Moving Forward the Moving Forward the Sustainable Development Sustainable Development Targets of the MDGsTargets of the MDGs

by: Erna Witoelar, Indonesia by: Erna Witoelar, Indonesia

Sustainable Development:the root of achieving most MDGs.

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality5. Improve maternal

health6. Combat HIV/AIDS,

malaria, other diseases

8. Develop a global partnership for development

The MDGs are inter-related:The MDGs are inter-related: working towards achieving environmental sustainability working towards achieving environmental sustainability

will make us closer to achievements of other Goalswill make us closer to achievements of other Goals

G-7:G-7: Ensure Environmental SustainabilityEnsure Environmental Sustainability All Targets are also very interrelated All Targets are also very interrelated

Target 9: Integrate principles of sustainable development into country policies & programs, and reverse the loss of environmental resources. *)

Target 10: Halve by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water & sanitation **)

Target 11: Have achieved by 2020, a significant improve-ment in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers **)

*) Reduced CO2 emission & increased forest coverage are *) Reduced CO2 emission & increased forest coverage are among Target 9 indicators among Target 9 indicators climate change climate change mitigationmitigation

**) Water quantity/quality & urban slum are severely impacted **) Water quantity/quality & urban slum are severely impacted by climate change by climate change need need adaptationadaptation efforts efforts

Water and other MDGs Water and other MDGs More than 3 million children die every year caused More than 3 million children die every year caused

by waterborne diseases. This is worsen by by waterborne diseases. This is worsen by disasters with even less access to clean water & disasters with even less access to clean water & sanitation, and more contaminated water;sanitation, and more contaminated water;

The burden of finding and carrying water is more The burden of finding and carrying water is more damaging to women’s health and increasing the damaging to women’s health and increasing the risk during pregnancy and child birth;risk during pregnancy and child birth;

Environmentally destroyed watersheds become Environmentally destroyed watersheds become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and worms, breeding grounds for mosquitoes and worms, which increase susceptibility to a wide range of which increase susceptibility to a wide range of diseases, from diarrhea to malaria;diseases, from diarrhea to malaria;

An integrated approach to clean up water An integrated approach to clean up water resources & the environment will improve resources & the environment will improve public health and livelihood significantly.public health and livelihood significantly.

Water and other MDGs Water and other MDGs …continued…continued

Lack of clean water and no sanitation facility at Lack of clean water and no sanitation facility at many village schools in the region caused decline many village schools in the region caused decline of school attendance, especially among girls of school attendance, especially among girls

In general it’s the women and girls that have to In general it’s the women and girls that have to walk a distance or stand a long queue for collecting walk a distance or stand a long queue for collecting water, causing them the lack of time for productive water, causing them the lack of time for productive or educational activities or educational activities

Water related disasters, often destroy or damage Water related disasters, often destroy or damage schools so badly they’re hampering the quality & schools so badly they’re hampering the quality & quantity of education; it’s even worse in poor and quantity of education; it’s even worse in poor and remote areas, where teachers are more reluctant remote areas, where teachers are more reluctant Improving education & better gender equality Improving education & better gender equality

will certainly improve water management and will certainly improve water management and ensure better access to water servicesensure better access to water services

Climate Change and other MDGsClimate Change and other MDGsGlobal Warming & Climate Change is threatening Global Warming & Climate Change is threatening

the achievements of all MDGs with creation of new the achievements of all MDGs with creation of new pockets of poverty & hunger, more refugees, school pockets of poverty & hunger, more refugees, school drop-outs, children mortality, etc…drop-outs, children mortality, etc…

…….it also threatens to set back countries’ efforts to .it also threatens to set back countries’ efforts to improve their citizens’ lives and meet their MDGs.improve their citizens’ lives and meet their MDGs.

We can’t fight climate change without considering We can’t fight climate change without considering the still rising energy needs of the poorthe still rising energy needs of the poor….….

……. nor can we effectively address global poverty . nor can we effectively address global poverty without accounting for impacts of climate change on without accounting for impacts of climate change on

agriculture, disease patterns, and violent weather agriculture, disease patterns, and violent weather events, all of which particularly impact the poor.events, all of which particularly impact the poor.

Both need simultaneous combating, and it requires Both need simultaneous combating, and it requires comprehensive actions that addresses both issuescomprehensive actions that addresses both issues

Climate Change & other MDGs Climate Change & other MDGs …continued…continued

Depletion of natural resources and increased Depletion of natural resources and increased climate-related disasters could increase women’s climate-related disasters could increase women’s workload, place additional burdens on their health, workload, place additional burdens on their health, and reduce their livelihood assets…and reduce their livelihood assets…

The strength of MDGs lies in their interconnected-The strength of MDGs lies in their interconnected-ness and ability to address all root causes of ness and ability to address all root causes of poverty & inequalitypoverty & inequality….….

.... if people were guaranteed access to health .... if people were guaranteed access to health care, education and equality then the world would care, education and equality then the world would

gain a billion stronger, more educated and able gain a billion stronger, more educated and able citizens who can constructively contribute to citizens who can constructively contribute to

addressing climate change mitigation & adaptation.addressing climate change mitigation & adaptation.(from UNMC publication 2009: “MDGs & Climate Change”)

Urban Slum & the Other MDGs In 2006, for the first time in human history the

world’s population became predominantly urban, as urbanization is an unavoidable process. Cities are becoming home to half of humankind.

By 2015, in Asia alone there will be 267 cities with more than 1 million population & 12 of the world’s projected 21 mega-cities.

Urbanization of poverty: in 2001, a third of the global urban population or 924 million people are poor and living in urban slums, and if no action is taken, it may reach 1,4 billion in 2020.

Hence MDGs targets for urban slum dwellers Hence MDGs targets for urban slum dwellers are considered too low & too slow for many..are considered too low & too slow for many..

Urban Slum & the Other MDGs …continued…continued Urban MDGUrban MDG issues are complex & locally-specific , issues are complex & locally-specific ,

it optimally should be addressed in a holistic way at it optimally should be addressed in a holistic way at sub-national / city level. As population of cities in sub-national / city level. As population of cities in Asia are growing rapidly, many city authorities are Asia are growing rapidly, many city authorities are behind in providing basic public services.behind in providing basic public services.

Minimum water & sanitation facilities in slum areas Minimum water & sanitation facilities in slum areas are strongly linked with basic health and education are strongly linked with basic health and education issues, together with income poverty. The urban issues, together with income poverty. The urban poor also pay more for their water & energy needs.poor also pay more for their water & energy needs.

While While globalizationglobalization has facilitated the determining has facilitated the determining position of cities in global economy, position of cities in global economy, decentralization decentralization has given cities more responsibilities and also more has given cities more responsibilities and also more opportunities for innovations in urban governanceopportunities for innovations in urban governance. .

MDGs Goal & IndicatorsMDGs Goal & Indicators IndonesiaIndonesia VietnamVietnam PhilippinesPhilippines IndiaIndia APAP

77 Forest coverForest cover Protected areaProtected area CO2 emissionsCO2 emissions ODP CFC consumptionODP CFC consumption Water urbanWater urban Water ruralWater rural Sanitation urbanSanitation urban Sanitation ruralSanitation rural

Goal 7 Targets in Some Asian CountriesGoal 7 Targets in Some Asian Countries from the ADB, UNESCAP & UNDP Report on AP MDGs 2006from the ADB, UNESCAP & UNDP Report on AP MDGs 2006

early achiever early achiever on trackon track slowslow not on track not on track

What does “on track” mean?

(from UNICEF -WHO Report 2010)

It means:

(from UNICEF -WHO Report 2010)

What does “not on track” mean?

(from UNICEF -WHO Report 2010)

It means:

(from UNICEF -WHO Report , 2010)

(Open defecation: when human faeces are disposed of in fields, forests, bushes, open bodies of water, beaches, other open spaces / disposed of with solid waste)

It also means: (from UNICEF -WHO Report 2010)

Moving Forward SD Targets Moving Forward SD Targets of MDGs: can it be faster?of MDGs: can it be faster?

(Advancing Innovative Development & Aid Strategies) (Advancing Innovative Development & Aid Strategies)

Aid Effectiveness & Donor Aid Effectiveness & Donor Harmonization: is it working?Harmonization: is it working?

The MDGs took off with The MDGs took off with a lot of good intentions: a lot of good intentions: Monterrey Consensus (2002), Rome Declaration Monterrey Consensus (2002), Rome Declaration (2003), Paris Declaration (2005), Accra Action Plan (2003), Paris Declaration (2005), Accra Action Plan (2008?)..and others(2008?)..and others

They are full with They are full with lots of nice wordslots of nice words, music to our ears: , music to our ears: reduce burdens of aid management on receiving reduce burdens of aid management on receiving

countries; simplify & harmonize complex procedurescountries; simplify & harmonize complex procedures support policy priorities driven by developing support policy priorities driven by developing

countries themselves; increase focus on resultscountries themselves; increase focus on results build ownership & alignment for aid effectiveness,build ownership & alignment for aid effectiveness, streamline the use of conditionalitiesstreamline the use of conditionalities

…….but is it still working?.....but is it still working?....

..more nice words on Aid Effectiveness ..more nice words on Aid Effectiveness & Donor Harmonization….& Donor Harmonization….

Respect Respect country’s leadershipcountry’s leadership to develop priorities; to develop priorities; harmonize all donor’s action plans within harmonize all donor’s action plans within country’s country’s development agenda development agenda and rely on and rely on synchronized synchronized country systemscountry systems & procedures & procedures

Align with partners’ Align with partners’ capacity development capacity development objectives & strategiesobjectives & strategies,, harmonize supports for harmonize supports for capacity development. capacity development.

Untie aidUntie aid, , which can reduce transaction costs & which can reduce transaction costs & improve country ownership and alignment; Increase improve country ownership and alignment; Increase use of use of program-based aid modalities.program-based aid modalities.

Work together to reduce separate & duplicative field Work together to reduce separate & duplicative field & projects missions; promote & share lessons & projects missions; promote & share lessons learnt, learnt, build a community of practicebuild a community of practice..

..then came the “Global Warming ..then came the “Global Warming & Climate Change storm”… & Climate Change storm”…

Together with the overwhelming awareness of the Together with the overwhelming awareness of the magnitude & speed of “the storm”, came a plethora magnitude & speed of “the storm”, came a plethora of “innovative” development ideas & aid strategies, of “innovative” development ideas & aid strategies, from low carbon/green growth, improved PPPs & from low carbon/green growth, improved PPPs & debt swaps, REDD, etc debt swaps, REDD, etc

Based on the realization that “the storm” is caused Based on the realization that “the storm” is caused by everybody and every one, it also bring an by everybody and every one, it also bring an abundant of “innovative” mechanisms, new players, abundant of “innovative” mechanisms, new players, improved CDM, GEF, MFCC, Adaptation Fund, etc. improved CDM, GEF, MFCC, Adaptation Fund, etc. ……but does it reduce burdens of aid management on but does it reduce burdens of aid management on

receiving countries, simplify & harmonize complex receiving countries, simplify & harmonize complex procedures, build ownerships & alignments, procedures, build ownerships & alignments,

streamline the use of conditionalities….?streamline the use of conditionalities….?

Moving Forward to Achieve MDGs Moving Forward to Achieve MDGs Holistic approach Holistic approach at all levels of governance, from at all levels of governance, from

local to national to global. Interventions should not local to national to global. Interventions should not be directed only to sectors relevant to the Goals, be directed only to sectors relevant to the Goals, equally important are local infrastructure grants & equally important are local infrastructure grants & investments, and legal empowerment of the poor. investments, and legal empowerment of the poor.

Build synergiesBuild synergies:: a single intervention that can a single intervention that can achieve advances in multiple goals across sectors: achieve advances in multiple goals across sectors: much more cost-effective & catalyze achievements much more cost-effective & catalyze achievements of the goals. Upscale pilot projects & good practices of the goals. Upscale pilot projects & good practices to reach more regions, especially remote areas.to reach more regions, especially remote areas.

Multi-stakeholder approachMulti-stakeholder approach:: none of the Goals none of the Goals are achieved by governments alone, private sector are achieved by governments alone, private sector & civil society have been engaged in all of them for & civil society have been engaged in all of them for a long time & should continue to be so.a long time & should continue to be so.

Financing Strategies to Achieve MDGsFinancing Strategies to Achieve MDGs To catalyze achievements of MDGs we need much To catalyze achievements of MDGs we need much

more smaller & more spread out “reaching the more smaller & more spread out “reaching the unreached” financing processes, go more local, use unreached” financing processes, go more local, use more of the “capacity already built”, fund more up-more of the “capacity already built”, fund more up-scaling efforts of good practices already there, etcscaling efforts of good practices already there, etc

Financing for climate change adaptation (& certain Financing for climate change adaptation (& certain mitigation as well) can be integrated into existing & mitigation as well) can be integrated into existing & increased commitments to finance & develop more increased commitments to finance & develop more capacities to meet the MDGs, like enable schools & capacities to meet the MDGs, like enable schools & clinics to continue to function in a sustainable way. clinics to continue to function in a sustainable way.

Consistently practice Aid Effectiveness & Donor Consistently practice Aid Effectiveness & Donor Harmonization at all levels in all efforts; including Harmonization at all levels in all efforts; including national program effectiveness & harmonization. national program effectiveness & harmonization.

……Thank You Thank You …… 8 Goals to Change the World8 Goals to Change the World

*) Former UN Special Ambassador for MDGs in Asia Pacific (2003-2007), **) Presented at Lowy Institute’s Conference on Advancing Innovative Development

and Strategies in Asia Pacific: Accelerating the MDGs, Sydney, June 16, 2010