Financing for Development (FfD 3) Outcome Document Forwarded to Addis for further consideration

Based on report by IISD:

The Third Drafting Session on the Outcome Document of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3) has finally closed, following continuous informal consultations at various levels since the plenary was suspended on 22 June 2015. As Member States have been unable to achieve consensus on the draft of the text to be adopted at FfD 3, which begins on 13 July 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the co-facilitators of the preparatory process convened a closing plenary, at which they proposed that the latest version of the text be considered further at the Conference itself.

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 20-31 July, No 3: All representatives of Major Groups and other Stakeholders must register to attend

We have received the following information from Lotta Tahtinen/NY/UNO

Please note that all representatives of Major Groups and other Stakeholders must register to attend the July IGN session by completing the following form: http://tinyurl.com/JULY-P15-REG  by midnight on Sunday, 12 July.

It is expected that representatives of major groups and other stakeholders may make a few short interventions at the end of each day of the IGN. DESA-DSD and UN NGLS will facilitate collaboration among all registered participants to prepare these interventions, including by organising daily meetings in the morning (8-10am), at lunch time (1-3pm) and the evening (6-8pm)...

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 20-31 July, No 2: Co-facilitators release final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit on Post-2015

The Co-facilitators have released the final draft of the outcome document for the UN Summit in September 2015 which will adopt the Post-2015 Development Agenda. It builds on the feedback from Member States and other stakeholders during our 22 to 25 June negotiation session and contains three annexes. 

Nineteen of the proposed technical revisions to the targets (contained in Annex 1 of the Zero Draft), have been incorporated in the final text, by amending the relevant targets in the listing provided in the attached draft. They have made a slight change to the proposed revision previously circulated, in relation to target 8.7 and the proposed revision to target 14.c remains in Annex 1 for further consideration by member states...

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 20-31 July, No 1: Registration for SETs to attend the Post-2015 July IGN's is now open until 12 July

The following information has been received from DESA - DSD

Dear Colleagues, 

We are pleased to announce the launch of registrations for Special Event Tickets (SETs) to attend the July Post-2015 Intergovernmental Negotiations. 

If you are in possession of an annual UN Grounds Pass (blue badge) you do not need to register for a SET. 

Please sign up by filling out the following google form: http://tinyurl.com/July-IGN-Reg

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 22-25 June No 9: 6th meeting with Major Groups and other Stakeholders – possibilities for civil society participation going forward

Ambassador Macharia Kamau, Co-facilitator, in opening the meeting with Major Groups and other Stakeholders, noted that the intergovernmental negotiations (IGN) are constrained by time and space and there is little opportunity in the declaration to express the multitude of views and perspectives. Some people say that their issues have not been taken up and the response of the Co-facilitators is that organizations need a constituency of Member States around the issue concerned, as it is they who are leading the process. Crosscutting issues in the declaration are important. They want to hear from civil society on the goals, which will not be reopened. There is also not much appetite for reopening the targets, although the room is split.  On means of implementation the expectation is that organizations have been able to get their views integrated into FFD as well. They would like to hear from civil society on follow-up and review, as sometimes they over-invest in what the issues of concern are, and fail to invest in the long-term work of implementation.  This is just the beginning. Organizations should pace themselves as how to invest in this process over the next 15 years...

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 22-25 June No 8: 4th and 5th meetings on goals and targets

On the afternoon of Tuesday 23 June, following the conclusion of the discussion on the preamble and declaration, the intergovernmental negotiations moved on to the goals and targets, although some delegations had already referred to them. The main areas for discussion included: suggestions in the Annex from the Co-facilitators for the ‘tweaking’ of 21 targets, vis-à-vis the ‘Xs’ and the targets that do not meet internationally agreed standards; chapeau and reservations; and indicators and work of the inter-agency and expert group (IAEG) of the UN Statistical Commission...

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 22-25 June No 7: 3rd and 4th meetings – conclusion of the discussion on the declaration

Co-facilitator (Kamau) opened the meeting, saying that they have heard general comments and some on the declaration. The previous day he had extended a warm welcome to many groups but failed to mention a “trusted ally” of the membership and of the Co-facilitators, namely the UN organizations, and looks forward to their interventions on technical matters to make sure that the process will consistent with other international agreements. The discussion then continued on the preamble and declaration in the zero draft of the outcome document...

Click to read more ...

WSIS+10 interactive consultations Thursday, 2 July in ECOSOC Chamber

We have received the following from NGLS

Dear Colleagues,

Please find here the programme for the 2 July informal interactive consultations with stakeholders on the review of implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), hosted by the President of the General Assembly in the ECOSOC Chamber at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting will take place from 10:00am-1:00pm and 3:00-6:00pm. 

The meeting will be web cast live at http://webtv.un.org/

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 22-25 June No 6: 1st and 2nd meetings – Key points from statements by Member States

The statements of Member States are summarized below focussing predominantly on issues related to gender equality, youth, health, sexual and reproductive health and rights, migration and related issues. The interventions, which were predominantly on the introductory part of the outcome document and on the  declaration, provide information as to the positions and priorities of the various countries, which could be useful for the negotiations moving forward. 

On a lighter note, the Indian delegate in his statement, quoted the musical composer Leonard Bernstein as saying that “to achieve greatness, two things are needed - a plan and not enough time. Conditions are therefore just right. We clearly do not have the time, and we are sure you [the Co-facilitators] have a plan! In other words, stars are truly aligned for us to achieve greatness, to achieve a great agenda that all of us want. So, let's work together and let’s get this done by 31st of July!”...

Click to read more ...

Post-2015 development agenda intergovernmental negotiations, 22-25 June No 5: 1st meeting – introduction by Co-facilitators and Group positions

The 1st meeting of the fifth session of the intergovernmental negotiations, which began on 22 June, was opened by Ambassador Macharia Kamau, Co-facilitator, who welcomed everyone to the meeting on the zero draft document, referring specifically to those who are new to the process as well as the civil society who were present “in full force”. The zero draft had been circulated to facilitate conversation to ensure that there would be the kind of post-2015 agenda that they will wish to have and that we will be proud to put before Heads of State and Government (HOSG). He referred to the Financing for Development (FfD) process, which signals a very important outcome that can hopefully be incorporated into the document later on. There seems to be real progress, and that a document acceptable to all members is on the verge of being adopted in time for the Addis conference...

Click to read more ...