Global Foundation for Democracy and Development
2015 session
21 July 2014-22 July 2015
Agenda item 5 (c)
High-level segment: annual ministerial review
* The present statement is being issued without formal editing.
Joint statement submitted by Fundación Global Democracia y Desarrollo and Global Foundation for Democracy and Development, non-governmental organizations in consultative status with the Economic and Social Council*
The Secretary-General has received the following statement, which is being circulated in accordance with paragraphs 30 and 31 of Economic and Social Council resolution 1996/31.
Statement
In today’s globalized world, social inequalities and political discontent have eroded people’s trust in governments and institutions. To re-establish this trust in the development agenda, then decisions at all levels must consider the three interconnected pillars of sustainable development — socio-cultural, economic and environmental systems.
Putting people at the center of sustainable development should be the focus of all efforts to move towards a green economy, one that will deliver benefits to all in addressing food, energy and water security, and the sustainable development goals.
We call for a new agenda, where public participation of communities is enhanced and economic decisions are complemented by social and environmental outcomes. Under this development agenda, the social considerations are key to economic prosperity. The system seeks to:
(a) strengthen the local productivity and social fabric of communities;
(b) offer sustainable development education and professional development to communities on a local level; and
(c) promote decision making that enhances public participation and keeps sustainability at its core.
Our ReCrearte program is a good illustration of how local productivity and social inclusion can easily combine to have a positive impact on the sustainable development of the Dominican Republic. ReCrearte is a unique recycling scheme, which offers women, youth and children across the Dominican Republic workshops in recycling waste into art. Upon graduating from the workshops, the program then equips individuals and their communities with the opportunity to launch their own ventures, turning this project into a source of income and entrepreneurship.
Offering reliable sustainable development education is another key part of this agenda. Through its Eco-Huertos program, we support the creation of organic and sustainable vegetable gardens in schools and communities throughout the country. Eco-Huertos workshops educate members about sustainable agriculture and how to maintain a vegetable garden. The program also supports a healthy diet and generates income for the community.
Finally, engaging civil society in development initiatives is crucial to ensure these projects are truly sustainable and lead to the creation of long-term collaborative relationships.
In addition, the role of innovation and the use of information communication technology to enhance public participation in sustainable development policies cannot be understated.
The transition will only happen with the active participation of all relevant stakeholders at every level of decision making. We therefore invite the 2015 session of the Economic and Social Council to explore the role that these stakeholders can play and make this new development agenda the landscape of the next 15 years.
Stakeholders