16th May. The UN Development Cooperation Forum just held a Symposium on “Shaping a Suitable future”, in Brisbane with the support of the government of Australia. One of the most compelling discussions was the debate on sustainable development goals. On this, the words from UN Under Secretary General Sha can offer guidance, given his role as the Secretary General of Rio +20.
Firstly, the discussions underway revolve around a post 2015 framework not really on sustainable development goals (SDGs) as such. According to USG Sha, the new framework will a) be based on the recognition of the MDGs as a success story, b) integrate sustainable development, c) be built on MDGs and d) SDGs will speak to all partners.
There is a lot of uncertainty on what Rio +20 might deliver on this front. At this stage in the negotiation process, agreement has been reached only on 20 out of a 400 article draft; a new round of informal consultation is due in the next few weeks. There are different options on the table relative to the SDGs: some countries would like to have an agreement; others will support guidelines for their definitions. But the most likely outcome is that Rio will start a process that will take us to 2015. The UN created a few months ago a special task force on the post 2015, lead by Sha himself – in his capacity of the USG for the Economic and Social Affairs – and Helen Clark – UNDP Administrator ‑; the High Panel recently announced by Ban Khi Moon, which includes Cameron, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, will start working just after Rio it self.
It is interesting to note that MDGs are on average commented on in a positive manner. It may count that the most recent statistics talk about a success story in achieving certain goals, including the reduction of extreme income poverty. But, in general, it is acknowledged that having a framework plaid a fundamental role in mobilizing countries and communities and this catalytic function must not missed in the future and new framework will be very likely in place.
This new framework will integrate the sustainable development agenda and will apply to all countries. This may offer significant opportunities to create new alliances in the CSOs camp, for instance. The environmental and development sectors will have to work more closely in the future. Also, the social pillar and the experience of the trade unions will be part and parcel of this new dynamic. But this is welcome change is also coming with some substantive challenges.
I would mostly like refer to nature of the emerging framework. The flaws and limitations of the MDGs have been endlessly debated since 2000; this acknowledged, they still offer a rather coherent picture of what is needed as well as of what donors should do (MDG 8). We have now taken stock of the fact that we have entered a new era where more players are at work; an era where the emerging countries are reclaiming their fair share of say in the global governance and they are eager to set their own rules. Busan offered a very good example of this dynamic: the “providers of South South cooperation” are asserting their peculiarities; the notion of the “common principles and differentiated commitments” sets the tone of the Busan declaration. If the “differentiated commitments” is the hallmark of a new era in development, as it really seems to be, it will not difficult to get a sense of the challenges ahead in forging a new post 2015 framework that might offer strong and undisputable guidance. If different players are committing to doing different things, getting a final coherent result will be enormously difficult, whit amazing challenges in terms of effectiveness and efficiency .
ldf
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