H.E. Mr. Christian Mwando (State Minister, DRC) and H.E. Ms. Hyunjoo Oh (Deputy Permanent Representative, Republic of Korea) opened the event stressing that much progress has been achieved since the inception of the Global Partnership in 2012. A multitude of challenges have also appeared. The pandemic was a concrete example that proved effective partnerships are “not only desirable, but absolutely essential…the agreed effectiveness principles could and should still serve as a compass for our collective efforts.”
In the event's first session, panelists from around the world, representing a wide variety of stakeholders including civil society actors, spoke of the accelerating actions and principles-based partnerships that have helped realize the SDGs, specifically quality education (SDG 4), gender equality (SDG 5), life on land (SDG 15) and partnerships (SDG 17).
As host of the Summit, Switzerland’s Mrs. Rahel Pema (representing the Global Partnership Co-Chair) called all partners to join the ‘road to the Summit'. From the Doha Programme of Action (March) where partners committed to make development more effective and predictable for Least Developed Countries to 'effective' financing examples at the UN Financing for Development Forum (April) to lessons of strengthened national-local partnerships at an HLPF side event last week, ahead of the Summit partners bring evidence that shows 'how' we achieve the SDGs matters more now than ever before.
For example, H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat (Minister of International Co-operation, Egypt) presented the country's multi-stakeholder frameworks for mapping each and every dollar of ODA by region and to the SDGs to avoid aid fragmentation and achieve more effective and long-lasting development.
In addition to partnership frameworks, the representative of Belgium highlighted that effective development co-operation depends on quality and predictability of funding, precisely what is needed to plan, implement & effectively deliver projects. Representatives from the Republic of Senegal, Cote D’Ivoire and European Commission spoke of key partnerships with the private sector and banks to mobilize resources beyond ODA and emphasized the importance of de-risking private finance and accelerating access to greater capital.
Supported by the UNDP Democratic Republic of Congo and UNDP Crisis Bureau, the event ended with a video showcasing lessons learned on SDG implementation in fragile and conflict-affected situations since 2014 ranging from innovative high-tech and low-tech solutions to risk-tolerant financing frameworks.
Looking ahead to the Summit, actors spoke about the launch of the reformed Global Partnership monitoring exercise as an important learning process for strengthening effective development co-operation at national and global levels.
For more information on the 2022 Effective Development Co-operation Summit, please visit the official webpage here.
Watch the recording of the event here.