The year 2015 is going to be a critical year for humanity. A year where the world agrees on a successor framework for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that is universal in nature and places people and the planet at its center.
Until now, this process was led by the Open Working Group (OWG) of the United Nations General Assembly. The OWG was charged with overseeing an inclusive and transparent process to propose a set of Sustainable Development Goals for the consideration of all 193 Member States. In July, the group put forward its proposal for 17 goals and 169 targets that seek to ensure that the work of the MDGs is continued; including the aims of protecting human rights and our planet’s ecosystems.
The recommendations outlined by the OWG were reinforced by the UN Secretary-General, who recently released his highly anticipated post-2015 synthesis report, entitled “The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet”. The Report is a significant milestone in the post-2015 process; calling for an ambitious framework, with equality and equity at the core of the sustainable development agenda. It also takes a critical look beyond just the goals to consider other elements that are essential for a transformative post-2015 agenda: vision and narrative; means of implementation (MOI); monitoring, reporting and evaluating progress—including the role of data; and ensuring the UN is “fit for purpose” to deliver.
The report captures many of the key issues raised by civil society. At a time when civic space is being restricted across the world through dubious legislation and persecution of human rights defenders—including those seeking political, social, economic, gender and environmental justice—the Secretary-General’s report emphasises the importance of participatory democracy, free, safe, and peaceful societies as both enablers and outcomes of development. Crucially, it describes access to information, and freedom of expression, assembly, and association as vital components of sustainable development.
Notably, the central placement of tackling inequality in the post-2015 agenda is a great step forward. Another positive highlight is the support for universal health care coverage, access, and affordability. The report also calls for a “properly regulated” and “responsible” private sector, and for the transformation of business models to create “shared value.” Importantly, the report urges for the creation of an inclusive economy that goes beyond GDP. Support for marginalized groups, including decent employment, social protection and access to financial services, are also emphasised. The report further emphasises that civil society must continue to provide input into the post-2015 negotiations and must act as partners in the ensuing implementation.
To address climate change and other environmental concerns, the Secretary-General emphasises the need for “planet-sensitive” development. In particular, the reference to “planetary boundaries” is a significant acknowledgement that our natural resources are finite and that responsible resource management must be a part of the roadmap for the next 15 years.
The Report also offers some conceptual guidance on how the goals can be communicated. Six essential elements are introduced for delivering the SDGs: dignity, people, prosperity, our planet, justice, and partnership. The elements are meant to tie together the disparate goals and targets under a cohesive banner of themes. However, there are concerns that they are too vague and will add unnecessary complexity to an already detailed agenda meant to be branded by the well-established elements of “sustainable development” (environment, economy, and society).
Moving forward, the key challenge will be to get governments to agree to ambitious, game-changing targets for the new goals and commit the necessary funds to achieve the goals. Civil society has a pivotal role to play in this regard to ensure that governments agree to, and deliver on, a truly transformative framework.
Secondly, over the next nine months of negotiations, it will be vital to ensure robust accountability mechanisms are in place to guarantee the full-implementation of this historic agenda. The new development goals are far too important for us to leave to governments to self-report on. Instead we need more people-powered accountability in which citizens around the world take advantage of data and technology to monitor progress on these goals. This is already happening outside of the United Nations, through global programmes that look at how citizens can use new technology to hold those in power accountable.
With negotiations for the global goals scheduled between January and September 2015, it is critical that the views of civil society are reflected in the final outcome and that we continue to push hard during the final stage of what has been a long journey. The UN Secretary-General has done an admirable job in synthesising our collective aspirations; now we need to stay focused and make sure our leaders deliver.
Dr. Danny Sriskandarajah has been Secretary-General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation since January 2013. His previous posts include Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Interim Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, and Deputy Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research. Danny is the author of numerous reports and academic articles on international migration and economic development, writes and appears regularly in the media on a range of topics. He sits on several boards, including those of the Baring Foundation, International Alert and Ockenden International, and has been a consultant to several international organisations. He holds a degree from the University of Sydney, and an MPhil and DPhil from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. In 2012, he was honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. He Tweets at @civicusSG.
Photo: UN/Eskinder Debebe.
This article was originally published in the Diplomatic Courier's January/February 2015 print edition.
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Achieving a Road to Dignity by 2030: Reflections on the UN Secretary-General’s Post-2015 Synthesis Report
February 4, 2015
The year 2015 is going to be a critical year for humanity. A year where the world agrees on a successor framework for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that is universal in nature and places people and the planet at its center.
Until now, this process was led by the Open Working Group (OWG) of the United Nations General Assembly. The OWG was charged with overseeing an inclusive and transparent process to propose a set of Sustainable Development Goals for the consideration of all 193 Member States. In July, the group put forward its proposal for 17 goals and 169 targets that seek to ensure that the work of the MDGs is continued; including the aims of protecting human rights and our planet’s ecosystems.
The recommendations outlined by the OWG were reinforced by the UN Secretary-General, who recently released his highly anticipated post-2015 synthesis report, entitled “The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives and Protecting the Planet”. The Report is a significant milestone in the post-2015 process; calling for an ambitious framework, with equality and equity at the core of the sustainable development agenda. It also takes a critical look beyond just the goals to consider other elements that are essential for a transformative post-2015 agenda: vision and narrative; means of implementation (MOI); monitoring, reporting and evaluating progress—including the role of data; and ensuring the UN is “fit for purpose” to deliver.
The report captures many of the key issues raised by civil society. At a time when civic space is being restricted across the world through dubious legislation and persecution of human rights defenders—including those seeking political, social, economic, gender and environmental justice—the Secretary-General’s report emphasises the importance of participatory democracy, free, safe, and peaceful societies as both enablers and outcomes of development. Crucially, it describes access to information, and freedom of expression, assembly, and association as vital components of sustainable development.
Notably, the central placement of tackling inequality in the post-2015 agenda is a great step forward. Another positive highlight is the support for universal health care coverage, access, and affordability. The report also calls for a “properly regulated” and “responsible” private sector, and for the transformation of business models to create “shared value.” Importantly, the report urges for the creation of an inclusive economy that goes beyond GDP. Support for marginalized groups, including decent employment, social protection and access to financial services, are also emphasised. The report further emphasises that civil society must continue to provide input into the post-2015 negotiations and must act as partners in the ensuing implementation.
To address climate change and other environmental concerns, the Secretary-General emphasises the need for “planet-sensitive” development. In particular, the reference to “planetary boundaries” is a significant acknowledgement that our natural resources are finite and that responsible resource management must be a part of the roadmap for the next 15 years.
The Report also offers some conceptual guidance on how the goals can be communicated. Six essential elements are introduced for delivering the SDGs: dignity, people, prosperity, our planet, justice, and partnership. The elements are meant to tie together the disparate goals and targets under a cohesive banner of themes. However, there are concerns that they are too vague and will add unnecessary complexity to an already detailed agenda meant to be branded by the well-established elements of “sustainable development” (environment, economy, and society).
Moving forward, the key challenge will be to get governments to agree to ambitious, game-changing targets for the new goals and commit the necessary funds to achieve the goals. Civil society has a pivotal role to play in this regard to ensure that governments agree to, and deliver on, a truly transformative framework.
Secondly, over the next nine months of negotiations, it will be vital to ensure robust accountability mechanisms are in place to guarantee the full-implementation of this historic agenda. The new development goals are far too important for us to leave to governments to self-report on. Instead we need more people-powered accountability in which citizens around the world take advantage of data and technology to monitor progress on these goals. This is already happening outside of the United Nations, through global programmes that look at how citizens can use new technology to hold those in power accountable.
With negotiations for the global goals scheduled between January and September 2015, it is critical that the views of civil society are reflected in the final outcome and that we continue to push hard during the final stage of what has been a long journey. The UN Secretary-General has done an admirable job in synthesising our collective aspirations; now we need to stay focused and make sure our leaders deliver.
Dr. Danny Sriskandarajah has been Secretary-General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation since January 2013. His previous posts include Director of the Royal Commonwealth Society, Interim Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, and Deputy Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research. Danny is the author of numerous reports and academic articles on international migration and economic development, writes and appears regularly in the media on a range of topics. He sits on several boards, including those of the Baring Foundation, International Alert and Ockenden International, and has been a consultant to several international organisations. He holds a degree from the University of Sydney, and an MPhil and DPhil from the University of Oxford, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. In 2012, he was honoured by the World Economic Forum as a Young Global Leader. He Tweets at @civicusSG.
Photo: UN/Eskinder Debebe.
This article was originally published in the Diplomatic Courier's January/February 2015 print edition.
