Brazil and Nicaragua
10th Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development
Goals
31st March to April 4th
Focus area 18. Means of implementation/Global partnership for
sustainable development
Statement by Brazil and Nicaragua
Mr. Co-chair,
Nicaragua and Brazil support the statement of Bolivia on behalf of G77 and China.
We believe means of implementation should be conceived as a cross-cutting and a standalone
SDG, and we brought forward concrete proposals in the last four days for
mainstreaming means of implementation in virtually all focus areas.
Our proposal consists in establishing, under each focus area, a section entitled "means of
implementation", in which we would place targets on financing, technology facilitation,
capacity-building, institutional building, need for specific disaggregated data, among
others, as applicable.
Such approach would contribute to transparency, accountability and effectiveness of
international cooperation for sustainable development in the post-2015 period. It would
also allow for an universal agenda, taking into account the differentiation between
developed and developing countries, as well as particular needs of countries in special
situations .
Building on the experience with the MDGs, mainstreaming means of implementation
would also support elaborating indicators disaggregated by different factors (sex,
race/ethnic, age, disability, location), in accordance with the characteristics of individual
goals and targets.
We cannot ignore the lessons learned from the MDGs on this matter.
Mr. Co-chair,
In relation to the focus area dedicated to means of implementation, Nicaragua and Brazil
believe it should be expanded to include additional institutional and systemic issues.
Items related to institutional building for sustainable develoment at the national and
international levels should be considered within the focus area on means of
implementation.
For this reason, we suggest bringing all items on rule of law, governance and capable
institutions to focus area 18, and deleting them from focus area 19.
Issues such as access to justice, participatory decision-making or provision of public
services are clearly related to means of implementation. They do not belong in a security
cluster, which is an extraneous element in the SDGs scope.
Mr. Co-chair,
Means of implementation should also include systemic targets, which contribute to an
enabling international environment.
Item "a" suggests a systemic target on trade, but it should be complemented. In this
regard, we would like to suggest an additional item which would read as follows:
"concluding reforms for increasing effective participation of developing countries in
international financial institutions, including the implementation of the quota and
governance reforms of the International Monetary Fund."
Nicaragua and Brazil would also suggest an item on strengthening the institutional and
financial support for South-South cooperation within the UN development system, in
particular the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The system needs to
have rules and procedures that take into account the specific characteristics of South-
South Cooperation.
Still regarding South-South cooperation, as mentioned in item “g”, it is necessary to
make an explicit reference to the complementary role of South-South and Triangular
cooperation in relation to North-North modalities.
Considering that many developing countries would have difficulty to compile statistics
with the degree of complexity estabished in SDGs, it should be emphasized, in item “L”,
the need for assistance to these countries in monitoring the implementation of goals and
targets.
We would also like to request explicit reference to national, regional and international
levels, instead of using the expression “at all levels”, in items on rule of law incorporated
from focus area 19.
Mr. Co-chair,
Nicaragua and Brazil are of the view that a responsible approach is necessary towards the
participation of the private sector in development cooperation.
Existing partnerships have expanded outside of the purview of intergovernmental
oversight, without regular and effective participation by Member States, be it under the
General Assembly or ECOSOC, in the decision-making process involving these
initiatives. The General Assembly is currently considering a proposal for a mechanism on
partnerships. In our view, this mechanism, or facility, needs to ensure accountability,
transparency and governance by Member States over multistakeholder arrangements
involving the United Nations.
Member States have received contradictory assessments on results of existing
partnerships. Furthermore, some civil society organizations are expressing concerns for
being crowded out by partnerships between United Nations and private corporations.
Targets should focus on strengthening intergovernmental institutional framework for
partnerships instead of expanding such modalities without the proper famework.
Therefore, Nicaragua and Brazil suggests the following additional items:
Firstly, “ensuring regular intergovernmental monitoring and oversight on all UN
multistakeholder initiatives and partnerships;”
Secondly, “ensuring transparence, accountability and reporting on all UN
multistakeholder initiatives and partnerships;”
We would also like to request the deletion of item “d” of your proposal.
In item “e”, we suggest the deletion of “such initiatives and partnerships”. In the way it is
currently drafted, the text suggests outsourcing the responsibility for the elaboration of
resource mobilization strategies. In our view, the item could read “to develop strategies to
mobilize resource from all sources”.
Mr. Co-chair,
Nicaragua and Brazil also have several other specific suggestions for language
improvement and streamlining, especially to avoid duplication after incorporating items
on rule of law, governance and capable institutions to focus area 18.
In order to provide more clarity regarding our proposals, we would like to submit to the
co-chairs a clean version of a revised focus area 18. If you agree on proceeding in this
manner, the document would be uploaded as an annex to this statement.
I thank you, Mr. Co-chair.
ANNEX
Focus area 18. Means of implementation/Global partnership for sustainable
development
The means of implementation are an integral component in achieving sustainable
development, including trade, financing for sustainable development, capacity building,
and development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies. In this regard
global partnership for development has been emphasized as key to unlocking the full
potential of sustainable development initiatives. While developing countries still require
external support for their domestic sustainable development programmes, their own
domestic actions are equally crucial. Special consideration should be given to the needs
of countries in special situations, African countries, LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS as well as
specific challenges facing the middle-income countries. International development
cooperation through a strengthened global partnership for sustainable development is
critical.
Some areas that could be considered include:
a. further progress on development-supportive trade reforms within an open, rules-based
multilateral trading system;
b. concluding reforms for increasing effective participation of developing countries in
international financial institutions, including the implementation of the quota and
governance reforms of the International Monetary Fund.
c. strengthening commitment and involvement of multilateral financial development
institutions in the global partnership for sustainable development;
d. recommitment by developed countries to meet ODA targets on an agreed timetable;
e. mobilizing additional financial resources from multiple sources such as remittances,
foreign direct investment, institutional and other long-term investors and innovative
financing;
f. enhancing scientific and technological cooperation involving developing countries and
technology transfer to developing countries;
g. strengthening capacity building efforts for developing countries and knowledge sharing
and technical cooperation among all countries through North-South and complemented
by South-South, and triangular cooperation;
h. strengthening institutional support for South-South Cooperation within the United
Nations Development System, particular the UNSSC.
i. strengthening capacities for tax-collection, reducing tax evasion;
j. strengthening systems of domestic savings;
k. reducing the transaction costs of remittances;
Governance, rule of law, capable institutions at national and international levels are both outcome
and enabler, advancing all three pillars of sustainable development and the post-2015
development agenda.
a. enhancing transparence and accountability in development cooperation;
b. reducing illicit financial flows;
c. improving efficiency of public spending;
d. effective, accountable and transparent institutions at national, regional and
international levels;
e. strengthening the rule of law at national, regional and international levels;
f. provision of public services for all;
g. improvement of transparency in public finances management;
h. fighting corruption in all its forms;
i. improved public access to publicly owned information;
j. inclusive, participatory decision-making;
k. strengthening local governments;
l. strengthening of civil society;
m. freedom of media, association and speech;
n. provision of legal identity;
o. provision of property, use and access rights, to all persons;
p. providing access to independent and responsive justice systems;
q. strengthening capacities of developing countries for disaggregated and expanded data
collection for measuring progress;
r. regular monitoring and reporting of progress with means of implementation and aid
efficiency, in conjunction with SDG progress reporting;
To provide impetus to Global Partnership for Sustainable Development and broader stakeholder
engagement in sustainable development, some areas that could be considered include:
a. strengthening regular intergovernmental monitoring and oversight on achievements of
initiatives and partnerships;
b. ensuring transparence, accountability and reporting on all partnerships;
c. greater involvement of public and private sector business and industry, including
financial institutions;
d. enhanced involvement of philanthropic organizations;
e. develop resource mobilization strategies;
f. close coordination and cooperation of multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships with
government and inter-governmental efforts in support of sustainable development.
Goals
31st March to April 4th
Focus area 18. Means of implementation/Global partnership for
sustainable development
Statement by Brazil and Nicaragua
Mr. Co-chair,
Nicaragua and Brazil support the statement of Bolivia on behalf of G77 and China.
We believe means of implementation should be conceived as a cross-cutting and a standalone
SDG, and we brought forward concrete proposals in the last four days for
mainstreaming means of implementation in virtually all focus areas.
Our proposal consists in establishing, under each focus area, a section entitled "means of
implementation", in which we would place targets on financing, technology facilitation,
capacity-building, institutional building, need for specific disaggregated data, among
others, as applicable.
Such approach would contribute to transparency, accountability and effectiveness of
international cooperation for sustainable development in the post-2015 period. It would
also allow for an universal agenda, taking into account the differentiation between
developed and developing countries, as well as particular needs of countries in special
situations .
Building on the experience with the MDGs, mainstreaming means of implementation
would also support elaborating indicators disaggregated by different factors (sex,
race/ethnic, age, disability, location), in accordance with the characteristics of individual
goals and targets.
We cannot ignore the lessons learned from the MDGs on this matter.
Mr. Co-chair,
In relation to the focus area dedicated to means of implementation, Nicaragua and Brazil
believe it should be expanded to include additional institutional and systemic issues.
Items related to institutional building for sustainable develoment at the national and
international levels should be considered within the focus area on means of
implementation.
For this reason, we suggest bringing all items on rule of law, governance and capable
institutions to focus area 18, and deleting them from focus area 19.
Issues such as access to justice, participatory decision-making or provision of public
services are clearly related to means of implementation. They do not belong in a security
cluster, which is an extraneous element in the SDGs scope.
Mr. Co-chair,
Means of implementation should also include systemic targets, which contribute to an
enabling international environment.
Item "a" suggests a systemic target on trade, but it should be complemented. In this
regard, we would like to suggest an additional item which would read as follows:
"concluding reforms for increasing effective participation of developing countries in
international financial institutions, including the implementation of the quota and
governance reforms of the International Monetary Fund."
Nicaragua and Brazil would also suggest an item on strengthening the institutional and
financial support for South-South cooperation within the UN development system, in
particular the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. The system needs to
have rules and procedures that take into account the specific characteristics of South-
South Cooperation.
Still regarding South-South cooperation, as mentioned in item “g”, it is necessary to
make an explicit reference to the complementary role of South-South and Triangular
cooperation in relation to North-North modalities.
Considering that many developing countries would have difficulty to compile statistics
with the degree of complexity estabished in SDGs, it should be emphasized, in item “L”,
the need for assistance to these countries in monitoring the implementation of goals and
targets.
We would also like to request explicit reference to national, regional and international
levels, instead of using the expression “at all levels”, in items on rule of law incorporated
from focus area 19.
Mr. Co-chair,
Nicaragua and Brazil are of the view that a responsible approach is necessary towards the
participation of the private sector in development cooperation.
Existing partnerships have expanded outside of the purview of intergovernmental
oversight, without regular and effective participation by Member States, be it under the
General Assembly or ECOSOC, in the decision-making process involving these
initiatives. The General Assembly is currently considering a proposal for a mechanism on
partnerships. In our view, this mechanism, or facility, needs to ensure accountability,
transparency and governance by Member States over multistakeholder arrangements
involving the United Nations.
Member States have received contradictory assessments on results of existing
partnerships. Furthermore, some civil society organizations are expressing concerns for
being crowded out by partnerships between United Nations and private corporations.
Targets should focus on strengthening intergovernmental institutional framework for
partnerships instead of expanding such modalities without the proper famework.
Therefore, Nicaragua and Brazil suggests the following additional items:
Firstly, “ensuring regular intergovernmental monitoring and oversight on all UN
multistakeholder initiatives and partnerships;”
Secondly, “ensuring transparence, accountability and reporting on all UN
multistakeholder initiatives and partnerships;”
We would also like to request the deletion of item “d” of your proposal.
In item “e”, we suggest the deletion of “such initiatives and partnerships”. In the way it is
currently drafted, the text suggests outsourcing the responsibility for the elaboration of
resource mobilization strategies. In our view, the item could read “to develop strategies to
mobilize resource from all sources”.
Mr. Co-chair,
Nicaragua and Brazil also have several other specific suggestions for language
improvement and streamlining, especially to avoid duplication after incorporating items
on rule of law, governance and capable institutions to focus area 18.
In order to provide more clarity regarding our proposals, we would like to submit to the
co-chairs a clean version of a revised focus area 18. If you agree on proceeding in this
manner, the document would be uploaded as an annex to this statement.
I thank you, Mr. Co-chair.
ANNEX
Focus area 18. Means of implementation/Global partnership for sustainable
development
The means of implementation are an integral component in achieving sustainable
development, including trade, financing for sustainable development, capacity building,
and development and transfer of environmentally sound technologies. In this regard
global partnership for development has been emphasized as key to unlocking the full
potential of sustainable development initiatives. While developing countries still require
external support for their domestic sustainable development programmes, their own
domestic actions are equally crucial. Special consideration should be given to the needs
of countries in special situations, African countries, LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDS as well as
specific challenges facing the middle-income countries. International development
cooperation through a strengthened global partnership for sustainable development is
critical.
Some areas that could be considered include:
a. further progress on development-supportive trade reforms within an open, rules-based
multilateral trading system;
b. concluding reforms for increasing effective participation of developing countries in
international financial institutions, including the implementation of the quota and
governance reforms of the International Monetary Fund.
c. strengthening commitment and involvement of multilateral financial development
institutions in the global partnership for sustainable development;
d. recommitment by developed countries to meet ODA targets on an agreed timetable;
e. mobilizing additional financial resources from multiple sources such as remittances,
foreign direct investment, institutional and other long-term investors and innovative
financing;
f. enhancing scientific and technological cooperation involving developing countries and
technology transfer to developing countries;
g. strengthening capacity building efforts for developing countries and knowledge sharing
and technical cooperation among all countries through North-South and complemented
by South-South, and triangular cooperation;
h. strengthening institutional support for South-South Cooperation within the United
Nations Development System, particular the UNSSC.
i. strengthening capacities for tax-collection, reducing tax evasion;
j. strengthening systems of domestic savings;
k. reducing the transaction costs of remittances;
Governance, rule of law, capable institutions at national and international levels are both outcome
and enabler, advancing all three pillars of sustainable development and the post-2015
development agenda.
a. enhancing transparence and accountability in development cooperation;
b. reducing illicit financial flows;
c. improving efficiency of public spending;
d. effective, accountable and transparent institutions at national, regional and
international levels;
e. strengthening the rule of law at national, regional and international levels;
f. provision of public services for all;
g. improvement of transparency in public finances management;
h. fighting corruption in all its forms;
i. improved public access to publicly owned information;
j. inclusive, participatory decision-making;
k. strengthening local governments;
l. strengthening of civil society;
m. freedom of media, association and speech;
n. provision of legal identity;
o. provision of property, use and access rights, to all persons;
p. providing access to independent and responsive justice systems;
q. strengthening capacities of developing countries for disaggregated and expanded data
collection for measuring progress;
r. regular monitoring and reporting of progress with means of implementation and aid
efficiency, in conjunction with SDG progress reporting;
To provide impetus to Global Partnership for Sustainable Development and broader stakeholder
engagement in sustainable development, some areas that could be considered include:
a. strengthening regular intergovernmental monitoring and oversight on achievements of
initiatives and partnerships;
b. ensuring transparence, accountability and reporting on all partnerships;
c. greater involvement of public and private sector business and industry, including
financial institutions;
d. enhanced involvement of philanthropic organizations;
e. develop resource mobilization strategies;
f. close coordination and cooperation of multi-stakeholder initiatives and partnerships with
government and inter-governmental efforts in support of sustainable development.