Netherlands
Statement by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, January 21st, 2015, Post-2015 Stocktaking Session
I speak on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and align myself with the statements of the EU.
As this is the first time I take the floor, I would like to express my conviction that under your guidance, co-facilitators, we will adopt a strong new development agenda in September this year. Thank you for your leadership and also to the co-facilitators for FFD.
You may recall that we compared the post-2015 framework to a house, with a roof, two interconnected pillars, and a foundation.
As we are making just one statement during this stocktaking exercise, we will briefly address each of these constituent elements of the post-2015 house.
The roof – political declaration
The political declaration is the roof. It marks our common ambition, our common destiny if you will, for the next 15 years.
It would spell out a compelling vision through an inspiring, legible and accessible text that speaks both to our political leaders and our populations and very much moves the discussion far beyond the UN.
The declaration could be built around the six elements suggested by the SG in his Synthesis Report. Dignity would feature strongly as would inclusion. Key principles that should be included are the universality of this agenda and ending poverty.
Two pillars – goals and targets and means of implementation
Supporting the roof are two interconnected pillars. One would consist of the goals and targets. The other would contain the Means of Implementation. A ‘what’ pillar mirrored by a ‘how’pillar.
The central idea here is to have two pillars of equal political importance. So why not place MoI and the Global Partnership next to the goals and targets instead of at the bottom of the list? Means of Implementation are not an afterthought. They are as important in the post-2015 framework as are the goals.
MoI/ Global Partnership
We believe we can learn from the MDGs by designing a coherent and comprehensive pillar for implementation to deliver on all of the goals and targets. Such a package could radiate more ambition than the currently SDG 17 and the 62 MoI actions of the Open Working Group Outcome Document.
Under such an approach, the structure of the ‘how’ pillar could go from broad and generic to specific. Included would be:
1. Actions, policies, commitments, and partnerships that are relevant for achieving the agenda as a whole
2. Actions that are relevant to part of the agenda and goal specific.
In placing actions and measures in the MoI pillar, we could apply certain criteria or guidelines. For instance:
1. Reaffirm existing commitments, including 0.7 and 0.15/0.20 ODA, focusing on the poorest countries,
2. What can we do better? – improve on existing instruments and actions
3. Related to that is a focus not only on the ‘Means’ but also on the ‘Implementation’ of MoI – without effective implementation no amount of means will do the trick.
4. Identify new MoI that have the greates positive impact for sustainable development, taking into account the specific needs of LDCs, SIDs and LLDCs, African and and conflict affected countries.
5. Be realistic and identify where further work will be needed – it is unlikely that we can envisage every possible MoI for the next 15 years, so we should leave room for new insights and MoI innovation during the implementation phase
We believe the FfD process should take on the challenge of delivering a coherent and comprehensive package on MoI. We also hope that the package coming out of Addis would be plug-and-play, meaning that it would in effect constitute the MoI pillar of the post-2015 sustainable development framework.
I should note here that that while MoI and the Global Partnership are not necessarily the same thing, we do believe they belong together in one and the same pillar. The Global Partnership embodies a spirit of universal solidarity and cooperation, a mindset of shared responsibility. The MoI are the measures and actions that flow from that mindset.
We would like to highlight the importance of the broad mindset of Monterrey and point to the importance of the elements that constitute this agenda, including ODA, DRM and trade.
Goals and targets
Regarding the goals and targets pillar, we would like to keep the substantive goals and targets of the OWG, as highlighted yesterday in the cross-regional statement made by Guatemala. As agreed, the OWG document forms the main basis for integrating the goals and targets into the post-2015 agenda. We think this set is great reflection of the ambitions we agreed together and welcome in particular the ambitions on women's rights and peaceful societies.
Regarding the technical proofing of targets, we are open to assistance from the UN system, particularly the Technical Support Team for post-2015, to help with this work.
Regarding the development of indicators, we look forward to the hearing more about the work by the Statistical Commission.
Monitoring and Accountability
The fourth and final element, the foundation of our post-2015 house, is monitoring and accountability. Here global, regional and national efforts have to come together.
We would suggest to use existing mechanisms as much as possible and highlight the importance of including all stakeholders.
We see a particular role for the HLPF in monitoring and accountability for the post-2015 agenda.
Process
Finally, co-facilitators, I would like to highlight the importance of a process that is inclusive to all partners, from civil society, the private sector and knowledge institutions. They have a crucial role both in the formulation of the agenda and in the implementation phase. They have a lot to bring to the table.
We look forward to your leadership to steer this process and would like to reiterate our confidence in your guidance.
I speak on behalf of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and align myself with the statements of the EU.
As this is the first time I take the floor, I would like to express my conviction that under your guidance, co-facilitators, we will adopt a strong new development agenda in September this year. Thank you for your leadership and also to the co-facilitators for FFD.
You may recall that we compared the post-2015 framework to a house, with a roof, two interconnected pillars, and a foundation.
As we are making just one statement during this stocktaking exercise, we will briefly address each of these constituent elements of the post-2015 house.
The roof – political declaration
The political declaration is the roof. It marks our common ambition, our common destiny if you will, for the next 15 years.
It would spell out a compelling vision through an inspiring, legible and accessible text that speaks both to our political leaders and our populations and very much moves the discussion far beyond the UN.
The declaration could be built around the six elements suggested by the SG in his Synthesis Report. Dignity would feature strongly as would inclusion. Key principles that should be included are the universality of this agenda and ending poverty.
Two pillars – goals and targets and means of implementation
Supporting the roof are two interconnected pillars. One would consist of the goals and targets. The other would contain the Means of Implementation. A ‘what’ pillar mirrored by a ‘how’pillar.
The central idea here is to have two pillars of equal political importance. So why not place MoI and the Global Partnership next to the goals and targets instead of at the bottom of the list? Means of Implementation are not an afterthought. They are as important in the post-2015 framework as are the goals.
MoI/ Global Partnership
We believe we can learn from the MDGs by designing a coherent and comprehensive pillar for implementation to deliver on all of the goals and targets. Such a package could radiate more ambition than the currently SDG 17 and the 62 MoI actions of the Open Working Group Outcome Document.
Under such an approach, the structure of the ‘how’ pillar could go from broad and generic to specific. Included would be:
1. Actions, policies, commitments, and partnerships that are relevant for achieving the agenda as a whole
2. Actions that are relevant to part of the agenda and goal specific.
In placing actions and measures in the MoI pillar, we could apply certain criteria or guidelines. For instance:
1. Reaffirm existing commitments, including 0.7 and 0.15/0.20 ODA, focusing on the poorest countries,
2. What can we do better? – improve on existing instruments and actions
3. Related to that is a focus not only on the ‘Means’ but also on the ‘Implementation’ of MoI – without effective implementation no amount of means will do the trick.
4. Identify new MoI that have the greates positive impact for sustainable development, taking into account the specific needs of LDCs, SIDs and LLDCs, African and and conflict affected countries.
5. Be realistic and identify where further work will be needed – it is unlikely that we can envisage every possible MoI for the next 15 years, so we should leave room for new insights and MoI innovation during the implementation phase
We believe the FfD process should take on the challenge of delivering a coherent and comprehensive package on MoI. We also hope that the package coming out of Addis would be plug-and-play, meaning that it would in effect constitute the MoI pillar of the post-2015 sustainable development framework.
I should note here that that while MoI and the Global Partnership are not necessarily the same thing, we do believe they belong together in one and the same pillar. The Global Partnership embodies a spirit of universal solidarity and cooperation, a mindset of shared responsibility. The MoI are the measures and actions that flow from that mindset.
We would like to highlight the importance of the broad mindset of Monterrey and point to the importance of the elements that constitute this agenda, including ODA, DRM and trade.
Goals and targets
Regarding the goals and targets pillar, we would like to keep the substantive goals and targets of the OWG, as highlighted yesterday in the cross-regional statement made by Guatemala. As agreed, the OWG document forms the main basis for integrating the goals and targets into the post-2015 agenda. We think this set is great reflection of the ambitions we agreed together and welcome in particular the ambitions on women's rights and peaceful societies.
Regarding the technical proofing of targets, we are open to assistance from the UN system, particularly the Technical Support Team for post-2015, to help with this work.
Regarding the development of indicators, we look forward to the hearing more about the work by the Statistical Commission.
Monitoring and Accountability
The fourth and final element, the foundation of our post-2015 house, is monitoring and accountability. Here global, regional and national efforts have to come together.
We would suggest to use existing mechanisms as much as possible and highlight the importance of including all stakeholders.
We see a particular role for the HLPF in monitoring and accountability for the post-2015 agenda.
Process
Finally, co-facilitators, I would like to highlight the importance of a process that is inclusive to all partners, from civil society, the private sector and knowledge institutions. They have a crucial role both in the formulation of the agenda and in the implementation phase. They have a lot to bring to the table.
We look forward to your leadership to steer this process and would like to reiterate our confidence in your guidance.
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