Mercy Global Concern - 2006

MGC Briefing paper Number 1 – September 2006

Moving Development Forward:
Accountability, Transparency, Equitable Trade Policies

Governments, corporations, NGO’s and other civil society actors are forming global partnerships for development. In order for these partnerships to be effective – as called for by the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) #8 – all stakeholders must exercise commitment to accountability, transparency and good governance. For development to go forward on a truly global level, least developed, landlocked and small island developing countries’ special needs must be addressed. These include tariff- and quota-free access for their exports, enhanced debt relief for heavily indebted poor countries, cancellation of official bilateral debt, and more generous official development assistance for countries committed to poverty reduction.

This panel will provide examples of how accountability, transparency, good governance and equitable trade policies are helping to raise resources for and successfully complete projects. Panelists will examine existing debt and trade policies that have a negative impact on the ability of less developed nations to develop and to protect jobs, thereby alleviating poverty and raising the standard of living on an ongoing basis.

Moderator:

• Katherine Marshall, Senior Advisor, Development Dialogue on Values and Ethics, World Bank

Speakers:

• Hans Blix, Chairman, Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission
  Download Speech (pdf)
  
• Grace Nshemeire, Low Unit Pack Champion, Unilever
  Download Powerpoint Presentation (ppt)
  
• Mal Nuhu Ribadu, Executive Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Government of Nigeria
  Download Speech (pdf)
  
• Lester Salamon, Director of the Centre for Civil Society Studies at the John Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies
  Download Speech (pdf) / Powerpoint Presentation (ppt)
  
• Christopher Sinckler, Executive Coordinator, Caribbean Policy Development Centre
  Download Speech (pdf) / Powerpoint Presentation (ppt)

Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development

United Nations, New York, 6 - 8 September 2006

More than 2,500 Non-governmental Organization (NGO) representatives and other civil society partners from more than 90 countries are expected to gather at the United Nations headquarters in New York, from 6 - 8 September 2006, to discuss ways and means for strengthening collaboration between local communities and global institutions. They will meet during the 59th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, entitled Unfinished Business: Effective Partnerships for Human Security and Sustainable Development. The three-day gathering of NGOs is organized by the Department of Public Information (DPI) in cooperation with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee and the participation of its associated NGOs and NGOs that have consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council.

The Conference aims to build on what has already been accomplished by greater NGO and civil society participation in many of the debates taking place at the United Nations, including Informal Interactive Hearings by the General Assembly President with NGOs, civil society and private sector representatives. Speakers at the Conference are being asked to illustrate their work on the ground by real-life examples of effective partnerships to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To ensure the widest possible exchange of views and experiences, all NGO delegations will include one representative under the age of 30.

As an annual meeting taking place on the eve of the opening of the General Assembly, the Conference has become an established forum for networking and exchange of views, opinions, expertise and best-practices on relevant issues. Beyond these, it has moved in recent times towards strategic partnership-building by inviting representatives of Member States to engage in dialogues with Conference participants. This year, it aims to provide a policy-building forum for NGO collaboration with the United Nations.

In addition to five plenary sessions and six roundtables, there will be 30 midday NGO Workshops featuring the participation of civil society, United Nations, government and private-sector representatives.

Hans Blix comments at UN Conference of NGOs New York, 6 September 2006

I appreciate the opportunity to address this forum of non-governmental
organizations. Many NGOs provide help that is direct and vitally needed and
many NGOs speak in an equally direct way to promote and defend common
global needs and values, while member governments almost inevitably see
global issues through the lenses of their national interests.

I shall take up two issues in which NGOs are doing great work and may do
even more. Both have vital importance for human security.

• Getting truth on the table. Demanding facts and transparency.
  
• Waking up the world to the reality that the process of arms control
  and disarmament has stagnated and must be revived.

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