The post-2015 Development Agenda

1. The post-2015 Development Agenda ESR-UNICEF Workshop on Social and economic Policies for Child Rights and Equity Bangkok, Thailand, 04/07/13 Charles Abugre

2. The main motivations of the MDGs • Managing the development crisis arising from structural adjustment programmes whilst preserving neoliberalism – the human face • Preserving the UN by preserving • Some legacy of the millennium declaration • Elements of the UN summits of the 1990s

3. Driven by pragmatism • Focused on extreme poverty, in a multi-dimensional way • Monitorable – determined by data availbility • Achievability – projections based on the trajectory of economic growth and social progress based on dominant development model. • Consistent with the aid agenda - therefore the close convergence with the OECD’s IDTs • Preserving the status quo - using “national ownership” as means of promoting self-driven liberalisation and deregulation agenda and external financing as palliative • Implemented through existing IFIs-driven mechanisms – the PRSPs.

4. Main criticisms of the MDGs • Top-down, UN/World Bank staff determined. • Not universal but donor-centric – doesn’t address issues of the global economy nor human development in all countries • Not about development – but versions of extreme poverty. • Ignores issues of equality and equity • Doesn’t address the sustainability issues – the integrated nature of environmental, economic and social sustainability. • Ignores of power, and weak on accountability.

5. The Post-2015 – the Participation Framework 1. UNDG • UN-systems Task Force • 80 National Consultations • 11 Thematic Consultation • Regional Commissions • Global Outreach – www.myworld2015.org survey and www.worldwewant2015 website 2. UN SG’s High Level Panel of Eminent Person 3. CSOs – Beyond2015 and others 4. Sustainable Development Solutions Network – Jeffery Sachs 5. Global Compact Add to these the OWH from the Rio+20 process

6. The High Level Panel Report. • Key approach: Build on the MDGs and answer the ff questions: what to keep, what to amend what to leave. Based on these the ff. principles: • Outcome –oriented • Leave no one behind (minimum global standards) • Universality – apply to all • Put sustainable development at core • Transform economies for jobs and inclusive growth • Build peace and accountable institutions • Forge a new global partnership • Data revolution

7. Leave no one behind – the minimum llobal standard If the targets are achieved, by 2030 every person in the world would have: • 1. An income of $1.25/day • 2. Completed primary education and access to secondary education • 3. No preventable infant deaths • 4. Equal rights for women • 5. Access to reproductive health • 6. Access to food and drinkable water • 7. No defecation in the open • 8. Access to modern energy, to financial services, transportation and the internet (or at least phone, the meaning of “information and telecommunications technologies being unclear in this context) • 9. Identity cards • 10. Civil and political rights

8. 12 Goals • End poverty – $1.25 or $2 • Empower girls and women and achieve gender equality • Provide quality education and life long learning • Ensure healthy lives • Ensure food security and good nutrition • Ensure universal access to water and sanitation • Secure sustainable energy • Create jobs, sustainable livelihoods and equitable growth • Manage natural resource assets sustainably – the Africa mining vision • Ensure good governance and effective institutions • Ensure stable and peaceful societies • Create a global enabling environment and catalyse long term finance

9. How it treats inequalities Basically about social inequalities – in the context of eradicating extreme poverty, and ensuring inclusive access to basic services and opportunity for economic growth. • –Targets will only be achieved if they are for all groups • -Zero or 100% targets • -Disaggregate relevant indicators with respect to income Avoids the issue of income/wealth inequalities especially global

10. Contrast with • The World Bank approach: share of income of bottom 30% in the growth process • Palma approach – address the income disparities between the top 10% and the bottom 40%. • The factor income approach - Reverse the secular decline in the share of labour in income in most countries.  • The Frances Steward approach – horizontal inequalities of incomes, wealth and opportunities.

11. Other Concerns • Still largely about poverty – no structural change indicators • Inconsistent analysis – eradicating poverty in the context of multinational driven globalization. • Lop-sided obligations between developing countries and industrialised countries – same as MDGs • Little attention to policy space - altering the parameters of the international economic system in support of development. • Not truly global • Weak accountability

12. The SDNS – Key recommendations • Keep the focus on poverty eradication as overarching objective • Reflect the 3 dimensions of sustainable development • Make the goals universally applicable that take into account national circumstances • Address specific needs of vulnerable countries such as Small Ireland states and those emerging from conflicts • Include cross-cutting issues such as gender and other forms of inequalities • Address sustainable consumption and production issues

13. Global partnerships – Delivering commitments under: • Millennium Declaration • MDG 8 – ODA falling • Monterrey Consensus • Doha Declaration • Johannesburg Plan of Action • Busan Agenda of aid-effectiveness Based on “voluntary, dynamic multi-stakeholder partnerships” and existing UN accountability mechanisms under ECOSOC

14. Next steps • Sec General’s report to the General Assembly – draft in limited circulation • Special General Assembly – 25th Sept 2013 • OWG – process and report – before Sept 2014 • Possible special Heads of state summit - 2014

15. END ASANTE SAANA