Global online civil society consultation

For consideration by the High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda in the lead up to the London meeting

From 1926 October 2012, the UN NonGovernmental Liaison Service (NGLS) conducted a global online consultation with civil society to gather inputs for consideration by the Highlevel Panel (HLP) of Eminent PersonsonthePost2015DevelopmentAgendaaheadoftheirLondonmeetingfrom31Octoberto2Novem ber. The consultation, undertaken through the Post2015 virtual platform, www.worldwewant2015.org, enabledcivilsocietytorespondtoasetofframingquestionsthatwererelatedtothefocusoftheHighlevel Panelsmeetingon1November2012onindividualandhouseholdlevelpoverty. Methodology Civil society organizations are mobilizing around the world to make their voices heard in global discussions on the post2015developmentagenda.NGLSundertookanopen,oneweek longonlineconsultationinordertogatherrec ommendationsfromcivilsocietyandotherstakeholderstobesubmittedtothePanelbeforetheirmeetinginLondon. Specifically,theconsultationsoughtfeedbacktofourquestionsrelatingtotwomainthemes: 1)Humandevelopmentand2)Jobsandlivelihoods. Forthefirsttheme,respondentsaddressed: Howdoweensurethatallpeople,especiallythemostvulnerableandmarginalized,havethefood,water,energy, healthcareandeducationtheyneed? WhathavewelearnedfromexistingMillenniumDevelopmentGoals(MDGs)andwhatshouldbeadded/updated/ modified,orisadifferentapproachneeded? Forthesecondtheme,respondentsaddressed: What policies and practices best promote equitable empowerment of the poor and marginalized to ensure an adequatestandardofliving? Howcanemploymentbemeaningfullyapproached? InitialBriefingonConsultationResponses Compilationdocumentsofallsubmissionsforeachofthefourconsultationquestionsareavailableatlinksembedded in the above questions. 239 contributions from 118 organizations and international networks and individuals were submittedtothisonlineconsultation.Thefollowingtwopagebriefingprovidesanoverviewofkeyrecommendations received. (In a document of this size, it was not feasible to capture the variety of views received.) It first discusses lessons learned from the MDGs for the post2015 development agenda, and then presents seven recurring sets of recommendationsthatappearedacrosstheresponsestoallfourconsultationquestions.Accordingtotheinputstothis consultation,apost2015developmentagendamust: 1) adoptahumanrightsbasedapproach; 2) addressgrowinginequalityandmainstreamequity; 3) promotesocialprotection; 4) involveandleadtoparticipatoryprocessesanddecisionmaking; 5) prioritizecapacitybuildingandlocalmanagementofdevelopment; 6) protectEarthsecosystemsandequitableaccesstoresources; 7) enablejobcreationandinvestmentinthepoorandmarginalized. AdditionalConsultationPeriodthrough7NovemberandSubsequentReport An additional weeklong online consultation period on the same questions at the same web site will open from 31 October to 7 November. A subsequent, longer report will be produced by NGLS and submitted to the Panel by the middleofNovemberthatwillincorporateamuchbroaderrangeofresponsesreceivedfrom19Octoberto7November aswellasinformationfromthe2NovemberdayofoutreachbythePanelinLondon.
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MDGswheredowegofromhere? In modifying or updating the Millennium Development Goals as part of a post2015 development framework, participantscalledforafundamentallyrevisedapproach,onethatbroadlyaddressestheinterconnectedelementsof sustainable development (socioeconomic, environment, and human rights). According to Save the Children and World Solidarity/ACVCSC, global and universal goals should deliver on equity, social inclusion, decent work and sustainable livelihoods, while protecting our environment. At the same time, several international networks and organizationsadvocatedcontextualizednationaltargetsforbothdevelopedanddevelopingcountries,inaccordance withtheprincipleofcommonbutdifferentiatedresponsibilities. Sixrespondents,representingalmost80organizationsactiveinmorethan30countries,emphasizedtheneedfora consultative,participatoryprocess inclusive of:developingcountries;grassrootscommunities;those most affected byclimatechangeandinequality;thepoorestandmostmarginalized;civilsocietyandotherstakeholders. The post2015 paradigm should be holistic and very ambitious. Many participants called for simple, inspirational goalsdedicatedtofulfillinguniversallyagreedhumanrightsobjectivesrangingfromgenderequality,food,decent work and social protection, health (including reproductive health), housing, water and sanitation, disability to accountabilityandtransparencyandreflectedintheagendasoftheUNConferencesofthe1990s,includingtheUN Conference on Environment and Development platforms, the ICPD Programme of Action, the World Summit on SocialDevelopment,andtheBeijingPlatformforAction. In terms of implementation, respondents called for innovative financing including a Financial Transactions Tax, sovereign debt workout mechanisms, regulating trade, and reallocating military resources for development. Good governance, including accountability and legal frameworks rooted in human rights and modeled on the Universal PeriodicReviewmechanismoftheHumanRightsCouncil,weresuggestedasessentialaspectsofaglobalframework. Aneffectiveglobalpartnershipthatisparticipatoryandinclusiveofyouth,civilsociety,andvolunteersiskey,and shouldbemeasuredbybothquantitativeandqualitativemeasurementsandindicatorsbeyondGDP. HumanRightsbasedApproach Many organizations and international networks emphasized that a new global framework for development must adoptarightsbasedapproach.ActionAididentifiedthatthedenialofhumanrightsistheprincipalcauseofpoverty andinequality.SocialWatchexplainedthattheneedsofpeoplewholiveinpovertyandwhoarepartofvulnerable, marginalized or excluded groups are too often neglected in favour of the interests of powerful groups, and that a rightsbased approach to development is essential to changing this reality. The Bridge Leadership Foundation in Nigeria contributed thatstrengthening political will and increasing government accountability through a rights based approach is the surest way to help those who are vulnerable.Contributors point tothe newly adopted UN GuidingPrinciplesonExtremePovertyandHumanRights(A/HRC/21/39). AddressingInequality/MainstreamingEquity AsdescribedbyVSO,theMDGtargetsincentivizeafocusonpopulationsthatareeasiertoreach,tothedetrimentof peoplewhoaremostaffectedbypovertyandexclusion.Manycontributorsstressedthatthepost2015development agendamustputequityatthecenter,andaddressbarriersfacedbythemostmarginalizedpeopleinsociety,includ ingwomen,youth,theelderly,peoplelivingwithdisabilities,andindigenouspeoples.TheJointActionandLearning InitiativeonNationalandGlobalResponsibilitiesforHealth(JALI)outlinedthatequitygapsneedtobeclosedboth withinandamongcountries,andthepost2015developmentframeworkshouldencourageeverycountrytodevelop anequitystrategy.Severalorganizationshighlightedthatthecollectionanduseofdatadisaggregatedbysex,ageand otherfactorsareessentialforuncoveringpatternsofdiscriminationandensuringprogressonequity. SocialProtection SeveralcontributorscalledontheHighlevelPaneltosupportauniversal,rightsbasedSocialProtectionFloor.The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) believes that ensuring universal access to food, water, energy, healthcareandeducationcanbedonethrough(andinfact:means)implementinguniversalsocialprotectionfloors. TheITUCandtheNGOSubcommitteeforPovertyEradicationattheUnitedNationspointtotheminimumstandards setbytheInternationalLabourOrganization(ILO)fornationalsocialprotectionsystemsandILORecommendation 202,whichurgesallStatestoestablishasocialprotectionfloorasquicklyaspossible.Vulnerableandmarginalized peopleexistinallcountries,underscoredtheInstituteforGlobalEnvironmentalStrategies,sodevelopedcountries alsoshouldconsiderwaystostrengthentheirsocialsafetynets.
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ParticipatoryProcessesandDecisionmaking Beneficiarycommunitieshaveindicatedthattheydon'twanttobepassivespectatorsoftheirowndevelopment, theywanttoparticipateinfindingsolutionstotheirlocalproblemsbecausetheyhaveabetterunderstandingof whatworksandwhatdoesnotworkintheirlocalenvironment. ThisstatementbyHlathiDevelopmentServices of South Africa exemplifies the convictions expressed by a great many consultation participants. According to CoalitionEau,thismeansinparticulartoactivelyinvolvebeneficiariesinthedesign,implementation,monitoring andevaluationofdevelopmentpolicies.CAFODcontributedthatparticipationofallstakeholders,butespecially ofthosedirectlyaffectedbypovertyandinjustice,duringthesetupandimplementationofthepost2015develop mentframeworkiskeytoensuringthattheMDGsuccessorframeworkcanrealisticallydeliveractualchangeon thegroundforpeoplelivinginpoverty. CapacityBuilding/LocalManagementofDevelopment AsSecrtariatInternationaldeL'eauarticulatedandmanyadditionalorganizationsadvocated,apost2015devel opmentframeworkshouldgivelocalactorstheresponsibilitytoplan,coordinateandmanagelocaldevelopment. The poor and vulnerable should own the means of production and be assisted to produce, stated World Vision South Africa. Capacity building for entrepreneurs, including training and technical and financial assistance, is essential.OnweChinasaJoyceofNigeriaidentifiedthatadvocacyandawarenesscreationatlocallevelshouldbe sponsored and encouraged. Hope International and UN Volunteers both call for governments and the UN to strengthen the capacity of civil society organizations, as they are key actors in advocacy, policy design, and implementationforcommunities. ProtectionofEarthsEcosystemsandEquitableDistributionofResources EcosystemsWorkforEssentialBenefits(ECOWEB)contributedthatnaturalresourcesmustbemanagedsustaina bly and distributed equitably to alleviate poverty and vulnerability.WWF International explained, While we all dependonnaturalservicesandresources,thepoorusuallyrelyonthemmostdirectlyfortheirlivelihoodsandare mostvulnerabletoenvironmentaldegradation.Growthanddevelopmentmustbeinclusiveandwithinplanetary boundaries,statedWWF,andstrongeractiononclimatechangeisessential:Climatechangeisalreadyimpacting on freshwater, marine and terrestrial ecosystems, with consequences for water resources, food security, human health, and the frequency and severity of natural disasters. Public Services International (PSI) asserts that we mustprotectnaturalresourcesandecosystemsforthepresentandfuture. Enablejobcreationandinvestmentinthepoorandmarginalized Manyrespondentsarguedthatpoorandmarginalizedpeopleneedequalaccesstoproductiveresources(capital, land,energy,water,credit,infrastructure,information),services(education,healthcare,adequatehousing,WASH) andjobstobuildresilience,sustaintheirlivelihoods,ensureanadequatestandardofliving,findbetteraccessto the labour market, and improve wellbeing. An unprecedented number of working poor, combined with huge unemployment in developed countries and a lack of employment perspectives for young people, make employ mentakeychallengethat,asindicatedbytheInternationalOrganizationofEmployers(IOE),willlastwellintothe periodofthenewdevelopmentframeworkpost2015.Manycontributionsthusputemphasisongreenanddecent jobcreation,rightsatwork,socialprotectionandsocialdialogue,asenshrinedinILOsDecentWorkAgendaand indicated that the Panel should focus on waysof implementingthecommitments ofthe 1995World Summiton SocialDevelopment. To support job creation and produce jobs that also serve social and environmental purposes, many argued that Statesshouldbuildanenablingenvironmentthatwouldtriggerinvestmentsingreenandlabourintensivegrowth sectors,includingtheagriculturesector;supportthecreationandoperationsofsmallandmediumsizedenter prises;andenhanceinnovationandlearning.Forthelatter,thisalsomeansthatthelinkagesbetweeneducational institutions and the labour market will need to be strengthened. Regulated and decently paid employment opportunities should especially be targeted towards vulnerable groups, who are more densely represented in temporaryandinformalwork.Inaddition,organizationssuchasSavetheChildren,WorldSolidarity/ACVCSC,and ITUC, called on States to ensure a living wage.1 Some respondents underlined that a revision of current social systemsofworkandrewardisneededtodojusticetoallformsofwork,notjustthoseperformedformoney(e.g. foodpreparation;self,childandparentalcare;civicparticipation;andvolunteering).Oneorganizationempha sized the need to build resilient and selfreliant local economies based on barter, exchanges, complementary currenciesandotherlocalsystemsofexchangingservices.
1Alivingwageisaminimumwage,setupatalevelthatreflectsthelivingcostsinthecountrycontextsandensuresthatthepeopleemployed cansecuredecentlivelihoodsforthemselvesandtheirfamilies.

Annex1:OverviewofContributingOrganizationsandIndividualstotheonlineConsultation Contributingorganizations: ActionAid ActiononArmedViolence(AOAV) Akvo AfricaCivilSocietyPlatformonPrincipledPartnership (ACP) AsociacinProBienestardelaFamiliadeGuatemala (APROFAM) AssociationNigeriennedesScoutsdel'Environnement (ANSEN) AssociaodeMulheresBatalhadorasdoJardimFran ciscato Aquafed(InternationalFederationofPrivateWater Operators) CAFOD ChristianBlindMission(CBM) CooprationInternationalepourleDveloppementet laSolidarit(CIDSE) CoalitionEau DevelopmentInitiatives EarthLawCenter EcosystemsWorkforEssentialBenefits(ECOWEB) EuropeanYouthForum FundacinEquipo GenderandDevelopmentNetwork HabitatforHumanity HandinHand HelpAgeInternational HlathiDevelopmentServices HomeplanetAlliance HOPE InstituteforGlobalEnvironmentalStrategies InternationalCentreforEvidenceinDisability (ICED),LondonSchoolofHygieneandTropical MedicineLondon InternationalCenterforResearchonWomen InternationalFederationforParentEducation(FIEP/ IFPE) InternationalHousingCoalition Instituteforinternationalsocialdevelopment(IISD) InternationalLandCoalition(ILC) InternationalOrganizationofEmployers(IOE) InternationalMovementATDFourthWorldUK InternationalRescueCommittee(IRC) InternationalTradeCenter(ITC) InternationalTradeUnionConfederation(ITUC) InternationalWomensHealthCoalition(IWHC) IntegrativeServices JointActionandLearningInitiativeonNationaland GlobalResponsibilitiesforHealth(JALI) Landesa LifeLinetoCitizen Lumos MarchlewiczMarketingManagementAgency MoladiMouldedmodularhomeconstruction company NonCommunicableDiseaseAlliance(NCDAlliance) NigerDeltaWomensMovementforPeace&Develop ment

NGOSubcommitteeforPovertyEradicationatthe UnitedNations OxfamInternational OneWorldUK OverseasDevelopmentInstitute(ODI) PathfinderInternational PlanEurope PopulationandSustainabilityNetwork PopulationMatters PublicServicesInternational(PSI) ProgrammeSolidaritEau(pSEau) Progressio RS'Eau ShubhLaabh SavetheChildren Saferworld Secrtariatinternationaldeleau SenseInternational Sightsavers SocialWatch SunyaWardEducationandTraining TempleofUnderstanding TheBridgeLeadershipFoundationAfterSchool PeerMentoringProject TheGlobalSOSNetwork TheZeitgeistMovement Twaweza UnitedPracticesAccountancy UNVolunteers UNICEF UKSport EducationforAllGlobalMonitoringReport,UNESCO Volenteersovercomingpoverty(VSO) WASHAdvocates WaterAid WaterforPeople Wikinetix WorldFederalistMovement WorldSolidarityandACVCSC(Confdrationdes Syndicatschrtiens) WorldVision WWFInternational Contributingindividuals: Agbor, Lovelyn Aguado, Gerardo Jimnez Atojoko-Omovbude, Chide Baldock, Zoe Beckett, Michelle Dando, Jonathan Hed, Mia Jacob, Tom Kawalya Levine, Jordan Lincoln, Kara J. Linders, Hubert Luckie, Victoria Manusajyan, Liana Maquillan, M. Miquel, Serge Novotna, Ivana Nyunt, Myo Onwe Chinasa, Joyce Pardeshi, Manoj Singh, Ashla Willmer, Abigail Yousef, Abdelhalim Anonymous:6