Paving the way for the Conference in Addis Ababa in July next year, a series of substantive sessions exploring a range of topics including the global context, domestic and public finance as well as private finance, took place in New York on 10-13 November. Preparations will continue on 9-12 December taking aim at an enabling environment and systemic issues.

“Over the last two years, governments, civil society actors, the private sector, and other stakeholders have shown enthusiasm for a renewed global development agenda which is ambitious,” said Helen Clark, UNDP Administrator, in her keynote address at the first session to prepare for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development.

“The next agenda is expected to be broader and transformational. It is likely to aim to eradicate poverty, not just lift some out of it; demand transformations in countries at all income levels to ensure that our planet’s natural limits are respected; aspire to have peaceful and inclusive societies governed by the rule of law everywhere,” Ms. Clark continued, underlining how the world community needs to think in different ways about development finance.

Since the adoption of the Millennium Declaration in 2000 and the Monterrey Consensus in 2002, the global landscape has changed considerably. Global economic strength is spread amongst more countries. Innovations have opened both new opportunities and challenges. At the same time, the financial crisis has revealed global vulnerabilities and the shortcomings of the international financial system.

Alexander Trepelkov, Director of UN DESA’s Financing for Development Office (FfDO), highlighted the importance of next year’s conference for future development. “An ambitious and transformative post-2015 agenda will need to be supported by a comprehensive financing framework to provide its means of implementation,” said Mr. Trepelkov, pointing to the opportunities that the conference will provide to forge a consensus on a new global partnership for sustainable development.

The substantive sessions in November, chaired by the two co-facilitators of the preparatory process of the Conference, Ambassador Talbot of Guyana and Ambassador Pedersen of Norway, also devoted day-long meetings examining the topics of domestic public finance, international public finance and private finance. They saw a large number of high-level participants sharing their expertise and experience, including representatives from Ministries of Finance, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, UNCTAD, UNEP, UN Global Compact, McKinsey Global Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), EURODAD, Tax Justice Network Africa, the OECD, Aviva and the World Council of Credit Unions, among many others.

Organized by UN DESA’s Financing for Development Office, the second and final round of substantive informal sessions will take place on 9-12 December. The overall theme will be “Enabling environment, systemic issues, follow-up process and learning from partnerships”. Participants will discuss various topics, such as the international monetary and financial system, international tax cooperation, debt crisis prevention and resolution, trade, governance and the Financing for Development follow-up process.

To watch these informal sessions via UN Web TV, access presentations, statements and background information, visit the website of UN DESA’s Financing for Development Office via the link provided below.

For more information:

Third International Conference on Financing for Development 

The General Assembly’s Second Committee continues its review of issues relating to economic growth and development. Some 40 draft resolution texts are being considered for adoption in the Committee and it is expected that it will conclude its work shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday. As of 21 November, some 24 draft resolutions are still being negotiated.

The Chairman of the Committee, Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi (Italy), emphasizing the need to speed up consultations on draft texts, has encouraged facilitators of ongoing consultations to continue their work to reach agreements on these texts. It is expected that consideration of a number of draft resolutions, including some on active topics such as financing for development, Agenda 21 follow-up, and debt restructuring will be decided upon by the Committee in early December.

The Committee opened its general debate on 7 October with a keynote address by Professor Janet C. Gornick, Professor of Political Science and Sociology, City University of New York, addressing issues on the topic of “High and Rising Inequality : Causes and Consequences.” Professor Gornick addressed the Committee at a crucial moment of change in orientation of the UN development agenda. Recently, the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has included a stand-alone goal to directly address national and global inequality, as part of its proposals to the General Assembly for a post-2015 development agenda.

Ebola outbreak and MDGs among wide range of topics addressed during general debate

During the general debate, held from 7 to 9 October, a total of 94 interventions covered a wide range of topics. The Chair expressed the Committee’s solidarity with and support for the countries affected by the Ebola virus and recognized and commended the many aid workers engaged in combatting the epidemic. Many countries acknowledged the progress in achieving the MDGs, yet also expressed disappointment that the MDGs had not been met in full, stating that the unfinished business of the MDGs must be completed.

Countries unanimously emphasized the importance of the post-2015 development agenda for the work of the Committee. Most stated that the agenda should have poverty eradication and sustainable development at its core. Many underscored the issue of inequality. Several stressed the inclusion of particular issues, such as technology transfer, empowerment of women, climate change, oceans and seas and affordable energy. Many delegations stated that the basis for formulating the post-2015 agenda should be the report of the Open Working Group.

Others called for a stronger global partnership for development and an ambitious outcome for the Third International Conference on Financing for Development. Several emphasized South-South and triangular cooperation as important complements to North-South cooperation. The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities was recognized by many speakers as a foundation for international cooperation.

Debt restructuring and sustainability were mentioned by many as a continuing challenge, with some stressing a need for regulation. The negative risks of vulture funds were also highlighted.

Calling for climate action

Many countries called for action on climate change and commended the Secretary-General for the Climate Summit, which added impetus to the ongoing negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process. Many called for a new legally binding agreement, with several emphasizing common but differentiated responsibilities. The vulnerabilities of SIDS were emphasized, including as a factor to that should be considered in concessional financing.

Many countries emphasized that special focus must be given to countries in special situations. The SAMOA Pathway and its follow-up were emphasized by many, as was African development, and the concerns of the LDCs and LLDCs.

Side events provide platform for debate

Throughout its review of the various agenda items, the Committee also held a number of side events and joint meetings with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) as part of its programme of work. Many of these debates provided useful insights that will facilitate the negotiations on a post-2015 development agenda, expected to be adopted by the General Assembly in September next year.

On 24 October, a debate on investment promotion for foreign direct investment in least developed countries (LDCs) [video] highlighted that FDI had played a catalytic role in building and strengthening productive capacity in these countries. LDCs had made strong efforts over the years to attract increased FDI flows and enhance the benefits for their economies. Yet, the total share of global FDI to LDCs remained modest; therefore, speakers at this event explored ways and means to attract and retain increased investments in LDCs.

On 30 October, a joint meeting of the Second Committee and ECOSOC on a renewed global partnership for development [video] highlighted that a unified and universal post-2015 development agenda must be supported by a renewed global partnership for development to mobilize the unprecedented financial resources and other means of implementation that are necessary. The event emphasized that both private and public financing from domestic and international sources were needed, and should be effectively utilized to fill the large needs for support.

On 31 October, an event on accountability and monitoring the post-2015 development agenda [video] explored practical ways in which progress in implementation of a universal agenda, reinforced by the international community’s commitment to poverty eradication and sustainable development, could be measured within and between countries and entities. Speakers debated how an appropriate monitoring and accountability framework could be conceived to support the new development agenda.

On 4 November, the Committee heard speakers in a side event on New Instruments of Social Finance [video]. Several speakers explored how these instruments could contribute to the achievement of the SDGs in both industrialized and developing countries. Sharing experiences to date, speakers from philanthropy, the private sector, banking and trade unions engaged in a discussion, exploring what changes in public policy would be needed to scale up its adoption and effectiveness in delivering sustainable development outcomes.

Finally, on 14 November, a side event on e-government for sustainable development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) [video] discussed the implementation of the policy recommendations from the outcome document of the third SIDS Conference, especially on supporting e-government development and enhancing capacity building of SIDS countries in delivering citizen-centric services to address multiple challenges in pursuing sustainable development.

For more information: Second Committee of the UN General Assembly

The Third Committee of the General Assembly recently approved a draft resolution on designating 15 July as a World Youth Skills Day. Since the Committee opened its session on 7 October, when it was stated that development must centre on people and the realization of social rights, it has addressed a number of social, humanitarian and cultural issues related to UN DESA’s work.

Youth unemployment remains at high levels, estimated globally at 74.5 million in 2013, with the majority of unemployed youth living in developing countries.

Recognizing that fostering the acquisition of skills by young people would enhance their ability to make informed life and work choices and empower them to gain access to changing labour markets, the General Assembly would, by the terms of the draft text, invite all Member States and international, regional and United Nations system organizations to commemorate World Youth Skills Day in an appropriate manner.

The Committee, acting without a vote, approved this text on World Youth Skills Day on 13 November. Earlier in the fall and as the Committee began its session, some 28 Youth Delegates, representing 21 countries, took the floor to share some of the issues that concern them and their peers worldwide.

World Summit for Social Development turns 20

At the World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995 the international community prioritized putting people at the centre of social development and committed to eradicating poverty, supporting full and productive employment, and promoting social integration, among other social goals.

Approaching the 20th anniversary of the Summit in 2015, delegations stressed that the core objectives of the Summit remained as valid today as they were in 1995, highlighting the continuing challenge of realizing inclusive development. Several delegations encouraged Member States, regional organizations, and civil society organizations to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Summit.

Many delegations stressed that the post-2015 sustainable development agenda should uphold the vision of the World Summit for Social Development by focusing on people-centred development, poverty eradication, full employment and decent work, social inclusion, tackling inequality, investing in human capital and addressing the needs – and protecting the rights – of women, persons with disabilities, older persons, youth and other disadvantaged social groups.

They highlighted in particular the centrality of poverty eradication to the post-2015 agenda. Additionally, delegations underscored the need to ensure that it gives adequate attention to the three dimensions of sustainable development, which requires strengthening the social development pillar. Political will, honouring aid commitments and finding new sources of financing will be essential to speeding up the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 as well as implementing a new development agenda.

For more information:

Third Committee of the UN General Assembly

On 18 November, UN DESA’s Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM) together with the Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination (OESC) and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) held a Special Event on “Implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Enhancing access to and security of ICTs”.

The event was chaired by Ambassador Oh Joon, the Council’s Vice-President, and moderated by Ambassador Jānis Kārkliņš in his capacity as Chair of the Multi-stakeholder Advisory Group, Internet Governance Forum (IGF).

The panellists included Wu Hongbo, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General; Hamadoun Touré, Secretary-General of ITU; Lynn St. Amour, President and Chief Executive Officer, Internet Matters; and Rima Qureshi, Chief Strategy Officer, Ericsson Group. Among the areas of focus were the impact of access to and security of ICTs on sustainable development, rethinking personal data and strengthening the trust of citizens online and the roles of multilateral organizations in building trust and security.

In his opening statement, Ambassador Oh stressed the importance of ICTs to achieving the three dimensions of sustainable development, while spotlighting the need to build confidence in security in an atmosphere where people expose themselves to data risks and privacy insecurity. Ambassador Karklins pointed to the increasing complexity of issues related to the vast expansion of the Internet, and noted how United Nations bodies, including the Economic and Social Council and the General Assembly, had engaged with these issues.

Mr. Wu stressed the link between the new development agenda and ICTs and emphasized that there are both opportunities and challenges that the international community face to derive the full potential benefits from ICTs for the post-2015 development agenda. He also described ICTs application in commercial contexts as well as in humanitarian situations, and underlined the importance of data security as access increases especially considering first time Internet users from the developing world. It is vital to reduce or eliminate the factors inhibiting online interactions, he stated, noting that the estimated cost of cyber crime to the global economy is $400 billion annually.

“In the coming years, billions of devices will be connected to the “Internet of Things”, creating a digital network of virtually everything. For example, some private sector companies are helping to develop systems to enable communities directly affected by Ebola to fight it in Sierra Leone. Citizens can use SMS or voice calls that are location-specific to report Ebola-related issues to government, health agencies and others for tracking the disease”, Mr. Wu said.

Ms. Qureshi described Ericsson’s involvement in several technology-enabled projects that benefit people, business and society. Underscoring ways in which technology contributed to sustainable development, she highlighted a few examples, including remote schools, mobile health care, connected cars, smart meters, connected dams, and connected waste.

Ms. St. Amour said that approximately 3 billion people were online today, and multi-stakeholder self-governing networks were transforming the way the international community addressed global problems.  While access was improving, there was a long way to go to ensure no one was left behind.

Mr. Touré focused his comments on what had been done to implement the outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society and on the newly agreed Connect 2020 vision designed by the ITU.  Achievements were reviewed during the World Summit, notably efforts to improve online security through the global information society of 2007 and the Child Online Protection initiative of 2008.

An interactive dialogue followed the panellists’ presentations with representatives of Iran, Azerbaijan, Brazil and Germany commenting. The representatives asked questions about the potential impact of ICTs on environmental sustainability and on trust and security online. There were also questions about the private sector’s collection of personal data as commercial enterprises were only accountable to their shareholders, the speakers pointed out. Also considered was the benefit to development of new partnerships and cooperation in that field.

Ambassador Karklins concluded the event by summarizing some of the main conclusions and recommendations, including the need for ICTs to be widely included in the sustainable development goals, the importance of being sure that lessons learned from the WSIS outcomes inform the post-2015 development agenda, the need to preserve the free and open nature of the Internet, the importance of education when it comes to cybersecurity and building citizen’s trust online, sharing best practices amongst all stakeholders and cooperative public-private partnerships.

For more information:

Implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda: Enhancing access to and security of ICTs

How can information and communications technology (ICT) and e-government help to address the challenges that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face? This question was at the core of a special event of the UN General Assembly’s Second Committee on 14 November, organized by UN DESA’s Division of Public Administration and Development Management.

Mr. Wu Hongbo, UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General pointed out that SIDS remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their unique vulnerabilities. With human settlements dispersed over large geographical areas, the costs for goods, services, and infrastructure are higher. Dependency on imports and uncertain sectors makes many SIDS vulnerable to economic crises and growing trade imbalances. Susceptibility to natural disasters poses additional obstacles.

Promoting virtual bridges for e-government development

“Technology creates virtual bridges that nullify physical distance, mitigate the impact of geographical isolation, and permit travel in more than one direction,” remarked Ambassador Sebastiano Cardi, Chair of the UN General Assembly’s Second Committee. Tuisugaletaua Sofara Aveau, Minister of Communication and Information Technology of Samoa, pointed to the importance of improved telecommunications infrastructure in SIDS. He highlighted the developmental progress and increase in government efficiency owing to enhanced connectivity, both through local initiatives and through his country’s connection to submarine high-speed fiberoptic cables.

Infrastructure provision emerged as an area where openness to public-private partnerships rather than exclusive reliance on state monopolies has brought significant advances for development. Technical connections, however, are only the first step on a path that also includes changes in mindset: With capable networks in place, e-government ultimately impacts the way in which government operates, and its relationships with other stakeholders, said Ambassador of Papua New Guinea Robert Guba Aisi.

Effective e-government does not mean electronic reproduction of offline practices, but fostering a culture of innovation in government and administration to catch up with ever-advancing technology. Unprecedented levels of citizen participation, as well as transparency of government actions, can also contribute to better, more inclusive governance – from routine decision-making to disaster management procedures.

Opportunities for learning and training multiply in all subject areas when physical presence is no longer a requirement. Furthermore, facilitated data-gathering and knowledge-sharing helps to improve the information flow between developing countries and their development partners throughout the world, a point jointly accentuated by Ms. Rowena Bethel, Director of the National Insurance Board of the Bahamas, and Professor Young Bum Lee of Konkuk University in Seoul, Korea.

Responding to the SAMOA Pathway: The road ahead

Referring to the SAMOA Pathway Call for Action, the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States, which the General Assembly had adopted the same morning, Mr. Wu underscored the role of good governance in stable partnerships for sustainable development. In line with the global consensus reached at the Rio+20 conference, he emphasized the need for effective, transparent, accountable, and democratic institutions at all levels.

Panel members agreed that e-government can provide the tools for building such institutions in order to help alleviate poverty and improve livelihood, especially by reaching out to the most disadvantaged groups and people living in vulnerable situations, to ensure that nobody is left behind.

Thus, the challenges that SIDS face, which may seem remote to many at first sight, are in fact local instantiations of global issues. As such, they can only be addressed through joint international efforts for sustainable development, and technology can serve as a powerful enabler in such a transformation.

As Ms. Tishka Francis, Vice-Chair of the Second Committee, summarized in her closing remarks: “Building bridges of steel and stone between SIDS and the rest of the world is usually not feasible. But in the 21st century, bridges no longer need to be constructed from steel and stone. Virtual bridges have the potential to unite us all in our effort to face our common but differentiated responsibilities if there is a strong collective vision of the future we want.”

Fostering cooperation and knowledge-sharing on innovative practices in the area of e-government, both among SIDS and with other countries, can help turn development challenges into opportunities. As panel members highlighted, there is a need for champions of innovation everywhere, strong political commitment, leadership, and a shared vision if we wish to achieve sustainable development for all.

For more information:

“ICT and E-Government in SIDS: Responding to the SAMOA Pathway Call for Action”

International Year of Small Island Developing States

SIDS Action Platform