G77 on SDGs and Poverty Eradication
The G77 has stressed that efforts to eradicate poverty at national level have to be supported by global trade and investment rules to address developing countries’ constraints and marginalization as well as reform of the international financial institutions. Below are extracts of the G77 and China statement at the open working group on SDGs on 19 April, presented by Fiji’s deputy permanent representative Mr. Luke Daunivalu.
On 5 April 2013, the United Nations kicked off the countdown of the last 1,000 days for achieving the MDGs by 2015. With less than 1,000 days to go, it is clear from all indications that there is a need to intensify efforts and accelerate actions on the MDGs. Despite the laudable achievement of the global MDG target on extreme poverty, there are still significant variations and inequalities across regions and within countries. Moreover, a disproportionately large number of people around the world continue to be extremely vulnerable, particularly those living below the $2.00 per day poverty line.
While an indicator of income poverty may be retained as part of SDGs related to poverty eradication, the Group of 77 underscores the importance of addressing the multiple dimensions of poverty. As we seek to meaningfully and effectively eradicate poverty, the inter-linkages between the multi-dimensional aspects of poverty vis-à-vis the opportunities and capabilities of governments and people must be taken into account while devising international cooperation efforts and national policies.
Understanding poverty eradication in the context of its multiple dimensions helps to frame the nature of challenges to be faced and what needs to be done to escape poverty as we design and formulate the SDGs. The Group of 77 calls for holistic and integrated approaches to sustainable development which will guide humanity to live in harmony with nature and lead to efforts to restore the health and integrity of the Earth’s ecosystem.
Whilst robust, stable economic growth is necessary to reduce poverty, it is not sufficient in and of itself. Economic growth must be sustainable, inclusive, equitable, and create decent work and livelihood opportunities for all, especially the poor and vulnerable members of society. It must lower inequalities within and between countries. Significantly, the benefits and opportunities of economic growth must be shared amongst and extended to include marginalised and minority groups in society.
Policies and development efforts targeted at poverty eradication must be responsive to the challenges as well as opportunities of sustainable development at both international and national levels. In this regard, a supportive, fair and enabling economic and financial architecture as well as a genuine global partnership for sustainable development are crucial to complement the efforts of national governments.
For example, global trade and investment rules should be designed and implemented with the objective of addressing pro-actively the specific constraints faced by developing countries, including the effective operationalisation of the principle of special and differential treatment for developing countries, especially those facing increasing marginalization in the globalising world economy. In addition, efforts to reform the international financial institutions must be strengthened to ensure the full participation and increased voice of developing countries in international financial and economic decision-making and norm-setting.
In order to enable governments of developing countries to effectively eradicate poverty, they must have ownership of their development agenda, which entails the enjoyment of adequate policy space backed by a strong political commitment to reduce poverty in line with their national priorities and circumstances. As such, governments of developing countries must formulate their own development strategies to assist the poor through policies and actions including, but not limited to, the provision of universal and affordable access to basic services; provision of a well-designed social protection system; empowerment of individuals to seize economic opportunities; and measures to ensure the protection of ecosystems.
Poverty eradication requires consolidated efforts by all stakeholders. National governments working in partnership with the international community have a duty and obligation to eradicate poverty in all its manifestations, taking into account and bringing together the three dimensions of sustainable development in mutually supportive ways. While national governments are mainly responsible for implementing the SDGs, the international community must also live up to its responsibility of making the world a better place to live. A renewed and strengthened global partnership for development in the context of sustainable development, which builds on the strengths of the current global partnership for development, while going beyond and addressing the weakness of its present framework, would be a positive step in the right direction.
