|
One
theme in the deliberations at the 2003 High-Level Segment of the
Economic and Social Council was the importance of creating alliances
and partnerships in designing and implementing interventions for
poverty eradication and sustainable development in rural areas. A
key recommendation was to support or create, at national and
international levels, alliances of governments, donors, NGOs, civil
society organizations, and the private sector. (ECOSOC Document A/58/3, Chapter
III) Establishment of a United Nations
Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development is one step toward
achieving this.
Accelerated rural
development is essential to reducing poverty and promoting better
standards of life for much of the world’s population. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) cannot be achieved unless rural poverty
is urgently reduced. National and international businesses can have
a powerful influence toward helping to achieve these improvements.
Pro-poor policies and practices by business and other stakeholders
can help to promote economic and social well-being and at the same
time generate profitable returns on
investment.
Helping to harness these potential benefits is the motivating
principle of this new effort. It focuses on win-win situations,
working to harmonize the economic and profit motives of the private
sector with internationally-agreed development goals. The UN
Alliance serves as a new step, highlighting and promoting
replication of successful business undertakings that benefit all
concerned, and bringing these to the attention of the international
community through ECOSOC.
The UN Alliance networks with and
builds upon a range of existing programmes and concerns. These
include efforts by FAO, the World Bank, UNDP, IFAD, UNCTAD, ILO, the
UN Global Compact, and the UN Department of Economic and Social
Affairs. Outside the UN, a number of business associations are
relevant, including the World Business Council for Sustainable
Development, the International Chamber of Commerce, the Business
Council for the United Nations, Rotary clubs, and the World
Agriculture Forum.
 The UN Alliance is intended
to bring added value to the work of ECOSOC and the United Nations in
several ways. It is a concrete deliverable resulting from ECOSOC and
its Ministerial Declaration. It serves as a means for direct impact
from the work of the Council upon actual development situations, in
other words, “Policies into Practice.” It is a new vehicle for
conduct of the multiple roles of the Council – encouraging economic
and social advancement; promoting collaboration and cooperation; and
reviewing the results of such efforts by the international
community. It is the third in a series of steps taken in recent
years for greater participation by a wide range of stakeholders in
the concerns of ECOSOC, following upon the UN Information and
Communications Technology (ICT) Task Force (2000), and the Advisory
Group on African Countries Emerging from Conflict (2002).
In
December 2003 the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution
“Towards Global Partnerships,” (GA
Resolution 58/129)
which welcomed the establishment of partnerships at field level such
as the UN Public-Private Alliance for Rural Development.
Madagascar
is the first country chosen for a focus of UN Alliance efforts, and
the Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the UN is taking the
lead. Madagascar is on the list of least-developed countries and is
seeking to improve its position through active cooperation with the
international community and with a strong emphasis on business
opportunities.
In
July 2004 ECOSOC passed a resolution that welcomed the Madagascar
initiative, adopted a resolution on the UN Alliance, and invited
Member States, UN agencies, private sector and NGOs to support the
UN Alliance.
Since
then, several countries have expressed interest in joining the UN
Alliance as pilot countries. Plans are underway to
strengthen the network.
|
