International Development CommitteeWritten evidence submitted by Progressio

1. Introduction

1.1 Progressio welcomes the opportunity to submit evidence to this inquiry. Progressio contributed recommendations to the UK government on the Sustainable Development Goals proposal in the run up to Rio+20 summit and engaged with the UK delegation during the summit.

2. About Progressio

2.1 Progressio is an international development charity (UK charity number 294329) that enables poor communities to solve their own problems through support from skilled workers. We work in partnership with civil society organisations in 11 countries around the world and we also lobby decision-makers to change policies that keep people poor. Our work is guided by three themes: Participation and effective governance, Sustainable environment; and HIV and AIDS. Progressio is the working name of the Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR). For more information about Progressio please see www.progressio.org.uk .

2.2 Progressio is a member organisation of Beyond 2015, the global civil society campaign pushing for a strong and legitimate successor framework to the Millennium Development Goals.

3. Lessons learned from the adoption of the International Development Targets and the Millennium Development Goals: in particular how effective has the MDG process been to date

3.1 The MDG framework is to be praised for being time-bound, quantifiable, and action-oriented, thus providing a platform for accountability.

3.2 The MDGs have been successful in rallying international support for poverty reduction and has highlighted previously neglected sectors, such as access to drinking water and sanitation, and maternal health.

3.3 A detraction of the MDGs has been that they have not addressed development in a comprehensive and integrated manner and have failed to address the structural causes of poverty and inequality. The MDGs have neglected the environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development. The dominant focus of the MDGs on social outcomes has excluded equity and social protection, conflict resolution and fragility, governance and civil society participation, and environmental sustainability and climate change. The successor framework must address their absence.

3.4 A further criticism of the MDGs is that the indicators and targets were not created through consultative processes that included a wide range of stakeholders. The lack of participation by poor and marginalised communities whom the MDGs were designed to assist has led to questions around legitimacy and ownership of the goals and the apparent top-down imposition of a development agenda on developing countries by developed countries.

4. How should the “Sustainable Development Goals” be established following Rio+20 relate to the “Development Goals” being considered by the High-Level Panel?

4.1 It is essential that there be a single unified process leading to the definition of the post-2015 framework and a single set of international development goals which pursue poverty eradication and development by all countries that is environmentally sustainable. Given that these two agendas are inextricably linked it would be short-sighted to develop two parallel and competing sets of goals which are not holistic and do not address the complex interrelations between global development challenges.

4.2 To have two parallel processes would be inefficient and would hinder the formation of ambitious goals that link the SDG and post-MDG agendas and thus address the social, economic and environmental pillars of sustainable development. Furthermore, to have two high-level political processes will endanger meaningful stakeholder participation by causing confusion, fatigue and splitting attention and finite resources between the two processes.

5. The coverage of future goals: should they be for developing countries only or should progress be monitored in all countries?

5.1 Progressio believes that the framework should set out ambitious global goals, as well as contextualised national targets for both developed and developing countries, taking into account national capacities and levels of development.

5.2 The post-2015 development framework should be underpinned by principles of universality, solidarity and Common But Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR). In order to address global challenges, all countries need to have obligations, ownership and accountability through the new framework. The framework must reflect humanity’s interdependence and the shared nature of challenges such as climate change, water scarcity, food security and unsustainable consumption, as well as the responsibility of all to steward resources well for future generations.

5.3 In terms of monitoring, the framework must enable citizens in all countries to hold their governments to account for progress on their commitments.

5.4 Progressio supports the idea that the framework should include monitoring mechanisms with measures to disaggregate data so that the impact of marginalised groups can be properly addresses.

6. The process: are the right voices being heard? What are the opportunities for and constraints to global consensus?

6.1 Adequate consultation with all key stakeholders is absolutely vital to ensure the ownership, legitimacy and appropriateness of the development framework. We welcome the commitment made by governments at Rio+20 to “consult with all relevant stakeholders”, and the UN-led process that has been established to develop the framework, particularly the planned national and thematic consultations.

6.2 Furthermore, we welcome Prime Minister David Cameron’s remarks following the first meeting of the High Level Panel in September 2012 that “we have an opportunity as we do this work not to hand down tablets of stone to others in the world, but to actually consult the poorest in the world and to ask, what it is that they want, as we go about this process and we should use all the new media and technology to do just that.”1 Progressio looks forward to opportunities to engage in the realisation of this statement.

6.3 During September Progressio emailed various UN offices in our countries of operation to enquire about their plans for consultation around the post-2015 framework. We have so far received one response, which only contained limited information, suggesting that plans for consultation on the ground are not far advanced. It is clearly very important that the positive intention of the HLP for consultation with the poorest is delivered in practice.

6.4 The development of this framework must be completely open and transparent, participatory, inclusive and responsive to voices and expertise to those directly affected by poverty and injustice.

6.5 It is imperative to ensure that the national consultations are a meaningful process for civil society engagement, which includes the most marginalised groups, and that these perspectives are represented in the finalised framework.

6.6 Time and energy must be given to listening to those living at the sharp end of poverty and vulnerability, who are not only the most affected but are also key players in the solution.

6.7 In order to reach a global consensus by 2015 national governments and politicians must relinquish self-interest and think long-term. All governments must recognise their common responsibility to solve the global challenges and must accept that key natural resources have limits. Current rates of consumption and production are unsustainable, yet Rio+20 failed to get substantive agreement on how governments should address this.

6.8 The next three years present a unique opportunity for a bold and united roadmap to end poverty. However, agreement on a set of goals that drive forward development that is sustainable, fair and equitable requires a radical shift in thinking on economic models, to new models that take account of critical thresholds on natural resources and make the ability of every individual to live a dignified life the primary aim.

7. Targets: was the MDG “target-based” approach a success? Should it be retained? How should progress be measured?

7.1 The MDG target-based approach has been beneficial in terms of accountability and promoting action but has not in all cases yielded the results hoped for, or has led to “end-heavy” efforts to meet off-track goals.

7.2 Progressio believes that the target based approach should be retained but that in addition to long term goals, there should be short term ambitious targets, which not only act as staging posts but also ensure momentum and urgency to prevent against delay.

7.3 Many of the communities that Progressio’s partner organisations work with in countries such as Yemen and Zimbabwe are facing immediate crisis as water scarcity affects food security, a situation that is exacerbated by the effects of climate change. As such, 2030 is too far away for action. The post-2015 development framework must galvanise action from 1 January 2016.

8. Financing global goals: are new mechanisms needed?

8.1 It is stating the obvious to note that financial flows such as tax and trade far exceed ODA. Eradicating poverty therefore requires policy which ensures that trade and tax work in ways which encourage poverty reduction and responsible environmental stewardship.

8.2 Progressio believes that it makes sense for governments go beyond traditional aid flows to consider innovative sources of finance and lost revenue from tax avoidance.

8.3 At the same time, the vital role of ODA as a key catalyst of pro-poor change and as a safety net which alleviates suffering for the most vulnerable must continue to be firmly upheld and supported. Failure to do so would undoubtedly result in inertia in efforts to reduce poverty—and unacceptable human suffering.

9. The role of the private sector and other non-state organisations

9.1 The private sector has a key role to play in the realisation of sustainable development, especially in making production and consumption sustainable and ensuring responsible management of natural resources.

9.2 In order to obtain broader buy-in of the post-MDG framework it is vital that the private sector be involved in the consultation process.

10. Timescale: what period should the new framework cover? Was the 15-year timescale for the MDGs right?

10.1 See 7.2. We agree with a 15 year timescale but ambitious short term targets are also necessary to maintain momentum.

11. The content of the future goals: what would be a good set of global goals? What continuity should there be with the MDGs, and how should the unfulfilled MDGs be taken forward?

11.1 For the past three years the focus of Progressio’s environmental advocacy work has been sustainable water resource management, in particular water for lives and livelihoods. In communities where Progressio partner organisations work, water scarcity is the greatest challenge being experienced and is felt most acutely by women. Small-scale farmers who feed a third of the world’s population and of whom 70% are women are at particular disadvantage when there is competition over water resources.

11.2 Progressio wants to see a post-2015 development framework that is truly waterproof. Currently, water insecurity and scarcity affects 2.8 billion people and it is predicted that by 2030 the world will need 30% more fresh water. Water resources underpin food production, biodiversity and energy. Sustainably and efficiently managing valuable water resources is fundamental to poverty reduction.

11.3 MDG 7 on environmental sustainability is not sufficiently comprehensive. The focus on water within the MDG framework was on sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. It ignored the need for integrated water resource management and the synergies between water and policies on food, agriculture, energy, cities, forestry, industry, gender, climate change and consumption and production.

11.4 Progressio welcomes the progress that has been made on MDG 7(c) increasing access to drinking water, but is disappointed by how off-track the sanitation target is. The successor framework must continue to push for access to drinking water and basic sanitation. Furthermore, the framework must explicitly refer to the human right to access basic water and sanitation (UN Resolution 64/292).

11.5 An ambitious target for drinking water would be to ensure universal access to water by 2030, thus addressing issues around equity and gender. Consideration should be given to the suggestion that the sanitation target should fall under a health goal.

11.6 There has been much discussion around the water, energy and food security nexus. The post 2015 development framework must address the synergy across different sectors, and understand and respond to the complex interactions between global development challenges, such as water scarcity, environmental degradation and climate change. However, there is concern that this could make the framework exceedingly complex and implementation impossible.

11.7 There must be one water-specific goal, which addresses issues of:

Access.

Governance (thereby addressing efficiency and consumption).

Risk and resilience.

11.8 Determining an appropriate goal and targets to ensure water for livelihoods is as challenging as it is vital. The same applies to deciding whether the allocation of finite water resources is fair and equitable. Whilst equitable, sustainable, participatory management of water with a pro-poor focus must be the objective; Progressio hopes that a goal that seeks good governance will help to confront the structural causes of water insecurity.

11.9 Access: There must be targets and indicators to safeguard basic access to drinking water; that strives for universal access to water and seeks to protect access to water for livelihoods.

11.10 Governance: Consultation with and the participation of communities in making decisions about the allocation and management of water resources, alongside other stakeholders, which might include local authorities and businesses, is essential to ensure fair access and the protection of water resources. Transparency of information and decision-making is essential. Where disputes arise, there must be access to remedy.

11.11 Efficiency and consumption: The role of governments and the private sector is key in driving forward increased efficiency and decreasing the consumption of water in sectors such as agriculture, manufacture and energy. In the UK vast amounts of virtual water are imported in our food, beverages and clothing. It has been calculated that 62% of the UK water footprint is imported. As global consumption of fresh water reaches a tipping point and exceeds environmentally sustainable limits, efficiency and decreasing virtual water consumption must therefore be an objective for many countries when global goals are contextualised (see 5.1).

11.12 Risk and resilience: Building resilience against shocks such as floods and drought is key to water security for the poorest and most vulnerable. Communities, and particularly women as the household manager, must be able to access information and resources in order to be able to respond to weather patterns and adapt farming techniques to climate change. Linking again to issues of governance and decision-making, governments and non-state actors must strengthen local adaptive capacity and include communities affected by changing climate in making decisions around the management of scarce and unpredictable water resources.

12. Going forward

12.1 The next three years present a unique opportunity to build a new sustainable development narrative and commitment amongst governments, civil society and the private sector worldwide.

12.2 The process agreed at Rio+20 has the potential to create a set of universal goals that will put countries on a more sustainable development pathway—one that eradicates poverty, recognises environmental limits and protects the planet for future generations.

12.3 However, the process needs consistent, high level political support to be successful.

12.4 Progressio looks forward to engaging with the UK government and Parliament further and to playing its part in garnering public support for action on poverty and the environmental challenges that threaten the wellbeing of all.

October 2012