Post-2015 joint FfD and post-2015 session, 21-24 April – No 2: Opening statements

The joint FfD and post-2015 session was opened on 21 April by Co-facilitator, Ambassador David Donoghue, who stressed its importance within the overall project. The two processes must work together with two headline adjectives, namely ‘universal’ and ‘ambitious’. ‘Universal’ included the recognition of different nationalities and capacities, while ‘ambitious’ should be tempered with realism. Ambition should be considered in the context of sustainable development and a universal agenda, and Member States should be willing to back up political will with real changes. There should be a willingness to mobilize all stakeholders, including ordinary citizens, in a comprehensive agenda. 

In the proposals from the Open Working Group, some 70 targets relate to Means of Implementation (MOI) and it was necessary to consider the links – Is the Addis outcome going to be up to the level of the agenda? To support the new agenda global policies, an enabling political environment and institutions are required. What kind of global partnership was required to implement the post-2015 development agenda? What kind of follow-up and review should there be? This was the structure for the discussions.

The Co-facilitators and the Co-facilitator of the FfD process, Ambassadors Pedersen and Talbot, were hoping for an informal interactive exchange throughout the week. There would also be in the afternoon presentations from the World Bank (WB) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would lay out a perspective as to what their contribution should be. Technology transfer and mechanisms would also be discussed, based on the paper already circulated by Secretariat. (See: Post-2015 joint FfD and post-2015 session, 21-24 April – No 1) Discussions would continue after the Interactive dialogue with Major Groups and other Stakeholders on Thursday afternoon. There would also be a segment on follow up and review. 

Ambassador Macharia Kamau, Co-facilitator, thanked the FfD Co-facilitators for a reality check. The question on ‘ambition’ and ‘universality’ was how precisely does it represent what is going on in today’s world. How, for example, does it relate to what was included in the day’s copy of the New York Times? He pointed to three articles: 900 dead African and Arabs (twice the number of people in the room) in the Mediterranean, who died as a result of issues primarily related to inequalities between nations; 1.5 million black men missing from the daily of life of America -- inequality within a country, (or the inequalities in his own country, Kenya, which undermine peace and security); and a report on terrorism, another key concern. Ambassador Kamau then asked how the post-2015 process is going to put together an agenda that recognizes such issues and finds MOI and the resources to address the challenges. 

He noted that the press release of 17 April from the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) welcomed the SDGs and their emphasis on environment, inequalities etc, and the message that it sends to policy makers worldwide. Resources will, however, be required that far surpass those currently available, which will mean moving from billions to trillions at national and global levels, as well as including public and private funding.

With regard to the High-Level ECOSOC meeting, he pointed out that the Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey had said that the G20 had set themselves 1000 structural reforms that they are implementing, over the next 2 yrs. He therefore hoped to hear nothing further about the 169 targets with 15 years for their implementation. 

Ambassador George Talbot, as Co-facilitator for the FfD process, said that the agenda should be seen in terms of people, whether in their homes or across the globe. It is a global challenge and failure is not an option. The way, however, will not be smooth, and it is necessary to build mutual understanding and to demonstrate commitment. The FfD zero draft aspires to provide a framework and seeks to provide a platform for specific deliverables. Follow-up processes will need to be carefully calibrated and designed.  He referred to deliverables including for health, education and social protection, as well as technology, which he saw as a key enabler. 

Ambassador Geir O Pedersen, Co-facilitator for the FfD process stressed the urgency of the process, as fewer than 12 weeks remain to the Addis Conference. He saw that it was doable, as the sustainable development goals and targets had been agreed. It was now necessary to establish the political framework and to find solutions in a way not done before.