MORE, BETTER DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE NEEDED FOR POOREST COUNTRIES TO ACHIEVE

MILLENNIUM GOALS, DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

 

Following is the text of the address by UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro to the Boston University award ceremony on “Leadership and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Africa”, 17 April:

Let me start by reiterating what I said before -- that it is a great pleasure to be among all of you today.  A second opportunity to address this gathering I take to be an award in its own right.  I am, therefore, deeply touched by this, yet another, opportunity to address such distinguished company on a subject that is dear to my heart, namely development and the MDGs.

As my brother and friend Ambassador Stith has noted, I first joined the Tanzanian Government in 2000 to work on issues of development.  Then, I had the pleasure, I had the honour, to have been in the Government of Mr. Benjamin Mkapa -- the Government also led by Prime Minister [Frederick] Sumaye.  As the Minister for Community Development, Gender and Children, I was deeply engaged in the social and economic advancement of my fellow citizens, and in implementing the international development agenda in Tanzania.

Today, my position has changed, but my interests have not.  As Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, I remain committed to the cause of development, and to the UN’s unique role in advancing it.  Indeed, perhaps the biggest change in my responsibilities is now that I can work with all UN Member States -- not just one -- to help advance development priorities.

I am sure all of us struggle to come to terms with the immense disparities that characterize today’s global economy.  After all, we live in an era where some people have billions, and billions have next to nothing. Ours is a world where the lucky -- and talented -- few who make it to Boston University can expect multiple high-paying jobs at graduation, while hundreds of millions of their contemporaries never even make it to primary school.  Now we are learning that climate change most threatens those countries that are least equipped to deal with it -- the same nations who have contributed the least to global warming in the first place.

Addressing these disparities is a central tenet of the Millennium Development Goals, and our ambitious commitment to cut extreme poverty worldwide by half.  These eight development targets were adopted in the year 2000 in the Millennium Declaration, and reaffirmed by world leaders at the 2005 World Summit.  Together, they represent a powerful blueprint to build a better world for all.

Yet, mid way to the MDG target date of 2015, the world has registered mixed progress towards these targets.

The good news is that many parts of the world have made significant advances towards many of the MDGs.   China, India and other countries in East and South Asia have made tremendous strides.  They have lifted millions out of poverty and provided them with essential services like health and education.

Africa, too, has experienced some welcome pockets of progress.  Since the late 1990s, more than a dozen African nations have achieved average growth rates of above 5 per cent.  Many low-income countries have lifted sizeable proportions of their citizens above the poverty line.

Several African nations are on course to meet the target of halving poverty by 2015.  Around 14 countries have already achieved universal primary education, or are on track to do so.  And most Southern African countries are on course to attain gender parity at the primary school level.

These are all welcome trends.  Yet, they are not enough.  Unfortunately, Africa as a whole has experienced a rising poverty in recent years.  Hunger and child mortality have also registered at unacceptably high levels.  Sub-Saharan Africa remains farthest behind.  There, many countries may not even achieve a single Millennium Development Goal.

The reality is that Africa’s current growth, while commendable, is still insufficient when set against the tremendous distance the continent needs to cover.  Moreover, existing growth is not translating into robust job creation or poverty reduction at the local level.

African Governments are also experiencing difficulties in operationalizing the MDG agenda.  Urgent support is required, especially for low-income countries in Africa, to assist them in successfully implementing an MDG-based development strategy.

Some may suggest that this stalemate stems from failure of leadership and resolve.  But I urge you to look again. People like Presidents [Thabo] Mbeki and [Joaquim] Chissano epitomise a new type of African leader.  These politicians are democratic, they are engaged and they are committed to making a difference.  And this includes my own President, Mr. Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania.

Of course, the best of intentions must survive contact with reality.  And Africa’s reality is unmet need and huge resource constraints.  Overcoming these hurdles requires strong domestic leadership.  But it is also not possible without appropriate and sufficient development assistance.

The fact is that many African States have displayed useful initiatives on the MDGs in recent years.  They have commissioned needs assessments and prepared strategies to reach the Goals on time.  Most have done so despite knowing that they are currently lacking in resources to implement such plans.

Reformist Governments have also joined the African Peer Review Mechanism of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD).  They have courageously opened themselves up to public scrutiny by their peers, and shown a determination to strengthen governance and the rule of law.

The challenge for African Governments is to continue with institutional reforms that promote good governance and accountability.  They should especially improve transparency in the use of domestic and external development resources.  At the same time, they have to align their economic and development policies with clear plans to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Consequently, we must recognize that the greatest shortage today is not of resolve, but of resources.  The Millennium Development Goals cannot be achieved unless the poorest countries receive more and better official development assistance to complement domestic resource mobilization.

It is encouraging that development partners have acknowledged this need, and they have made significant financial commitments. The European Union (EU) has agreed to raise its development assistance to 0.7 per cent of gross national income by 2015, the same year we target for the achievement of the MDGs, while the G-8 countries have pledged a doubling of aid to Africa by 2010.

However, there is still more that needs to be done.  For instance, it is noteworthy that, excluding debt relief for Nigeria, assistance to sub-Saharan Africa rose by only 2 per cent last year.  Moreover, most donors have failed to lay out specific timetables for aid delivery that can meet their Gleneagles and EU commitments.  This lack of predictable delivery schedules makes it difficult for recipients to adequately plan for, or effectively utilize, any promised resources.

Donor nations and development partners should demonstrate leadership by bringing the quality and quantity of their development assistance in line with their stated commitments.  They need to provide country-by-country timetables for aid disbursement that allow recipient Governments to plan accordingly.  And they must redouble efforts to see a successful and timely conclusion to the Doha trade talks.  Existing trade barriers, agricultural subsidies and restrictive rules on investment serve to reinforce global inequities.  Lowering these barriers can go a long way towards alleviating poverty and hunger in the developing world.

Ultimately, progress towards the Millennium Development Goals requires leadership from all sides.  Donor States, African countries and the international community each have vital roles to play.  They all need to come together in the global partnership for development already envisioned by the Development Goals.

As this happens, the United Nations will continue to assist Governments in planning, preparing and implementing national strategies to achieve the MDGs. We will also support their efforts to raise the necessary resources from development partners, and stand ready to provide whatever assistance we can.

The target date for the Millennium Development Goals is still a few years away.  But the success or failure of our endeavour is being decided now.  Only if we act decisively in 2007 will we make up for the lost ground by 2015.  The lives of millions -- in Africa and across the world -- hang in the balance.

Let us, therefore, commit to doing all we can, today, to advancing the international development agenda; let us all display the universal initiative needed to achieve these Goals; and let us make good on this life or death commitment to the world’s poor.

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For information media • not an official record