The recently-released report of the High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda will be launched in Addis Ababa on 5 August 2013 by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
The report, “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development,” sets out a universal agenda to eradicate extreme poverty from the face of the earth by 2030, and deliver on the promise of sustainable development.
The report calls upon the world to rally around a new Global Partnership that offers hope and a role to every person in the world.
The Panel was established by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-¬moon and co-chaired by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron.
During the May release, the President of Liberia said: “This High Level Panel report is the product of an intense nine-month global consultation, equipped with the views of governments, civil society, academia and the private sector.
Together and in consultation with a broad range of actors we have considered the challenges of the 21st century, challenges like unsustainable economic growth, conflict and climate change, but we have also identified opportunities, such as modern technologies and innovative coalitions.
This report sets out a new vision for a world equipped to tackle the hurdles to human development and to capitalize on new opportunities. We hope that it will prove a valuable input into the global conversation on the post-2015 development agenda and that the principles and shifts we identify will help to frame the ongoing dialogue.”
For his part, the President of Indonesia said: “Besides capturing inputs from as many sources as possible, the most remarkable fact of this report is that we, the panelists and co-¬Chairs alike, were able to rise above national interest and address the Global Partnership and Sustainable Development issues with a true universal perspective”.
Adding his voice on the report, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom said: “This report sets out a clear roadmap for eradicating extreme poverty by 2030. We need a new global partnership, to finish the job on the current Millennium Development Goals, tackle the underlying causes of poverty, and champion sustainable development.”
The Roadmap
In the report, the Panel calls for the new post-2015 goals to drive five big transformative shifts:
• LeaveNoOneBehind After 2015 we should move from reducing to ending extreme poverty, in all it forms We should ensure that no person – regardless of ethnicity, gender, geography, disability, race or other status – is denied basic economic opportunities and human rights.
•Put Sustainable Development at the Core. We have to integrate the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability. We must act now to slow the alarming pace of climate change and environmental degradation, which pose unprecedented threats to humanity.
• Transform Economies for Jobs and Inclusive Growth A profound economic transformation can end extreme poverty and improve livelihoods, by harnessing innovation, technology, and the potential of business. More diversified economies, with equal opportunities for all, can drive social inclusion, especially for young people, and foster sustainable consumption and production patterns.
• Build Peace and Effective, Open and Accountable Institutions for All. Freedom from conflict and violence is the most fundamental human entitlement, and the essential foundation for building peaceful and prosperous societies. At the same time, people the world over expect their governments to be honest, accountable, and responsive to their needs. We are calling for a fundamental shift – to recognize peace and good governance as a core element of wellbeing, not an optional extra.
• Forge a New Global Partnership. A new spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and mutual accountability must underpin the post-2015 agenda. This new partnership should be based on a common understanding of our shared humanity, based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.
It should be centred around people, including those affected by poverty and exclusion, women, youth, the aged, disabled persons, and indigenous peoples. It should include civil society organizations, multilateral institutions, local and national governments, the scientific and academic community, businesses, and private philanthropy.
