Transcript Implementation Barriers to Sustainable Development

Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Implementation Barriers
to Sustainable Development
A Civil Society Assessment in 15 countries in Asia,
Africa and Latin America
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
National reports were produced
by 15 national CSO networks:
Asia:
• Indonesia (Indonesian Peoples Forum)
• Nepal (Nepal Forum for Environmental Journalists)
• Philippines Sustainability Watch
• Vietnam (Vietnam NGO Network)
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International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Africa:
Kenya Sustainability Watch Coalition
Mozambique (ABIODES)
South Africa (EMG and EJNF network)
Tanzania (NGO Coalition)
Togo (Les Amis de la Terre)
Uganda (NGO Coalition)
Zimbabwe (Zero)
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
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International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Latin America:
Bolivia (Lidema coalition and 5 networks in ABDES)
Nicaragua (Centro Humboldt)
Guatemala (Fundacion Solar)
Regional Peasant Network in Central America
(ACICAFOC)
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
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International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Why Sustainability Watch network?
 Mainly Northern NGO voices are heard within
international institutions

This networks aim to organize and structure
better the voice of Southern NGO/CSO
networks working on the ground in Asia,
Africa and Latin America
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
From international/national regulations and
declarations (UN summits of the 90s)
Toward -> a decade of constructive pressure for
implementation of all the commitments from
Johannesburg
A global advocacy tool available to civil society is
the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
with its time-bound indicators year 2015
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International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
MDG 7: Environmental Sustainability
Target 9: Integrate National SusDev Policy & Reverse
Biodiversity Loss
MDG 8: Global
Partnership
Good Governance
Increase in ODA
Fairer Trade (Market
Access for the South), Food
Sovereignty/ Food Security
•IMPLEMENTATION BARRIERS IN SUSDEV
•Inter-linkages between MDG 7 with 8 and 1
•Push for the“MDG Plus” Targets to be
adopted
•The “Global Deal” – More ODA from the
North… Good Governance in the South!
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MDG 1: Poverty
Reduction
Pro-Poor Natural resource
management
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
And we remember the “ MDG Plus” from
the 2002 WSSD Summit:
• Reverse the loss of biodiversity by 2010
• Maintain or restore depleted fish stocks to levels that can
produce the maximum sustainable yield by 2015
• Establish a representative network of marine protected areas
by 2012
• Increase the share of renewable energy in the total energy
supply, and provide 35% of African households with modern
energy within 20 years
• Phase out, by 2020, production and use of chemicals that
harm health and environment.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
The 15 national reports aimed at assessing:
•
•
Particular emphasis was put on the implementation of
the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation –
with particular emphasis on MDG 7, MDG 1 and MDG 8
(governance) as a way to measure the realisation of
sustainable development.
The international report digests the 15 national reports
and provides insights for overcoming barriers of
implementation.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Main findings:
• Notwithstanding the diversity of context and cultures in the 15
countries, each report states that sustainable development
has not been effectively implemented at the national level.
• Regardless of the commitments countries have made by
signing numerous international agreements - Sustainable
Development remains an abstract concept.
• Follows 6 main findings regarding implementation barriers for
the implementation of sustainable development commitments.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
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International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 1:
Weak monitoring of MDG 7 (environmental sustainability
– and weak indicators:
 Except Costa Rica, the MDG country reports on MDG 7 are
generally weak (except on water target)
 “Box thinking” taken the MDG goals separately, and not
interlinked, e.g. MDG 7 and MDG 1.
 Togo. The statistical data used by government is questionable,
given that no recent national household surveys and census is
available.
 Bolivia: The MDG country report has not included target 9 (MDG
7), mainly selected targets where the country is performing well.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Recommendation 1:
Strengthen the instruments for monitoring of MDG 7:
• Join forces within the Poverty-Environmental Partnership
(PEP) with WB, UNDP, UNEP, bilateral donors and
international NGOs (WWF, IUCN, IIED, WRI etc.)
- Increase PEP collaboration with Southern governments
and civil society (including Sustainability Watch)
- Suggest improvement of the MDG 7 (linkages to poverty,
include MDG Plus etc.)
- Strengthening participatory monitoring in the countries.
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International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 2:
Example: Market-oriented economic/trade development
frameworks:
 Indonesia : Privatization of public domain like the
conversion of lands and rainforest into real estate,
plantations etc. Also water privatization, mining industries.
 Philippines : priority on infrastructure, policy to revitalize
the mining industry with severe environmental impact
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 2:
Market-oriented economic/trade development
frameworks:
 Reluctance
to challenge unfair trade liberalization regimes
and to ensure investment in environmental protection
 Blind on environmental constraints. Short term economic
interests coming first;
 Does not prioritize investing in environmental impacts of
development processes
 Lack of planning (implemented) for land and natural
resources considering ecological limitations.
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International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Recommendation 2:
Market-oriented economic/trade frameworks conducive to
sustainable development
• Shift from purely market-oriented valuation of natural resources by
inputting by taking into considerations ecological and social costs;
• Integration of economic growth, ecological sustainability (e.g.
ecological carrying capacity) and social equity (e.g. human wellbeing, preservation of culture and heritage) in development planning
• EU and US should considerable reduce agricultural and fishery
subsidies and other contributions to obtain a pro-poor outcome of
the Doho development round
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 3:
Example: Weak governance: :
 Philippines : Lack of an effective government effort to
overcome corruption (about 2 billion US dollars is lost
annually)
 Mozambique, Kenya: Wide-spread corruption
 Guatemala: The Peace Agreement from 1996 still not
implemented, particular Indigenous Peoples rights suffering.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 3:
Weak governance:
 Inability to produce enough equitable economic
development and social services to catch up
with population growth;
 Weak citizens participation and “check and
balance” institutions
 Manifested in outright corruption, weak public
financial management and lack of accountability
to citizens.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Recommendation 3:
Strengthen good governance
through:
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participatory policy making needed
civil society engagement, Rio Principle 10
enforcement of rules and regulations, and
accountable and transparent institutions with
promotion of anti-corruption measurements.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 4:
Example: Institutional constraints:
 Indonesia : Weak environmental ministry which lacks
capacity in term of human resources as well as regulatory
functions.
Nepal and Philippines : Government’s lack of political will to
achieve the MDG targets and implement sustainable
development
Vietnam : Insufficient capacity of local officers in terms of
information and training on the implementation of MDGs.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 4:
 Institutional constraints:
 Lack of fully functioning, coherent and
decentralized/devolution strategies
 Extensive civil society participation particularly at the
community level not institutionalized.
 Environmental ministries with low priority have not met the
expectations from Rio 92. Low priority and not able to proper
monitor and enforce the laws and regulations.
 Weak cross-sectorial linkages, implying not emphasis on the
interaction between poverty - environment – and good
governance.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Recommendation 4:
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Institutional reforms, including:
Ministry of Finance needs to be more involved in sustainable
development policies, including the use of economic
instruments
Government structures are strengthened, including crosssectorial collaboration
The focus on the poverty-environment linkage is
strengthened.
Demand that decisions by governments on sustainable
development and MDG implementation represent views of all
stakeholders.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 5:
Example: Inconsistent policies
 Indonesia : Government policies which are biased toward
foreign investors which in turn are biased against
environment
 Nepal : Policies overlap and even contradict each other
 Nicaragua: Conflicting agendas between the PRSP, the
national economic development strategy and environmental
regulation
 Uganda: Military expenditures taking big part of public
budget.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 5:
 Inconsistent policies:
 Insufficient political will
 Sustainable development policies often
contradicted by other policies
 National laws on sustainable development
not translated into operational policies on the
ground (i.e. very few governments actually investing in
environmental impact prevention and/or mitigation)
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Recommendation 5:
Obtain consistent sustainability development
policies through:
- Start an open process and consultative process among
the stakeholders on the integration/mainstreaming of
economic, social and environmental aspects of
sustainable development
- Increased effort are put on “localizing MDGs” where
CBOs, local governments are active stakeholders to take
decisions, monitoring and implementing on the ground
with increased transfer of national resources.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 6:
Example: Inadequate financial resources demonstrated
by:
 Nepal : No adequate financial resources
 Philippines : Public Debt take away scarce financial
resources from social programs
 Vietnam : Geographical locations of people in highlands
and remote areas thus are difficult to reach in term of
transportation
 Uganda: Military expenditures taking big part of public
budget.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Barrier no. 6:
 Inadequate financial resources demonstrated
by:
 Low public and private investment in sustainable
development.
 Continuing imposition of some misguided
conditionalities on ODA and loans (e.g. IMF)
 Unsustainable debt burden that significantly
constrains achievement of sustainable development
objectives by developing countries
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Recommendation 2:
Adequate financial resources needed for sustainable
development
• Increase spending in annual national budgets
• NGOs need to make “budget tracing” of public
expenditures
• Local governments need more resources for “localizing
MDGs” and empowering communities.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Key strategic Recommendations
Sustainable development is possible if governments
seriously and urgently adopt national development
strategies aimed at accelerating implementation
of the MDG.
In the 2005 UN Summit, an agreement was reached – in
section 22 - for all countries to come up with a 10-year
action plan to achieve the MDGs by 2006!
It has a huge potential to get this 10-year MDG
implementation plan, through overcoming the
identified implementation barriers.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Recommendation
Donor Countries and international Institutions
should:
1. Support efforts by national governments and CSOs to design
and adopt national strategies accelerating 2015
2. Approach dialogue with governments on improvements in
sustainable development and MDG implementation represent
views of all stakeholders.
3. Provide for CSO monitoring component in programs, budget
support, sector programme support, etc.
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report
Thank You!
All reports and for more information
can be accessed at:
http://www.suswatch.org
CSO Round Table Discussion on the IMF-WB 2006 Meeting
Sept. 20, 2006, Singapore
International Sustainability Watch 2006 Report