DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION FORUM
The biennial high-level Development Cooperation Forum (DCF) is one of the principal new functions of a strengthened Economic and Social Council. Mandated to enhance the implementation of the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs, and promote dialogue to find effective ways to support it, the DCF will be held every other year within the framework of the High-level Segment of the Council. The Forum was launched in Geneva in July 2007 and the first biennial Forum took place in New York on 30 June and 1 July 2008. The second Development Cooperation Forum will take place in July 2010 in New York.
The DCF exerted a positive influence on the international development cooperation system by bringing together all the relevant actors to engage in a dialogue on key policy issues affecting the quality and impact of development cooperation. The Forum discussed issues relating to effectiveness and coherence – and provided policy guidance and recommendations on how to improve international development cooperation.
Participants included representatives from developing and developed countries, including bilateral development agencies, UN system organizations, World Bank, IMF, OECD, regional development banks as well as civil society and the private sector.