Informal CODEV Meeting

Jean Bossuyt –ECDPM Head of Strategy

Vilnius, 3 October 2013

Exploring the key implementation challenges for the post-2015 agenda

Section 1: SETTING THE SCENE What is likely to change in the post 2015 POLICY

framework? What do we mean by “transformation”?

Section 2: THREE COUNTRY CASE STUDIES to illustrate the shift from the MDG paradigm to the

post-2015 agenda (including in terms of “transformation”)

to assess current donor (EU) responses and challenges for future external action

Section 3: IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES POST-2015

Structure of the presentation

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WHAT IS LIKELY TO CHANGE?

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY« TRANSFORMATION »?

1) SETTING THE SCENE

A changing context Changing global patterns of

power – donor-recipient type relationship of past

Changing in understanding of global poverty – focus on multiple dimensions

Future challenges Demographic challenges – (growing world population, ageing societies) Environmental challenges – (climate change, unsustainable consumption, loss of land and biodiversity) Economic Challenges - (growing middle class, increasing trade and capital flows, increasing South-South economic relations)

Why is change necessary for the post-2015 framework? Lessons from MDGs Lack of participation in process –

post-2015 process more inclusive Focus on social sector, reduced

attention to factors important for structural transformation

This led to rather technical and a-political approach

MDGs masked growing inequalities Lack of commitments by richer

countries Omittance of important

development issues

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Go beyond MDGs, to fulfill vision of promoting sustainable development

for all – Business as usual not an option

New elements in the emerging post-2015 agenda

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Proposed new elements Required policy developmentsOne overarching framework for poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Integrated approach towards tackling social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability, creating synergies between the three dimensions

Inclusiveness Structures that allow for active participation, accountability mechanisms and empowerment

Transforming Economies Focus on profound structural economic transformation, decent job creation and inclusive growth while ensuring sustainable patterns of consumption and production

‘Leave no one behind’ and tackle inequality

Ensuring that no-one is left behind and that inequality does not widen requires addressing structural power and socio-economic inequalities. The HLP proposes to track progress towards goals at all levels of income and disaggregated by various groups.

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Proposed new elements Required policy developmentsGuarantee basic living standards Provide access to quality health and education,

access to water and sanitation, food security, establish social protection floors for all, …

No development without Peace & Security

Address the root causes of conflict and violence and build stable, honest, accountable and responsive institutions, build stable and resilient societies.

A rights-based-approach Requires addressing justice, equality, equity, good governance and power imbalances impeding the delivery of rights. Empowerment women, youth and marginalized groups Accountability

‘Beyond Aid’ Policy Coherence for Development and Global Collective Action, New partnerships in the spirit of cooperation and mutual accountability, clear responsibilities for all parties and a broader set of means of implementation, such as new financial instruments or dialogue and knowledge sharing

Universal Agenda Everyone shares responsibility towards achieving the goals and creating favourable environments for sustainable development

Global transformations to support national level

transformation

Transformations at national level

The concept(s) of transformation in the post-2015 debate

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Economic transformation

• Increase productivity• Diversify economic

activities and relationships

Social transformation• Greater equity in

access to services• Social protection

• Stability as prerequisite for economic

transformation

Transformation in institutions• Without sound institutions, no sustainable

development (HLP report)• Transparency and Accountability, Openness

• Inclusive political processes

Environmental transformation

• Reduce unsustainable use of natural resources

POLITICS POWER

RELATIONS ANDINCENTIVES

WHAT TYPE OF EXTERNAL ACTION?

INTEGRATED APPROACHES

(INTERNATIONAL) DRIVERS OF

CHANGE COLLECTIVE

ACTION

NEGOTIATION

CITIZEN ACTION

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR DEVELOPMENT PRACTICE?

Major change of “software” required

What “animal” are we talking about?

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Integrating politics into development: an ongoing challenge

How much “leverage” the EU still has?

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What incentives for change?

Remaining relevant in the post 2015 era

Tunisia

Ethiopia

Ukraine

2) THREE CASE STUDIES

Tunisia1) 2000s: Tunisia excels in terms of MDG performance

Strong health, education and extreme poverty eradication indicators

2) 2010-11 reality check: increasing pressure on elitist and centralized development vision system crumbles

Missing dimensions: inequality, employment, human, political and civil rights, economic opportunity…

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Tunisia

3) Ongoing transformation processes in Tunisia:High degree of navel-gazing; root causes of uprising remain largely neglected:

1. Employment and social dialogue decent jobs2. Regional disparities and uneven economic

opportunity inclusive growth

4) Current donor responses:Support to democratization and political developmentsBlind scramble for Tunisia’s civil society (5 different mapping studies since 2011)

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Net ODA received in Tunisia

Tunisia5) Some implications for the EU and development community

1. Translating call for “dignity, freedom, respect and social justice” to cooperation priorities Agenda setting

2. Act as a catalyst (EU and MS by far the biggest donor) for Member states and other DPs Coordination

3. Invest in transfer of knowledge4. Review relations with Tunisia

across European external action Testing ground for Policy Coherence for Development

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Very good on paper…

Ethiopia1) Good student of the MDG paradigm and longstanding donor darling

Strong growth figuresMDG report 2013: “Ethiopia has made tremendous strides in eradicating extreme poverty, achieving universal primary education, promoting gender equality and empowering women and improving maternal health”

Island of stability in the region!

2) Reality Check:Deeply rooted inequalityLimited freedom of expression, consistent human rights violationsLittle respect for social and economic rights (labour rights!) Page 20ECDPM

3) Ongoing transformation processes in EthiopiaDevelopment vision based on technocratic modernizationComponents: FDI, WTO integration and Massive industrial and infrastructure projectsOmissions: governance, fundamental freedoms, socio-economic indicators, labour rights… (=MDG omissions)

4) Current donor responses:Investments in infrastructure, rural development and macro-economic governance and regional integrationEU: history of General Budget Support and preparation of GGDC

Ethiopia

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Ethiopia5) Some implications for the EU and development community

1.Redirect cooperation to include a real and inclusive transformative agenda contextualization

2.Focus on the neglected dimensions of development:• Inclusive growth• Tackling inequality• Political, civil and human rights Rights-based approach

3.Need to move towards a realistic use of leverage in cooperation with Ethiopia

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Ukraine1) Performance from an MDG perspective

Adapted MDGs (7 goals, 15 targets, 33 indicators)Uneven performance (below progress in region)

2) Reality check : key challenges for stability and development (beyond the MDG framework)

Growing inequalities (not only economic but also along political, social, ethnic-cultural lines)Urban-rural divideDeteriorating standards of democracy and rule of lawAddressing the challenge of climatic change?

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Ukraine3) Ongoing/Planned transformations in Ukraine

Modernization of the economyUnclear political reform agendaJoining the “European club”

4) Adequacy current EU responses to support transformation in Ukraine

Association Agreement as an incentive for reformUse of leverage (conditionalities on democracy/rule of law)New deals based on common interests (e.g. Black Sea Cooperation)

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Ukraine5) Implementation challenges Post-2015

Combining geopolitical, economy and security interests with promotion of values (democracy, HR)

Effectively supporting institutional development and democratic governance, provision of high quality public services

Inclusive dialogue to facilitate reduction of structural inequalities

Technology and capacity transferPage 25ECDPM

3) EXPLORING KEY IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES

OF THE POST-2015 AGENDA

So far, much discussion on ‘What?’ but little on the ‘How?’

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• Challenge 1: Recognizing and working with complexity, uncertainty and dynamics in socio-ecological, political and economic systems. Post-2015 may prioritize areas where less knowledge on how to make progress exists – more experimental approaches necessary?

• Challenge 2: - Squaring the circle between global goals and national targets: Global goals are only effectively executed when resonating with national plans and targets. Each country to determine management of own transition(s).

Key implementation issues & challenges

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• Challenge 3: Multi-actor approaches likely to be come the norm. This will imply systematic negotiations between actors with competing interests. Mediation and brokerage roles.

• Challenge 4: Subsidiarity principle – implementation important at the least centralized scale in ways that are coherent with overall vision – Are local structures/ leaders prepared to implement new goals? How to support local activism to make change happen?

• Challenge 5: Integrated approaches are needed. Improvements in one domain may be undermined by failures in others. Synergies need to be sought. In this framework also need for PCD.

Key implementation issues & challenges

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• Challenge 6: Value of financial transfers will diminish. Growing importance of exchange of knowledge on how to carry out major transformations (potential added value of EU experiences)

• Challenge 7: Crafting of the required implementation and accountability framework to monitor progress at national, regional and global level through an inclusive process will take time.

• Challenge 8: Need for major overhaul institutional set-up, processes, approaches, skills and capacities of “donor agencies”

Key implementation issues & challenges

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Thank youwww.ecdpm.org

www.slideshare.net/ecdpm

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