Deputy Secretary-General's Remarks to Press at Second High-Level Symposium of the Development Cooperation Forum

Luxembourg, 18 October 2011 - Deputy Secretary-Secretary's Remarks to Press at Second High-Level Symposium of the Development Cooperation Forum

I want to begin by thanking the host of the Second High-Level Symposium of the Development Cooperation Forum -- the Government of Luxembourg.

Luxembourg has been a true development cooperation champion. It dedicates a high share of its Gross National Income to aid. And it has also spearheaded efforts to improve the quality of aid worldwide.

As I said earlier in my opening remarks of the symposium, we are meeting at a time of economic crisis and profound uncertainty. The poorest are being hit hardest. The Secretary-General and I are both deeply committed to strengthening the development work of the United Nations.

This High-Level Symposium has brought together a wide range of leaders and experts to advance our thinking on vital issues and to spur further action to meet the Millennium Development Goals and promote sustainable development.

In these times of fiscal austerity measures, it is worrisome that aid budgets are often the first targets.

We must resist this trend. There should be no going back on the the fight against poverty, the empowerment of women, youth employment programmes or education, food and nutrition security . Development commitments made should be development commitments kept.

At the same time, we must work together with renewed dedication to maximize the development impact of aid.

Developing countries must find ways to raise additional domestic resources and create the conditions for investment to flourish.

Donors must find ways to leverage the impact of limited development assistance monies on other financing for development.

Both must work together so that aid helps to strengthen tax systems, promote access to inclusive financial services and attract foreign direct investment.

In the end, we know that any policy should find its ultimate test in the improvements it brings into the lives of people, and on the poorest and most vulnerable in particular.

This should be the yardstick against which we identify good practices and policies that work.

I want to once again thank all those who have gathered here in Luxembourg to do just that.