Kwanzaa Accord 2020 & Sankofa Renaissance 2063 Update 20150723

1.THE KWANZAA ACCORD

The Kwanzaa Accord ("the Accord") is a grassroots social contract between the peoples of Bermuda

and of the United States of America to promote the global mantra "unity in the community world

vibe, fighting with peace and not for it" under the auspices of an African Union registered non-

governmental organization called the Friends of the African Union (FAU).

The Accord was inaugurated on January 1, 2013 in recognition of the 150th anniversary of the

commencement of US emancipation in 1863 and the 180th anniversary of the Abolition of Slavery

Act of 1833 within the former British Empire. The Accord has been designed to promote seven years

of reconciliation between all peoples impacted by the African slave trade - described as a "third

emancipation" from the vestiges of mental slavery.

The Accord will climax on January 1, 2020 following a global commemoration of the 400th

anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in the British colony of Jamestown, Virginia in

1619. A sub-group of this community was also sent to Bermuda. These first Africans had been taken

captive from the Kongo Kingdom on the shores of the Kwanzaa River in the country that is now

known as Angola. The people of Bermuda had played a strategic role in this first experiment in

slavery 3 years earlier in 1616 and they are now taking a 21st century leadership role to seek truth

and reconciliation for this "original sin".

As part of this global strategy, the local Bermuda organizers have proposed to rehabilitate the Royal

Naval Dockyard that once hosted the British Admiralty in the 19th century as a Maritime Academy

and Studio Themepark (MAST) dedicated to global peacemaking. It is proposed that MAST will be

underwritten by a public private partnership between government, industry and civil society to

expedite the fiduciary transformation of Bermuda's economic architecture in harmony with the

general principles of the Accord.

The first priority of the Accord will be to demonstrate how public priorities can be restructured to

promote economic expansion, job creation and community reinvestment in "marginal at risk"

constituencies. MAST will serve as an offshore superhub for transatlantic cooperation in shipping,

telecommunications, healthcare, entertainment and green technology industries between the

Americas and other countries in CARICOM, the EU, Asia and the AU. Once this inaugural Bermuda

model is in place, the Accord process will be duplicated in similar communities in the US and the

developing world.

The project is being spearheaded in Bermuda by Spanish Town Entertainment as part of its Sounds

of Sanctuary program for social cohesion. US stakeholders include Wilcommnet LLC, GBI Inc.,

PVJOBS and Hargrove Engineering.

1

2. COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT

The Bermuda bureau of the FAU has been commissioned to serve as the “financial solutions

provider” of the Kwanzaa Accord to the peoples of the African Diaspora and their host countries.

This gives Bermuda an unprecedented opportunity to shape new terms of trade with Africa for an

emerging niche market that represents an estimated billion people in the Americas, Europe and

Asia.

The North American division of the FAU will be the primary Bermuda customer for risk management

solutions in banking, housing, green technology, wet infrastructure, telecommunications and

entertainment markets. Many of these solutions will be modeled at the proposed MAST Superhub

at the Royal Naval Dockyard.

The Bermuda Government can play a signature role in this regard by becoming a participant in the

National Community Reinvestment Coalition Annual Conference on March 12-15 at the Capital

Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC in collaboration with the FAU. (http://www.ncrc.org/conference/)

This event will enable to Bermuda to emerge as the leading offshore financial center to actively

engage in the development of new community reinvestment standards for minorities in partnership

with US domestic agencies such as the FDIC, HUD, and the Treasury Department.

This collaboration can also help the Bermuda Government to accommodate best practices in

restructuring its own community reinvestment criteria.

The Kwanzaa Accord 2020 &Sankofa Renaissance 2063

Sankofa: "It is not wrong to go back for that which you haveforgotten." .Sankofa teaches us that we must go back to our roots inorder to move forward.

Similarly, the Washington, D.C. National Museum of African AmericanHistory and Culture celebrates Sankofa as a spiritual companionguiding our epic journey inspiring cultural memory

The Sankofa Passage in Leimert Park links all Diasporans to Africantraditions that reconnect the family, transcending language and location,to commemorate the trials and survival of our Maafa (holocaust) throughthe Middle Passage from the Cradle of Humankind in Africa.

Kwanzaa was developed 1966 – 1967 to “give Blacks an opportunity tocelebrate themselves and their history, rather than simply imitate thepractice of the dominant society. The first Africans brought to Americacame from the area of the Kwanzaa River in Angola and the name derivesfrom the Swahili phrase matunda ya kwanza, meaning "first fruits of theharvest.

The Kwanzaa Accord elevates the survival culture of the plantations to atransformational experience that celebrates our solidarity, creativity andhappiness to be together

The Kwanzaa Accord 2013-2020,is the inaugural 7 year campaign ofthe a new social contract on the frontline of the global pursuit ofhappiness. envisioning worldwide celebration of the Kwanzaa Principals 7days a week, Sunday through Saturday, aligning with the AfricanUnion’s Agenda 2063 among all peoples of African Descent, regardlessof citizenship, language or race.

"AJ Ambassadors" represent "Unity in the Community World Vibe,Fighting With Peace and Not For It" based on the Bermuda Gombeycultural mosaic of European, Indigenous Tribes and Africa, tracing its

heritage back to Ghana Africa and invite all the world to recognize andcelebrate our "one ness".

The Black Caucus of California Community Colleges which is open tomembership from students at all students and alumni from institutionsthroughout the state (including Charles Drew Medical University, the onlyHistorically Black University (HBCU) west of the Mississippi) adapted theKwanzaa Accord 2013-2020 and Ambassador AJ Gombey as mascot.

Five Points Youth Foundation provides the 501c3 framework toempower all community stakeholders with entrepreneurial, educationaland vocational curriculum, training and resources locally, nationally andglobally through Global Partnerships for Development, in compliancewith the United Nations’ Global Compact to champion the SankofaRenaissance 2063 and celebrate unity in the global community.

For information, contact Andrew Williams Jr. * +1-888-895-5098 * [email protected]

2013-2020 Kwanzaa Accord via Congress of African People (CAP)

Congress of African People (CAP), Los Angeles, welcomes the opportunity to engage with The AJ

Action Team (AJAX), in the promotion and implementation of these Kwanzaa Accords as they are

outlined in the document commemorating the 150th Anniversary, of the Emancipation Proclamation

extending the rights of liberty to African descendants impacted by the Holocaust of Enslavement.

Be it resolved, that we will work in concert with our Bermuda and Global Family to ensure the the

rights which were extended 150 years ago, are now, starting in 2003, given the opportunity of being

exercised and implementing in a more meaningful and substantive way. As African people, we affirm

our right of Self-Determination to shape a vision for our people to become free, proud and

productive.

Be it resolved, that the value basis for our unification are embodied in the Seven Principles (Nguzo

Saba) of Kwanzaa, Unity (Umoja), Self Determination (Kujichagulia), Collective Work and

Responsibility (Ujima), Cooperative Economics (Ujamaa), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Faith

(Imani). These principles have sacred significance to our people and struggle, in that they were

designed by our African Ancestors and passed down through the generations to guide our work and

contribution to human progress.

Be it resolved, that CAP applauds the efforts of AJAX for embarking on a path of Sustainable

Economic Development, Industry Building and Financial Independence which will serve as a model for

Economic Growth and Prosperity of our respective communities, the African continent and its

diaspora.

Be it further resolved, that CAP will work to assist in producing and promoting a program of Cultural

Restoration and Renaissance in the key areas of Fashion, Art, Music and Entertainment (F.A.M.E.),

based in the Los Angeles Leimert Park, (Pan African Village) Community and to coordinate our

activities and progress with our Bermuda, Diasporan and African Continental family.

And lastly, it is the hope and intent of all of these efforts, to create a New African Man and Woman,

conscious of their historical role, and who are prepared to step back on the "Stage of Human

History, as free, proud and productive people".

Mwalimu Wesley Kabaila

Simbamaat Consultants - Principal

Blog - www.simbamaat.blogspot.com www.sankofapress.blogspot.com

The Kwanzaa Accord 2013-2020

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of legal enforcement of US Emancipation at midnight on January 1, 1863, the elders and advocates of the Leimert Park Community in Los Angeles have resolved to become the lead organizers of a seven year campaign called the Kwanzaa Accord to promote atonement, reconciliation and redemption of America’s “original sin” of chattel slavery using the precepts of the annual Kwanzaa Festival. The Kwanzaa Accord is inspired by the biblical story of Joseph who foresaw seven years of plenty followed by years of famine, with the exception that the present state of human affairs is reversed - with seven years of sacrifice to be followed by seven years of recovery.

The campaign will be punctuated with the global commemoration of the 400 year anniversary of the first arrival of African slaves at Virginia in 1619. The campaign will ensure that Kwanzaa and the Seven Principles (Nguzo Saba) embodied in it, will be celebrated throughout the year, starting with a “Good Luck Almanac” (nicknamed the “Bahati Saba”) that divides the western calendar into the seven themes of Kwanzaa as a means of benchmarking collective activities regardless of religious, cultural or social differences.

Each theme is extended over a seven week period, leaving a surplus of 3 shoulder weeks for Christmas, Kwanzaa and New Beginnings.

This African Value System shall serve as the foundational Principles of Unity, around which our Pan African Community can be mobilized to achieve our collective Renaissance Goals, in this International Decade for People of African Descent.

The Kwanzaa Accord is designed to restore the primacy of the permacultural sciences that fueled the rebirth of modern civilization and were perverted by the Atlantic slave trade to promote the ideology of racial subjugation. The Good Luck Almanac will serve as a central clearinghouse for holistic, self-help programs that promote the restoration of a common agenda for wealth creation and sharing in the post-industrial era.

Ambassador AJ Gombey represents “The African Child In All of Us” in truth and fact, as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has designated the province including Gauteng, South Africa as “The Cradle of Humankind”

Signatories to this Kwanzaa Accord agree to practice and demonstrate “Unity In the Community World Vibe, By Fighting With Peace Not For It” through Collaborative Arts and Technology that advocate and transcend the United Nations Millennium Development Goals to include the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations in compliance with the United Nations Global Compact.

Copyright 1-1-13 * Andrew Williams Jr. * [email protected] * 1-888-802-8599 * trnintl.trn.tv * #AWilliamsJr

2015-2020 Caring for Climate Plan of ActionFive Points Youth Foundation, Inc. adapts the Federal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) Integrated Whole Community Model locally and nationally for community resiliency,as well as the United Nations Global Compact Local Networks internationally in support ofCaring for Climate, Business 4 Peace and other U.N. Initiatives 2015-2020 via GlobalPartnerships for Development using collaborative arts and technology to address the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda and Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All)throughout the Diaspora and the Earth, in compliance with the African Union Convention onPreventing and Combating Corruption as to African Union 6th Region and Agenda 2063.

Social EntrepreneurshipSocial entrepreneurship is the process of pursuing innovative solutions to create and sustainsocial value. We relentlessly pursue opportunities to serve this mission, while continuouslyadapting and learning. We draw upon appropriate thinking in both the business and nonprofitworlds and operate in all kinds of organizations: large and small; new and old; religious andsecular; nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid, locally, nationally and globally.

Neighborhood Empowerment and Economic DevelopmentEconomic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policy makersand communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area.Economic development is also referred to as the quantitative and qualitative changes in theeconomy. Such actions can involve multiple areas including development of human capital,critical infrastructure, regional competitiveness, environmental sustainability, social inclusion,health, safety, literacy, and other initiatives.

STREAAM Education InitiativesSTEM education is an acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology,engineering, and mathematics. “R” represents “rivers” and the whole acronym reflects “Water”as the basic necessity for all life on Earth. We consider Art and Architecture to be corecomponents in schooling from kindergarten through college to improve competitiveness intechnology development. It has implications for workforce development, national securityconcerns and immigration policy and our commitment to “regenerative” development solutions.

Youth, Women, At-Risk and Unmet Needs Empowerment ProgramsEmpowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, educational, and/or economicstrength of individuals and communities.

Civic Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility and Community ResiliencyCivic engagement is a means of working together to make a difference in the civic life of ourcommunities and developing the combination of skills, knowledge, values, and motivation inorder to make that difference.

Andrew Williams, Jr. President Five Points Youth Foundation, Inc. 1820 West Florence Avenue Los Angeles, California 90047 EarthsShow777.org Office: +1-323-752-1180 EncounterLA.com Mobile: +1-424-222-1997 FPYFinternational.org

Sustainable Development Agenda 2015-2030 1) End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2) End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

3) Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages

4) Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

5) Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6) Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

7) Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

8) Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all

9) Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation, and foster innovation

10) Reduce inequality within and among countries

11) Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12) Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13) Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (taking note of agreements made by the UNFCCC forum)

14) Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

15) Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification and halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss

16) Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17) Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development

sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabledevelopmentgoals

http://unfccc.int/2860.php

Andrew Williams, Jr. President Five Points Youth Foundation, Inc. 1820 West Florence Avenue Los Angeles, California 90047 Office: +1-323-752-1180 http://fivepointsyouthfoundation.org

Invitation to Businesses, Non-Profits, NGOs, Business Associations, Schools and Cities:

To join the United Nations Global Compact & FPYF Business for Peace Caring for Climate Campaign 2015-2020

Please join and invite 10 others each month 2015-2020 to join us to promote social justice and human rights, while combating Inequality and Climate Change through building community resiliency locally and globally via the United Nations Global Compact Local Network Framework connecting Nations, Indigenous Peoples and Peoples of African Descent worldwide using the Global Compact Management Model:

1. Commit to adapt the Ten Principles in your organizational and operational model. 2. Assess and focus your impact on United Nations and Global Compact issues. 3. Define goals and tasks to invite at least 10 new members each month to join

UNGC 2015-2020 4. Implement your plan of action. 5. Measure the results each month. 6. Communicate your successes through press releases, PSAs and to FPYF.

Five Points Youth Foundation will assist, coordinate and publicize your efforts (Online: http://facebook.com/groups/EncounterThinkTank) with those in your own and Local Networks where you have affiliate contacts so that you meet the requirements of the Communication on Engagement to be filed with the United Nations Global Compact The first step is for your organization’s top executive to complete the attached Commitment Letter and upload it and email us a copy when you register (free to non-profits and ngos):https://www.unglobalcompact.org/HowToParticipate/index.html Thank you, Skype: Andrew.williams.jr President Toll Free: +1-888-802-8599 [email protected] Mobile: +1-424-222-1997

http://facebook.com/groups/EncounterThinkTank

https://www.unglobalcompact.org/HowToParticipate/index.html

mailto:[email protected]

Andrew Williams, Jr.

President

Five Points Youth Foundation, Inc.

1820 West Florence Avenue

Los Angeles, California 90047

Office: +1-323-752-1180 http://fivepointsyouthfoundation.org

We Support the United Nations Global Compact The Ten Principles

The UN Global Compact's ten principles in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-

corruption enjoy universal consensus and are derived from:

• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights AND Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous

Peoples

• The International Labour Organization's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at

Work

• The Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

• The United Nations Convention Against Corruption

The UN Global Compact asks companies to embrace, support and enact, within their sphere of

influence, a set of core values in the areas of human rights, labour standards, the environment and anti-

corruption:

Human Rights

• Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed

human rights; and

• Principle 2: make sure that they are not complicit in human rights abuses.

Labour

• Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition

of the right to collective bargaining;

• Principle 4: the elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labour;

• Principle 5: the effective abolition of child labour; and

• Principle 6: the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.

Environment

• Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;

• Principle 8: undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility; and

• Principle 9: encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly

technologies.

Anti-Corruption

• Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all its forms, including extortion and bribery.

Sample Commitment Letter for Non-Business Organizations [Date] [Official Organization Letterhead] H.E. Ban Ki-Moon Secretary-General United Nations New York, NY 10017 USA Dear Mr. Secretary General, I am pleased to confirm that [name of the organization] supports the ten principles of the UN Global Compact with respect to human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption. With this commitment, we express our intent to support the Global Compact advancing these principles, and will make a clear statement of this commitment to our stakeholders and the general public. We also pledge to participate in and engage with the UN Global Compact in the following way(s): [please insert description of the ways in which your organization wishes to engage and participate; [please refer to http://unglobalcompact.org/HowToparficipate/non_business_parficipafion.html for suggested engagement options according to your organization type]. We recognize that a key requirement for participation in the Global Compact is the submission of a Communication on Engagement (COE) that describes our organization’s efforts to support the implementation of the ten principles and to engage with the Global Compact. We support public accountability and transparency, and therefore commit to report on progress within two years of joining the Global Compact and every two years thereafter according to the Global Compact COE policy. We commit to support and participate with the Five Points Youth Foundation 2015-2020 Business for Peace Caring for Climate Plan of Action. Sincerely yours, [Signature] [Name] [Title **president/Executive Director]

FivePointsYouthFoundation.org [email protected]

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A Global Compact for Sustainable Development

As Governments and the United Nations negotiate the post-2015 development agenda, which will include a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), businesses, investors and civil society are increasingly considered a positive force for sustainable development and are expected to play an important role in achieving the future SDGs. The UN Global Compact will during the final months of negotiations continue to inform the political processes and prepare the ground for corporate implementation of the SDGs, building on the existing corporate sustainability architecture. This note provides a brief overview of the UN Global Compact and those of its global and local platforms that are most relevant to the design and implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

The World’s Largest Corporate Sustainability Initia tive The UN Global Compact is the world’s largest voluntary corporate sustainability initiative, which has grown to over 8,000 corporate participants and 4,000 non-business participants based in 160 countries since its launch in 2000. In line with its UN General Assembly mandate to "promote responsible business practices and UN values among the global business community and the UN System", the UN Global Compact calls companies everywhere to voluntarily align their operations and strategies with ten universally-accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals.

Businesses are asked to respect and support these principles and goals, at a minimum, avoid causing or contributing to harm throughout their value chain. In addition, companies are encouraged to take action through their core business (i.e. products, services and business models), philanthropy, collective action and partnerships, and public policy advocacy to advance UN priorities, including future SDGs. Already, thousands of Global Compact participants around the world are contributing to global development priorities by aligning with the ten principles and through partnerships – both with other companies and with civil society, Governments and the UN – that deliver outcomes no sector can achieve alone. At the core of the UN Global Compact is a CEO commitment, which sends a strong signal throughout the organization that shifting towards sustainability is a strategic priority. The initiative, although voluntary, has a mandatory, annual reporting requirement and thousands of companies are publicly reporting on their strategies and activities related to corporate sustainability and sustainable development. The Post-2015 Business Engagement Architecture The “Post-2015 Business Engagement Architecture”, which was launched by the UN Secretary-General in September 2013, provides a framework for motivating and supporting global business in realizing its full potential to advance sustainable development through action, collaboration and co-investment. The Architecture illustrates the main building blocks necessary to enhance corporate sustainability as an effective contribution to sustainable development, creating value for both business and society. Each of these building blocks must be further strengthened and connected through a comprehensive and collective effort if they are to help take corporate sustainability to scale and turn business into a truly transformative force in the Post-2015 era. Individual companies, corporate sustainability organizations, Governments, investors, business schools, civil society, labour and consumers all have a role to play. The UN Global Compact’s approach is fully aligned with the Architecture.

Consultations and Advocacy Since the Rio+20 Corporate Sustainability Forum in June 2012, the UN Global Compact has consistently provided input to Governments, the UN Secretary-General and the UN system at large with a view to inform discussions that will ultimately lead to the adoption of a post-2015 framework in September 2015. The input provided builds on surveys, consultations and discussions among thousands of UN Global Compact business participants and Local Networks, focusing on which global development issues responsible business considers the key priorities and how to best engage business and investors in their implementation. In addition, the UN Global Compact actively contributes to the preparations of the Third Financing for Development Conference. Its outcome is expected to be critical in implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda. The UN Global Compact, in collaboration with UNCTAD, the UN-supported Principles for Responsible Investment and the UNEP Finance Initiative, has published the report entitled “Private Investment and Sustainable Development”. The report highlights the role institutional investors, banks, companies and foundations can play in the financing strategy for global sustainability, and it seeks promote the adoption and reporting of environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors by businesses and investors, in order to achieve greater alignment of private investment with sustainable development.

Local Networks Facilitating Business Action and Partnerships Global Compact Local Networks exist in more than 85 countries with a view to help companies take sustainability action on the ground. They are organized and run locally – led by business but always bringing in key stakeholders. Local Networks foster learning, reporting, networking, partnerships and advocacy – all with the goal of advancing sustainability understanding and performance country by country. Local Networks can play an important role in local implementation of the SDGs and the definition of country-led bottom up accountability frameworks by facilitating corporate engagement, public-private multi-stakeholder dialogue, partnerships and collective action at the country level. Already, there are many notable examples of how these country networks – some of which have existed for over ten years – bring local corporate champions together with other stakeholders to address global priority issues, such as anti-corruption, peace building, climate change and gender equality, among others. Companies and their subsidiaries are encouraged to engage with Local Networks in this endeavour. In addition, through capacity-building initiatives, Local Networks are improving their abilities to broker effective multi-stakeholder partnerships to implement the SDGs, engage Global Compact participants, and contribute to enabling environments that advance multi-stakeholder, transformational partnerships.

Global Platforms and Partnerships for SDG Implementation The UN Global Compact has for over a decade developed a comprehensive global architecture that supports business engagement and platforms, which can provide great support for the implementation of the SDGs.

Issue Platforms The UN Global Compact together with UN partners hosts a number of global “issue platforms”, including Caring for Climate, the CEO Water Mandate, the Women’s Empowerment Principles and Business for Peace, which drive individual and collective business action related to specific sustainable development challenges. Each of these issue platforms have hundreds of business participants from across all regions of the world and offer scalable platform for engagement and SDG impact – connecting global frameworks and principles with local action and delivery. Each of these platforms has built-in accountability measures. Global Compact LEAD In 2011 the UN Secretary-General launched Global Compact LEAD with a view to facilitate action and collaboration by a group of the most engaged and committed Global Compact participants. The work taking place within Global Compact LEAD is helping to accelerate the full integration of business risk and opportunities related to sustainable development into all core corporate functions and business units, promoting such issues as strategically important for both the top management and the boards of directors. LEAD companies have played a key role in the UN Global Compact’s Post-2015 consultations and many are taking steps to align their own corporate sustainability goals with the future SDGs. In addition, LEAD companies have contributed to developing resources providing guidance, good practice examples, and lessons learned to increase partnership scale and impact, which can be leveraged to help advance the SDGs.

UN-Business Partnerships In line with the UN Global Compact’s General Assembly mandate and to advance the unprecedented levels of UN-business collaboration required to implement the new SDGs, the UN Global Compact continues to work to strengthen the UN System’s capacity to partner with business, including through coordination of a network of UN staff from across the Organization tasked with private sector engagement.The UN Global Compact coordinates the biennial report to the General Assembly under the agenda item “Towards Global Partnerships”, tracking important trends and opportunities to strengthen partnerships between the UN and business. The UN Global Compact also assists corporate participants and Local Networks navigate entry points to working with the UN through events and relationship-building initiatives. These include local projects designed to foster stronger relationships between the UN and Global Compact participants at the country level, as well as the development of tools, resources and learning opportunities to support multi-stakeholder, transformational partnerships. UN Global Compact Business Partnership Hub A notable feature of the new-era business sustainability movement is the adoption and use of technologies to drive implementation and partnerships. For example, the UN Global Compact Business Partnership Hub is an interactive, online platform designed to connect business with potential partners, including the UN, in support of societal goals. The Hub is a critical tool for assisting companies set goals, find partners, and scale up their contribution to implementing the SDGs. Through the Hub, companies and other organizations can find partners for their own projects or join existing ones. There are currently over 200 projects posted on the Hub and 400 organizations promoting partnership opportunities on the platform in areas such as Energy and Climate, Water and Sanitation. The UN-Business Partnership Hub, a prominent component of the Hub, is designed to better connect the UN and private sector to partner on a broad range of UN priorities. The platform showcases a wide array of partnership resources, inspirational partnership stories and guidance. Special SDG Projects On top of existing efforts and initiatives, the UN Global Compact is engaged in two projects that will help prepare individual companies for aligning their core business with the future SDGs: Business Action on Sustainable Development Goals While responsible businesses can provide an extraordinary boost to realizing the SDGs, furthering the SDGs can bring about prosperity and opportunity for the private sector. To harnesses the potential of this symbiosis, the UN Global Compact, the Global Reporting Initiative and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development have embarked on a new partnership project. The project will culminate in a guide that offers linkages between company management and global development priorities, and leads companies to scale up their impact assessment and goal setting practices. SDG Industry Matrix The UN Global Compact is collaborating with KPMG to create the SDG Industry Matrix, which will put forward examples of companies that make bold decisions and take actions to advance the SDGs. The SDG Industry Matrix takes an industry-specific lens to illustrate how the comparative strengths, resources, products or technologies of an industry can make it better suited to contribute to a particular SDG or issue. It can serve as a powerful tool to help companies understand how their products and services can be used for shared value – addressing the most pressing global challenges while seeking new business opportunities.


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UN Global Compact Expels 657 Companies in 2014

(New York, 14 January 2015) – The UN Global Compact today announced that it has expelled 372 companies in the second half of 2014 for failure to communicate progress for at least two consecutive years, bringing the total number of expelled companies in 2014 to 657. These expelled companies represent 10 percent of the 3,760 participants due to submit a Communication on Progress (COP) within the second half of 2014. A total of 197 companies achieved the GC Advanced level, reflecting an increased commitment to transparency and accountability.

The number of companies joining the UN Global Compact continues to exceed the number of expulsions, with 729 companies from around the world joining the initiative from July through December 2014.

Business participants in the Global Compact commit to make the ten principles part of their business strategies and day-to-day operations. As an integral part of their commitment, companies must issue an annual COP, a public disclosure to stakeholders (investors, consumers, civil society, Governments) on progress made in implementing the ten principles, and in supporting broader UN goals and issues. Companies that fail to submit a COP for two consecutive years have not fulfilled their commitment to the Global Compact and face expulsion from the initiative. A Communication on Engagement (COE) policy, introduced in October 2013, also requires non-business participants to disclose specific activities in support of the initiative to stakeholders every two years, as well as results. Non-business participants that fail to submit a COE every two years will also face expulsion from the initiative as of 31 October, 2015. The Global Compact offers customized and direct support to participants through its Relationship Management and Reporting teams, as well as through Local Networks in 86 countries. Companies of all types and in all regions are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable support to maximize their participation in the initiative. The Global Compact welcomes the international community to utilize this information to encourage more companies and other organizations to make a serious and enduring commitment to universal sustainability principles. Media Contact Kristen Coco Public Affairs and Media Relations UN Global Compact [email protected] +1 917-367-8566


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United Nations Global Compact Local Networks

Local networks are clusters of participants who come together to advance the United Nations Global Compact and its principles within a particular geographic context. They perform increasingly important roles in rooting the Global Compact within different national, cultural and language contexts, and also in helping to manage the organizational consequences of the Global Compact’s rapid expansion.

Their role is to facilitate the progress of companies (both local firms and subsidiaries of foreign corporations) engaged in the Global Compact with respect to implementation of the ten principles, while also creating opportunities for multi-stakeholder engagement and collective action. Furthermore, networks deepen the learning experience of all participants through their own activities and events and promote action in support of broader UN goals.

United Nations Global Compact: https://www.unglobalcompact.org/index.html

FREE Registration for Non-Profits and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)


President





2015-2020 Business for Peace Caring for Climate Plan of Action

Five Points Youth Foundation, Inc. adapts the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Integrated Whole Community Model locally and nationally for community resiliency, as well as the United Nations Global Compact Local Networks internationally in support of Caring for Climate, Business 4 Peace and other U.N. Initiatives 2015-2020 via Global Partnerships for Development using collaborative arts and technology to address the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda and Decade of Sustainable Energy for All (SE4All) throughout the Diaspora and the Earth, in compliance with the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption as to African Union 6th Region and Agenda 2063. Social Entrepreneurship We relentlessly pursue opportunities to serve this mission, while continuously adapting and learning. We draw upon appropriate thinking in both the business and nonprofit worlds and operate in all kinds of organizations: large and small; new and old; religious and secular; nonprofit, for-profit, and hybrid, locally, nationally and globally. Neighborhood Empowerment and Economic Development Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policy makers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area. Such actions can involve multiple areas including development of human capital, critical infrastructure, regional competitiveness, environmental sustainability, social inclusion, health, safety, literacy, and other initiatives. STREAAM Education Initiatives STEM education is an acronym for the fields of study in the categories of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. “R” represents “rivers” and the whole acronym reflects “Water” as the basic necessity for all life on Earth. We consider Art and Architecture to be core components in schooling from kindergarten through college to improve competitiveness in technology development. It has implications for workforce development, national security concerns and immigration policy and our commitment to “regenerative” development solutions. Youth, Women, At-Risk and Unmet Needs Empowerment Programs Empowerment refers to increasing the spiritual, political, social, educational, and/or economic strength of individuals and communities. Civic Engagement, Corporate Social Responsibility and Community Resiliency Civic engagement is a means of working together to make a difference in the civic life of our communities and developing the combination of skills, knowledge, values, and motivation in order to make that difference.

UNITED NATIONS NATIONS UNIES

POSTAL ADDRES5-ADRESSE POSTALE: UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. 10017

EMAIL: [email protected] TEL:+ 1212 963 1490

15 January, 2015

Dear Mr. Williams Jr,

Thank you for writing to the Secretary-General to express your organization's support for the Global Compact's principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anticorruption. We applaud your leadership in making this decision and welcome your organization's participation in the Global Compact - the world's largest corporate citizenship initiative, with thousands of business participants and other stakeholders from civil society, labour and government located in 120 countries.

At the heart of the Global Compact is a conviction that organizational practices rooted in universal principles help the global marketplace to be more socially and economically inclusive, thus advancing collective goals of international cooperation, peace and development. Indeed, companies and other organizations participating in the Global Compact are working diligently to give concrete meaning to this principle-based change approach.

From the beginning, the Global Compact has considered the active engagement of nonbusiness stakeholders a critical factor for making real progress. Your participation helps to foster this collaborative spirit which is so critical for tackling today's challenges.

The involvement of civil society, labour and the public sector serves many important purposes - bringing different strengths and perspectives to the corporate citizenship agenda. For example, these organizations provide expertise on issues, hold businesses accountable for their commitments, offer incentives and rewards for responsible actions, facilitate implementation of the principles, and serve as excellent partners on a variety of issues. We urge your organization to consider these and other relevant ways to advance the Global Compact. Additionally, you are encouraged to internalize the ten principles within your organization's strategies, policies and operations.

As a voluntary initiative, the Global Compact draws strength from our participants' commitment and actions. To spur implementation and progress, we provide various learning and engagement opportunities for signatories. These include: 60-plus country and regional networks

Mr. Andrew Williams Jr President Five Points Youth Foundation, Inc. Los Angeles

where issues and activities are driven at a local level; practical tools and guidance documents on the principles and other priority issues; and international and local events where multistakeholder participants can exchange experiences, partake in learning and problem-solving exercises, engage in dialogue and identify like-minded organizations for partnering projects.

Further details on such activities can be found in the attached guidance document, "Mter the Signature: A Guide to Engagement in the United Nations Global Compact" and on the Global Compact website (www.unglobalcompact.org).

Credibility and accountability are critical factors for advancing the Global Compact. We encourage all organizations engaged in the initiative to communicate with their stakeholders about efforts to promote and implement the initiative's ten principles and to engage in collaborative projects which advance the broader development goals of the United Nations, particularly the Millennium Development Goals. To start, your organization may wish to inform stakeholders - such as members, employees and partners - and the general public about your decision to support the Global Compact.

Again, we thank you for joining the Global Compact. We are eager to hear your ideas and experiences, and encourage you to share your views with us. We stand ready to support your efforts to advance the initiative's ten universal principles and contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive global economy.

Yours sincerely,

Georg Kell Executive Director

UN Global Compact Office

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President





January 19, 2015 George Kell Executive Director UN Global Compact Office Dear Mr Kell, I am pleased to confirm that Five Points Youth Foundation, Inc., supports the objectives of the Caring for Climate initiative Launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2007. Caring for Climate (C4C) is a joint initiative between the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) aimed at advancing the role of business in climate change in five key areas: 1. Reduce emissions, set targets, and report annual performance 2. Devise a business strategy to approach climate risks and opportunities

3. Engage with policymakers to encourage scaled up climate action

4. Work collaboratively with other enterprises to tackle climate change

5. Become a climate-friendly business champion with stakeholders

In particular, we commit to work collaboratively with other enterprises both nationally and sectorally, and along our value-chains, to set standards and take joint initiatives aimed at reducing climate risks, assisting with adaptation to climate change and enhancing climate-related opportunities. We further commit to work collaboratively on joint initiatives between public and private sectors and through them achieve a comprehensive understanding of how both public and private sectors can best play a pro-active and leading role in meeting the climate challenge in an effective way through global partnerships for development. We invite the UN Global Compact to promote the public disclosure of actions taken by the signatories to the Caring for Climate Statement and, in cooperation with UNEP, communicate on this on a regular basis. Sincerely yours, Andrew Williams, Jr. President

September 2010

The UN "Protect, Respect and Remedy" Framework for Business and Human Rights

Background The debate concerning the responsibilities of business in relation to human rights became prominent in the 1990s, as oil, gas, and mining companies expanded into increasingly difficult areas, and as the practice of off-shore production in clothing and footwear drew attention to poor working conditions in global supply chains. In 2004, the Sub-commission of the then UN Commission on Human Rights produced a set of “Draft Norms on the Responsibilities of Transnational Corporations and Other Business Enterprises with Regard to Human Rights”. The Norms essentially sought to impose as binding obligations on companies directly under international human rights law the same range of duties that states have accepted for themselves: namely, “to promote, secure the fulfillment of, respect, ensure respect of, and protect human rights,” with the only distinctions being that states would have “primary” duties and companies would have “secondary” duties, and that the duties of companies would take effect within their (undefined) “spheres of influence”. Business was vehemently opposed to the Draft Norms, some human rights advocacy groups strongly in favor. The Commission on Human Rights declined to adopt the document, but requested the UN Secretary-General to appoint a Special Representative with the goal of moving beyond the stalemate and clarifying the roles and responsibilities of states, companies and other social actors in the business and human rights sphere. In 2005, then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Harvard Professor John Ruggie to the post; Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has continued the assignment. In 2006, the Commission was replaced by the UN Human Rights Council, to which the Special Representative reports annually. He also reports to the UN General Assembly.

The UN Framework In June 2008, after three years of extensive research and consultations with governments, business and civil society on five continents, the Special Representative concluded that one reason cumulative progress in the business and human rights area had been difficult to achieve was the lack of an authoritative focal point around which actors’ expectations could converge—a framework that clarified the relevant actors’ responsibilities, and provided the foundation on which thinking and action could build over time. The Special Representative presented such a framework to the Human Rights Council in June 2008. The “Protect, Respect and Remedy” Framework rests on three pillars: the state duty to protect against human rights abuses by third parties, including business, through appropriate policies, regulation, and adjudication; the corporate responsibility to respect human rights, which means to act with due diligence to avoid infringing on the rights of others and to address adverse impacts that occur; and greater access by victims to effective remedy, both judicial and non-judicial. The Human Rights Council unanimously welcomed what is now referred to as the UN Framework, marking the first time that a UN intergovernmental body had taken a substantive policy position on this issue. The Council also extended the Special Representative’s mandate until 2011 with the task of “operationalizing” and “promoting” the framework. The main sponsor of the resolution authorizing the Special Representative’s

September 2010

mandate is Norway, with Argentina, India, Nigeria and Russia as co-sponsors—one country from each UN regional group. With the agreement of the Council, in June 2011 the Special Representative will submit a set of Guiding Principles for the implementation of the UN Framework, together with a report outlining options for how the Council might progress the business and human rights agenda after his mandate concludes. The UN Framework has been well received by key stakeholder groups: a number of individual governments have utilized it in conducting their own policy assessments; several major global corporations are realigning their due diligence processes based on it; civil society actors have employed it in their analytical and advocacy work; and several major international organizations have drawn on it in adapting their own business and human rights policies and standards.

The State Duty to Protect

The first pillar of the UN Framework is the state duty to protect against human rights abuses committed by third parties, including business, through appropriate policies, regulation and adjudication. It highlights that states have the primary role in preventing and addressing corporate-related human rights abuses. The Special Representative documented the duty’s legal foundations, policy rationales and scope in his 2008 and 2009 reports to the Council. Although states interact with business in numerous ways, many currently lack adequate policies and regulatory arrangements for effectively managing the complex business and human rights agenda. While some states are moving in the right direction, overall state practice exhibits substantial legal and policy incoherence and gaps, which often entail significant consequences for victims, companies and states themselves. The most common gap is the failure to enforce existing laws. Legal and policy incoherence arises because the departments and agencies which directly shape business practices – including corporate law and securities regulation, investment, export credit and insurance, and trade – typically work in isolation from, and uninformed by, their government’s own human rights obligations and agencies. In his reports to the Council, the Special Representative has proposed five priority areas through which states can work to promote corporate respect for human rights and prevent corporate-related abuse. They include: (a) striving to achieve greater policy coherence and effectiveness across departments working with business, including safeguarding the state’s own ability to protect rights when entering into economic agreements; (b) promoting respect for human rights when states do business with business, whether as owners, investors, insurers, procurers or simply promoters; (c) fostering corporate cultures respectful of human rights at home and abroad; (d) devising innovative policies to guide companies operating in conflict-affected areas; and (e) examining the cross-cutting issue of extraterritoriality.

The Corporate Responsibility to Respect

The corporate responsibility to respect human rights means acting with due diligence to avoid infringing on the rights of others, and addressing harms that do occur. The term “responsibility” rather than “duty” is meant to indicate that respecting rights is not currently an obligation that international human rights law generally imposes directly on companies, although elements of it may be reflected in domestic laws. It is a global standard of expected conduct acknowledged in virtually every voluntary and soft-law instrument related to corporate responsibility, and now affirmed by the Human Rights Council itself. A company’s responsibility to respect applies across its business activities and through its relationships with third parties connected with those activities—such as business partners, entities in its value chain, and other non-State actors and State agents. In addition, companies need to consider the country and local contexts for

September 2010

any particular challenges they may pose and how those might shape the human rights impacts of company activities and relationships. Companies can affect virtually the entire spectrum of internationally recognized rights. Therefore, the corporate responsibility to respect applies to all such rights (although some rights typically will be more at risk than others in particular contexts). For an authoritative list of internationally recognized rights, companies should look to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights and on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the core conventions of the International Labor Organization. The principles those instruments embody are the most universally agreed upon by the international community, and they comprise the human rights benchmarks by which other social actors judge companies. Many companies say that they respect human rights. In order to “know and show” that they are meeting this responsibility, companies need a human rights due diligence process, whereby they become aware of, prevent, and address their adverse human rights impacts. Drawing on well-established due diligence practices and combining them with what is unique to human rights, the UN framework describes the core elements of human rights due diligence: based on a statement of commitment to respecting rights and supporting policies, human rights due diligence should include assessing human rights impacts, integrating respect for human rights across relevant internal functions and processes, and tracking as well as communicating performance. (The Special Representative is currently running a public online forum to seek views on various aspects of the corporate responsibility to respect: http://www.srsgconsultation.org.)

Access to Effective Remedy

Even where institutions operate optimally, adverse human rights impacts may still result from a company’s activities and victims must be able to seek redress. Effective grievance mechanisms play an important role in both the state duty to protect and the corporate responsibility to respect. As part of their duty to protect against business-related human rights abuse, states must take appropriate steps within their territory and/or jurisdiction to ensure that when such abuses occur, those affected have access to effective remedy through judicial, administrative, legislative or other appropriate means. Currently, access to judicial mechanisms for business-related human rights claims is often most difficult where the need is greatest as a result of both legal and practical obstacles. And there is currently an uneven patchwork of non-judicial mechanisms, including mechanisms at the company level, national level (such as national human rights institutions, or National Contact Points in states that have signed the OECD Guidelines on Multinational Enterprises) and at the international level (such as the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman for the International Finance Corporation). Non-judicial mechanisms, whether state-based or independent, should conform to principles of legitimacy, accessibility, predictability, rights-compatibility, equitability and transparency. Company-level mechanisms should also operate through dialogue and engagement rather than the company itself acting as adjudicator of its own actions. To support improved access to information, learning and expertise in pursuit of more effective non-judicial grievance mechanisms, the Special Representative established an online resource to assist parties in navigating their available options—Business and Society Exploring Solutions, http://www.baseswiki.org. For more information, including the complete archive of the Special Representative’s reports, speeches, articles, research, correspondence, and other submissions to the mandate, visit http://www.business-humanrights.org/SpecialRepPortal/Home.

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COMMON AFRICAN POSITION cap

COMMON AFRICAN POSITION

ON THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA


COMMON AFRICA POSITION (CAP) ON THE POST 2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

AFRICAN UNION

March 2014

P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA Tel.: 00251-11-5517700, ADDIS ABABA Website: www.africa-union.org La

yout

: Jos

é M

ende

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Contents

Preamble

I. Background

II. context and JustIfIcatIon

III. statement of our PosItIon on the Post-2015 develoPment agenda

Pillar One: Structural ecOnOmic tranSfOrmatiOn and incluSive grOwth

Pillar twO: Science, technOlOgy and innOvatiOn

Pillar three: PeOPle-centred develOPment

Pillar fOur: envirOnmental SuStainability, natural reSOurceS management and diSaSter riSk management

Pillar five: Peace and Security

Pillar Six: finance and PartnerShiPS

Iv. enaBlIng ImPlementatIon

v. conclusIon

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Preamble:

We, heads of State and government of the african union assembled in addis ababa, ethiopia, during the 22nd Ordinary Session of the assembly of the union on 31 January 2014,

note: the participatory approach that led to the elaboration of the common african Position (caP) on the post-2015 development agenda involving stakeholders at the national, regional and continental levels among the public and private sectors, parliamentarians, civil society organizations (cSOs), including women and youth associations, and academia. this approach has helped address the consultation gap in the initial preparation and formulation of the millennium development goals (mdgs);

recognIZe: the efforts of the members of the high-level committee on the post-2015 development agenda, the coordinating role of the african union commission, and the technical support of the new Partnership for africa’s development (nePad) agency, the african development bank (afdb), the economic commission for africa (uneca), the united nations development Programme (undP) regional bureau for africa, and the united nations Population fund (unfPa) in facilitating the process;

emPhasIZe: that the post-2015 development agenda provides a unique opportunity for africa to reach consensus on common challenges, priorities and aspirations, and to actively participate in the global debate on how to provide a fresh impetus to the mdgs and to examine and devise strategies to address key emerging development issues on the continent in the coming years. the post-2015 development agenda should also reaffirm the rio Principles, especially the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, the right to development and equity, and mutual accountability and responsibility, as well as ensure policy space for nationally tailored policies and programmes on the continent, including appropriate support for the implementation of the nePad;

acknoWledge: the rising trends such as population growth, the youth bulge, urbanization, climate change and inequalities, and therefore reIterate the importance of prioritizing structural transformation for inclusive and people-centred development in africa. we are convInced that such a development approach requires: development of adequate policy space and productive capacities, notably through infrastructure development; science, technology development, transfer and innovation; value addition to primary commodities; youth development; women’s empowerment. it also requires addressing the challenges posed by climate change, desertification and land degradation, drought, loss of biodiversity sustainable natural resource management; ensuring peace and security; and promoting responsive and accountable global governance architecture, including through the full and equitable representation of african countries in international financial and economic institutions;

reassert: the urgent need to end poverty in all its forms and achieve an integrated, prosperous, stable and peaceful africa that is effectively engaged in the global arena, which is africa’s vision in this development agenda.

We therefore commit ourselves to speak with one voice and to act in unity to ensure that Africa’s voice is heard and is fully integrated into the global development agenda.

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I. Background

1. recalling the July 2012 decision of the african union Summit (assembly/au/dec. 423 (xix)), which mandates the african union commission, in close consultation with members States and regional economic communities, to identify africa’s priorities for the post-2015 development agenda, and further recalling the decision of may 2013 of the african union Summit, which decided to establish a high-level committee (hlc) of heads of State and government to sensitize and coordinate the activities of african leaders and build regional and inter-continental alliances on the common african Position (caP) on the post-2015 development agenda (assembly/au/dec.475(xxi)), a ten-member committee was formed.1

2. the caP identifies substantive issues of importance to africa and arrives at a consensus on africa’s key priorities, concerns and strategies to be reflected in the outcomes of the post-2015 negotiation process. this was achieved by taking into account the wealth of information collected and collated from national and regional stakeholders (the executive and legislative arms of governments, private sector, civil society organizations, youth associations, women groups, trade unions, and academia) african multilateral institutions and selected pertinent un organizations and agencies.

3. we take note of the various initiatives established to articulate the post-2015 development agenda including the united nations task team and the high-level Panel of eminent Persons. we also take note of the united nations Secretary-general’s report, “a life of dignity for all” (a/68/202), and the outcome of the united nations general assembly at its September 2013 Special event on the mdgs (a/reS/68/6).

4. we recall the outcome document of the united nations conference on Sustainable development, “the future we want”, which, inter alia, agreed to a coherent and integrated global post-2015 development agenda.

5. we acknowledge the processes in the implementation of the rio+20 outcomes such as the Open working group on Sustainable development goals, the intergovernmental committee of experts on Sustainable development financing, the high-level Political forum on Sustainable development goals, and the africa regional consultation on the Sustainable development goals.

6. we reiterate that the post-2015 process should galvanize political will and international commitment for a universal development agenda, focused on the eradication of poverty and exclusion as well as the pursuit of sustainable and inclusive development.

7. we call for the adoption of concrete measures supported by adequate means of implementation in order to ensure the full realization of the agenda.

8. we emphasize the primacy of a transparent and a fully inclusive intergovernmental process in the articulation of the global post-2015 development agenda.

1. Members of the HLC are Heads of State and Government of Liberia (Chair), Algeria, Chad, Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia and South Africa.

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II. Context and Justification

(a) Learning from the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):

9. remarkable advances have been made in some areas, such as net primary school enrolment, gender parity in primary education, representation of women in decision making, immunization coverage, and reversing the trend of the spread of hiv/aidS.

10. notwithstanding the progress made, more needs to be done. africa’s progress remains uneven across goals and targets, within groups and among countries. for example, despite rising enrolment rates in primary schools, the quality of education remains a concern, and learning outcomes in many cases are poor. Progress on the health-related mdgs such as child and maternal mortality, quality of health services, and access to sanitation is insufficient to achieve the targets by 2015 in many countries. reducing inequity in access to basic social services remains a major challenge for many african countries.

11. the inclusive process used to formulate the post-2015 development agenda should: enhance member States’ ownership of development; generate the required political will to address the unfinished business of the mdgs; and respond to the emerging issues and gaps in implementation, particularly with regard to data collection and monitoring.

12. while africa acknowledges its primary responsibility for the attainment of the mdgs, international partners also have a key responsibility to honour their commitments and support country-led strategies.

(b) Assuming ownership:

13. the post-2015 development agenda should be member State-driven, and in this regard, africa will stand together in solidarity in negotiating an outcome that will result in our collective ownership of the new agenda. this caP is our contribution to this process. we come as 54 countries in unison, determined to represent a broad spectrum of stakeholders. the elaboration of this common position takes us on the path of ownership, which engages all citizens and enables them to hold key development stakeholders mutually accountable.

(c) Reaffirming our common interests:

14. the post-2015 development agenda presents a unique opportunity for africa to articulate its common priorities, opportunities and challenges. therefore, we affirm our collective interests, which include the pursuit of structural economic transformation for inclusive and people-centred development. this requires: productive capacities development, notably in the areas of infrastructure, agriculture, industrial and services sectors development; science technology and innovation; value addition; youth development and engagement; women’s empowerment; and

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sustainable natural resource management. it also requires addressing the challenges posed by climate change, desertification and land degradation, drought and loss of biodiversity; promoting peace and security; and implementing a responsive and accountable global governance architecture through, inter alia, the full and equitable representation of african countries in the international financial and economic institutions.

15. we stress that the post-2015 development agenda should also reflect africa’s priorities and development programmes.

III. Statement of our Position on the post-2015 Development Agenda

16. africa’s development priorities are grouped into six pillars: (i) structural economic transformation and inclusive growth; (ii) science, technology and innovation; (iii) people-centred development; (iv) environmental sustainability natural resources management, and disaster risk management; (v) peace and security; and (vi) finance and partnerships.

PillAr One: StruCturAl eCOnOmiC trAnSfOrmAtiOn AnD inCluSive grOwth

17. concerned that the benefits of africa’s resources have been concentrated in a few enclave sectors and limited to narrow segments of society, thus exacerbating poverty, inequality and fragility;

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18. recognIZIng the need to promote an integrated economy that nurtures inter-sectoral synergies, linkages and job growth; and aWare of the potential role that structural transformation can play in creating resilient economies, decent employment opportunities, minimizing income and wealth disparities, and eradicating poverty;

19. acknoWledgIng the role of value addition in promoting job creation and expanding the fiscal space for development financing, including social protection programmes, and eliminating poverty; mIndful that a successful and effective value-addition programme depends on a stable supply of raw materials, as well as a services sector that is supportive and responsive to the needs of the agricultural and industrial sector;

20. stressIng the importance of a conducive international environment, including the international economic and financial institutions, in the achievement of sustained and inclusive economic growth; and recognIZIng that governance at the international level should be more responsive, legitimate, democratic and inclusive by strengthening the voice and participation of african countries, we commIt to:

(a) Inclusive growth that reduces inequality

21. we dedicate ourselves to accelerated, stable and sustained inclusive economic growth that: creates decent and productive employment that rapidly reduces inequality; nurtures sustainable social protection programmes; facilitates economic diversification; strengthens resilience to external shocks; and fosters rapid inclusive, resilient and sustainable socio-economic development leading to eradication of poverty.

(b) Sustainable agriculture, food self-sufficiency and nutrition

22. to address this development priority, it is important to:

(i) enhance the production, storage, transportation, availability, accessibility, utilization, safety and quality of food.

(ii) improve the productivity of smallholder agriculture and livestock through extension of technological support, small-scale irrigation schemes, rural infrastructure, credit and social services.

(iii) Support modernization and diversification of agricultural sectors through: private sector participation in agriculture; agri-business development; improved agro-industry linkages; providing special support to integrate women into agri-business value chains; equitable access to land; and sustainable land management practices, including on our arable lands, for present and future generations.

(iv) Promote agricultural marketing and information flows by establishing national and regional information centres and cooperation mechanisms in agriculture, food and nutrition security.

(v) adopt sustainable agricultural, ocean and freshwater fishery practices and rebuild depleted fish stocks to sustainable levels.

(vi) Strengthen resilience to external and climate shocks, such as droughts, floods, commodity price volatility, food shortages and export restrictions, particularly on staple foods.

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(vii) urgently call for multilateral partnerships aimed at food loss reduction, resilience to commodity price fluctuations, and addressing food shortages and export restrictions during crises.

(c) Diversification, industrialization and value addition

23. in achieving this, it is vital to:

(i) develop the private sector and strengthen the productive capacity of the informal sector to ensure a more active contribution to industrialization and value-addition;

(ii) reallocate and reinvest wealth generated from extractive and other primary commodity sectors into sectors that prioritize value-addition, promote job-rich growth and ensure fair taxation;

(iii) Promote processing of primary commodities by developing national value chains across sectors and designing and enforcing national content and beneficiation policies in the extractive and primary commodity producing sectors of the economy; and

(iv) advocate for blue/Ocean economy as well as sustainable exploitation of marine resources in order to make the oceanic industry a solid and viable pillar of our economies.

(d) Developing the Services Sector

24. developing the service sector is vital for generating decent employment and optimizing and upgrading our industrial structures and other important sectors of african economy. the important role that the service sector can play in facilitating economic transformation and recognizing the weak linkages between the services sector and other sectors of the economy is noted.

25. in this regard, it is important to:

(i) improve linkages between the services and real sectors, inter alia, through strengthened support to the agricultural and industrial sectors, improved coverage of broadband internet services, and strengthened telecommunications as backbones of the service sector.

(ii) Stimulate home-grown innovations in service delivery, including by improving the quality and efficiency of public services, modern logistics, high-tech services, culture, e-commerce, tourism and health-related services; and

(iii) accelerate international development exchanges and cooperation in this sector. (e) Infrastructure development

26. accelerating africa’s infrastructural development is pivotal to connect african people, countries and economies as well as to help drive social, cultural and economic development. in this regard, the following is critical:

(i) develop and maintain reliable, sustainable, environmentally friendly and affordable infrastructure in both rural and urban areas with a focus on land, water and air transport and storage facilities, clean water and sanitation, energy, waste management and information and communication technologies (ict);

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(ii) implement infrastructure projects that facilitate intra-african trade and regional and continental integration including, with the assistance of the international community, enhancing research and technological development and the provision of adequate financial resources; and

(iii) Promote the delivery of infrastructure programmes to generate local jobs, strengthen domestic skills and enterprise development, as well as enhance technological capability.

PillAr twO: SCienCe, teChnOlOgy AnD innOvAtiOn

27. mIndful of the importance of science, technology and innovation for the transformative agenda of the continent, and cognIZant of the low levels of technology development, transfer and utilization in africa and its capacity deficits with respect to technology;

28. stressIng the importance of access by all countries to environmentally sound technologies, new knowledge, know-how and expertise and the importance of cooperative action on technology innovation, research and development; we commIt to:

(a) Enhancing technological capacities for Africa’s transformative agenda

29. this will entail: enhancing the development, transfer and diffusion of technology and innovation in line with each country’s development needs; improving access to funding for home-grown technological innovations and to environmentally sound technologies; and strengthening the science and technology component of education curricula. it is also important to concentrate our efforts on developing technological capacities by enhancing utilization of ict in key social and economic sectors.

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(b) Building enabling environment for innovation

30. this will require strengthening the financial and regulatory environment to support an innovation culture by: strengthening and creating, where needed, african property rights institutions; protecting intellectual property and industrial rights; increasing funding for science and technology research and innovation; and fostering collaboration among african countries on science and technology for development.

(c) Increasing support for research and development

31. this requires: promoting greater links among academia, industry, government and civil society organizations with respect to their roles in r&d; marketing and commercialization of r&d; scaling up investments in science and technology parks; and encouraging action-oriented research at all levels of the education and training system.

(d) Optimal utilization of space and geospatial technologies

32. this will requires increasing investments and promoting human resources development in the management and deployment of space and geospatial technologies.

PillAr three: PeOPle-CentreD DevelOPment

33. convInced that the eradication of poverty in all its forms must be the overarching priority in the post-2015 development agenda;

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34. cognIZant of the fact that sustainable and equitable development can only be guaranteed in africa when people are the means and end of the economic growth process, particularly when the potential contribution of women and youth is fully realized, and that investment in children, youth and women always generates substantial development multipliers with positive effects on all sectors of the economy and society;

35. mIndful that africa is witnessing a number of demographic trends including the youth bulge and increasing migration, and thus of the need to respond to the social and economic consequences of the continent’s changing demographic structure by implementing the right public policies, particularly in education and health services;

36. aWare of the need to provide universal and equitable access to affordable and quality healthcare for all, with particular attention to improved access for people in vulnerable situations, end preventable newborn, child and maternal mortality, and significantly reduce the incidence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including mental health and cancer;

37. mIndful that education is the foundation for development and of the need to strive to achieve excellence in education and boost human resource capacities through improvements in the quality of learning and investment in education infrastructure, we cOmmit to:

(a) The eradication of poverty

38. this will require the empowerment of all people, including those living in vulnerable situations (including women, children, the elderly, youth, people with disabilities, rural populations, displaced persons and migrants), through inclusive growth that creates decent jobs, improved access to social protection and through the promotion of measures that ensure that no individual remains below the poverty line. in this regard, we commit to ensure that no person – regardless of ethnicity, gender, geography, disability, race or other status – is denied universal human rights and basic economic opportunities.

(b) Education and human capital development

39. we must achieve excellence in human resources capacity development through an improvement in the quality of education and training by: investing in learning infrastructures; increasing the use of ict; ensuring higher completion rates; promoting pre-schooling, integrated adult education and tertiary education; and improving the quality and conditions of service of educators and trainers.

40. enhancing equity will require: improving and sustaining progress on gender parity at all levels of education, with special emphasis on secondary and tertiary education; creating a positive environment for girls and boys at school; increasing the representation of female teachers, especially in science and technology; and eliminating human trafficking and child labour, thus allowing children to benefit from educational facilities for their full development.

41. in order to strengthen the school curriculum, it must include:basic rights and responsibilities of citizens; quality education beyond primary schooling; the development of entrepreneurship skills, life skills and vocational and technical training to respond to labour market demands; the provision

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of information and technology skills; and the introduction of age-appropriate and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education for all.

(c) Universal and equitable access to quality healthcare

42. we must improve the health status of people living in vulnerable situation such as mothers, newborns, children, youth, the unemployed, the elderly and people with disabilities by: reducing the incidence of communicable diseases, non-communicable diseases (e.g. mental health) and emerging diseases; ending the epidemics of hiv and aidS, tuberculosis and malaria; reducing malnutrition; and improving hygiene and sanitation. this can be achieved by: ensuring universal and equitable access to quality healthcare, including universal access to comprehensive sexual reproductive health and reproductive rights (e.g. family planning); improving health systems and health financing, and medical infrastructure, the local manufacturing of health equipment, (e.g. commitment to the abuja declaration); and setting up monitoring and evaluation, and quality assurance systems.

(d) Gender equality and women’s empowerment

43. this will require: enhancing women’s occupational mobility and eliminating gender-based wage inequality; ensuring their access to, and ownership of, land and other productive assets, credit and extension services and training; eradicating all forms of violence against women and children, and harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (fgm) and early marriage; and eliminating gender-based discrimination in political, economic and public decision-making processes.

44. we must provide adequate resources to strengthen women’s voices, and ensure full and equal participation of women in all decision-making bodies at the highest levels of government and in the governance structures of international organizations, including by eliminating gender stereotyping in appointments and promotions, and building women’s productive capacities as agents of change.

45. the crucial role of women in conflict prevention and resolution, mediation and peace-building efforts, and in the rebuilding of post-conflict societies must be supported by strengthening their capacities, including leadership skills, and creating legal frameworks that protect their engagement in political and economic decision making.

(e) Leveraging population dynamics for development

46. we must improve space planning and evidence-based urban policies, and provide equitable, quality services for all age groups, supported by a monitoring and regulatory framework. this will be achieved through public and private partnerships, the strengthening of municipal revenue generation and collaboration between municipalities, scholars, ministries and civil society.

47. we must ensure the provision and implementation of adequate public policies in education and health services; create jobs, especially for youth; strengthen the linkages between migration and development; support the elderly; promote human capital development within the context of regional integration; develop innovative plans that respond to population dynamics and incorporate them into the national planning frameworks; ensure equal access to quality and affordable healthcare and social services for all; ensure equity and access to services by making

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them adequately and geographically available in both urban and rural areas; promote good governance; and eliminate human trafficking, especially youth, particularly girls.

(f) Harnessing Africa’s youthful population

48. to ensure that africa’s youth bulge is translated into demographic dividend, we must put in place policies and strategies that: strengthen entrepreneurial skills and capacity; increase youth’s access to financial services; promote decent and commensurate jobs; increase access to business advisory services and credit facilities; promote participation in decision-making processes; and support the african union initiative to create a continental framework on demographic dividends.

(g) Improving access to sustainable human settlements

49. we are cognizant of the rapid urbanization rates in africa and the importance of having the necessary infrastructures and amenities for an improved quality of life. we are therefore committed to expanding urban infrastructures and developing a planned approach to rapid urbanization and the emergence of new cities, as well as promoting urban and rural planning. this includes increasing decent and affordable housing; improving sanitation and hygiene services, promoting access to social and economic amenities in human settlements and increasing the efficiency of delivery and use of physical facilities and amenities, including waste management, transportation and energy.

PillAr fOur: envirOnmentAl SuStAinABility, nAturAl reSOurCeS mAnAgement AnD DiSASter riSk mAnAgement

50. concerned that the exploitation of africa’s natural resources and biodiversity base is not fully translating into value-adding activities, adequate employment opportunities, and enhanced economic returns for the continent;

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51. conscIous that many of these resources are non-renewable and determIned to ensure profitability, intergenerational equity and sustainability in their use;

52. mIndful of the importance of ensuring the availability of safe water supply for all and closing the sanitation gap, and concerned about the challenges posed by climate change, desertification and land degradation, natural disasters such as drought and floods, loss of biodiversity, management of waste and chemicals, coastal erosion, marine pollution and rising sea levels that threaten the existence of coastal mega-deltas and Small island developing States;

53. determIned to address the potential adverse effects of these challenges on africa’s transformative agenda and cognIZant of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in addressing the challenges of natural resource management and biodiversity, we commIt to:

(a) Improving natural resource and biodiversity management

54. achieving this objective will require:

(i) Promoting sustainable utilization of the continent’s natural resources and biodiversity, including land and water for the continent’s economic and social transformation. this can be achieved by combating the depletion and degradation of africa’s natural resource base and fostering the conservation and recovery of african biodiversity, which represents an inestimable heritage, through improved control of access to the genetic resources of the continent;

(ii) ensuring that the use of the natural resources and biodiversity will financially and economically benefit the countries that possess them and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from their use, with consideration for both present and future generations; and

(iii) Promoting value addition, pertinent r&d, and technological innovations for sustainably harnessing the natural resource base and biodiversity by developing joint ventures and private- public- partnerships to facilitate the establishment of industries in africa.

(b) Enhancing access to Safe Water for All

55. to this end, we will ensure universal and reliable access to safe water in a sustainable manner, especially access to safe drinking water in urban and rural areas by: enhancing the protection and judicious management of water resources to safeguard water quality, and assurance of access to these resources for all uses; ensuring effective conservation and management of catchments areas; minimizing wastewater discharges; and improving wastewater and water quality management systems as well as sanitation and hygiene services in rural and urban areas.

(c) Responding effectively to climate change

56. while africa is not responsible for the pollution and the factors causing climate change, it stands to suffer the most, the african leadership is poised to cooperate fully along the lines of the rio+20 outcome.

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57. we will reduce deforestation, desertification and pollution, promote reforestation and reduce soil erosion; improve land management; promote renewable energies; promote efficiency of energy production, consumption and recycle; and effectively implement the kyoto Protocol.

58. recognizing that climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our times, we emphasize our deep concern with the vulnerability of developing countries, in particular in africa, to the adverse impacts of climate change, and also recognize that adaptation to the phenomenon represents an immediate and urgent global priority.

59. we urge developed country parties to the united nations framework convention on climate change (unfccc) to fully implement their commitments under the kyoto Protocol in order to bridge the gap between the aggregate efforts of mitigation pledges and aggregate emission pathways consistent with having a likely change of holding global average temperature rise below 2 degrees or 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels.

60. we call upon developed countries to provide sufficient and predictable financing to developing countries, mainly through effective use of the green climate fund with uS$100 billion per year by 2020, as well as the transfer of technologies and capacity building in accordance with the relevant decisions adopted in cancun.

(d) Addressing desertification, land degradation, soil erosion, flooding and drought

61. we are conscious that desertification, land degradation, soil erosion, flooding and drought are challenges of a global dimension and continue to pose a serious threat to the sustainable development of all countries, in particular in africa, as recognized in the united nations convention to combat desertification (unccd).

62. there is an urgent need to reverse land degradation, soil erosion and desertification. this should act as a catalyst for adequate support, including by mobilizing predictable, appropriate and timely financial resources in order to enable developing countries especially in africa to face these challenges.

(e) Natural disaster risk reduction and management

63. we must strengthen africa’s resilience to natural disasters by: building capacities for adequately anticipating and responding to disasters and reducing their impact on people living in vulnerable situations; implementing the african Solidarity initiative, which targets countries in difficult situations; developing and supporting early warning systems; and increasing support for loss and damage incurred through climate disasters.

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PillAr five: PeACe AnD SeCurity

64. acknoWledgIng the importance of peace and security in africa and in the world, and the inextricable links between development and peace, security and stability;

65. reaffIrmIng that peace and security is essential for the achievement of the continent’s development aspirations particularly for countries affected by conflict and those emerging from conflict, we commIt to:

(a) Addressing the root causes of conflict

66. to address this priority, we must: tackle economic and social inequalities and exclusion; strengthen good and inclusive governance; fight against all forms of discrimination; and forge unity in diversity through democratic practices and mechanisms at the local, national and continental levels.

(b) Preventing the outbreak of armed conflicts

67. we must take measures to prevent the outbreak of armed conflicts by: strengthening cross-border cooperation for the resolution of disputes and the promotion of cross-border security; implementing comprehensive, post-conflict reconstruction programmes, including the african Peace and Security architecture (aPSa), in countries emerging from conflict through effective partnership at regional and continental levels; supporting domestic financing for conflict resolution and stabilization; and promoting the use of mediators for conflict resolution, including traditional conflict resolution mechanisms.

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PillAr Six: finAnCe AnD PArtnerShiPS

68. the priority strategies identified in this common position need to be financed. to this end, resource mobilization and innovative financing methods need to be implemented. in addition, implementation of the strategies will require the consolidation of existing partnerships and the forging of new ones.

A. Finance

69. reaffIrmIng that previous commitments by developed countries in financing development, including through agenda 21 and its programme of implementation, the Johannesburg Plan of implementation, the monterrey consensus of the international conference on financing for development, and the doha declaration on financing for development, among others, are indispensable for achieving the full and effective translation of partners’ commitments into tangible sustainable development outcomes;

70. reIteratIng that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and social development, and that the role of national policies, domestic resources and development strategies is critical; reaffIrmIng that african countries need additional resources for sustainable development; and recognIZIng the need for significant mobilization of resources from a variety of sources and the effective use of financing;

71. acknoWledgIng that a stable global financial architecture that supports global systemic economic risk management and that emphasizes the importance of financial and investment flows as opposed to aid as well as fair and inclusive multilateral trading systems is vital for financing development in africa, we commIt to:

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(a) Improving domestic resource mobilization

72. we must improve domestic resource mobilization by: ensuring financial deepening and inclusion (e.g. domestic savings and microfinance) and strengthening tax structures, coverage and administration; carrying out fiscal reforms; encouraging public private partnerships; and deepening capital markets.

73. it is imperative to curtail illicit financial flows and fight corruption in a way that ensures the efficient and effective use of resources and domestic long-term financing, such as insurance, pension schemes and capital market instruments.

(b) Maximizing innovative financing

74. to promote and enhance the efficiency of innovative financing mechanisms, we must: develop mechanisms to harness and invest remittances; reduce remittance transfer costs and enhance their effective management; and strengthen long-term, non-traditional financing mechanisms.

(c) Implementing existing commitments and promoting quality and predictability of external financing

75. the global commitments on financing development have not been fully met, which has been one of the reasons among others that several of the mdgs are not likely to be achieved by 2015 in many african countries. we therefore call upon development partners to fulfill their promises and commitments in the spirit of the monterrey consensus and g8 gleneagles Summit. this will restore trust, confidence and mutual respect in global partnerships.

76. enhancing the quality and predictability of external financing will require: encouraging reinvestment of the proceeds from foreign direct investment; promoting conducive policies to encourage capital in-flight; holding external partners accountable for their commitments including allocation of 0.7 per cent of gross national income (gni) to international development; encouraging official development assistance (Oda) in short, medium and long-term development; mobilizing external, non-traditional sources of financing, including from philanthropists and emerging partners; facilitating access to various global financing mechanisms without conditionalities, such as the education for all-fast track initiative (efa-fti) and climate finance; and accelerating the implementation of the global commitment to address issues of illicit financial flows. we urge an expeditious transition to a development-friendly, international financial architecture.

B. Partnerships

77. nOting that the post-2015 framework will require a conducive, global environment to ensure effective implementation, which includes mutually beneficial partnerships that ensure ownership, coherence and alignment of international support with national and regional priorities; working with partners to develop a global framework that includes technology and skills transfer, and that takes into account africa’s specific characteristics; promoting public-private partnerships; boosting intra-african trade; promoting africa’s access to global markets and the fair trade system; and

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ensuring that the global governance architecture is inclusive, responsive, legitimate, democratic, equitable and accountable;

78. calling for a new spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and mutual accountability to underpin the post-2015 development agenda, and affIrmIng our commitment to the achievement of a truly inclusive and transformative ‘global Partnership’, we commIt to:

(a) Promoting mutually beneficial partnerships

79. fair and equitable partnerships will require: strengthening ownership, coherence and alignment of international support with national and regional priorities; working with partners to develop financing frameworks that take into account africa’s specific characteristics and priorities; promoting public-private partnerships; strengthening South-South, north-South, triangular partnerships and diaspora cooperation; enhancing the involvement of private sector and civil society stakeholders to ensure better ownership, implementation and accountability; supporting intra-african cooperation including solidarity; supporting countries in special situations, namely low-income, landlocked, small island and post-conflict countries; ensuring that the global governance architecture promotes ownership, reliability, equality of states, leadership and accountability; promoting partnerships for international peace and security; and promoting autonomy and independence of countries to advance alternative policies for development.

(b) Strengthening partnerships for trade

80. we must accelerate regional integration including by boosting intra-african trade and enhancing africa’s participation in the global supply chains systems.

81. we reaffirm the critical role that an open, universal, rules-based, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading and financial system as well as meaningful trade liberalization can play in stimulating economic growth and development worldwide, thereby benefitting african countries at all stages of development as they advance towards sustainable development. in this context, the post-2015 development agenda should urgently address a set of important issues such as, inter alia, trade-distorting subsidies and trade in environmental goods and services.

82. we urge the members of the world trade Organization (wtO) to redouble their efforts to achieve an ambitious, balanced and development-oriented conclusion to the doha round while respecting the principles of transparency, inclusiveness and consensual decision-making. these efforts aim to strengthen the multilateral trading system and promote trade initiatives (including aid for trade) in order to address key developmental concerns of the poorest and most vulnerable states, including countries in special situations.

83. we wish to reaffirm our full solidarity with all african countries in the process of accession to the wtO and urge all wtO members to facilitate and accelerate the accession in line with their level of development and the contours of the current wtO rules. we insist that acceding countries should

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not be asked to make commitments that go beyond their level of development and current wtO rules. in this context, the principle of Special and differential treatment and non-reciprocity should be applied. these processes should be accelerated and carried out without political impediment.

84. wtO members, the wtO Secretariat and relevant international organizations must provide technical assistance and capacity building prior to, during, and in the follow-up to the accession process in line with countries’ needs and development priorities.

(c) Establish partnerships for managing global commons

85. the experience from implementing the mdgs shows that africa has not capitalized on the benefits of global commons including trade, finance and climate change, among others. we therefore believe in the need for sustainable management of global commons, which are important for development.

86. the international community must collectively address the sustainable management of global commons in the post-2015 development agenda. in this regard, we identify five areas of global commons that are vital to accelerating africa’s development priorities: (i) creating and implementing strategies for managing environmental commons such as the prevention of climate change, climate change adaptation and the promotion of biodiversity; (ii) preventing and managing cross-border and communicable diseases (including hiv&aidS, tuberculosis, malaria and avian influenza); (iii) promoting a fair, predictable, non-discriminatory and rule-based multilateral trading system including the completion of the doha round; (iv) ensuring international financial architecture that promotes access to concessional development finance, penalizes illicit financial flows, strengthens early warning systems for global financial fragility, and deepens responsive financial risk management; and (v) promoting a global knowledge for development system that encourages building, documenting and sharing good practices on pertinent development issues.

IV. enabling implementation

87. in order for above efforts to be successful, an enabling domestic, continental and global environment is imperative. to this end, we reaffirm the importance of key enablers underpinned by the african union’s agenda 2063, which presents the vision for the continent’s development. we also recall that the obligations under the millennium declaration that must be respected by africa and the international community. the mdgs are still highly relevant to africa, and we call on the global community to sustain progress made and deepen the implementation of the challenging areas in the years ahead. to enable effective implementation, we commIt to:

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88. sustaIn efforts towards democratization undertaken on the continent, and reIterate our commitment to end instability and conflicts on the continent, and to build resilience.

89. adoPt additional measures to fight corruption, promote good political and socio-economic governance, transparency and accountability, especially in the field of natural resources management; and imPrOve the enabling environment for the involvement of civil society.

90. accelerate decentralization of the governance system, reinforce rule of law frameworks and strengthen capacities of our institutions in order to protect human rights and meet the aspirations of our people; and Promote integrity and leadership that is committed to the interests of the people.

91. enhance the implementation and impact of existing continental mechanisms, such as the african Peer review mechanism (aPrm), the nePad and the african governance architecture.

92. ensure an effective global governance architecture, including full and equitable representation of african countries in international, financial and economic institutions, as well decision making processes, that reinforces the principles of fair trade, deters illicit financial flows, and is framed by genuine cooperation and partnerships for development based on trust.

93. Protect human rights of all citizens in order to ensure their meaningful participation in society; fight against all forms of discrimination; and promote the constructive management of diversity through democratic practices and mechanisms at the local, national and continental levels.

94. Promote the right to development, as adopted in 1986 by the united nations general assembly (ga) in its resolution 41/128 and recognized in the african charter on human and Peoples’ rights. this is an inalienable human right by virtue of which every human person and all peoples are entitled to participate in, contribute to, and enjoy economic, social, cultural and political development. by extension, this also includes the right of poor countries to develop through adequate policy space and involvement in global governance systems.

95. ensure equality and access to justice and information for all through the pre-eminence of justice and rule of law, and guarantee the protection of the rights of minorities and people living in vulnerable situations, including children, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, rural populations, displaced persons and migrants in order to achieve social sustainability.

96. encourage mutual accountability between the State and its citizens, and between the State and development partners.

97. Promote sound macro-economic policies that combine short-term imperatives of growth with long-term development considerations such as equality, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion at the national, regional, continental and global levels.

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98. resolve to promote private sector development by improving the investment and business climate and supporting small-scale enterprises as well as by promoting public private partnerships, quality assurance, participation and leadership of the private sector, local content policy, and socially responsive and accountable business practices. the implementation of continental mechanisms to promote intra-african trade including the nePad framework is also crucial in achieving this objective.

99. ensure a viable and credible participatory process that respects diversity and encourages input from all stakeholders – from priority setting to the planning, implementation and monitoring of development policies.

100. Invest In and strengthen national statistical capacities and geospatial information systems for the collection, analysis, production and dissemination of disaggregated data to measure and evaluate policy effectiveness; and Promote a culture of evidence-based decision making.

101. InstItute and strengthen effective monitoring and evaluation systems, and ImProve accountability.

102. ensure the preservation, protection and promotion of traditional intellectual property, and promote knowledge creation through its integration in development programmes.

103. to strengthen human and institutional capacities in all of the priorities mentioned above, we commIt to:

(i) building and strengthening capacity to negotiate contracts, concessions and fiscal incentives for investors, including natural resource management, capacity for trade negotiations, e.g. wtO and related issues, as well as capacity for technology transfer, innovation and r&d.

(ii) Strengthening of technical and scientific cooperation, including north-South, South-South and triangular cooperation. we reiterate the importance of human resources development, including training, the exchange of experiences and expertise, knowledge transfer and technical assistance for capacity-building, all of which require strengthening institutional capacity, which includes planning, management and monitoring.

(iii) continued and focused implementation of the bali Strategic Plan for technology Support and capacity-building.

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V. Conclusion

We, heads of state and government of the afrIcan unIon:

104. commend the participatory approach of the post-2015 development agenda formulation process, which provides a unique opportunity for africa to present a united and common set of priorities. we believe in a world with a just and equitable economic order that is free from poverty, exclusion and human suffering, and respects the limits of the planet earth.

105. reIterate that the post-2015 process should galvanize political will and international commitment for a universal development agenda focused on the eradication of both poverty and exclusion, as well as on the pursuit of sustainable development.

106. recommend that the global post-2015 development agenda gIve adeQuate attentIon to: the development of productive capacity underpinned by value addition, technology and innovation, and infrastructure development; people-centred development with a particular emphasis on youth empowerment and gender equality; natural resources and disaster risk management in the context of sustainable development; peace and security; and a truly inclusive and transformative global partnership. this is important for us to achieve an integrated, prosperous, stable, peaceful and secure africa that is effectively engaged in the global arena.

107. call for a fully open, transparent and inclusive negotiation process in which nations are equal and have an equal voice. we commit to speak with one voice in order to ensure that africa’s position is heard and fully integrated into the global development agenda.

108. BelIeve that these objectives are attainable within 15 years; we therefore recommend that the post-2015 development agenda should extend over a period of 15 years starting from 2016.

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COMMON AFRICAN POSITION (CAP)ON THE POST-2015 DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

P. O. Box 3243, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA Tel.: 00251-11-5517700,ADDIS ABABA Website: www.africa-union.org

United Nations A/CONF.227/L.1

Third International Conference on Financing for Development Addis Ababa, 13-16 July 2015

Distr.: Limited

15 July 2015

Original: English

15-11996 (E) 150715

*1511996*

Agenda item 10

Adoption of the outcome document of the Conference

Draft resolution submitted by the Chair of the Main Committee

Outcome document of the Third International Conference on

Financing for Development: Addis Ababa Action Agenda

The Third International Conference on Financing for Development,

Having met in Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015,

1. Adopts, as the outcome document of the Conference, the Addis Ababa

Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development

(Addis Ababa Action Agenda), annexed to the present resolution;

2. Recommends that the General Assembly endorse, at its sixty-ninth

session, the Addis Ababa Action Agenda as adopted by the Conference.

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Annex

Addis Ababa Action Agenda of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (Addis Ababa Action Agenda)

I. A global framework for financing development post-2015

1. We, the Heads of State and Government and High Representatives, gathered in

Addis Ababa from 13 to 16 July 2015, affirm our strong political commitment to

address the challenge of financing and creating an enabling environment at all levels

for sustainable development in the spirit of global partnership and solidarity. We

reaffirm and build on the 2002 Monterrey Consensus and the 2008 Doha

Declaration. Our goal is to end poverty and hunger, and to achieve sustainable

development in its three dimensions through promoting inclusive economic growth,

protecting the environment, and promoting social inclusion. We commit to

respecting all human rights, including the right to development. We will ensure

gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment. We will promote peaceful

and inclusive societies and advance fully towards an equitable global economic

system in which no country or person is left behind, enabling decent work and

productive livelihoods for all, while preserving the planet for our children and

future generations.

2. In September 2015, the United Nations will host a summit to adopt an

ambitious and transformative post-2015 development agenda, including sustainable

development goals. This agenda must be underpinned by equally ambitious and

credible means of implementation. We have come together to establish a holistic and

forward-looking framework and to commit to concrete actions to del iver on the

promise of that agenda. Our task is threefold: to follow-up on commitments and

assess the progress made in the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus and the

Doha Declaration; to further strengthen the framework to finance sustainable

development and the means of implementation for the universal post -2015

development agenda; and to reinvigorate and strengthen the financing for

development follow-up process to ensure that the actions to which we commit are

implemented and reviewed in an appropriate, inclusive, timely and transparent

manner.

3. We recognize that since the adoption of the Monterrey Consensus the world

has made significant overall progress. Globally, economic activity and financing

flows have increased substantially. We have made great progress in mobilizing

financial and technical resources for development from an increased number of

actors. Advances in science, technology and innovation have enhanced the potential

to achieve our development goals. Many countries, including developing countries,

have implemented policy frameworks that have contributed to increased

mobilization of domestic resources and higher levels of economic growth and social

progress. Developing countries’ share in world trade has increased and, while debt

burdens remain, they have been reduced in many poor countries. These advances

have contributed to a substantial reduction in the number of people living in

extreme poverty and to notable progress towards the achievement of the Millennium

Development Goals.

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3/39 15-11996

4. Despite these gains, many countries, particularly developing countries, still

face considerable challenges, and some have fallen further behind. Inequalities

within many countries have increased dramatically. Women, representing half of the

world’s population, as well as indigenous peoples and the vulnerable, continue to be

excluded from participating fully in the economy. While the Monterrey agenda has

not yet been fully implemented, new challenges have arisen, and enormous unmet

needs remain for the achievement of sustainable development. The 2008 world

financial and economic crisis exposed risks and vulnerabilities in the international

financial and economic system. Global growth rates are now below pre -crisis levels.

Shocks from financial and economic crises, conflict, natural disasters and disease

outbreaks spread rapidly in our highly interconnected world. Environmental

degradation, climate change, and other environmental risks threaten to undermine

past successes and future prospects. We need to ensure that our development efforts

enhance resilience in the face of these threats.

5. Solutions can be found, including through strengthening public policies,

regulatory frameworks and finance at all levels, unlocking the transformative

potential of people and the private sector, and incentivizing changes in financing as

well as consumption and production patterns to support sustainable development.

We recognize that appropriate incentives, strengthening national and international

policy environments and regulatory frameworks and their coherence, harnessing the

potential of science, technology and innovation, closing technology gaps and

scaling up capacity-building at all levels are essential for the shift towards

sustainable development and poverty eradication. We reaffirm the importance of

freedom, human rights, and national sovereignty, good governance, rule of law,

peace and security, combating corruption at all levels and in all its forms, and

effective, accountable and inclusive democratic institutions at the subnational,

national and international levels as central to enabling the effective, efficient and

transparent mobilization and use of resources. We also reaffirm all the principles of

the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development.

6. We reaffirm that achieving gender equality, empowering all women and girls,

and the full realization of their human rights are essential to achieving sustained,

inclusive and equitable economic growth and sustainable development. We reiterate

the need for gender mainstreaming, including targeted actions and investments in

the formulation and implementation of all financial, economic, environmental and

social policies. We recommit to adopting and strengthening sound policies and

enforceable legislation and transformative actions for the promotion of gender

equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment at all levels, to ensure women’s

equal rights, access and opportunities for participation and leadership in the

economy and to eliminate gender-based violence and discrimination in all its forms.

7. We recognize that investing in children and youth is critical to achieving

inclusive, equitable and sustainable development for present and future generations,

and we recognize the need to support countries that face particular chal lenges to

make the requisite investments in this area. We reaffirm the vital importance of

promoting and protecting the rights of all children, and ensuring that no child is left

behind.

8. We recognize the importance of addressing the diverse needs and challenges

faced by countries in special situations, in particular African countries, least

developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing

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States, as well as the specific challenges facing middle -income countries. We

reaffirm that least developed countries, as the most vulnerable group of countries,

need enhanced global support to overcome the structural challenges they face for

the achievement of the post-2015 development agenda and the sustainable

development goals. We reaffirm the need to address the special challenges and

needs of landlocked developing countries in structurally transforming their

economies, harnessing benefits from international trade, and developing efficient

transport and transit systems. We further reaffirm that small island developing

States remain a special case for sustainable development in view of their small size,

remoteness, narrow resource and export base, and exposure to global environmental

challenges. We also reaffirm the need to achieve a positive socioeconomic

transformation in Africa, and the need to address the diverse and specific

development needs of middle-income countries, including combating poverty in all

of its forms. In this regard, we support the implementation of relevant strateg ies and

programmes of action, including the Istanbul Declaration and Programme of Action,

the SIDS Accelerated Modalities of Action (SAMOA) Pathway and the Vienna

Programme of Action for Landlocked Developing Countries for the Decade 2014 -

2024, and reaffirm the importance of supporting the new development framework,

“the African Union’s Agenda 2063”, as well as its 10-year Plan of Action, as a

strategic framework for ensuring a positive socioeconomic transformation in Africa

within the next 50 years and its continental programme embedded in the resolutions

of the General Assembly on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development

(NEPAD). Countries in conflict and post-conflict situations also need special

attention. We recognize the development challenge posed by conflict, which not

only impedes but can reverse decades of development gains. We recognize the

peacebuilding financing gap and the importance of the Peacebuilding Fund. We take

note of the principles set out in the New Deal by the Group of Seven Plus, countries

that are, or have been, affected by conflict.

9. Cohesive nationally owned sustainable development strategies, supported by

integrated national financing frameworks, will be at the heart of our efforts. We

reiterate that each country has primary responsibility for its own economic and

social development and that the role of national policies and development strategies

cannot be overemphasized. We will respect each country’s policy space and

leadership to implement policies for poverty eradication and sustainable

development, while remaining consistent with relevant international rules and

commitments. At the same time, national development efforts need to be supported

by an enabling international economic environment, including coherent and

mutually supporting world trade, monetary and financial systems, and strengthened

and enhanced global economic governance. Processes to develop and facilitate the

availability of appropriate knowledge and technologies globally, as well as capacity -

building, are also critical. We commit to pursuing policy coherence and an enabling

environment for sustainable development at all levels and by all actors, and to

reinvigorating the global partnership for sustainable development.

10. The enhanced and revitalized global partnership for sustainable development,

led by Governments, will be a vehicle for strengthening international cooperation

for implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. Multi-stakeholder

partnerships and the resources, knowledge and ingenuity of the private sector, civil

society, the scientific community, academia, philanthropy and foundations,

parliaments, local authorities, volunteers and other stakeholders will be important to

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mobilize and share knowledge, expertise, technology and financial r esources,

complement the efforts of Governments, and support the achievement of the

sustainable development goals, in particular in developing countries. This global

partnership should reflect the fact that the post-2015 development agenda, including

the sustainable development goals, is global in nature and universally applicable to

all countries while taking into account different national realities, capacities, needs

and levels of development and respecting national policies and priorities. We will

work with all partners to ensure a sustainable, equitable, inclusive, peaceful and

prosperous future for all. We will all be held accountable by future generations for

the success and delivery of commitments we make today.

11. Achieving an ambitious post-2015 development agenda, including all the

sustainable development goals, will require an equally ambitious, comprehensive,

holistic and transformative approach with respect to the means of implementation,

combining different means of implementation and integrat ing the economic, social

and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. This should be

underpinned by effective, accountable and inclusive institutions, sound policies and

good governance at all levels. We will identify actions and address critic al gaps

relevant to the post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable

development goals, with an aim to harness their considerable synergies, so that

implementation of one will contribute to the progress of others. We have therefore

identified a range of cross-cutting areas that build on these synergies.

12. Delivering social protection and essential public services for all. To end

poverty in all its forms everywhere and finish the unfinished business of the

Millennium Development Goals, we commit to a new social compact. In this effort,

we will provide fiscally sustainable and nationally appropriate social protection

systems and measures for all, including floors, with a focus on those furthest below

the poverty line and the vulnerable, persons with disabilities, indigenous persons,

children, youth and older persons. We also encourage countries to consider setting

nationally appropriate spending targets for quality investments in essential public

services for all, including health, education, energy, water and sanitation, consistent

with national sustainable development strategies. We will make every effort to meet

the needs of all communities through delivering high -quality services that make

effective use of resources. We commit to strong international support for these

efforts, and will explore coherent funding modalities to mobilize additional

resources, building on country-led experiences.

13. Scaling up efforts to end hunger and malnutrition. It is unacceptable that

close to 800 million people are chronically undernourished and do not have access

to sufficient, safe and nutritious food. With the majority of the poor living in rural

areas, we emphasize the need to revitalize the agricultural sector, promote rural

development, and ensure food security, notably in developing countries, in a

sustainable manner, which will lead to rich payoffs across the sustainable

development goals. We will support sustainable agriculture, including forestry,

fisheries and pastoralism. We will also take action to fight malnutrition and hunger

among the urban poor. Recognizing the enormous investment needs in these areas,

we encourage increased public and private investments. In this regard, we recognize

the Committee on World Food Security’s voluntary Principles for Responsible

Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems and the Voluntary Guidelines on the

Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests. We recognize the

efforts of the International Fund for Agricultural Development in mobilizing

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investment to enable rural people living in poverty to improve their food security

and nutrition, raise their incomes, and strengthen their resilience. We value the work

of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) the World

Food Programme, and the World Bank and other multilateral development banks.

We also recognize the complementary role of social safety nets in ensuring food

security and nutrition. In this regard, we welcome the Rome Declaration on

Nutrition and the Framework for Action, which can provide policy options and

strategies aimed at ensuring food security and nutrition for all. We also commit to

increasing public investment, which plays a strategic role in financing researc h,

infrastructure and pro-poor initiatives. We will strengthen our efforts to enhance

food security and nutrition and focus our efforts on smallholders and women

farmers, as well as on agricultural cooperatives and farmers’ networks. We call on

relevant agencies to further coordinate and collaborate in this regard, in accordance

with their respective mandates. These efforts must be supported by improving

access to markets, enabling domestic and international environments, and

strengthened collaboration across the many initiatives in this area, including

regional initiatives, such as the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development

Programme. We will also work to significantly reduce post-harvest food loss and

waste.

14. Establishing a new forum to bridge the infrastructure gap. Investing in

sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including transport, energy, water and

sanitation for all, is a pre-requisite for achieving many of our goals. To bridge the

global infrastructure gap, including the $1 trillion to $1.5 trillion annual gap in

developing countries, we will facilitate development of sustainable, accessible and

resilient quality infrastructure in developing countries through enhanced financial

and technical support. We welcome the launch of new infrastructure initiatives

aimed at bridging these gaps, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,

the Global Infrastructure Hub, the New Development Bank, the Asia Pacific Project

Preparation Facility, the World Bank Group’s Global Infrastructure Facil ity and the

Africa50 Infrastructure Fund, as well as the increase in the capital of the

Inter-American Investment Corporation. As a key pillar to meet the sustainable

development goals, we call for the establishment of a global infrastructure forum

building on existing multilateral collaboration mechanisms, led by the multilateral

development banks. This forum will meet periodically to improve alignment and

coordination among established and new infrastructure initiatives, multilateral and

national development banks, United Nations agencies, and national institutions,

development partners and the private sector. It will encourage a greater range of

voices to be heard, particularly from developing countries, to identify and address

infrastructure and capacity gaps in particular in least developed countries,

landlocked developing countries, small island developing States and African

countries. It will highlight opportunities for investment and cooperation, and work

to ensure that investments are environmentally, socially and economically

sustainable.

15. Promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization. We stress the critical

importance of industrial development for developing countries, as a critical source

of economic growth, economic diversification, and value addition. We will invest in

promoting inclusive and sustainable industrial development to effectively address

major challenges such as growth and jobs, resources and energy efficiency,

pollution and climate change, knowledge-sharing, innovation and social inclusion.

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In this regard, we welcome relevant cooperation within the United Nations system,

including the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), to

advance the linkages between infrastructure development, inclusive and sustaina ble

industrialization and innovation.

16. Generating full and productive employment and decent work for all and

promoting micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. To enable all people to

benefit from growth, we will include full and productive employment and decent

work for all as a central objective in our national development strategies. We will

encourage the full and equal participation of women and men, including persons

with disabilities, in the formal labour market. We note that micro, small and

medium-sized enterprises, which create the vast majority of jobs in many countries,

often lack access to finance. Working with private actors and development banks,

we commit to promoting appropriate, affordable and stable access to credit to micro,

small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as adequate skills development training

for all, particularly for youth and entrepreneurs. We will promote national youth

strategies as a key instrument for meeting the needs and aspirations of young

people. We also commit to developing and operationalizing, by 2020, a global

strategy for youth employment and implementing the International Labour

Organization (ILO) Global Jobs Pact.

17. Protecting our ecosystems for all. All of our actions need to be underpinned

by our strong commitment to protect and preserve our planet and natural resources,

our biodiversity and our climate. We commit to coherent policy, financing, trade and

technology frameworks to protect, manage and restore our ecosystems, including

marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and to promote their sustainable use, build

resilience, reduce pollution and combat climate change, desertification and land

degradation. We recognize the importance of avoiding harmful activities.

Governments, businesses and households will all need to change behaviours, with a

view to ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns. We will promote

corporate sustainability, including reporting on environmental, social and

governance impacts, to help to ensure transparency and accountability. Public and

private investments in innovations and clean technologies will be needed, while

keeping in mind that new technologies will not substitute for efforts to reduce waste

or efficiently use natural resources.

18. Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies. We underline the need to

promote peaceful and inclusive societies for achieving sustainable development, and

to build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. Good

governance, rule of law, human rights, fundamental freedoms, equal access to fair

justice systems, and measures to combat corruption and curb illicit financial flows

will be integral to our efforts.

19. The post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development

goals, can be met within the framework of a revitalized global partnership for

sustainable development, supported by the concrete policies and actions as outlined

in the present Action Agenda.

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II. Action areas

A. Domestic public resources

20. For all countries, public policies and the mobilization and effective use of

domestic resources, underscored by the principle of national ownership, are central

to our common pursuit of sustainable development, including achieving the

sustainable development goals. Building on the considerable achievements in many

countries since Monterrey, we remain committed to further strengthening the

mobilization and effective use of domestic resources. We recognize that domestic

resources are first and foremost generated by economic growth, supported by an

enabling environment at all levels. Sound social, environmental and economic

policies, including countercyclical fiscal policies, adequate fiscal space, good

governance at all levels, and democratic and transparent institutions responsive to

the needs of the people are necessary to achieve our goals. We will strengthen our

domestic enabling environments, including the rule of law, and combat corruption at

all levels and in all its forms. Civil society, independent media, and other non -State

actors also play important roles.

21. Evidence shows that gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s

full and equal participation and leadership in the economy are vital to achieve

sustainable development and significantly enhance economic growth and

productivity. We commit to promoting social inclusion in our domestic policies. We

will promote and enforce non-discriminatory laws, social infrastructure and policies

for sustainable development, as well as enable women’s full and equal participation

in the economy, and their equal access to decision-making processes and leadership.

22. We recognize that significant additional domestic public resources,

supplemented by international assistance as appropriate, will be critical to realizing

sustainable development and achieving the sustainable development goals. We

commit to enhancing revenue administration through modernized, progressive tax

systems, improved tax policy and more efficient tax collection. We will work to

improve the fairness, transparency, efficiency and effectiveness of our tax systems,

including by broadening the tax base and continuing efforts to integrate the informal

sector into the formal economy in line with country circumstances. In this regard,

we will strengthen international cooperation to support efforts to build capacity in

developing countries, including through enhanced official development assistance

(ODA). We welcome efforts by countries to set nationally defined domestic targets

and timelines for enhancing domestic revenue as part of their national sustainable

development strategies, and will support developing countries in need in reaching

these targets.

23. We will redouble efforts to substantially reduce illicit financial flows by 2030,

with a view to eventually eliminating them, including by combating tax evasion and

corruption through strengthened national regulation and increased international

cooperation. We will also reduce opportunities for tax avoidance, and consider

inserting anti-abuse clauses in all tax treaties. We will enhance disclosure practices

and transparency in both source and destination countries, including by seeking to

ensure transparency in all financial transactions between Governments and

companies to relevant tax authorities. We will make sure that all companies ,

including multinationals, pay taxes to the Governments of countries where

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economic activity occurs and value is created, in accordance with national and

international laws and policies.

24. We note the report of the High-level Panel on Illicit Financial Flows from

Africa. We invite other regions to carry out similar exercises. To help combat illicit

flows, we invite the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the

United Nations to assist both source and destination countries. We also invite

appropriate international institutions and regional organizations to publish estimates

of the volume and composition of illicit financial flows. We will identify, assess and

act on money-laundering risks, including through effective implementation of the

Financial Action Task Force standards on anti-money-laundering/counter-terrorism

financing. At the same time, we will encourage information -sharing among financial

institutions to mitigate the potential impact of the anti-money-laundering and

combating the financing of terrorism standard on reducing access to financial

services.

25. We urge all countries that have not yet done so to ratify and accede to the

United Nations Convention against Corruption and encourage parties to review its

implementation. We commit to making the Convention an effective instrument to

deter, detect, prevent and counter corruption and bribery, prosecute those involved

in corrupt activities, and recover and return stolen assets to their country of origin.

We encourage the international community to develop good practices on asset

return. We support the Stolen Asset Recovery Initiative of the United Nations and

the World Bank, and other international initiatives that support the recovery of

stolen assets. We further urge that regional conventions against corruption be

updated and ratified. We will strive to eliminate safe havens that create incentives

for transfer abroad of stolen assets and illicit financial flows. We will work to

strengthen regulatory frameworks at all levels to further increase transparency and

accountability of financial institutions and the corporate sector, as well as public

administrations. We will strengthen international cooperation and national

institutions to combat money-laundering and financing of terrorism.

26. Countries relying significantly on natural resource exports face particular

challenges. We encourage investment in value addition and processing of natural

resources and productive diversification, and commit to addressing excessive tax

incentives related to these investments, particularly in extractive industries. We

reaffirm that every State has and shall freely exercise full permanent sovereignty

over all its wealth, natural resources and economic activity. We underline the

importance of corporate transparency and accountability of all companies, notably

in the extractive industries. We encourage countries to implement measures to

ensure transparency, and take note of voluntary initiatives such as the Extractive

Industries Transparency Initiative. We will continue to share best practices and

promote peer learning and capacity-building for contract negotiations for fair and

transparent concession, revenue and royalty agreements, and for monitoring the

implementation of contracts.

27. We commit to scaling up international tax cooperation. We encourage

countries, in accordance with their national capacities and circumstances, to work

together to strengthen transparency and adopt appropriate policies, including

multinational enterprises reporting country-by-country to tax authorities where they

operate; access to beneficial ownership information for competent authorities; and

progressively advancing towards automatic exchange of tax information among tax

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authorities as appropriate, with assistance to developing countries, especially the

least developed, as needed. Tax incentives can be an appropriate policy tool.

However, to end harmful tax practices, countries can engage in voluntary

discussions on tax incentives in regional and international forums.

28. We stress that efforts in international tax cooperation should be universal in

approach and scope and should fully take into account the different needs and

capacities of all countries, in particular least developed countries, landlocked

developing countries, small island developing States and African countries. We

welcome the participation of developing countries or their regional networks in this

work, and call for more inclusiveness to ensure that these efforts benefit all

countries. We welcome ongoing efforts, including the work of the Global Forum on

Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, and take into account

the work of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

for the Group of 20 on base erosion and profit shifting. We support strengthening of

regional networks of tax administrators. We take note of ongoing efforts, such as

those of IMF, including on capacity-building, and the OECD “Tax Inspectors

without Borders” initiative. We recognize the need for technica l assistance through

multilateral, regional, bilateral and South-South cooperation, based on different

needs of countries.

29. We emphasize the importance of inclusive cooperation and dialogue among

national tax authorities on international tax matters. In this regard, we welcome the

work of the Committee of Experts on International Cooperation in Tax Matters,

including its subcommittees. We have decided that we will work to further enhance

its resources in order to strengthen its effectiveness and operational capacity. To that

end, we will increase the frequency of its meetings to two sessions per year, with a

duration of four working days each. We will increase the engagement of the

Committee with the Economic and Social Council through the Special Meeting on

International Cooperation on Tax Matters, with a view to enhancing

intergovernmental consideration of tax issues. Members of the Committee will

continue to report directly to the Economic and Social Council. We continue to urge

Member States to support the Committee and its subsidiary bodies through the

voluntary trust fund, to enable the Committee to fulfil its mandate, including

supporting the increased participation of developing country experts at

subcommittee meetings. The Committee members shall be nominated by

Governments and acting in their expert capacity, who are to be drawn from the

fields of tax policy and tax administration and who are to be selected to reflect an

adequate equitable geographical distribution, representing different tax systems. The

members shall be appointed by the Secretary-General, in consultation with Member

States.

30. We will strengthen national control mechanisms, such as supreme audit

institutions, along with other independent oversight institutions, as appropriate. We

will increase transparency and equal participation in the budgeting process, and

promote gender responsive budgeting and tracking. We will establish transparent

public procurement frameworks as a strategic tool to reinforce sustainable

development. We take note of the work of the Open Government Partnership, which

promotes the transparency, accountability and responsiveness of Governments to

their citizens, with the goal of improving the quality of governance and government

services.

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31. We reaffirm the commitment to rationalize inefficient fossil-fuel subsidies that

encourage wasteful consumption by removing market distortions, in accordance

with national circumstances, including by restructuring taxation and phasing out

those harmful subsidies, where they exist, to reflect their environmental impacts,

taking fully into account the specific needs and conditions of developing countries

and minimizing the possible adverse impacts on their development in a manner that

protects the poor and the affected communities.

32. We note the enormous burden that non-communicable diseases place on

developed and developing countries. These costs are particularly challenging for

small island developing States. We recognize, in particular, that, as part of a

comprehensive strategy of prevention and control, price and tax measures on

tobacco can be an effective and important means to reduce tobacco consumption

and health-care costs, and represent a revenue stream for financing for development

in many countries.

33. We note the role that well-functioning national and regional development

banks can play in financing sustainable development, particularly in credit market

segments in which commercial banks are not fully engaged and where large

financing gaps exist, based on sound lending frameworks and compliance with

appropriate social and environmental safeguards. This includes areas such as

sustainable infrastructure, energy, agriculture, industrialization, science, technology

and innovation, as well as financial inclusion and financing of micro, small and

medium-sized enterprises. We acknowledge that national and regional development

banks also play a valuable countercyclical role, especially during financial crises

when private sector entities become highly risk-averse. We call on national and

regional development banks to expand their contributions in these areas, and further

urge relevant international public and private actors to support such banks in

developing countries.

34. We further acknowledge that expenditures and investments in sustainable

development are being devolved to the subnational level, which often lacks

adequate technical and technological capacity, financing and support. We therefore

commit to scaling up international cooperation to strengthen capacities of

municipalities and other local authorities. We will support cities and local

authorities of developing countries, particularly in least developed countries and

small island developing States, in implementing resilient and environmentally sound

infrastructure, including energy, transport, water and sanitation, and sustainable and

resilient buildings using local materials. We will strive to support local governments

in their efforts to mobilize revenues as appropriate. We will enhance inclusive and

sustainable urbanization and strengthen economic, social and environmental links

between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional

development planning, within the context of national sustainable development

strategies. We will work to strengthen debt management, and where appropriate to

establish or strengthen municipal bond markets, to help subnational authorities to

finance necessary investments. We will also promote lending from financial

institutions and development banks, along with risk mitigation mechanisms, such as

the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, while managing currency risk. In

these efforts, we will encourage the participation of local communities in decisions

affecting their communities, such as in improving drinking water and sanitation

management. By 2020, we will increase the number of cities and human settlements

adopting and implementing integrated policies and plans towards inclusion,

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resource efficiency, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, and resil ience to

disasters. We will develop and implement holistic disaster risk management at all

levels in line with the Sendai Framework. In this regard, we will support national

and local capacity for prevention, adaptation and mitigation of external shocks an d

risk management.

B. Domestic and international private business and finance

35. Private business activity, investment and innovation are major drivers of

productivity, inclusive economic growth and job creation. We acknowledge the

diversity of the private sector, ranging from micro-enterprises to cooperatives to

multinationals. We call on all businesses to apply their creativity and innovation to

solving sustainable development challenges. We invite them to engage as partners in

the development process, to invest in areas critical to sustainable development, and

to shift to more sustainable consumption and production patterns. We welcome the

significant growth in domestic private activity and international investment since

Monterrey. Private international capital flows, particularly foreign direct

investment, along with a stable international financial system, are vital complements

to national development efforts. Nonetheless, we note that there are investment gaps

in key sectors for sustainable development. Foreign direct investment is

concentrated in a few sectors in many developing countries and often bypasses

countries most in need, and international capital flows are often short -term oriented.

36. We will develop policies and, where appropriate, strengthen regulatory

frameworks to better align private sector incentives with public goals, including

incentivizing the private sector to adopt sustainable practices, and foster long -term

quality investment. Public policy is needed to create the enabling environment at all

levels and a regulatory framework necessary to encourage entrepreneurship and a

vibrant domestic business sector. Monterrey tasked us to build transparent, stable

and predictable investment climates, with proper contract enforcement and respect

for property rights, embedded in sound macroeconomic policies and institutions.

Many countries have made great strides in this area. We will continue to promote

and create enabling domestic and international conditions for inclusive and

sustainable private sector investment, with transparent and stable rules and

standards and free and fair competition, conducive to achieving national

development policies.

37. We will foster a dynamic and well-functioning business sector, while

protecting labour rights and environmental and health standards in accordance with

relevant international standards and agreements, such as the Guiding Principles on

Business and Human Rights and the labour standards of ILO, the Convention on the

Rights of the Child and key multilateral environmental agreements, for parties to

those agreements. We welcome the growing number of businesses that embrace a

core business model that takes account of the environmental, social and governance

impacts of their activities, and urge all others to do so. We encourage impact

investing, which combines a return on investment with non-financial impacts. We

will promote sustainable corporate practices, including integrating environmental,

social and governance factors into company reporting as appropriate, with countries

deciding on the appropriate balance of voluntary and mandatory rules. We

encourage businesses to adopt principles for responsible business and investing, and

we support the work of the Global Compact in this regard. We will work towards

harmonizing the various initiatives on sustainable business and financing,

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identifying gaps, including in relation to gender equality, and strengthening the

mechanisms and incentives for compliance.

38. We acknowledge the importance of robust risk-based regulatory frameworks

for all financial intermediation, from microfinance to international banking. We

acknowledge that some risk-mitigating measures could potentially have unintended

consequences, such as making it more difficult for micro, small and med ium-sized

enterprises to access financial services. We will work to ensure that our policy and

regulatory environment supports financial market stability and promotes financial

inclusion in a balanced manner, and with appropriate consumer protection. We wi ll

endeavour to design policies, including capital market regulations where

appropriate, that promote incentives along the investment chain that are aligned

with long-term performance and sustainability indicators, and that reduce excess

volatility.

39. Many people, especially women, still lack access to financial services, as well

as financial literacy, which is a key for social inclusion. We will work towards full

and equal access to formal financial services for all. We will adopt or review our

financial inclusion strategies, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, and will

consider including financial inclusion as a policy objective in financial regulation,

in accordance with national priorities and legislation. We will encourage our

commercial banking systems to serve all, including those who currently face

barriers to access financial services and information. We will also support

microfinance institutions, development banks, agricultural banks, mobile network

operators, agent networks, cooperatives, postal banks and savings banks as

appropriate. We encourage the use of innovative tools, including mobile banking,

payment platforms and digitalized payments. We will expand peer learning and

experience-sharing among countries and regions, including through the Alliance for

Financial Inclusion and regional organizations. We commit to strengthening

capacity development for developing countries, including through the United

Nations development system, and encourage mutual cooperation and collaboration

between financial inclusion initiatives.

40. We recognize the positive contribution of migrants for inclusive growth and

sustainable development in countries of origin, and transit and destination countries.

Remittances from migrant workers, half of whom are wo men, are typically wages

transferred to families, primarily to meet part of the needs of the recipient

households. They cannot be equated to other international financial flows, such as

foreign direct investment, ODA or other public sources of financing fo r

development. We will work to ensure that adequate and affordable financial services

are available to migrants and their families in both home and host countries. We will

work towards reducing the average transaction cost of migrant remittances by 2030

to less than 3 per cent of the amount transferred. We are particularly concerned with

the cost of remittances in certain low volume and high cost corridors. We will work

to ensure that no remittance corridor requires charges higher than 5 per cent by

2030, mindful of the need to maintain adequate service coverage, especially for

those most in need. We will support national authorities to address the most

significant obstacles to the continued flow of remittances, such as the trend of banks

withdrawing services, to work towards access to remittance transfer services across

borders. We will increase coordination among national regulatory authorities to

remove obstacles to non-bank remittance service providers accessing payment

system infrastructure, and promote conditions for cheaper, faster and safer transfer

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of remittances in both source and recipient countries, including by promoting

competitive and transparent market conditions. We will exploit new technologies,

promote financial literacy and inclusion, and improve data collection.

41. We are committed to women’s and girls’ equal rights and opportunities in

political and economic decision-making and resource allocation and to removing

any barriers that prevent women from being full participants in the economy. We

resolve to undertake legislation and administrative reforms to give women equal

rights with men to economic resources, including access to ownership and control

over land and other forms of property, credit, inheritance, natural resources and

appropriate new technology. We further encourage the private sector to contribute to

advancing gender equality through striving to ensure women’s full and productive

employment and decent work, equal pay for equal work or work of equal value, and

equal opportunities, as well as protecting them against discrimination and abuse in

the workplace. We support the Women’s Empowerment Principles established by

UN-Women and the Global Compact and encourage increased investments in

female-owned companies or businesses.

42. We welcome the rapid growth of philanthropic giving and the significant

financial and non-financial contribution philanthropists have made towards

achieving our common goals. We recognize philanthropic donors’ flexibility and

capacity for innovation and taking risks, and their ability to leverage additional

funds through multi-stakeholder partnerships. We encourage others to join those

who already contribute. We welcome efforts to increase cooperation between

philanthropic actors, Governments and other development stakeholders. We call for

increased transparency and accountability in philanthropy. We encourage

philanthropic donors to give due consideration to local circumstances and align with

national policies and priorities. We also encourage philanthropic donors to consider

managing their endowments through impact investment, which considers both profit

and non-financial impacts in its investment criteria.

43. We recognize that micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly

those that are women-owned, often have difficulty in obtaining financing. To

encourage increased lending to micro, small and medium -sized enterprises, financial

regulations can permit the use of collateral substitutes, create appropriate exceptions

to capital requirements, reduce entry and exit costs to encourage competition and

allow microfinance institutions to mobilize savings by receiving deposits. We will

work to strengthen the capacity of financial institutions to undertake cost -effective

credit evaluation, including through public training programmes, and through

establishing credit bureaux where appropriate. National development banks, credit

unions, and other domestic financial institutions can play a vital role in providing

access to financial services. We encourage both international and domestic

development banks to promote finance for micro, small and medium -sized

enterprises, including in industrial transformation, through the creation of credit

lines targeting those enterprises, as well as technical assistance. We welcome the

work of the International Finance Corporation and other initiatives in this area, and

encourage increased capacity-building and knowledge-sharing at the regional and

global levels. We also recognize the potential of new investment vehicles, such a s

development-oriented venture capital funds, potentially with public partners,

blended finance, risk mitigation instruments, and innovative debt funding structures

with appropriate risk management and regulatory frameworks. We will also enhance

capacity-building in these areas.

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44. To meet longer-term financing needs, we will work towards developing

domestic capital markets, particularly long-term bond and insurance markets where

appropriate, including crop insurance on non-distortive terms. We will also work to

strengthen supervision, clearing, settlement and risk management. We underline that

regional markets are an effective way to achieve scale and depth not attainable when

individual markets are small. We welcome the increase in lending in domestic

currencies by multilateral development banks, and encourage further growth in this

area. We encourage development banks to make use of all risk management tools,

including through diversification. We recognize that the nature of international

portfolio investment has evolved over the past 15 years, and that foreign investors

now play a significant role in some developing countries’ capital markets, and the

importance of managing volatility associated with these. We will enhance

international support in developing domestic capital markets in developing

countries, in particular in least developed countries, landlocked developing

countries and small island developing States. We will work to strengthen capacity -

building in this area, including through regional, interregional and global forums for

knowledge-sharing, technical assistance and data-sharing.

45. We recognize the important contribution that direct investment, including

foreign direct investment, can make to sustainable development, particularly when

projects are aligned with national and regional sustainable development strategies.

Government policies can strengthen positive spillovers from foreign direct

investment, such as know-how and technology, including through establishing

linkages with domestic suppliers, as well as encouraging the integration of local

enterprises, in particular micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in developing

countries, into regional and global value chains. We will encourage investment

promotion and other relevant agencies to focus on project preparation. We will

prioritize projects with the greatest potential for promoting full and productive

employment and decent work for all, sustainable patterns of production and

consumption, structural transformation and sustainable industrialization, productive

diversification and agriculture. Internationally, we will support these efforts through

financial and technical support and capacity-building, and closer collaboration

between home and host country agencies. We will consider the use of insurance,

investment guarantees, including through the Multilateral Investment Guarantee

Agency, and new financial instruments to incentivize foreign direct investment to

developing countries, particularly least developed countries, landlocked deve loping

countries, small island developing States and countries in conflict and post -conflict

situations.

46. We note with concern that many least developed countries continue to be

largely sidelined by foreign direct investment that could help to diversify their

economies, despite improvements in their investment climates. We resolve to adopt

and implement investment promotion regimes for least developed countries. We will

also offer financial and technical support for project preparation and contract

negotiation, advisory support in investment-related dispute resolution, access to

information on investment facilities and risk insurance and guarantees such as

through the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, as requested by the least

developed countries. We also note that small island developing States face

challenges accessing international credit as a result of the structural characteristics

of their economies. Least developed countries will continue to improve their

enabling environments. We will also strengthen our efforts to address financing gaps

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and low levels of direct investment faced by landlocked developing countries, small

island developing States, many middle-income countries, and countries in conflict

and post-conflict situations. We encourage the use of innovative mechanisms and

partnerships to encourage greater international private financial participation in

these economies.

47. We acknowledge that impediments to private investment in infrastructure exist

on both the supply and demand side. Insufficient investment is due in part to

inadequate infrastructure plans and an insufficient number of well -prepared

investable projects, along with private sector incentive structures that are not

necessarily appropriate for investing in many long -term projects, and risk

perceptions of investors. To address these constraints, we will imbed resilient and

quality infrastructure investment plans in our national sustainable development

strategies, while also strengthening our domestic enabling environments.

Internationally, we will provide technical support for countries to translate plans

into concrete project pipelines, as well as for individual implementable projects,

including for feasibility studies, negotiation of complex contracts, and project

management. In this regard, we take note of the African Union’s Programme for

Infrastructure Development in Africa. We note with concern the decline in

infrastructure lending from commercial banks. We call on standard -setting bodies to

identify adjustments that could encourage long-term investments within a

framework of prudent risk-taking and robust risk control. We encourage long-term

institutional investors, such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, which

manage large pools of capital, to allocate a greater percentage to infrastructure,

particularly in developing countries. In this regard, we encourage investors to take

measures to incentivize greater long-term investment such as reviews of

compensation structures and performance criteria.

48. We recognize that both public and private investment have key roles to play in

infrastructure financing, including through development banks, development

finance institutions and tools and mechanisms such as public -private partnerships,

blended finance, which combines concessional public finance with non-concessional

private finance and expertise from the public and private sector, special -purpose

vehicles, non-recourse project financing, risk mitigation instruments and pooled

funding structures. Blended finance instruments including public-private

partnerships serve to lower investment-specific risks and incentivize additional

private sector finance across key development sectors led by regional, national and

subnational government policies and priorities for sustainable development. For

harnessing the potential of blended finance instruments for sustainable

development, careful consideration should be given to the appropriate structure and

use of blended finance instruments. Projects involving blended finance, includi ng

public-private partnerships, should share risks and reward fairly, include clear

accountability mechanisms and meet social and environmental standards. We will

therefore build capacity to enter into public-private partnerships, including with

regard to planning, contract negotiation, management, accounting and budgeting for

contingent liabilities. We also commit to holding inclusive, open and transparent

discussion when developing and adopting guidelines and documentation for the use

of public-private partnerships, and to build a knowledge base and share lessons

learned through regional and global forums.

49. We will promote both public and private investment in energy infrastructure

and clean energy technologies including carbon capture and storage technologies.

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We will substantially increase the share of renewable energy and double the global

rate of energy efficiency and conservation, with the aim of ensuring universal access

to affordable, reliable modern and sustainable energy services for all by 2030 . We

will enhance international cooperation to provide adequate support and facilitate

access to clean energy research and technology, expand infrastructure and upgrade

technology for supplying modern and sustainable energy services to all developing

countries, in particular least developed countries and small island developing States.

We welcome the Secretary-General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative as a

useful framework, including its regional hubs, and the development of action

agendas and investment prospectuses at country level, where appropriate. We call

for action on its recommendations, with a combined potential to raise over

$100 billion in annual investments by 2020, through market -based initiatives,

partnerships and leveraging development banks. We recognize the special

vulnerabilities and needs of small island developing States, least developed

countries and landlocked developing countries, and welcome Power Africa, the

NEPAD Africa Power Vision and the Global Renewable Energy Islands Network of

the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

C. International development cooperation

50. International public finance plays an important role in complementing the

efforts of countries to mobilize public resources domestically, especially in the

poorest and most vulnerable countries with limited domestic resources. Our

ambitious agenda puts significant demands on public budgets and capacities, which

requires scaled-up and more effective international support, including both

concessional and non-concessional financing. We welcome the increase of all forms

of international public finance since Monterrey and are determined to step up our

respective efforts in support of the post-2015 development agenda. We recognize

that we share common goals and common ambitions to strengthen international

development cooperation and maximize its effectiveness, transparency, impact and

results. In this regard, we welcome the progress achieved in elaborating the

principles that apply to our respective efforts to increase the impact of our

cooperation. We will continue to strengthen our dialogue to enhance our common

understanding and improve knowledge-sharing.

51. We welcome the increase in volume of ODA since Monterrey. Nonetheless, we

express our concern that many countries still fall short of their ODA commitments

and we reiterate that the fulfilment of all ODA commitments remains crucial. ODA

providers reaffirm their respective commitments, including the commitment by

many developed countries to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI and

0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries. We are encouraged

by those few countries that have met or surpassed their commitment to 0.7 per cent

of ODA/GNI and the target of 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to least developed

countries. We urge all others to step up efforts to increase their ODA and to make

additional concrete efforts towards the ODA targets. We welcome the decision by

the European Union which reaffirms its collective commitment to achieve the

0.7 per cent of ODA/GNI target within the time frame of the post -2015 agenda, and

undertakes to meet collectively the target of 0.15 to 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI to

least developed countries in the short term, and to reach 0.20 per cent of ODA/GNI

to least developed countries within the time frame of the post -2015 agenda. We

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encourage ODA providers to consider setting a target to provide at least 0.20 per

cent of ODA/GNI to least developed countries.

52. We recognize the importance of focusing the most concessional resources on

those with the greatest needs and least ability to mobilize other resources. In this

regard we note with great concern the decline in the share of ODA to least

developed countries and commit to reversing this decline. We are encouraged by

those who are allocating at least 50 per cent of their ODA to least developed

countries.

53. We stress the importance of mobilizing greater domestic support towards the

fulfilment of ODA commitments, including through raising public awareness, and

providing data on aid effectiveness and demonstrating tangible results. We

encourage partner countries to build on progress achieved in ensuring that ODA is

used effectively to help to achieve development goals and targets. We encourage the

publication of forward-looking plans which increase clarity, predictability and

transparency of future development cooperation, in accordance with national budget

allocation processes. We urge countries to track and report resource allocations for

gender equality and women’s empowerment.

54. An important use of international public finance, including ODA, is to catalyse

additional resource mobilization from other sources, public and private. It can

support improved tax collection and help to strengthen domestic enabl ing

environments and build essential public services. It can also be used to unlock

additional finance through blended or pooled financing and risk mitigation, notably

for infrastructure and other investments that support private sector development.

55. We will hold open, inclusive and transparent discussions on the modernization

of the ODA measurement and on the proposed measure of “total official support for

sustainable development” and we affirm that any such measure will not dilute

commitments already made.

56. South-South cooperation is an important element of international cooperation

for development as a complement, not a substitute, to North -South cooperation. We

recognize its increased importance, different history and particularities, and stress

that South-South cooperation should be seen as an expression of solidarity among

peoples and countries of the South, based on their shared experiences and

objectives. It should continue to be guided by the principles of respect for national

sovereignty, national ownership and independence, equality, non-conditionality,

non-interference in domestic affairs and mutual benefit.

57. We welcome the increased contributions of South-South cooperation to

poverty eradication and sustainable development. We encourage developing

countries to voluntarily step up their efforts to strengthen South -South cooperation,

and to further improve its development effectiveness in accordance with the

provisions of the Nairobi outcome document of the High -level United Nations

Conference on South-South Cooperation. We also commit to strengthening

triangular cooperation as a means of bringing relevant experience and expertise to

bear in development cooperation.

58. We welcome continued efforts to improve the quality, impact and effectiveness

of development cooperation and other international efforts in public finance,

including adherence to agreed development cooperation effectiveness principles. We

will align activities with national priorities, including by reducing fragmentation,

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accelerating the untying of aid, particularly for least developed countries and

countries most in need. We will promote country ownership and results orientation

and strengthen country systems, use programme -based approaches where

appropriate, strengthen partnerships for development, reduce transaction costs, and

increase transparency and mutual accountability. We will make development more

effective and predictable by providing developing countries with regular and timely

indicative information on planned support in the medium term. We will pursue these

efforts in the Development Cooperation Forum of the Economic and Social Council

and in this regard we also take account of efforts in other relevant forums, such as

the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation, in a complementary

manner. We will also consider not requesting tax exemptions on goods and services

delivered as government-to-government aid, beginning with renouncing repayments

of value-added taxes and import levies.

59. We acknowledge that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change and the Conference of the Parties thereto is the primary international,

intergovernmental forum for negotiating the global response to climate change. We

welcome the Lima call for climate action and we are encouraged by the commitment

of the Conference of the Parties to reaching an ambitious agreement in Paris in 2015

that is applicable to all parties and that reflects the principle of common but

differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in the light of different

national circumstances.

60. We reaffirm the importance of meeting in full existing commitments under

international conventions, including on climate change and related global

challenges. We recognize that funding from all sources, including public and

private, bilateral and multilateral, as well as alternative sources of finance, will need

to be stepped up for investments in many areas including for low -carbon and

climate resilient development. We recognize that, in the context of meaningful

mitigation actions and transparency on implementation, developed countries

committed to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion a year by 2020 from a wide

variety of sources to address the needs of developing countries. We recognize the

need for transparent methodologies for reporting climate finance and welcome the

ongoing work in the context of the Convention.

61. We welcome the successful and timely initial resource mobilization process of

the Green Climate Fund, making it the largest dedicated climate fund and enabling

it to start its activities in supporting developing country parties to the Convention.

We welcome the decision of the Board of the Green Climate Fund to aim to start

taking decisions on the approval of projects and programmes no later than its third

meeting in 2015 as well as its decision regarding the formal replenishment process

for the Fund. We also welcome the Board’s decision to aim for a 50:50 balance

between mitigation and adaptation over time on a grant equivalent basis and to aim

for a floor of 50 per cent of the adaptation allocation for particularly vulnerable

countries, including least developed countries, small island developing States and

African countries. We note the importance of continued support to address

remaining gaps in the capacity to gain access to and manage climate finance.

62. We acknowledge the importance of taking into account the three dimensions of

sustainable development. We encourage consideration of climate and disaster

resilience in development financing to ensure the sustainability of development

results. We recognize that well-designed actions can produce multiple local and

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global benefits, including those related to climate change. We commit to investing

in efforts to strengthen the capacity of national and local actors to manage and

finance disaster risk, as part of national sustainable development strategies, and to

ensure that countries can draw on international assistance when needed.

63. We acknowledge the critical importance of biodiversity and the sustainable use

of its components in poverty eradication and sustainable development. We welcome

the implementation of the global Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for 2011 -2020 and

its Aichi Biodiversity Targets by the parties to the Convention on Biological

Diversity and we invite all parties to attend the thirteenth meeting of the Conference

of the Parties, to be held in Mexico in 2016. We encourage the mobilization of

financial resources from all sources and at all levels to conserve and sustainably use

biodiversity and ecosystems, including promoting sustainable land management,

combating desertification, drought, dust storms and floods, restoring degraded land

and soil, and promoting sustainable forest management. We welcome the

commitment of States parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat

Desertification to support and strengthen its implementation. We commit to

supporting the efforts of countries to advance conservation and restoration efforts,

such as the African Union Great Green Wall Initiative, and to providing support to

countries in need to enhance the implementation of their national biodiversity

strategies and action plans.

64. We recognize that oceans, seas and coastal areas form an integrated and

essential component of the Earth’s ecosystem and are critical to sustaining it and

that international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of

the Sea, provides the legal framework for the conservation and the sustainable use

of the oceans and their resources. We stress the importance of the conservation and

sustainable use of the oceans and seas and of their resources for sustainable

development, including through the contributions to poverty eradication, sustained

economic growth, food security, creation of sustainable livelihoods and decent

work, while at the same time protecting biodiversity and the marine environment

and addressing the impacts of climate change. We therefore commit to protecting,

and restoring, the health, productivity and resi lience of oceans and marine

ecosystems, and to maintaining their biodiversity, enabling their conservation and

sustainable use for present and future generations, and to effectively applying an

ecosystem approach and the precautionary approach in the management, in

accordance with international law, of activities impacting on the marine

environment, to deliver on all three dimensions of sustainable development.

65. We acknowledge that increases in global temperature, sea level rise, ocean

acidification, and other climate change impacts are seriously affecting coastal areas

and low-lying coastal countries including many least developed countries and small

island developing States, while extreme climate events endanger the lives and

livelihoods of millions. We commit to enhanced support to the most vulnerable in

addressing and adapting to these critical challenges.

66. Development finance can contribute to reducing social, environmental and

economic vulnerabilities and enable countries to prevent or combat situations of

chronic crisis related to conflicts or natural disasters. We recognize the need for the

coherence of developmental and humanitarian finance to ensure more timely,

comprehensive, appropriate and cost-effective approaches to the management and

mitigation of natural disasters and complex emergencies. We commit to promoting

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innovative financing mechanisms to allow countries to better prevent and manage

risks and develop mitigation plans. We will invest in efforts to strengthen the

capacity of national and local actors to manage and finance disaster risk reduction,

and to enable countries to draw efficiently and effectively on international

assistance when needed. We take note of the establishment of the Secretary -

General’s High-level Panel on Humanitarian Financing and the World Humanitarian

Summit to be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 26 and 27 May 2016.

67. We recognize the major challenge to the achievement of durable peace and

sustainable development in countries in conflict and post -conflict situations. We

recognize the peacebuilding financing gap and the role played by the Peacebuilding

Fund. We will step up our efforts to assist countries in accessing financing for

peacebuilding and development in the post-conflict context. We recognize the need

for aid to be delivered efficiently through simplified mechanisms, increased

strengthening and use of country systems, as well as strengthening of the capacity of

local and national institutions as a priority in conflict -affected and post-conflict

States while stressing the importance of country ownership and leadership in both

peacebuilding and development.

68. We welcome ongoing work in relevant institutions to support efforts by least

developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island deve loping

States to build their national capacity to respond to various kinds of shocks

including financial crisis, natural disasters, and public health emergencies, including

through funds and other tools.

69. We welcome the progress made since Monterrey to develop and mobilize

support for innovative sources and mechanisms of additional financing, in particular

by the Leading Group on Innovative Financing for Development. We invite more

countries to voluntarily join in implementing innovative mechanisms, inst ruments

and modalities which do not unduly burden developing countries. We encourage

consideration of how existing mechanisms, such as the International Finance

Facility for Immunisation, might be replicated to address broader development

needs. We also encourage exploring additional innovative mechanisms based on

models combining public and private resources such as green bonds, vaccine bonds,

triangular loans and pull mechanisms, and carbon pricing mechanisms.

70. We recognize the significant potential of multilateral development banks and

other international development banks in financing sustainable development and

providing know-how. Multilateral development banks can provide countercyclical

lending, including on concessional terms as appropriate, to complement national

resources for financial and economic shocks, natural disasters and pandemics. We

invite the multilateral development banks and other international development

banks to continue providing both concessional and non -concessional stable, long-

term development finance by leveraging contributions and capital, and by

mobilizing resources from capital markets. We stress that development banks should

make optimal use of their resources and balance sheets, consistent with maintaining

their financial integrity, and should update and develop their policies in support of

the post-2015 development agenda, including the sustainable development goals.

We encourage the multilateral development finance institutions to establish a

process to examine their own role, scale and functioning to enable them to adapt and

be fully responsive to the sustainable development agenda.

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71. We recognize that middle-income countries still face significant challenges to

achieve sustainable development. In order to ensure that achievements made to date

are sustained, efforts to address ongoing challenges should be strengthened through

the exchange of experiences, improved coordination, and better and focused support

of the United Nations development system, the international financial institutions,

regional organizations and other stakeholders. We therefore request those

stakeholders to ensure that the diverse and specific development needs of middle -

income countries are appropriately considered and addressed, in a tailored fashion,

in their relevant strategies and policies with a view to promoting a coherent and

comprehensive approach towards individual countries. We also acknowledge that

ODA and other concessional finance is still important for a number of these

countries and has a role to play for targeted results, taking into account the specific

needs of these countries.

72. We also recognize the need to devise methodologies to better account for the

complex and diverse realities of middle-income countries. We note with concern

that access to concessional finance is reduced as countries’ incomes grow, and that

countries may not be able to access sufficient affordable financing from other

sources to meet their needs. We encourage shareholders in multilateral development

banks to develop graduation policies that are sequenced, phased and gradual. We

also encourage multilateral development banks to explore ways to ensure that their

assistance best addresses the opportunities and challenges presented by the diverse

circumstances of middle-income countries. In this regard, we acknowledge the

World Bank’s small island State exception as a noteworthy response to the financing

challenges of small island developing States. We also underscore the importance of

risk mitigation mechanisms, including through the Multilateral Investment

Guarantee Agency.

73. We recognize that the graduation process of least developed countries should

be coupled with measures to ensure that the development process will not be

jeopardized and that progress towards the sustainable development goals will be

sustained. We further note that the level of concessionality of international public

finance should take into account the level of development of each recipient,

including income level, institutional capacity and vulnerability, as well as the nature

of the project to be funded, including the commercial viability.

74. We underline the important role and comparative advantage of an adequately

resourced, relevant, coherent, efficient and effective United Nations system in its

support to achieve the sustainable development goals and sustainable development,

and support the process on the longer-term positioning of the United Nations

development system in the context of the post-2015 development agenda. We will

work to strengthen national ownership and leadership over the operational activities

for development of the United Nations system in programme countries, United

Nations coherence, relevance, effectiveness and efficiency, to improve coordination

and results, including through achieving further progress on the “Delivering as one”

voluntary approach, among other operational modalities and approaches, and to

improve United Nations collaboration with relevant stakeholders and partners.

75. Development banks can play a particularly important role in alleviating

constraints on financing development, including quality infrastructure investment,

including for sub-sovereign loans. We welcome efforts by new development banks

to develop safeguard systems in open consultation with stakeholders on the basis of

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established international standards, and encourage all development banks to

establish or maintain social and environmental safeguards systems, including on

human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, that are transparent,

effective, efficient and time-sensitive. We encourage multilateral development banks

to further develop instruments to channel the resources of long -term investors

towards sustainable development, including through long -term infrastructure and

green bonds. We underline that regional investments in key priority sectors require

the expansion of new financing mechanisms, and call upon multilateral and regional

development finance institutions to support regional and subregional organizations

and programmes.

76. We recognize that genuine, effective and durable multi-stakeholder

partnerships can play an important role in advancing sustainable development. We

will encourage and promote such partnerships to support country -driven priorities

and strategies, building on lessons learned and available expertise. We further

recognize that partnerships are effective instruments for mobilizing human and

financial resources, expertise, technology and knowledge. We acknowledge the role

of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in mainstreaming environmental concerns

into development efforts and providing grant and concessional resources to support

environmental projects in developing countries. We support building capacity in

developing countries, especially least developed countries and small island

developing States, to access available funds, and aim to enhance public and private

contributions to GEF.

77. Multi-stakeholder partnerships, such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and

Immunization (Gavi) and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria,

have also achieved results in the field of health. We encourage a better alignment

between such initiatives, and encourage them to improve their contribution to

strengthening health systems. We recognize the key role of the World Health

Organization as the directing and coordinating authority on international health

work. We will enhance international coordination and enabling environments at all

levels to strengthen national health systems and achieve universal health coverage.

We commit to strengthening the capacity of countries, in particular developing

countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global

health risks, as well as to substantially increase health financing and the

recruitment, development, training and retention of the health workforce in

developing countries, especially in least developed countries and small island

developing States. Parties to the World Health Organization Framework Convention

on Tobacco Control will also strengthen implementation of the Convention in all

countries, as appropriate, and will support mechanisms to raise awareness and

mobilize resources. We welcome innovative approaches to catalyse additional

domestic and international private and public resources for women and children,

who have been disproportionately affected by many health issues, including the

expected contribution of the Global Financing Facility in support of Every Woman,

Every Child.

78. We recognize the importance for achieving sustainable development of

delivering quality education to all girls and boys. This will require reaching children

living in extreme poverty, children with disabilities, migrant and refugee children,

and those in conflict and post-conflict situations, and providing safe, non-violent,

inclusive and effective learning environments for all. We will scale up investments

and international cooperation to allow all children to complete free, equitable,

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inclusive and quality early childhood, primary and secondary education, including

through scaling-up and strengthening initiatives, such as the Global Partnership for

Education. We commit to upgrading education facilities that are child, disability and

gender sensitive and increasing the percentage of qualified teachers in developing

countries, including through international cooperation, especially in least developed

countries and small island developing States.

D. International trade as an engine for development

79. International trade is an engine for inclusive economic growth and poverty

reduction, and contributes to the promotion of sustainable development. We will

continue to promote a universal, rules-based, open, transparent, predictable,

inclusive, non-discriminatory and equitable multilateral trading system under the

World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as meaningful trade liberalization. Such a

trading system encourages long-term investment in productive capacities. With

appropriate supporting policies, infrastructure and an educated work force, trade can

also help to promote productive employment and decent work, women’s

empowerment and food security, as well as a reduction in inequality, and contribute

to achieving the sustainable development goals.

80. We recognize that the multilateral trade negotiations in WTO require more

effort, although we regard the approval of the Bali Package in 2013 as an important

achievement. We reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the multilateral system.

We call on members of WTO to fully and expeditiously implement all the decisions

of the Bali Package, including the decisions taken in favour of least developed

countries, the decision on public stockholding for food security purposes, and the

Work Programme on Small Economies, and to expeditiously ratify the Agreement

on Trade Facilitation. WTO members declaring themselves in a position to do so

should notify commercially meaningful preferences for least developed country

services and service suppliers in accordance with the 2011 and 2013 Bali decision

on the operationalization of the least developed countries services waiver and in

response to the collective request of those countries.

81. We acknowledge that lack of access to trade finance can limit a country’s

trading potential, and result in missed opportunities to use trade as an engine for

development. We welcome the work carried out by the WTO Expert Group on Trade

Financing, and commit to exploring ways to use market-oriented incentives to

expand WTO-compatible trade finance and the availability of trade credit,

guarantees, insurance, factoring, letters of credit and innovative financial

instruments, including for micro, small and medium -sized enterprises in developing

countries. We call on the development banks to provide and increase market -

oriented trade finance and to examine ways to address market failures associated

with trade finance.

82. Whereas, since Monterrey, exports of many developing countries have

increased significantly, the participation of least developed countries, landlocked

developing countries, small island developing States and Africa in world trade in

goods and services remains low and world trade seems challenged to return to the

buoyant growth rates seen before the global financial crisis. We will endeavour to

significantly increase world trade in a manner consistent with the sustainable

development goals, including exports from developing countries, in particular from

least developed countries with a view towards doubling their share of global exports

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by 2020 as stated in the Istanbul Programme of Action. We will integrate sustainable

development into trade policy at all levels. Given the unique and particular

vulnerabilities in small island developing States, we strongly support their

engagement in trade and economic agreements. We will also support the fuller

integration of small, vulnerable economies in regional and world markets.

83. As a means of fostering growth in global trade, we call on WTO members to

redouble their efforts to promptly conclude the negotiations on the Doha

Development Agenda and reiterate that development concerns form an integral part

of the Doha Development Agenda, which places the needs and interests of

developing countries, including least developed countries, at the heart of the Doha

Work Programme. In that context enhanced market access, balanced rules, and well

targeted, sustainably financed technical assistance and capacity-building

programmes have important roles to play. We commit to combating protectionism in

all its forms. In accordance with one element of the mandate of the Doha

Development Agenda, we call on WTO members to correct and prevent trade

restrictions and distortions in world agricultural markets, including through the

parallel elimination of all forms of agricultural export subsidies and disciplines on

all export measures with equivalent effect. We call on WTO members to also

commit to strengthening disciplines on subsidies in the fisheries sector, including

through the prohibition of certain forms of subsidies that contribute to overcap acity

and overfishing in accordance with the mandate of the Doha Development Agenda

and the Hong Kong Ministerial Declaration. We urge WTO members to commit to

continuing efforts to accelerate the accession of all developing countries engaged in

negotiations for WTO membership and welcome the 2012 strengthening,

streamlining and operationalizing of the guidelines for the accession of least

developed countries to WTO.

84. Members of WTO will continue to implement the provisions of special and

differential treatment for developing countries, in particular least developed

countries, in accordance with WTO agreements. We welcome the establishment of

the monitoring mechanism to analyse and review all aspects of the implementation

of special and differential treatment provisions, as agreed in Bali, with a view to

strengthening them and making them more precise, effective and operational as well

as facilitating integration of developing and least-developed WTO members into the

multilateral trading system.

85. We call on developed country WTO members and developing country WTO

members declaring themselves in a position to do so to realize timely

implementation of duty-free and quota-free market access on a lasting basis for all

products originating from all least developed countries, consistent with WTO

decisions. We call on them to also take steps to facilitate market access for products

of least developed countries, including by developing simple and transparent rules

of origin applicable to imports from least developed countries, in accordance with

the guidelines adopted by WTO members at the Bali ministerial conference in 2013.

86. We reaffirm the right of WTO members to take advantage of the flexibilities in

the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights

(TRIPS) and reaffirm that the TRIPS Agreement does not and should not prevent

members from taking measures to protect public health. To this end, we would urge

all WTO members that have not yet accepted the amendment of the TRIPS

Agreement allowing improved access to affordable medicines for developing

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countries to do so by the deadline of the end of 2015. We welcome the June 2013

decision to extend the transition period for all least developed countries. We invite

the General Council to consider how WTO can contribute to sustainable

development.

87. We recognize the significant potential of regional economic integration and

interconnectivity to promote inclusive growth and sustainable development, and

commit to strengthening regional cooperation and regional trade agreements. We

will strengthen coherence and consistency among bilateral and regional trade and

investment agreements, and to ensure that they are compatible with WTO rules.

Regional integration can also be an important catalyst to reduce trade barriers,

implement policy reforms and enable companies, including micro, small and

medium-sized enterprises, to integrate into regional and global value chains. We

underline the contribution trade facilitation measures can make to this end. We urge

the international community, including international financial institutions and

multilateral and regional development banks, to increase its support to projects and

cooperation frameworks that foster regional and subregional integration, with

special attention to Africa, and that enhance the participation and integration of

small-scale industrial and other enterprises, particularly from developing countries,

into global value chains and markets. We encourage multilateral development banks,

including regional banks, in collaboration with other stakeholders, to address gaps

in trade, transport and transit-related regional infrastructure, including completing

missing links connecting landlocked developing countries, least developed countries

and small island developing States within regional networks.

88. Recognizing that international trade and investment offers opportunities but

also requires complementary actions at the national level, we will strengthen

domestic enabling environments and implement sound domestic policies and

reforms conducive to realizing the potential of trade for inclusive growth and

sustainable development. We further recognize the need for value addition by

developing countries and for further integration of micro, small and medium-sized

enterprises into value chains. We reiterate and will strengthen the important role of

the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) as the focal

point within the United Nations system for the integrated treatment of trade and

development and interrelated issues in the areas of finance, technology, investment

and sustainable development.

89. We endorse the efforts and initiatives of the United Nations Commission on

International Trade Law, as the core legal body within the United Nations system in

the field of international trade law, aimed at increasing coordination of and

cooperation on legal activities of international and regional organizations active in

the field of international trade law and at promoting the rule of law at the national

and international levels in this field.

90. Aid for Trade can play a major role. We will focus Aid for Trade on

developing countries, in particular least developed countries, including through the

Enhanced Integrated Framework for Trade-Related Technical Assistance to Least

Developed Countries. We will strive to allocate an increasing proportion of Aid for

Trade going to least developed countries, provided according to development

cooperation effectiveness principles. We also welcome additional cooperation

among developing countries to this end. Recognizing the critical role of women as

producers and traders, we will address their specific challenges in order to facilitate

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women’s equal and active participation in domestic, regional and internatio nal trade.

Technical assistance and improvement of trade- and transit-related logistics are

crucial in enabling landlocked developing countries to fully participate in and

benefit from multilateral trade negotiations, effectively implement policies and

regulations aimed at facilitating transport and trade, and diversify their export base.

91. The goal of protecting and encouraging investment should not affect our

ability to pursue public policy objectives. We will endeavour to craft trade and

investment agreements with appropriate safeguards so as not to constrain domestic

policies and regulation in the public interest. We will implement such agreements in

a transparent manner. We commit to supporting capacity -building including through

bilateral and multilateral channels, in particular to least developed countries, in

order to benefit from opportunities in international trade and investment

agreements. We request UNCTAD to continue its existing programme of meetings

and consultations with Member States on investment agreements.

92. We also recognize that illegal wildlife trade, illegal unreported and

unregulated fishing, illegal logging and illegal mining are a challenge for many

countries. Such activities can create substantial damage, including lost revenue and

corruption. We resolve to enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and

trafficking of protected species, trafficking in hazardous waste, and trafficking in

minerals, including by strengthening both national regulation and international

cooperation, and increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable

livelihood opportunities. We will also enhance capacity for monitoring, control and

surveillance of fishing vessels so as to effectively prevent, deter and eliminate

illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, including through institutional capacity -

building.

E. Debt and debt sustainability

93. Borrowing is an important tool for financing investment critical to achieving

sustainable development, including the sustainable development goals. Sovereign

borrowing also allows government finance to play a countercyclical role over

economic cycles. However, borrowing needs to be managed prudently. Since the

Monterrey Consensus, strengthened macroeconomic and public resource

management has led to a substantial decline in the vulnerability of many countries

to sovereign debt distress, as has the substantial debt reduction through the Heavily

Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiative.

Yet many countries remain vulnerable to debt crises and some are in the midst of

crises, including a number of least developed countries, small island developing

States and some developed countries. We acknowledge that debt sustainability

challenges facing many least developed countries and small island developing

States require urgent solutions, and the importance of ensuring debt sustainability to

the smooth transition of countries that have graduated from least developed country

status.

94. We recognize the need to assist developing countries in attaining long-term

debt sustainability through coordinated policies aimed at fostering debt financing,

debt relief, debt restructuring and sound debt management, as appropriate. We will

continue to support the remaining HIPC-eligible countries that are working to

complete the HIPC process. On a case-by-case basis we could explore initiatives to

support non-HIPC countries with sound economic policies to enable them to address

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the issue of debt sustainability. We will support the maintenance of debt

sustainability in those countries that have received debt relief and achieved

sustainable debt levels.

95. The monitoring and prudent management of liabilities is an important element

of comprehensive national financing strategies and is critical to reducing

vulnerabilities. We welcome the efforts of IMF, the World Bank and the United

Nations system to further strengthen the analytical tools for assessing debt

sustainability and prudent public debt management. In this regard, the IMF-World

Bank debt sustainability analysis is a useful tool to inform the level of appropriate

borrowing. We invite IMF and the World Bank to continue strengthening their

analytical tools for sovereign debt management in an open and inclusive process

with the United Nations and other stakeholders. We encourage international

institutions to continue to provide assistance to debtor countries to enhance debt

management capacity, manage risks, and analyse trade-offs between different

sources of financing, as well as to help to cushion against external shocks and

ensure steady and stable access to public financing.

96. We welcome the continuing activities in setting methodological standards and

promoting public availability of data on public and publicly guaranteed sovereign

debt and on the total external debt obligations of economies, and more

comprehensive quarterly publication of debt data. We invite relevant institutions to

consider the creation of a central data registry including information on debt

restructurings. We encourage all Governments to improve transparency in debt

management.

97. We reiterate that debtors and creditors must work together to prevent and

resolve unsustainable debt situations. Maintaining sustainable debt levels is the

responsibility of the borrowing countries; however we acknowledge that lenders

also have a responsibility to lend in a way that does not undermine a country’s debt

sustainability. In this regard we take note of the UNCTAD principles on responsible

sovereign lending and borrowing. We recognize the applicable requirements of the

IMF debt limits policy and/or the World Bank’s non -concessional borrowing policy.

The OECD Development Assistance Committee has introduced new safeguards in

its statistical system in order to enhance the debt sustainability of recipient

countries. We recall the need to strengthen information -sharing and transparency to

make sure that debt sustainability assessments are based on comprehensive,

objective and reliable data. We will work towards a global consensus on guidelines

for debtor and creditor responsibilities in borrowing by and lending to sovereigns,

building on existing initiatives.

98. We affirm the importance of debt restructurings being timely, orderly,

effective, fair and negotiated in good faith. We believe that a workout from a

sovereign debt crisis should aim to restore public debt sustainability, while

preserving access to financing resources under favourable conditions. We further

acknowledge that successful debt restructurings enhance the ability of countries to

achieve sustainable development and the sustainable development goals. We

continue to be concerned with non-cooperative creditors who have demonstrated

their ability to disrupt timely completion of the debt restructurings.

99. We recognize that important improvements have been made since Monterrey

in enhancing the processes for cooperative restructuring of sovereign obligations,

including in the Paris Club of official creditors and in the market acceptance of new

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standard clauses of government bond contracts. However we acknowledge the

existence of stocks of sovereign bonds without those collective action clauses. We

recognize that there is scope to improve the arrangements for coordination between

public and private sectors and between debtors and creditors, to minimize both

creditor and debtor moral hazards and to facilitate fair burden -sharing and an

orderly, timely and efficient restructuring that respects the principles of shared

responsibility. We take note of the ongoing work being carried out by IMF and the

United Nations system in this area. We recognize the recent “Paris Forum” initiative

by the Paris Club that aims to foster dialogue among sovereign creditors and debtors

on debt issues. We encourage efforts towards a durable solution to the debt

problems of developing countries to promote their economic growth and sustainable

development.

100. We are concerned by the ability of non-cooperative minority bondholders to

disrupt the will of the large majority of bondholders who accept a restructuring of a

debt-crisis country’s obligations, given the potential broader implications in other

countries. We note legislative steps taken by certain countries to prevent these

activities and encourage all Governments to take action, as appropriate.

Furthermore, we take note of discussions in the United Nations on debt issues. We

welcome the reforms to pari passu and collective action clauses proposed by the

International Capital Market Association, and endorsed by IMF, to reduce the

vulnerability of sovereigns to holdout creditors. We encourage countries,

particularly those issuing bonds under foreign law, to take further actions to include

those clauses in all their bond issuance. We also welcome provision of financial

support for legal assistance to least developed countries and commit to boosting

international support for advisory legal services. We will explore enhanced

international monitoring of litigation by creditors after debt restructuring.

101. We note the increased issuance of sovereign bonds in domestic currency under

national laws, and the possibility of countries voluntarily strengthening domestic

legislation to reflect guiding principles for effective, timely, orderly and fair

resolution of sovereign debt crises.

102. We recognize that severe natural disasters and social or economic shocks can

undermine a country’s debt sustainability, and note that public creditors have taken

steps to ease debt repayment obligations through debt rescheduling and debt

cancellation following an earthquake, a tsunami and in the context of the Ebola

crisis in West Africa. We encourage consideration of further debt relief steps, where

appropriate, and/or other measures for countries affected in this regard, as feasible.

We also encourage the study of new financial instruments for developing countries,

particularly least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small

island developing States experiencing debt distress, noting experiences of debt -to-

health and debt-to-nature swaps.

F. Addressing systemic issues

103. Monterrey emphasized the importance of continuing to improve global

economic governance and to strengthen the United Nations leadership role in

promoting development. Monterrey also emphasized the importance of the

coherence and consistency of the international financial and monetary and trading

systems in support of development. Since Monterrey we have become increasingly

aware of the need to take account of economic, social and environmental

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challenges, including the loss of biodiversity, natural disasters and climate change,

and to enhance policy coherence across all three dimensions of sustainable

development. We will take measures to improve and enhance global economic

governance and to arrive at a stronger, more coherent and more inclusive and

representative international architecture for sustainable development, while

respecting the mandates of respective organizations. We recognize the importance of

policy coherence for sustainable development and we call upon countries to assess

the impact of their policies on sustainable development.

104. The 2008 world financial and economic crisis underscored the need for sound

regulation of financial markets to strengthen financial and economic stability, as

well as the imperative of a global financial safety net. We welcome the important

steps taken since Monterrey, particularly following the crisis in 2008, to build

resilience, reduce vulnerability to international financial disruption, and reduce

spill-over effects of global financial crises, including to developing countries, in a

reform agenda whose completion remains a high priority. The IMF membership

bolstered the Fund’s lending capacity, and multilateral and national development

banks played important countercyclical roles during the crisis. The world’s principal

financial centres worked together to reduce systemic risks and financial volatility

through stronger national financial regulation, including Basel III and the broader

financial reform agenda.

105. Regulatory gaps and misaligned incentives continue to pose risks to financial

stability, including risks of spillover effects of financial crises to developing

countries, which suggests a need to pursue further reforms of the international

financial and monetary system. We will continue to strengthen international

coordination and policy coherence to enhance global financial and macroeconomic

stability. We will work to prevent and reduce the risk and impact of financial crises,

acknowledging that national policy decisions can have systemic and far-ranging

effects well beyond national borders, including on developing countries. We commit

to pursuing sound macroeconomic policies that contribute to global stability,

equitable and sustainable growth and sustainable development, while strengthening

our financial systems and economic institutions. When dealing with risks from large

and volatile capital flows, necessary macroeconomic policy adjustment could be

supported by macroprudential and, as appropriate, capital flow management

measures.

106. We recommit to broadening and strengthening the voice and participation of

developing countries in international economic decision-making and norm-setting

and global economic governance. We recognize the importance of overcoming

obstacles to planned resource increases and governance reforms at IMF. The

implementation of the 2010 reforms for IMF remains the highest priority and we

strongly urge the earliest ratification of those reforms. We reiterate our commitment

to further governance reform in both IMF and the World Bank to adapt to changes in

the global economy. We invite the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and

other main international regulatory standard-setting bodies to continue efforts to

increase the voice of developing countries in norm-setting processes to ensure that

their concerns are taken into consideration. As the shareholders in the main

international financial institutions, we commit to open and transparent, gender -

balanced and merit-based selection of their heads, and to enhanced diversity of staff.

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107. At the same time, we recognize the importance of strengthening the permanent

international financial safety net. We remain committed to maintaining a strong and

quota-based IMF, with adequate resources to fulfil its systemic responsibilities. We

look forward to the quinquennial special drawing rights review by IMF this year.

We encourage dialogue among regional financial arrangements and strengthened

cooperation between IMF and regional financial arrangements, while safeguarding

the independence of the respective institutions. We call on the relevant international

financial institutions to further improve early warning of macroeconomic and

financial risks. We also urge IMF to continue its efforts to provide more

comprehensive and flexible financial responses to the needs of developing

countries. We request the international financial institutions to continue to support

developing countries in developing new instruments for financial risk management

and capacity-building. Consistent with its mandate, we call on IMF to provide

adequate levels of financial support to developing countries pursuing sustainable

development to assist them in managing any associated pressures on the national

balance of payments. We stress the importance of ensuring that international

agreements, rules and standards are consistent with each other and with progress

towards the sustainable development goals. We encourage development finance

institutions to align their business practices with the post-2015 development agenda.

108. We are concerned about excessive volatility of commodity prices, including

for food and agriculture and its consequences for global food security and improved

nutrition outcomes. We will adopt measures to ensure the proper functioning of food

commodity markets and their derivatives and call for relevant regulatory bodies to

adopt measures to facilitate timely, accurate and transparent access to market

information in an effort to ensure that commodity markets appropriately ref lect

underlying demand and supply changes and to help limit excess volatility of

commodity prices. In this regard, we also take note of the Agricultural Market

Information System hosted by FAO. We will also provide access for small -scale

artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets, consistent with sustainable

management practices as well as initiatives that add value to outputs from small -

scale fishers.

109. We take note of the work by the Financial Stability Board on financial market

reform, and commit to sustaining or strengthening our frameworks for

macroprudential regulation and countercyclical buffers. We will hasten completion

of the reform agenda on financial market regulation, including assessing and if

necessary reducing the systemic risks associated with shadow banking, markets for

derivatives, securities lending, and repurchase agreements. We also commit to

addressing the risk created by “too-big-to-fail” financial institutions, and addressing

cross-border elements in effective resolution of troubled systemically important

financial institutions.

110. We resolve to reduce mechanistic reliance on credit-rating agency

assessments, including in regulations. To improve the quality of ratings, we will

promote increased competition as well as measures to avoid conflict of interest in

the provision of credit ratings. We acknowledge the efforts of the Financial Stability

Board and others in this area. We support building greater transparency

requirements for evaluation standards of credit-rating agencies. We will continue

ongoing work on these issues, including in the United Nations.

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111. We recognize that international migration is a multidimensional reality of

major relevance for the development of origin, transit and destination countries that

must be addressed in a coherent, comprehensive and balanced manner. We will

cooperate internationally to ensure safe, orderly and regular migration, with full

respect for human rights. We endeavour to increase cooperation on access to and

portability of earned benefits, enhance the recognition of foreign qualifications,

education and skills, lower the costs of recruitment for migrants, and combat

unscrupulous recruiters, in accordance with national circumstances and legislation.

We further endeavour to implement effective social communication strategies on the

contribution of migrants to sustainable development in all its dimensions, in

particular in countries of destination, in order to combat xenophobia, facilitate

social integration, and protect migrants’ human rights through national frameworks.

We reaffirm the need to promote and protect effectively the human rights and

fundamental freedoms of all migrants, especially those of women and children,

regardless of their migration status.

112. We will strengthen regional, national and subnational institutions to prevent all

forms of violence, combat terrorism and crime, and end human trafficking and

exploitation of persons, in particular women and children, in accordance with

international human rights law. We will effectively strengthen national institutions

to combat money-laundering, corruption and the financing of terrorism, which have

serious implications for economic development and social cohesion. We will

enhance international cooperation for capacity-building in these areas at all levels,

in particular in developing countries. We commit to ensuring the effective

implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized

Crime.

113. Building on the vision of the Monterrey Consensus, we resolve to strengthen

the coherence and consistency of multilateral financial, investment, trade, and

development policy and environment institutions and platforms, and increase

cooperation between major international institutions, while respecting mandates a nd

governance structures. We commit to taking better advantage of relevant United

Nations forums for promoting universal and holistic coherence and international

commitments to sustainable development.

G. Science, technology, innovation and capacity-building

114. The creation, development and diffusion of new innovations and technologies

and associated know-how, including the transfer of technology on mutually agreed

terms, are powerful drivers of economic growth and sustainable development.

However, we note with concern the persistent “digital divide” and the uneven

innovative capacity, connectivity and access to technology, including information

and communications technology, within and between countries. We will promote the

development and use of information and communications technology infrastructure,

as well as capacity-building, particularly in least developed countries, landlocked

developing countries and small island developing States, including rapid universal

and affordable access to the Internet. We will promote access to technology and

science for women, youth and children. We will further facilitate accessible

technology for persons with disabilities.

115. Capacity development will be integral to achieving the post -2015 development

agenda. We call for enhanced international support and establishment of

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multi-stakeholder partnerships for implementing effective and targeted capacity -

building in developing countries, including least developed countries, landlocked

developing countries, small island developing States, African countries, and

countries in conflict and post-conflict situations, to support national plans to

implement all the sustainable development goals. Capacity development must be

country-driven, address the specific needs and conditions of countries and reflect

national sustainable development strategies and priorities. We reiterate the

importance of strengthening institutional capacity and human resource development.

It is also critical to reinforce national efforts in capacity -building in developing

countries in such areas as public finance and administration, social and gender

responsive budgeting, mortgage finance, financial regulation and supervision,

agriculture productivity, fisheries, debt management, climate services, includi ng

planning and management for both adaptation and mitigation purposes, and water

and sanitation related activities and programmes.

116. We will craft policies that incentivize the creation of new technologies, that

incentivize research and that support innovation in developing countries. We

recognize the importance of an enabling environment at all levels, including

enabling regulatory and governance frameworks, in nurturing science, innovation,

the dissemination of technologies, particularly to micro, small and medium-sized

enterprises, as well as industrial diversification and value added to commodities. We

also recognize the importance of adequate, balanced and effective protection of

intellectual property rights in both developed and developing countrie s in line with

nationally defined priorities and in full respect of WTO rules. We recognize

voluntary patent pooling and other business models, which can enhance access to

technology and foster innovation. We will promote social innovation to support

social well-being and sustainable livelihoods.

117. We will encourage knowledge-sharing and the promotion of cooperation and

partnerships between stakeholders, including between Governments, firms,

academia and civil society, in sectors contributing to the achievement of the

sustainable development goals. We will promote entrepreneurship, including

through supporting business incubators. We affirm that regulatory environments that

are open and non-discriminatory can promote collaboration and further our efforts.

We will also foster linkages between multinational companies and the domestic

private sector to facilitate technology development and transfer, on mutually agreed

terms, of knowledge and skills, including skills trading programmes, in particular to

developing countries, with the support of appropriate policies. At the same time, we

recognize that traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous

peoples and local communities can support social well-being and sustainable

livelihoods and we reaffirm that indigenous peoples have the right to maintain,

control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and

traditional cultural expressions.

118. We also recognize the important role of public finance and policies in research

and technological development. We will consider using public funding to enable

critical projects to remain in the public domain, and strive for open access to

research for publicly funded projects, as appropriate. We will consider setting up

innovation funds where appropriate, on an open, competitive basis to support

innovative enterprises, particularly during research, development and demonstration

phases. We recognize the value of a “portfolio approach” in which public and

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private venture funds invest in diverse sets of projects to diversify risks and capture

the upside of successful enterprises.

119. We resolve to adopt science, technology and innovation strategies as integral

elements of our national sustainable development strategies to help to strengthen

knowledge-sharing and collaboration. We will scale up investment in science,

technology, engineering and mathematics education, and enhance technical,

vocational and tertiary education and training, ensuring equal access for women and

girls and encouraging their participation therein. We will increase the number of

scholarships available to students in developing countries to enrol in higher

education. We will enhance cooperation to strengthen tertiary education systems,

and aim to increase access to online education in areas related to sustainable

development.

120. We will encourage the development, dissemination and diffusion and transfer

of environmentally sound technologies to developing countries on favourable terms,

including on concessional and preferential terms, as mutually agreed. We will

endeavour to step up international cooperation and collaboration in science,

research, technology and innovation, including through public -private and

multi-stakeholder partnerships, and on the basis of common interest and mutual

benefit, focusing on the needs of developing countries and the achievement of the

sustainable development goals. We will continue to support developing countries to

strengthen their scientific, technological and innovative capaci ty to move towards

more sustainable patterns of consumption and production, including through

implementation of the 10-year framework of programmes on sustainable

consumption and production patterns. We will enhance international cooperation,

including ODA, in these areas, in particular to least developed countries, landlocked

developing countries, small island developing States, and countries in Africa. We

also encourage other forms of international cooperation, including South -South

cooperation, to complement these efforts.

121. We will support research and development of vaccines and medicines, as well

as preventive measures and treatments for the communicable and

non-communicable diseases, in particular those that disproportionately impact

developing countries. We will support relevant initiatives, such as Gavi, the Vaccine

Alliance, which incentivizes innovation while expanding access in developing

countries. To reach food security, we commit to further investment, including

through enhanced international cooperation, in earth observation, rural

infrastructure, agricultural research and extension services, and technology

development by enhancing agricultural productive capacity in developing countries,

in particular in least developed countries, for example by developing plant and

livestock gene banks. We will increase scientific knowledge, develop research

capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Criteria and

Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology adopted by the Intergover nmental

Oceanographic Commission, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the

contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in

particular small island developing States and least developed countries.

122. We welcome science, technology and capacity-building initiatives, including

the Commission on Science and Technology for Development, the Technology

Mechanism under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

the advisory services of the Climate Technology Centre and Network, the capacity-

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building of the World Intellectual Property Organization and the UNIDO National

Cleaner Production Centres networks. We invite specialized agencies, funds and

programmes of the United Nations system with technology-intensive mandates to

further promote the development and diffusion of relevant science, technologies and

capacity-building through their respective work programmes. We commit to

strengthening coherence and synergies among science and technology initiatives

within the United Nations system, with a view to eliminating duplicative efforts and

recognizing the many successful existing efforts in this space.

123. We decide to establish a technology facilitation mechanism. The mechanism

will be launched at the United Nations summit for the adoption of the post-2015

development agenda in order to support the sustainable development goals.

• We decide that the technology facilitation mechanism will be based on a

multi-stakeholder collaboration between Member States, civil society, the

private sector, the scientific community, United Nations entities and other

stakeholders and will be composed of a United Nations inter -agency task team

on science, technology and innovation for the sustainable development goals, a

collaborative multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation

for the sustainable development goals and an online platform.

• The United Nations inter-agency task team on science, technology and

innovation for the sustainable development goals will promote coordination,

coherence and cooperation within the United Nations system on science,

technology and innovation related matters, enhancing synergy and efficiency,

in particular to enhance capacity-building initiatives. The task team will draw

on existing resources and will work with 10 representatives from civil society,

the private sector and the scientific community to prepare the meetings of the

multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the

sustainable development goals, as well as in the development and

operationalization of the online platform, including preparing proposals for the

modalities for the forum and the online platform. The 10 representatives will

be appointed by the Secretary-General, for periods of two years. The task team

will be open to the participation of all United Nations agencies, funds and

programmes and the functional commissions of the Economic and Social

Council and it will initially be composed of the entities that currently integrate

the informal working group on technology facilitation, namely, the Department

of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Environment Programme,

UNIDO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization,

UNCTAD, the International Telecommunication Union, WIPO and the World

Bank.

• The online platform will be used to establish a comprehensive mapping of, and

serve as a gateway for, information on existing science, technology and

innovation initiatives, mechanisms and programmes, within and beyond the

United Nations. The online platform will facilitate access to information,

knowledge and experience, as well as best practices and lessons learned, on

science, technology and innovation facilitation initiatives and policies. The

online platform will also facilitate the dissemination of relevant open access

scientific publications generated worldwide. The online platform will be

developed on the basis of an independent technical assessment which will take

into account best practices and lessons learned from other initiatives, within

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and beyond the United Nations, in order to ensure that it will complement,

facilitate access to and provide adequate information on existing science,

technology and innovation platforms, avoiding duplications and enhancing

synergies.

• The multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the

sustainable development goals will be convened once a year, for a period of

two days, to discuss science, technology and innovation cooperation around

thematic areas for the implementation of the sustainable development goals,

congregating all relevant stakeholders to actively contribute in their area of

expertise. The forum will provide a venue for facilitating interaction,

matchmaking and the establishment of networks between relevant stakeholders

and multi-stakeholder partnerships in order to identify and examine

technology needs and gaps, including on scientific cooperation, innovation and

capacity-building, and also in order to help facilitate development, transfer and

dissemination of relevant technologies for the sustainable development goals.

The meetings of the forum will be convened by the President of the Economic

and Social Council before the meetings of the high-level political forum on

sustainable development, under the auspices of the Economic and Social

Council or, alternatively, in conjunction with other forums or conferences, as

appropriate, taking into account the theme to be considered and on the basis of

a collaboration with the organizers of the other forums or conferences. The

meetings of the forum will be co-chaired by two Member States and will result

in a summary of discussions elaborated by the two co-Chairs, as an input to

the meetings of the high-level political forum, in the context of the follow-up

and review of the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda.

• The meetings of the high-level political forum will be informed by the

summary of the multi-stakeholder forum. The themes for the subsequent

multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the

sustainable development goals will be considered by the high -level political

forum on sustainable development, taking into account expert inputs from the

task team.

124. We look forward to the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s High-

level Panel on the Technology Bank for Least Developed Countries on the

feasibility and organizational and operational functions of a proposed technology

bank and science, technology and innovation capacity-building mechanism for least

developed countries. We will take into account the High -level Panel’s

recommendations on the scope, functions, institutional linkages and organizational

aspects of the proposed bank, with a view to operationalizing it by 2017, and will

seek to promote synergies with the technology facilitation mechanism.

III. Data, monitoring and follow-up

125. High-quality disaggregated data is an essential input for smart and transparent

decision-making, including in support of the post-2015 agenda and its means of

implementation, and can improve policy-making at all levels. A focus on

quantitative and qualitative data, including open data, and statistical systems and

administrations at the national and subnational level will be especially important in

order to strengthen domestic capacity, transparency and accountability in the global

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partnership. National statistical systems have a central role in generating,

disseminating and administering data. They should be supplemented with data and

analysis from civil society, academia and the private sector.

126. We will seek to increase and use high-quality, timely and reliable data

disaggregated by sex, age, geography, income, race, ethnicity, migratory status,

disability, and other characteristics relevant in national contexts. We will enhance

capacity-building support to developing countries, including for least developed

countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing States, for

this purpose and provide international cooperation, including through technical and

financial support, to further strengthen the capacity of national statistical authorities

and bureaux. We call on relevant institutions to strengthen and standardize data on

domestic and international resource mobilization and spending, as well as data on

other means of implementation. In this regard, we will welcome proposals on

improved statistical indicators for all means of implementation. We also request the

Statistical Commission, working with the relevant international statistical service s

and forums, to facilitate enhanced tracking of data on all cross -border financing and

other economically relevant financial flows that brings together existing databases

and to regularly assess and report on the adequacy of international statistics relat ed

to implementing the sustainable development agenda. The availability of timely and

reliable data for development could be improved by supporting civil registration and

vital statistics systems, which generate information for national plans and

investment opportunities.

127. We recognize that greater transparency is essential and can be provided by

publishing timely, comprehensive and forward-looking information on development

activities in a common, open, electronic format, as appropriate. Access to reli able

data and statistics helps Governments to make informed decisions, and enables all

stakeholders to track progress and understand trade-offs, and creates mutual

accountability. We will learn from existing transparency initiatives and open data

standards, and take note of the International Aid Transparency Initiative. We further

recognize the importance of national ownership of the post -2015 development

agenda, and stress the importance of preparing country needs assessments for the

different priority areas to allow for greater transparency and efficiency by linking

needs and support, in particular in developing countries.

128. Data access alone, however, is not enough to fully realize the potential that

data can offer to both achieving, monitoring and reviewing sustainable development

goals. We should endeavour to ensure broad access to the tools necessary to turn

data into useful, actionable information. We will support efforts to make data

standards interoperable, allowing data from different sources to be more easily

compared and used. We call on relevant public and private actors to put forward

proposals to achieve a significant increase in global data literacy, accessibility and

use, in support of the post-2015 development agenda.

129. We further call on the United Nations system, in consultation with the

international financial institutions, to develop transparent measurements of progress

on sustainable development that go beyond per capita income, building on existing

initiatives as appropriate. These should recognize poverty in all of its forms and

dimensions, and the social, economic and environmental dimensions of domestic

output and structural gaps at all levels. We will seek to develop and implement tools

to mainstream sustainable development, as well as to monitor sustainable

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development impacts for different economic activities, including for sustainable

tourism.

130. Mechanisms for follow-up and review will be essential to the achievement of

the sustainable development goals and their means of implementation. We commit

to fully engaging, nationally, regionally and internationally, in ensuring proper and

effective follow-up of the financing for development outcomes and all the means of

implementation of the post-2015 development agenda. To achieve this, it will be

necessary to ensure the participation of relevant ministries, local authorities,

national parliaments, central banks and financial regulators, as well as the major

institutional stakeholders, other international development banks, and other relevant

institutions, civil society, academia and the private sector. We encourage the United

Nations regional commissions, in cooperation with regional banks and

organizations, to mobilize their expertise and existing mechanisms, which could

focus on thematic aspects of the present Action Agenda.

131. We appreciate the role played by the United Nations financing for

development follow-up process. We recognize the inter-linkages between the

financing for development process and the means of implementation of the

post-2015 development agenda, and emphasize the need of a dedicated follow -up

and review for the financing for development outcomes as well as all the means of

implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, which is integrated with the

post-2015 follow-up and review process to be decided at the United Nations summit

for the adoption of the post-2015 development agenda. The follow-up process

should assess progress, identify obstacles and challenges to the implementation of

the financing for development outcomes, and the delivery of the means of

implementation, promote the sharing of lessons learned from experiences at the

national and regional levels, address new and emerging topics of relevance to the

implementation of this agenda as the need arises, and provide policy

recommendations for action by the international community. We will also enhance

coordination, promote the efficiency of United Nations processes and avoid

duplication and overlapping of discussions.

132. We commit to staying engaged to this important agenda through a dedicated

and strengthened follow-up process that will use existing institutional arrangements

and will include an annual Economic and Social Council forum on financing for

development follow-up with universal, intergovernmental participation, to be

launched during the Council’s current cycle. The forum’s modalities of participation

will be those utilized at the international conferences on financing for development.

The forum will consist of up to five days, one of which will be the special high-

level meeting with the Bretton Woods institutions, WTO and UNCTAD, as well as

additional institutional and other stakeholders depending on the priorities and scope

of the meeting; up to four days will be dedicated to discussing the follow-up and

review of the financing for development outcomes and the means of implementation

of the post-2015 development agenda. Its intergovernmentally agreed conclusions

and recommendations will be fed into the overall follow -up and review of the

implementation of the post-2015 development agenda in the high-level political

forum on sustainable development. The deliberations of the Development

Cooperation Forum, according to its mandate, will also be taken into account. The

High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development of the General Assembly will be

held back-to-back with the high-level political forum under the auspices of the

General Assembly when the high-level political forum is convened every four years.

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133. To ensure a strengthened follow-up process at the global level, we encourage

the Secretary-General to convene an inter-agency task force, including the major

institutional stakeholders and the United Nations system, including funds and

programmes and specialized agencies whose mandates are related to the follow-up,

building on the experience of the Millennium Development Goals Gap Task Force.

The inter-agency task force will report annually on progress in implementing the

financing for development outcomes and the means of implementation of the

post-2015 development agenda and advise the intergovernmental follow -up thereto

on progress, implementation gaps and recommendations for corrective action, while

taking into consideration the national and regional dimensions.

134. We will consider the need to hold a follow-up conference by 2019.

African Common Position on the post 2015 development

agenda Key messages arising from Africa-wide

consultations

Carlos Lopes Executive Secretary

Presentation Outline • The consultation process

• Key findings

• Key recommendations

• Enablers of change

• AU Mandates

• ECA involvement

• Policy recommendations

• The way forward

The process… • Aim: articulating an African common position on the post-2015

development agenda.

• Attendance : 53 African countries (national, regional and continental level)

• Stakeholders: representatives of governments, Regional Economic Communities, civil society organizations including youth and women’s organizations, parliamentarians, academic institutions and the private sector.

• Organisers- AUC, ECA, ADB,UNDP Regional Bureau for Africa

• Venues: Consultations held in – Accra, Ghana (November 2011) – Mombasa, Kenya (October 2012) – Dakar, Senegal (December 2012) – Hammamet, Tunisia (March 2013).

Key finding of consultation process: MDGs should be reformulated after 2015!

because as currently constituted, they: • Have limited focus on economic growth and transformation;

• Do not sufficiently emphasize the role of domestic resource mobilization in Africa’s

development agenda;

• Tend to neglect issues relating to the quality of service delivery;

• Are silent on inequality including spatial and horizontal inequality; • Disproportionately focus on outcomes with limited consideration of the enablers of

development, thereby excluding the role of factors such as infrastructure and peace and security in facilitating socio-economic advancement

Key recommendations for post-2015

development agenda (1) Structural economic transformation and

inclusive growth With the following components:

– Inclusive sustainable growth – Agriculture, food security and nutrition – Green growth – Industrialization and value addition – Economic infrastructure development

Key recommendations for post- 2015 development

agenda (2) Innovation, technological transfer and

Research and Development With the following focus:

– Ensure technology transfer; – Establish an African technological fund; – Increase funding for R&D; – Strengthen science component of

education curricula; – Enhance utilization of ICTs.


agenda (3) Human development With the following components:

– Eradication of extreme poverty: Special focus on improved access to social protection

– Education and human capacity development – Universal and equitable access to quality healthcare – Gender equality and women’s empowerment – Population and youth dynamics – Water resource management – Disaster risk reduction – Access to shelter


agenda (4) Financing and partnerships With the following components: – Domestic financing: Strengthened financial intermediation;

broadened tax net; development of long-term financing mechanisms; curtailment of illicit financial flows; efficient use of resources

– External financing: Reinvestment of FDI; reduced remittance transfer costs; mobilization of non-traditional sources of financing

– Partnerships: Ensure ownership; promote PPPs; promote South-South cooperation; boost intra-African trade; promote access to global markets and fair trade; global governance

Key preconditions to achieving and

sustaining the outcomes • Peace and security • Good governance, transparency and fighting corruption • Strengthened institutional capacity • Promoting equality and access to justice and information • Human rights for all • Gender equality • Domestic resource mobilization • Regional integration • A credible participatory process with cultural sensitivity • Enhanced statistical capacity to measure progress and ensure

accountability • Prudent macro-economic policy that emphasises fair growth • Democratic and developmental state • An enabling global governance architecture

2 key AU Mandates

1. July 2012 “mandates the African Union

Commission, in close consultation with Member States and Regional Economic Communities to identify Africa’s priorities for the post 2015 development agenda in order to consider making 2015-2024 a decade of transformation for Africa with the support of the AfDB, the UNDP, the ECA and all other stakeholders.”

AU Mandate 2. • May 2013 :

– “Requests the Commission, in consultation with Regional Economic Communities and relevant Stakeholders, to continue to engage Member States, including the Permanent Representatives’ Committee in Addis Ababa and the African Group in New York, with a view to developing the African common position on the Post-2015 Development Agenda for consideration during the next Summit to be held in January 2014:

– “Further requests the Commission, the NEPAD Agency, the UNECA, the ADB, the UNDP, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other relevant Organizations working in the social domain to set up a technical working group to translate the African priorities for the Post-2015 Development Agenda into goals, targets and specific indicators for inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) process and the Post-2015 Global Agenda”

ECA involvement • Seconded a staff to the Liberia HLP Secretariat in November 2012

to assist in preparations for the Liberia HLP meeting • Prepared two issues papers for the HLP members- one on

economic transformation and other on global partnerships and regional integration.

• Financial contribution of $50,000 USD to the Secretariat to cover its operational costs.

• Organized a panel discussion on Africa’s emerging position on the post 2015 agenda at the HLP Meeting in Monrovia, .

• Mr. Carlos Lopes attended the HLP meeting and called on the HLP members to focus not on developing new goals and indicators, but on providing political and technical guidance to shape the overarching framework of the development agenda.

Policy recommendations Based on the findings of the regional consultations, ECA suggests the following

key policy recommendations: • African stakeholders must stay actively involved in the formulation of the

post 2015 development agenda. Their participation so far shows keen interest and drive to set a new global development agenda.

• The post 2015 agenda should emphasize inclusive economic growth and structural transformation as a key element of sustainable development.

• The post 2015 development agenda must re-orient the development paradigm away from externally-driven initatives toward domestically-inspired and funded initiatives that are grounded in national ownership.

• Social inclusion and equity are key, and progress must be measured in terms of both the availability and quality of service delivery.

Policy recommendations (cont’d)

• Countries must pay greater attention to vulnerable groups such as women, children, youth, elderly, people with disabilities and displaced persons.

• The post 2015 agenda should take into account initial conditions of countries and recognize the efforts countries have made toward achieving the goals.

• Rio+20 outcomes and outcomes of Africa-wide initiatives, national and regional consultations as well as UN forums such as ICPD+20 must be incorporated into the post 2015 development agenda.

• Countries must enhance statistical monitoring capabilities in order to accurately track progress.

The way forward

• Active engagement with the HLP/newly formed High Level Committee, to ensure Africa’s priorities are included in the global agenda;

• Active involvement with the UN Task Team’s work, including feedback to think pieces;

• Continued dissemination of the African Common Position, especially to key stakeholders such as the Africa Group in New York;

• Involvement in the Open Working Group on defining goals, targets and indicators;

• Presentation of the African Common Position at the sixty-sixth session of the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2013

16

Thank You