Source: EU News, nr. 5, June/July 2008
Many meetings have taken place in the last weeks around the preparation of the third High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to take place in Accra between 2 and 4 September. At European level, the Commission prepared an EU position for Accra to be discussed with the Development Group of the EU Council and the COREPER before 16 July. It is based on the conclusions adopted by the GAERC in May (see EU News 4).
On 19 and 20 June, the EU Heads of States adopted quite disappointing conclusions with regard to aid volumes and an action plan on the MDGs. The conclusions represent a mere confirmation of previous commitments. On an EU Agenda for Action on the MDGs, the Summit conclusions are even more disappointing: The European Council welcomes the EU Agenda for Action on MDGs. The EU proposes to its partners in development to share this agenda,…
The EU agenda for action on the MDGs, was adopted by the Council through a written procedure finalised on 18 June. It contains commitments by the EU to contribute to filling the gaps identified by UN organisations (WHO on health or UNESCO on education) in achieving the MDGs. The same kind of rough estimate and commitment is made on health with the expectation of increasing EU support by € 8 billion by 2010, of which almost €6 billion would be for Africa. The support in the sector of environment (including water and sanitation) would increase by 2 billion.
All targets and figures are based on the assumption that EU aid will increase according to the 2005 commitments (0.56% by 2010), that the share of EU aid in global ODA will remain at the level of 60% and that the percentage of EU aid allocated to the different MDGs will remain at its present level. The realisation of the action plan is therefore strongly dependent on an increase in EU aid volumes. Hence, the observed decrease of EU ODA in 2007 compared to 2006 and the reluctance of certain Member States to establish firm timetables on how aid increases will be delivered cast doubt over EU credibility and commitments on the MDGs.
In parallel, the European Commission has commissioned an “independent commentary” on progress towards the MDGs from a group of researchers led by former World Bank chief economist François Bourgignon. The paper aims to situate efforts to fulfill MDG commitments within the broader context of the changing world economy (financial crisis, high oil and food prices, adaptation to climate change). It will examine some conceptual issues such as the diversity of the nature of the goals (inputs, outputs, outcomes, process) and the absence of dimensions of equity. The final paper will be issued ahead of the September UN General Assembly, with the analysis intended to contribute to the re-formulation of strategies for the achievement of MDGs by 2015 and beyond. Given the political context mentioned above, this may be a tall order.
Note finally that the MDG Africa Steering Group (that brings together the leaders of multilateral development organizations under the leadership of the UN Secretary-General) has also elaborated an action plan that includes a series of recommendations and was launched at the African Union Summit in Sharm-El-Sheikh (Egypt) on 1st July.
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Showing posts with label mdgs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mdgs. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Oxfam warns G8 of credibility crunch
Oxfam just released a new report warning the G8 of a credibility loss regarding its policies . The organization predicts that the MDGs might not be achieved if current trends continue.“By 2010 we need to see $150bn in additional high-quality annual aid in order to reach the MDGs. […] rich-country leaders more commonly prefer to hide behind promises, polemic, and short-term self-interests. […] (They) have produced nearly a trillion dollars to bail out their reckless banks, yet cannot find $30bn in aid.”
Oxfam calls on the G8 and rich-country leaders to:
- stop burning food and start supporting poor farmers
- mend broken aid promises
- support health, education, water and sanitation for all
- support health, education, water and sanitation for all
- stop harming and start helping regarding climate change
- put women and girls first
- prioritize security for sustainable development
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Communication on Coherence: the reaction of the EU Coherence Programme
Source: Concord Flash 51, April 2008
Over the last few years the EU has taken on a number of fundamental development commitments, such as the adoption of the European Consensus in 2005, the processes on development financing and aid effectiveness, and the review of progress with reaching the Millennium Development Goals. The European Commission is responsible for monitoring actions and progress made within the European Union.
On 9 April the Commission published its long-awaited Communication on “Speeding up progress towards the Millennium Development Goals” and a “staff working paper” on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD). The EU Coherence Programme, which is a joint initiative of CONCORD and the Evert Vermeer Foundation, welcomes this further initiative as a sign of the EU’s commitment to policy coherence for development. However, political will is still needed to promote coherent policies for the benefit of developing countries.
With an eye to the Accra and Doha meetings later on in 2008, this communication can be seen as a first step in an attempt to formulate a common European position. It provides an insight into the progress made so far, highlights elements of special interest, and formulates priorities. The communication is accompanied by a number of staff working papers, focusing in substantial detail on issues such as aid for trade and policy coherence for development
The Communication focuses on migration, climate change and research. All three subjects are currently being intensively debated and the EU Coherence Programme wonders if the communication will be supported by most member states.
Regarding migration, the EU Coherence Programme favours the introduction of a legal framework for channelling the current migration flows from Africa. The proposal does not offer a solution to the problem of illegal migration, however, and could foster a brain drain involving highly skilled personnel in already sensitive sectors such as health care or education. Before the end of May the EU Coherence Programme will publish a case-study on the coherence of the current blue card proposal.
On the subject of biofuels, the EU Coherence Programme very much welcomes the emphasis on sustainability criteria. However, a regular review of the development impact of the current production of biofuels is needed, as the EU Coherence Programme stated in its case-study on biofuels. Finally, when it comes to research, the European Commission’s focus is mostly on the European benefits of a coherent research strategy. Also, the Commission states that ”These initiatives will be accompanied by development cooperation measures to strengthen research capacities in Development Countries”, without giving any concrete details.
The Staff Working Paper also concentrates on the priority areas of migration, climate change and research. But what about the nine remaining priority areas, such as agriculture, or fisheries? Given their importance for developing countries, further concretisation is definitely needed and the EU Coherence Programme would definitely welcome further working papers on these subjects.
The EU Coherence Programme sees the current communication as the first step in a process of further promoting coherent EU policies for the benefit of developing countries. The EU Coherence Programme hopes that its November 2007 publication, Policy Coherence for Development, a practical guide, has increased awareness amongst the Member States and Members of the European Parliament and has created strong support for measures to promote policy coherence. It is now up to the Member States to judge and show their political commitment to Policy Coherence for Development.
For more information contact Jasmine Burnley or Else Boonstra
Read more...
See also Euforic's newsfeeds on CONCORD, Evert Vermeer Foundation, and coherence
On 9 April the Commission published its long-awaited Communication on “Speeding up progress towards the Millennium Development Goals” and a “staff working paper” on Policy Coherence for Development (PCD). The EU Coherence Programme, which is a joint initiative of CONCORD and the Evert Vermeer Foundation, welcomes this further initiative as a sign of the EU’s commitment to policy coherence for development. However, political will is still needed to promote coherent policies for the benefit of developing countries.
With an eye to the Accra and Doha meetings later on in 2008, this communication can be seen as a first step in an attempt to formulate a common European position. It provides an insight into the progress made so far, highlights elements of special interest, and formulates priorities. The communication is accompanied by a number of staff working papers, focusing in substantial detail on issues such as aid for trade and policy coherence for development
The Communication focuses on migration, climate change and research. All three subjects are currently being intensively debated and the EU Coherence Programme wonders if the communication will be supported by most member states.
Regarding migration, the EU Coherence Programme favours the introduction of a legal framework for channelling the current migration flows from Africa. The proposal does not offer a solution to the problem of illegal migration, however, and could foster a brain drain involving highly skilled personnel in already sensitive sectors such as health care or education. Before the end of May the EU Coherence Programme will publish a case-study on the coherence of the current blue card proposal.
On the subject of biofuels, the EU Coherence Programme very much welcomes the emphasis on sustainability criteria. However, a regular review of the development impact of the current production of biofuels is needed, as the EU Coherence Programme stated in its case-study on biofuels. Finally, when it comes to research, the European Commission’s focus is mostly on the European benefits of a coherent research strategy. Also, the Commission states that ”These initiatives will be accompanied by development cooperation measures to strengthen research capacities in Development Countries”, without giving any concrete details.
The Staff Working Paper also concentrates on the priority areas of migration, climate change and research. But what about the nine remaining priority areas, such as agriculture, or fisheries? Given their importance for developing countries, further concretisation is definitely needed and the EU Coherence Programme would definitely welcome further working papers on these subjects.
The EU Coherence Programme sees the current communication as the first step in a process of further promoting coherent EU policies for the benefit of developing countries. The EU Coherence Programme hopes that its November 2007 publication, Policy Coherence for Development, a practical guide, has increased awareness amongst the Member States and Members of the European Parliament and has created strong support for measures to promote policy coherence. It is now up to the Member States to judge and show their political commitment to Policy Coherence for Development.
For more information contact Jasmine Burnley or Else Boonstra
Read more...
See also Euforic's newsfeeds on CONCORD, Evert Vermeer Foundation, and coherence
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Women and children first
A number of NGOs recently placed an 'advertorial' in the European Voice (5-11 July 2007). 07.07.07 marks the half-way point to reaching the MDGs but at the current rate of progress we will not meet the 2015 deadline.
Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is vital to the MDGs. Basic reproductive health services are affordable and cost-effective and would save millions of lives, yet donors provided in 2005 only 55% of the funding needed for family planning and safe motherhood. The ad calls on donors to prioritise these issues into development plans and policies, and to dedicate sufficient and sustainable funding to them. To sign up to this call, please send an email to: MDGs@mariestopes-org.be and tell donors it's time to meet their commitments.
About the MDGs: In September 2000, 189 United Nations member states committed to achieving eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. These goals include eradicating poverty and hunger, reducing infant mortality, ensuring maternal health, promoting gender equality and empowering women and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Read the 'advertorial'.
Universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights is vital to the MDGs. Basic reproductive health services are affordable and cost-effective and would save millions of lives, yet donors provided in 2005 only 55% of the funding needed for family planning and safe motherhood. The ad calls on donors to prioritise these issues into development plans and policies, and to dedicate sufficient and sustainable funding to them. To sign up to this call, please send an email to: MDGs@mariestopes-org.be and tell donors it's time to meet their commitments.
About the MDGs: In September 2000, 189 United Nations member states committed to achieving eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. These goals include eradicating poverty and hunger, reducing infant mortality, ensuring maternal health, promoting gender equality and empowering women and combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
Read the 'advertorial'.
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