Important progress has been made towards developing a global partnership in support of national poverty reduction strategies. Nonetheless, the existing framework of that global partnership, the use of Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers as its main instrument, appears to be neither adequate nor effective. Aid recipient countries need to gain more ownership of their poverty reduction strategies. Aid and other international support should be provided under conditions which enhance, rather than restrict, domestic policy space in recipient countries. Multilateral trade negotiations need to be consistent with poverty reduction objectives and should not conflict with the development assistance…
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Focusing international cooperation on climate change solely on the establishment of emission targets is not adequate: the latter does not adequately address developmental challenges or help achieve internationally agreed goals. The international development agenda needs to specify the actions and approaches required for ensuring economic behaviour that is compatible with environmental constraints in a way that minimizes aggregate costs, protects the vulnerable and maximizes economic growth. The integration of climate-change and development goals will require a fundamental reorientation of the current developmental trajectory so that the carbon intensity of production is reduced while…
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The publication addresses two themes. The first is unemployment in developing countries. Tackling this problem requires a more balanced and coordinated international strategy for sustainable global growth. At the national level, economic growth is important, but the quality of such growth also matters. It is also necessary to create fiscal space to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce that can meet the technological challenges posed by globalization. The second theme is that of economic vulnerability and instability. Required domestic policy measures include the promotion of good governance, sound fiscal and financial management and enhanced human and social development. The…
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The aim of the report is to review the role of economic welfare in conflict prevention, including the strategies required to ensure sustainable peace in post-conflict countries. It differs in one important respect from most of the rapidly growing literature in this field. Instead of describing specific conflicts or policies to prevent them, it integrates some of the key economic, social and political factors into a general analysis, with an all-embracing strategy for post-conflict countries. The integrated approach is essential because a unified strategy offers the only hope of preventing future conflicts and civil wars.
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The first part of the report reviews the status and trends in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in sub-Saharan Africa. The second part examines the obstacles and challenges to and opportunities for achieving the Goals. The third part discusses the instruments and policies that would facilitate achieving the MDGs in sub-Saharan Africa. The report is intended to provide an African perspective with regard to ownership and the domestic policy adjustments required to achieve the internationally agreed development goals. The purpose of the report is to elucidate the following two key issues related to the central question of ownership: (i) the extent to which African policy-makers…
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Sub-Saharan Africa lags behind other regions in achieving the development goals. Success largely depends on countries themselves owning, planning and executing the necessary policies and programmes. Government's capacity needs to be enhanced, and support from the international community is required. Both the quantity and the quality of aid need to be improved. Countries recovering from conflict face additional challenges. The Committee proposes that a monitoring unit be established within the United Nations to identify those countries most at risk from conflict and that a UN post-conflict reconstruction facility be created to serve as a prompt-response instrument for donor coordination.
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This report was prepared to evaluate progress towards good governance in the context of the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals. The first part of the report reviews the concept of good governance as it has evolved over the past 15 years. Key defining properties of the concept of good governance are presented. The second part of the report examines current efforts to measure governance. As might be expected, different working definitions have led to the specification of different sets of indicators and indices of governance. The third part briefly reviews studies on governance that examine the relationship between good governance and other desired outcomes, such as poverty…
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The attainment of international development goals requires addressing rural poverty. Rural development must reflect the multi-dimensional nature of poverty and must thus be multi-targeted. Policy measures include the expansion of education and health services, and the provision of incentives to rural populations to make use of such services. Also important is an increase in agricultural productivity and the removal of distortions and barriers to trade. Adequate provision of global public goods can contribute to effective poverty reduction by mitigating global risks and reducing public "bads". New institutional and financial arrangements need to be developed to help ensure the provision of…
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Africa needs to take control over its own development strategy through a participatory and coordinated approach that involves a more effective mobilization and use of domestic financial and non-financial resources, the development of innovative and dynamic partnerships, and improved governance at both the national and multilateral levels. Better governance requires enhanced transparency, sound management of resources and a stable economic and regulatory environment.Recommendations on how to enhance the effectiveness of the UN system and multilateral institutions to support participatory development in Africa are discussed. These include the need to address coordination failures and the…
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The targets of international development strategies have not been met in the past. A different approach is needed. Implementation should be readily monitored, progress measured and, where necessary, supplementary actions identified. A revitalized flow of development finance through both official channels and private institutions is necessary. Democratic processes of good governance and increased trade openness are also required for a peaceful and prosperous world. More effective integration of the developing countries into the global trading system remains a major challenge. Enhanced access to and improvement of education, skills, infrastructure and new technologies are increasingly needed…
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