MDG Summit ends, challenge now is to turn words into action

The UN MDG Summit ended today by adopting an Outcome Document and Action Plan that re-commits governments around the world to renewed efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

While an impressive number of countries were represented at the meeting in New York at the highest level, and while there were some encouraging new commitments made, civil society groups were not convinced that this summit generated sufficient momentum to achieve the 8 goals in the 5 years that are left.

The Outcome Document and Plan of Action got watered down in many places during the negotiation process from the original draft.

Canada played a role in weakening the original draft which read, "Achieving the target of 0.7% of national income for Official Development Assistance by developed countries" which got changed to "The fulfilment of all official development assistance commitments is crucial, including the commitments by many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national product (GNP) for ODA to developing countries by 2015." Adding the qualifier, "commitments by many developed countries" was meant to let those countries such as Canada and the US who have not made clear commitments to achieve the 0.7% aid target off the hook.

To be fair, Canada also made some positive suggestions on strengthening references to human rights and gender equality in the document as well which were adopted.

Canada also announced that it will commit $540 million (Cdn) to the Fund over three years (a 20% increase over the previous 3-year commitment of $450 million).

There were also some areas where the language represented a step forward. For example the some new wording for UN documents on "Promoting universal access to public and social services and providing social protection floors;  and Improving capacity to deliver quality services equitably;" have been included in this Outcome Document. There was also an endorsement of innovative financing mechanisms and a support for decent work. 

One other encouraging development today was the launch of the Secretary General's Global Strategy on Women's and Children's Health which mobilized over $40 billion in resources for women’s and children’ health which will save the lives of more than 16 million women and children. This builds on the Muskoka Initiative on Maternal and Child Health at the Canadian G8 Summit in June, which included $10 billion in pledges.

MDG Goals 4 and 5 on Maternal and Child Health are widely viewed as the goals where progress lags furthest behind. But civil society groups here in New York gathered for the Global Call to Action Against Poverty (GCAP) Global Assembly say it is Goal 8 on Partnership for Development is in even worse shape. While many developed country leaders such as Canada’s Prime Minister Harper and German Chancellor Merkle lectured developing countries about accountability, they have not delivered on the promises to increase aid and achieve the 0.7% aid target. Some such as Italy and Canada have cut or frozen their aid budgets. And they have not delivered on promises to cancel debts or fix trade rules. Their lack of action on climate change and regulation of the financial sector have caused huge setbacks for developing countries who are making serious efforts to achieve the MDGs.

The challenge now will be to continue to keep public pressure on global leaders to turn their promising words into concrete actions. Civil society and citizen’s movements have a critical role to play in holding leaders to their promises and keeping them accountable.