESA, UNNGLS,        co-Facilitators, 193 Member States and other Stakeholders Worldwide.

President Oh’s 4 Point Agenda complements Points made in the 7^th IGN Statements and Policy Briefings #1 and 2. ECOSOC will be helping to achieve President Oh’s 4 Point Agenda and in ways that help achieve increasing convergence between AAAA (revised), SDG, Synthesis Report, Data Revolution Report etc Vision Intention and Reality, if ECOSOC under President Oh’s watch effectively support the practical implementation of the good ideas and pertinent suggestions set out in these documents with effective monitoring and evaluation of this implementation.

Knotty and Sensitive Outstanding Issues

There are many knotty and sensitive outstanding issues in the FfD and Post 2015 Processes whose successful resolution greatly depends on Getting Every One Involved - within and outside New York - and ensuring that No One is Left Behind - Worldwide. Some of these issues are:-

1.     CBDR or SR: What is the definition of CBDR / SR? What are the successes, flaws and failures on Responsibility issues in MDG 2000 - 2015? If Responsibility successes are to be optimized and Responsibility flaws and failures are to be reduced, which is the better option to adopt CBDR or SR?

2.     Approach: What are the flaws and failures in MDG 2000 - 2015 arising from lack of One Worldwide Approach? Why has One Worldwide Approach recommended in Synthesis Report not been adopted in FfD and Post 2015 Processes after 8 months? How can One Worldwide Approach for AAAA (revised) and SDG be quickly selected?

3.     Fighting Corruption: What are the flaws and failures in MDG 2000 - 2015 arising from weak fight against corruption? Why are CSOs', Member States and other Stakeholders seeking to avoid or evade Design and delivery of Effective Public Support for Anti Corruption Efforts? How can War against Corruption in AAAA (revised) and SDG be fought and won on successful and sustainable basis?

4.     Answer to How questions: The latest 26 July 2015 Post 2015 Zero Draft show commendable improvement in text and language but once more does not answer AAAA (revised) and SDG How questions. That is, they remain Plans without Action. If each Action Agenda Item in AAA (revised) and SDG is to be fully implemented with effective monitoring and evaluation / follow up and review of this implementation - How can this be done to produce AAAA (revised) and SDG as Action Plans with Action?

Our Suggestion: UNDESA and UNNGLS create Platform for answering above and related questions as basis for enriching the Post 2015 Development Agenda Consultations from Village to Global levels. This could result in AAAA (revised) and SDG Documents and all that follows helping to achieve FfD and SDG Vision Intention and Reality. As long as these knotty and sensitive issues remain unresolved, success implementing AAAA (revised) and SDG could be limited and this could lead to ultimate catastrophic consequences. This is avoidable if corrective action is taken now.

New Business Model or New Development Model

For the UN system to respond adequately to today’s critical challenges, it is clear that there must be full implementation with effective monitoring and evaluation of all Action Agenda Items in AAAA (revised) and SDG and that this involves all 193 UN Member States. To achieve this, it is also clear that both public and private funding of AAAA (revised) and SDG must increase. Funding from both the public sector and private sector must be high in quality, including through strict limits on earmarking. Norms, standards and guidelines must be set to govern all interactions of the United Nations with the corporate sector, and both the intergovernmental framework and UN institutional capacity for monitoring and overseeing partnerships must expand.

Perhaps most importantly, at this stage in the ECOSOC, FfD and Post 2015 Processes, the surrounding discourse needs to fundamentally change, drawing a clear distinction between those who regulate and those who are regulated; those who give equity and loan financing and those who give grant financing and reclaiming the public space for the UN system and within it. And responsibilities need to be more than just generically “shared”—they must be well delineated and defined, grounded in norms that protect the collective public interest, and linked to varying capabilities hence the need to come up with clear definition of CBDR and SR as basis for making informed choice and the speedy resolution of remaining knotty and sensitive issues identified above.

FfD and Post-2015 Processes aims for a Transformative Agenda. Is this to be sought in the “New Business Model” that has emerged, where the focus is, literally, on large Corporate Interests or in a “New Development Model” that could emerge, where the focus is, essentially, on lifting above Poverty line of Poor Citizens in each of the 193 UN Member States? Can the UN system ever be fit for “purpose in the 21^st Century” as well as fit for “we the peoples” in the Global Village of today, if private players, arriving with a mix of contradictory incentives, increasingly channel funds and steer agendas without democratic scrutiny? Can democratic scrutiny be effective and efficient if the UN System in the new dispensation, does not promote and protect minimum certain levels of Hard Competences – Learning and Skills and Soft Competences – Character, Courage and Mind Set in representatives of each Stakeholder Group participating in the implementation of each Agenda Item in AAAA (revised) and SDG as well as the monitoring and evaluation of this implementation in ways that help achieve increasing convergence between AAAA (revised) and SDG Vision Intention and Reality?

In the Post 2015 Development Agenda – AAAA (revised) and SDG, the 193 Member States face a Turning Point. Endorse or tacitly accept the “New Business Model” despite its gaps, disconnects, flaws and failures. Or embrace a “New Development Model” capable of removing the gaps, disconnects, flaws and failures in the FfD and Post 2015 Processes and in ways that reaffirm that 193 Member States primary responsibilities are to speak and act according to the inherent rights of their citizens, and the planet they share. Only the latter choice has hopes of putting the World on Track for Transformation that could be successful on sustainable basis, that is, on Track to achieve increasing convergence between AAAA (revised) and SDG Vision Intention and Reality.

Conclusion

Many UN Staff, Developing Countries and CSOs’ were disappointed with outcome of FfD Conference, Addis July 2015. To avoid possibility of similar outcome, at this stage in the debate leading to the UN General Assembly September 2015, it is already crucial to think ahead and consider proactively the follow up. Key points such as taking decision on the: Choice between “New Business Model” and “New Development Model”, selection of One Worldwide Approach; finding answer to HOW questions; the modalities for implementation; the modalities for monitoring and evaluation / follow up and review ensuring that found answer to HOW questions are fully implemented with effective monitoring and evaluation of this implementation within the ECOSOC, FfD and Post 2015 Processes; and the place of Civil Society and other relevant Stakeholders cannot just be left to happen, but need to be actively discussed and established and on time.

Contact:

Lanre Rotimi

Director General

International Society for Poverty Elimination /

Economic Alliance Group

Akure – Nigeria, West Africa.

Email: nehap.initiative@yahoo.co.uk

M: +234-8162469805

Final Push To Achieve MDGs And Create Sustainable Post-2015 Development Agenda 17

Statement 2 by Lanre Rotimi, ISPE / EAG,

Intergovernmental Negotiations on the Post 2015 Development Agenda   

Meeting with Major Groups and  other Stakeholders 24, July 2015

“Fighting Corruption - Building Public Support for Anti Corruption Efforts”

List of Contributors:

International Society for Poverty Elimination / Economic Alliance Group

Muslims for Progressive Values

My name is Lanre Rotimi and I am honored to make this Longer  Statement on the topic of “Fighting Corruption - Building Public Support for Anti Corruption Efforts” on behalf of the International Society for Poverty Elimination / Economic Alliance Group  in Collaboration with Muslims for Progressive Values.

We congratulate the co-chairs and all contributors on the Post 2015 Zero Draft.

The agenda is brave and bold, albeit hopeful and can indeed help achieve overarching Goals of Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability if all good ideas and pertinent suggestions harvested from this 7th and 8th IGNs are processed to remove discontent and fill gaps in pre 7th and 8th IGNs Post 2015 Zero Draft to produce AAAA and SDG that help achieve increasing convergence between World Sustainable Development Strategy, WSDS, Vision Intention and Reality.

The WSDS which is what the SDG and AAAA as One really is, is essentially a Global Strategy with four overarching Cross Cutting Themes - Trade, Aid, Debts and Corruption. Our observation that none of the Groups from Monday to Friday in the 7th IGN is focused on any of these Themes encourage us to create this Group to focus on Fighting Corruption.

So much activity is ongoing in the fight against corruption, but the more activities we have the more corruption is getting worse. Are we losing the fight against corruption? Not necessarily, and certainly not for lack of effort or effectiveness. However, we notice cases where the more successful an anti-corruption body is, the more likely it is to fail. At first blush, that correlation seems illogical; but successes encourage counterattacks by powerful and well-funded individuals or groups. In addition, the media hold anti-corruption agencies to standards of success that often are impossible to achieve. Success in a series of small cases will be met by accusations that “you let the big fish get away.” Civil society organizations always seem dissatisfied and always want you to do more, even if one could argue that this is what those organizations are supposed to do!

The Big Question is: If we do not know why corruption is fighting us, we will not know how to fight corruption. And, if we do not know why a successful anti-corruption body attract death, we will not know how to nurture and grow anti-corruption body at sub-national, national, sub-regional, regional and global levels that will be successful on sustainable basis. This Big Question cannot be answered without answers to all HOW questions in Synthesis Report, Data Revolution Report, AAAA (revised) and SDG.

While the document is well-written, it has many technical terms. We now need a simpler document for the public, so everyone can understand it, recite it, and teach it …  like the Ambassador from the Netherlands once said in his intervention, in language that his 13 year old daughter can read and tell her friends. Getting the language and the messaging right is not only about publicity and communications, it is also about facilitating ownership by the people in each of the 193 Member States. We suggest Member States work with Civil Society, Knowledge and Communication Professionals and Journalists and the Citizens themselves to do this. Indeed this would demonstrate that the commitment to multi-stakeholder partnerships is serious, something we call for more broadly.

The People’s Voice at the Local level should be effectively heard at National levels and then be effectively Communicated at the Sub-regional, Regional and Global levels. This process would follow 3Cs': Coordination, Collaboration and Cooperation.

The Argument

We commend the negotiations that transformed the FfD Zero Draft into a successful agreement, resulting in the Addis Ababa Action Agenda, the AAAA. The AAAA (revised) is intended to be the backbone of the MOI of the SDG. Now 4 Reports: the  AAAA, Post 2015 Zero Draft, Synthesis Report and Data Revolution Report need to be coordinated in ways that answer HOW questions and resulting in a mechanism being put in place to be sure that all Goals and Targets are fully implemented and realized on schedule dates. This requires an expanded and detailed document about the MOIs' in the AAAA (revised) and SDG that effectively fill all identified gaps and link all identified disconnect within effective Global Collective Action for Political Stability, Economic Stability, Financial Stability, Peace and Security and Fighting Corruption.

Further, the Global Collective Action for Political Stability, Economic Stability, Financial Stability, Peace and Security and Fighting Corruption should improve legislative oversight and People's Voices at Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global Parliament levels. This calls for designing institutional architecture that revamps existing institutions and establishes new institutions from top down and bottom up, e.g. from Village to Global levels.

The SDG Initiative can and should be a “World Sustainable Development Strategy”, WSDS, built on Pillars of Development and Human Rights in all its ramifications; Diplomacy and Negotiation; Defense and Security; Democracy and Elections each with Political and Cultural; Economic & Financial; Social and Environmental; Religious and Moral Dimensions appropriate to specific Village to Global Context in each of the UN 193 Member States, whose design help deliver sustainable solutions to real and complex world political, economic, social, cultural, terrorism, corruption and religious etc problems on the ground and in ways that help Reform National Institutions and International Institutions to be fit for the 21st Century; that is help establish and sustain New World Order. The WSDS requires a "One Worldwide Approach with Local Context" adopted by each of the 193 Member States and their Partners.

WSDS overarching Goals are Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability. To achieve these there are Four overarching Cross Cutting Themes – Trade, Aid, Debts and Corruption, that are Interlinked, Interconnected and Interdependent, such that it is fail in one fail in all. If Corruption is to be tackled with the seriousness that it deserves, it cannot be a Target hidden in SDG Goal 16 but a Goal on its own. WSDS Vision Ambition cannot be realized without Peace. But Peace is threatened by Terrorism and Conflict – Intra State and Inter State which is underlined by Corruption. Again these issues hidden in SDG Goal 16 need to be removed to stand alone as separate Goals. The implication is that if Member States and their Partners are serious about achieving increasing convergence between SDG and AAAA (revised) Vision Intention and Reality, current SDG Goal 16 needs to be unbundled to produce new SDG Goal 16 focused on Governance and four New Goals focused on Corruption, Conflict, Religion and Data bringing the SDG to 21 and working out appropriate number of Targets.

Implementing WSDS calls for Joint Local, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global Stakeholders Approach to Fighting and Winning a War on Poverty, Hunger, Disease and Environmental Degradation (PHDE). This require Winning Twelve Battles Against Arrogance, Ignorance, Indifference, Incompetence, Indiscipline, Injustice, Intolerance, Insincerity, Inequality, Interference, Impunity and Corruption (A10IC).

In this War we must recognize the denominators – Poverty of Ideas, Integrity, Trust, Competence and Spirit.

We would like to see more emphasis on the importance of peace for achieving sustainable development and that peace as a desirable outcome in itself is strongly - and rightly - affirmed. Including Peace as one of five Ps of the SDG is strongly welcomed. This requires a crucial focus on the causes of violence, insecurity and injustice - both in the narrative as well as in the Goals and Targets.  It also requires evolving Corruption Free Society at sub-national, national, sub-regional, regional and global levels. The vision for development financing fails to constructively engage with the peace agenda. The AAAA (revised) and SDG should acknowledge the risk of doing harm and effectively support peace-building as well as the risk of fighting corruption effectively and efficiently on successful and sustainable basis from Village to Global levels.

Similarly, the role of third parties in data production in each Action Agenda Item in each of the 17 / 21 SDG and AAAA (revised) as well as monitoring and evaluation of policy, program, project interventions in AAAA (revised) and Post 2015 Zero Draft needs to be more strongly affirmed

The AAAA (revised) and Post 2015 Zero Draft should also go further in recognizing the more multi-polar Global Order and in effectively promoting a renewal in multilateral partnerships and trust. We need to think about how the AAAA (revised) and SDG – as WSDS: Action Plans with ACTION,  can effectively ACT as a common narrative with universal buy - that can coordinate Village to Global Multi-Stakeholder ACTION  in a period of geopolitical uncertainty.

Building Public Support for Anti Corruption Efforts

Fighting corruption is not easy. Unlike many criminals, dishonest public officials often continue to have power and influence. Political interference, even in cases involving low-level officials, frequently can derail a prosecution. Civil society organizations may help uncover fraudulent activities, but they also may undermine effective prosecution by inadvertently tampering with evidence or tipping off the crooked politicians. Worse, they can go “public” with exaggerated claims that make the final conviction and restitution look comparatively puny and suspicious. The media may release stories prematurely, allowing corrupt parties to hide or destroy evidence and move illicit proceeds to safe havens, often in other parts of the world.

Months of work can be wasted because other parties have undermined a National Anti Corruption Agency’s efforts. Developing evidence in corruption cases is not easy, especially because most corruption is “consensual”—that is, both sides – Citizens / Citizens and Citizens / Non Citizens within and outside the Country, benefit from the exchange.

Unfortunately, this explains why many people in anti-corruption agencies do not see civil society and the media as friends. This perceived adversarial relationship leads to a spiral of distrust and suspicion on all sides. As a result, Sub-national, National, Sub-regional, Regional and Global anti-corruption efforts become less effective, and the agencies are thrown into an increasingly negative light.

There is a global recognition that something can and must be done about corruption, that is why it is bundled up in SDG Goal 16—but far less agreement about how to correct the situation most effectively, that is why this Statement is calling for a separate SDG Goals focused on Governance, Corruption, Conflict, Data and Religion and for answers to Synthesis Report, Data revolution Report, AAAA (revised) and SDG HOW questions. Although there was early acknowledgment that independent anti-corruption agencies might hold the key, many in the international community now are questioning such agencies’ value because of the high-profile destruction of successful agencies in both developing and developed countries.

Another Big Question – Are these anti-corruption agencies truly independent? Are there competent Investigators, Prosecutors, Judges and Courts of minimum certain levels of quality and quantity? Where Competence is Hard Competences – Learning and Skills and Soft Competences – Character, Courage and Mindset.

What is to be done? Level 1, Leaders and Management in anticorruption bodies must understand that success always occurs on two fronts: getting the “bad guys” and being able to explain why the agency’s work is both effective and important. Anti-corruption initiatives must be institutionalized not individualized with emphasis on establishing effective media strategies and taking proactive measures to get the anti-corruption message to the public. These Leaders and Management must help their agencies understand how to control the way they present themselves to the public, how to frame their agencies’ work, and how to develop allies in the press and the community at large Level 2 – Heads of Government must understand that success on sustainable basis greatly depends on their full personal and official support and must lead by example subjecting themselves, their family and friends to the rule of law so they can have the moral right to subject other Citizens and Non Citizens to the rule of law. Level 3 – Civil Society and Media must understand that without required Political, Economic, Social, Cultural, Security and Religious Space the Heads of Government, Leaders and Management of anti-corruption bodies cannot work in ways that institutionalize success on sustainable basis within effective and efficient Justice Administration System.

No one reading this needs to be lectured on the importance of controlling corruption and countering its devastating impact on individuals, communities, and nations. Because of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, everyone in the global community has an opportunity to change the reality of corruption. But it is those good anti-corruption professionals, frequently little appreciated and too often demeaned, who can have real impact. It is their efforts that will win or lose the battle. And we commend and celebrate them with these words from someone who was noted for giving a good fight: it is also important to note that there are many bad anti-corruption professionals, hence the need to put in place early warning mechanism to speedily identify them and flush them out of the Justice Administration System.

Denial and Deception

World Hunger and Poverty in the face of World Abundance and Wealth is a Scar on the Conscience of World Leaders. The successes and disappointments of FfD 3 underline the magnitude and complexity of the challenge that must be overcome if AAAA (revised) and SDG Ambitions are to be realised.

On this occasion of 70th Anniversary of the UN, the UN under current Leadership must rediscover itself and must reinvigorate Reforms to empower it to better tackle these challenges. 70 years ago, the UN was established to Mobilize Global Collective ACTION for Political Stability. The UN Family Organization, including World Bank Group and IMF. In 2015 the UN must be re-established to effectively Mobilize Global Collective Action for Political Stability, Economic Stability, Financial Stability, Peace and Security and Fighting Corruption. This demands Reforming each Entity in the UN Family Organization to be International Institution fit for the 21st Century.

The fact that only 2 CSOs’ participating in 7th IGN collaborated in preparing this Statement, against background of many UN Officials, Developing Countries and CSOs’ expressing discontent with outcome of FfD3 is evidence of Denial and Deception that must be tackled if AAAA (revised) and SDG Vision Ambitions are to be achieved on successful and sustainable basis.

7th and 8th IGN

Sustainable Solutions to Poverty, Hunger, Climate Change, Environmental Degradation and related problems including Corruption and Terrorism on the ground in Developed and Developing Countries exist. Ability to successfully implement these solutions with effective monitoring and evaluation of this implementation exist or can be acquired. However, the Big Challenge is the Willingness to successfully implement these solutions with effective monitoring and evaluation of this implementation. Tackling this Big Challenge is essentially issue of Changing Attitude and Behavior at Scale that the 7th and 8th IGN need to effectively address.

The Program of the 8th IGN is not out as at the time of making this Statement. The 7th IGN appears not to have structure or coordination with regard to the daily 3 Speaking Slots. The result is much duplication in the presentations and many aspects of AAAA (revised) and Post 2015 Zero Draft / SDG remaining untouched.

The 8th IGN will be more productive and result oriented if Structured and Organized to effectively address overarching Goals of Poverty Elimination and Environmental Sustainability from the Dimensions of Trade, Aid, Debts and Corruption with focus on Level 1. Implementation Solutions Level 2. Follow Up and Review Solutions Level 3. Capacity Building – Individual Level - Hard Competences: Learning and Skills and Soft Competences: Character, Courage and Mindset; Institution Level – Resources and Processes empowering the Individual to deploy Competences towards achieving Corporate Goals and Environment Level – Political, Economic, Social, Cultural, Security and Religious Space for Institutions and Individuals to Thrive on Chaos, CommWSDS as well as Communication for WSDS.

A situation where Thematic Interest Groups focus on specific issues within 5 Major Themes – Trade, Aid, Debts, Corruption and CommWSDS – One Major Theme per Day without any Group duplication issues an earlier Group is focused upon and the Secretariat selecting the most Comprehensive Group Statement to secure the 3 available speaking slots will be more beneficial and productive.

Conclusion

Never has our World been so rich. Never has our World been so poor. The vicious circle of being too poor to be rich and too rich to be poor must be broken by AAAA and SDG if our World is to be a happier, safer and healthier place to live, work, play and raise children. There is more than enough Resources - Influence, Science, technology, Innovation, Fund, Manpower and Spiritual to achieve increasing convergence between AAAA (revised) and SDG Vision Intention and Reality, if there is shift from working HARDER to working SMARTer; shift from Disordered Change to Ordered Change. Can this vicious circle be broken without the evolution of a Corruption Free Society?

It must be recognized that Corruption is simply evidence of flaws and failures in Systems within an Institution or Country / Society. it is not helpful to Demonize Corruption or to take sadistic pleasure in the humiliation and ruin of “Big Fish”. It is helpful to undertake Comprehensive Systems Reform to strengthen, reinforce and reinvigorate sub-national, national, sub-regional, regional and global systems within National and International Development Cooperation to be fit for the 21st Century.

Moving forward there is a need for definition of Commonly Occurring Forms of Corruption acceptable to all 193 UN Member States; there is a need to replace current subjective World Governance Indicators measuring Corruption with SMART Objectively Validated Indicators measuring Corruption and there is a need to rank all 193 Countries on the same Index. For example, SMART OVI for Bribe Takers ranking all 193 UN Member States will see many Developing Countries including Nigeria high on the list and SMART OVI for Bribe Givers ranking all 193 UN Member States will see many Developed Countries including US, UK, France and Germany high on the list. It takes two to tango. Giving Global Publicity to Bribe Takers Index while shielding from the Global Media the current incomplete Bribe Givers Index is itself Corruption.

Also, there is a need to set Universal Corruption Line that no Country Developed or Developing should fall below. Global Collective Action for Political Stability, Economic Stability, Financial Stability, Peace and Security and Fighting Corruption should aim at using the Rankings based on SMART OVIs to strengthen Developed and Developing Countries above Universal Corruption Line from falling below the Line and to PULL Up Developed and Developing Countries that fall below SMART OVI to first rise above the Line and thereafter remain above the Line.

Should Stakeholders look on watching flaws and failures in AAAA (revised) and Post 2015 Zero Draft and SDG (from September 2015) Village to Global Policy, Program, Project Interventions, the probability is high that looming Global Recession could become reality making 1930s' Global Recession child's play, with ultimate catastrophic consequences for Citizens in each of the 193 UN Member States, particularly the billions of poor on both Developed and Developing Countries sides.

The five Ps’ – and perhaps a sixth, on Participation - present a strong foundation on which to successfully build a simple narrative and message that, come September 2015, can be effectively communicated around the world, into every school, office and living room. We need to flesh out HOW the five (six) Ps’ connect with one another and with the Goals and targets in a holistic but simple way. This won’t be easy, but at least we now have the Pillars for this work.

At the same time as the Secretary General said about his hopes for the SDG Agenda, the AAAA and Cop21, it is time for not just words, but ACTION.

Our suggestion: an Experts Working Group, EWG, with official recognition to work with co-Facilitators, Missions, Secretariats; the SDG process, the FfD process and all others, on the way forward that provide clear answers to all HOW questions in the AAAA (revised) and SDG.

The EWG could submit Interim Report for consideration and approval at 8th IGN. The Interim Report should focus on HOW to Design and Deliver Agriculture Revolution, Enterprise Revolution, Government Revolution, Applied Research Revolution, Attitudinal and Behavioral Change Revolution, Data Revolution, Digital Revolution, other Primary Revolutions as well as Education Revolution, Health Revolution, Housing Revolution, Financial Inclusion Revolution, Anti Corruption Revolution, Conflict Resolution Revolution and other Secondary Revolutions that WORK in our World as is today and not as any Stakeholder wish it to be. invited we could make suggestions on EWG Membership that address issues of Diversity, Inclusion, Ownership, Harmony and Alignment etc.

We are willing to offer a more detailed information / clarification as directed by co-Facilitators, UNDESA and UNNGLS or requested by Missions.

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to the once-in-a generation agenda that is truly transformative, visionary and inclusive, to guide our valuable efforts in the Global Partnership for World Sustainable Development.

Contact:

Lanre Rotimi - International Society for Poverty Elimination / Economic Alliance Group

nehap.initiative@yahoo.co.uk

Omair Paul - Muslims for Progressive Values

unrep@mpvusa.org