Cyprus, Singapore and United Arab Emirates
1
SIXTH SESSION OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 9-13 December 2013
CYPRUS-SINGAPORE-UNITED ARAB EMRIATES
FINAL JOINT STATEMENTS
Topic 1. Means of implementation; global partnership for achieving sustainable development (incl. science, technology and innovation, knowledge sharing and capacity building) / Global governance
Joint statement
Mr. Co-Chairs,
I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the troika partnership of Cyprus, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. Except where explicitly noted otherwise, the views reflected are the perspectives of all three countries.
First of all, we would like to thank the UN Technical Support Team (TST) for their very useful and comprehensive briefs on the topics under discussion at the 6th Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. The briefs provide a good overview of the progress made, remaining challenges and opportunities, emerging proposals for post-2015 and suggestions for the way forward. They are to facilitate our discussion at this Open Working Group meeting and beyond.
Mr. Co-Chairs,
The implementation of the post-2015 development agenda will require States – which bear the primary responsibility – and other relevant actors, to act individually and collectively, at the national, regional and global levels.
As described in the TST issues briefs, means of implementation require a mix of financial resources, technology development and transfer, capacity-building and inclusive and equitable trading system. A business friendly environment domestically and internationally and incentives for impact driven investments, are of utmost importance. Consequently the creation of an enabling environment – particularly in developing countries – is important in order to successfully implement the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
2
Regarding financial resources, the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 8 on global partnership on development has played an important role in bringing attention to fulfilling aid targets, increasing market access and providing debt relief, among others.
For example, from 2010 to 2012, the UAE provided 4.46 billion USD for development, humanitarian and charitable assistance around the world. Out of this, 55.5 per cent was allocated to support projects focusing directly on MDGs in 117 official development assistance (ODA)-recipient countries, of which 27.3 percent or 675 million USD contributed to MDG 8, benefitting over 50 ODA recipient-countries in forms such as road construction, provision of electricity and other developmental projects.
However, the 0.7 per cent of gross national income ODA target, including the 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent target for least developed countries, remains largely unfulfilled by donors. Thus, scaling up of financial resources is a priority. To this end, we look forward to the work of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing, particularly on how long-term financing may be realized.
Mr. Co-Chairs,
As the UN Technical Support Team has pointed out, development and transfer of technology, with a robust intellectual property rights framework, is critical in realizing sustainable development. Further facilitation of foreign direct investment and trade – a universal, rules-based, open and equitable trading system – is sought, particularly to facilitate diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to address the growing challenge of resource scarcity and increasing environmental degradation.
Capacity building is also a critical, cross-cutting issue. While much work has already been carried out at all levels, including by the UN and other relevant entities, more needs to be done, for example to encourage more South-South and triangular cooperation. Particular focus is sought on national administrative and technical capacity building which are important drivers for sustainable development, including development of human resources and strengthening of monitoring and evaluation capacities.
Singapore is a strong proponent of capacity building by sharing technical assistance with fellow developing countries through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). Established in 1992, the SCP has trained over 80,000 government officials from 170 countries, in particular in the area of human resource development and economic development.
More broadly speaking, science, technology and innovation (STI), knowledge-sharing and capacity-building for poverty eradication and sustainable development must be harnessed and persistent gaps between developing and developing countries must be addressed. Increasing skilled workforce and investing in STI can lead developing counties to exploit economic opportunities and potential technologies. Furthermore, strengthening of the science-
3
policy interface is an important agenda common to all countries so that policy-making is well-informed and reflective of latest scientific research and innovation.
Mr. Co-Chairs,
To ensure effective implementation of the post-2015 global partnership, the UN could play a critical role in providing the global platform for reporting and review, including through a transparent and strengthened monitoring and mutual accountability framework. In particular, we look to the High Level Political Forum as the central place to review progress on the follow-up and implementation of sustainable development commitments and objectives.
The post-2015 global partnership will also require coherence and consistency across various UN intergovernmental processes, including those relating to sustainable development, the post-2015 development agenda and financing for development. Coordination between the High Level Political Forum and other bodies in the monitoring of the post-2015 commitments would be important in view of the many interlinkages that exist among the three dimensions of sustainable development, and also in enhancing coherence, finding synergies and avoiding duplication.
We look forward to hearing views of others later in the week on global governance, but we would like to conclude by stressing the importance of coordination and streamlining between UN agencies with the Economic and Social Council as the coordination body for both effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
Lastly, regarding future reporting and monitoring of means of implementation, the UAE is one of the few countries that have worked on tracking and reporting on foreign aid disbursement according to each MDGs. Our experience to date indicates that there is a considerable challenge in clearly separating funds allocated to closely related MDGs, such as MDG 4 on child mortality and MDG 5 on maternal health. These challenges should be factored in as we move forward with sustainable development goal settings.
Thank you.
4
SIXTH SESSION OF THE OPEN WORKING GROUP ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS 9-13 December 2013
CYPRUS-SINGAPORE-UNITED ARAB EMRIATES
FINAL JOINT STATEMENTS
Topic 1. Means of implementation; global partnership for achieving sustainable development (incl. science, technology and innovation, knowledge sharing and capacity building) / Global governance
Joint statement
Mr. Co-Chairs,
I am pleased to deliver this statement on behalf of the troika partnership of Cyprus, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. Except where explicitly noted otherwise, the views reflected are the perspectives of all three countries.
First of all, we would like to thank the UN Technical Support Team (TST) for their very useful and comprehensive briefs on the topics under discussion at the 6th Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals. The briefs provide a good overview of the progress made, remaining challenges and opportunities, emerging proposals for post-2015 and suggestions for the way forward. They are to facilitate our discussion at this Open Working Group meeting and beyond.
Mr. Co-Chairs,
The implementation of the post-2015 development agenda will require States – which bear the primary responsibility – and other relevant actors, to act individually and collectively, at the national, regional and global levels.
As described in the TST issues briefs, means of implementation require a mix of financial resources, technology development and transfer, capacity-building and inclusive and equitable trading system. A business friendly environment domestically and internationally and incentives for impact driven investments, are of utmost importance. Consequently the creation of an enabling environment – particularly in developing countries – is important in order to successfully implement the post-2015 sustainable development agenda.
2
Regarding financial resources, the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 8 on global partnership on development has played an important role in bringing attention to fulfilling aid targets, increasing market access and providing debt relief, among others.
For example, from 2010 to 2012, the UAE provided 4.46 billion USD for development, humanitarian and charitable assistance around the world. Out of this, 55.5 per cent was allocated to support projects focusing directly on MDGs in 117 official development assistance (ODA)-recipient countries, of which 27.3 percent or 675 million USD contributed to MDG 8, benefitting over 50 ODA recipient-countries in forms such as road construction, provision of electricity and other developmental projects.
However, the 0.7 per cent of gross national income ODA target, including the 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent target for least developed countries, remains largely unfulfilled by donors. Thus, scaling up of financial resources is a priority. To this end, we look forward to the work of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing, particularly on how long-term financing may be realized.
Mr. Co-Chairs,
As the UN Technical Support Team has pointed out, development and transfer of technology, with a robust intellectual property rights framework, is critical in realizing sustainable development. Further facilitation of foreign direct investment and trade – a universal, rules-based, open and equitable trading system – is sought, particularly to facilitate diffusion of environmentally sound technologies to address the growing challenge of resource scarcity and increasing environmental degradation.
Capacity building is also a critical, cross-cutting issue. While much work has already been carried out at all levels, including by the UN and other relevant entities, more needs to be done, for example to encourage more South-South and triangular cooperation. Particular focus is sought on national administrative and technical capacity building which are important drivers for sustainable development, including development of human resources and strengthening of monitoring and evaluation capacities.
Singapore is a strong proponent of capacity building by sharing technical assistance with fellow developing countries through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). Established in 1992, the SCP has trained over 80,000 government officials from 170 countries, in particular in the area of human resource development and economic development.
More broadly speaking, science, technology and innovation (STI), knowledge-sharing and capacity-building for poverty eradication and sustainable development must be harnessed and persistent gaps between developing and developing countries must be addressed. Increasing skilled workforce and investing in STI can lead developing counties to exploit economic opportunities and potential technologies. Furthermore, strengthening of the science-
3
policy interface is an important agenda common to all countries so that policy-making is well-informed and reflective of latest scientific research and innovation.
Mr. Co-Chairs,
To ensure effective implementation of the post-2015 global partnership, the UN could play a critical role in providing the global platform for reporting and review, including through a transparent and strengthened monitoring and mutual accountability framework. In particular, we look to the High Level Political Forum as the central place to review progress on the follow-up and implementation of sustainable development commitments and objectives.
The post-2015 global partnership will also require coherence and consistency across various UN intergovernmental processes, including those relating to sustainable development, the post-2015 development agenda and financing for development. Coordination between the High Level Political Forum and other bodies in the monitoring of the post-2015 commitments would be important in view of the many interlinkages that exist among the three dimensions of sustainable development, and also in enhancing coherence, finding synergies and avoiding duplication.
We look forward to hearing views of others later in the week on global governance, but we would like to conclude by stressing the importance of coordination and streamlining between UN agencies with the Economic and Social Council as the coordination body for both effectiveness and cost-efficiency.
Lastly, regarding future reporting and monitoring of means of implementation, the UAE is one of the few countries that have worked on tracking and reporting on foreign aid disbursement according to each MDGs. Our experience to date indicates that there is a considerable challenge in clearly separating funds allocated to closely related MDGs, such as MDG 4 on child mortality and MDG 5 on maternal health. These challenges should be factored in as we move forward with sustainable development goal settings.
Thank you.
4