In 2015, the world will adopt a new set of goals, guiding the efforts to achieve a more sustainable and fairer world where no-one is left behind. In designing and implementing the post-2015 agenda, it is important to understand and account for demographic changes that are likely to unfold in the future.?
On 13-17 April, the 48th session of the Commission on Population and Development will take place with the task of identifying a set of key actions that will enable population issues to be integrated into this new sustainable development agenda.
Over the next fifteen years, the world population is expected to increase by 1.1 billion so that by 2030, the global economy will need to support approximately 8.4 billion people.
¡°Globally, two billion babies will be born, each requiring health care services. More than two billion children will reach school age, each needing access to high quality education,¡± explained Mr. John Wilmoth, Director of UN DESA¡¯s Population Division.
Large regional variations
These large scale population dynamics mask large regional variations. While almost all regions are projected to grow by at least 10 percent over the next 15 years, Africa will account for more than 40 per cent of the global increase in population, while Europe can expect a slight decrease in population.
¡°Globally, two billion babies will be born, each requiring health care services. More than two billion children will reach school age, each needing access to high quality education¡±
John Wilmoth
Director of UN DESA¡¯s Population Division
In addition, the world¡¯s different regions have varying capabilities in managing an increasing population.? An increasing number of births pose particularly significant challenges for low-income countries where poverty and malnutrition rates are already high, levels of education low, healthcare systems weak and where the rates of infant and child mortality are high. ??In addition, two billion children will turn age 5 and will require access to education.
Preparing education and jobs for growing youth population
Beyond all the two billion newborns who will see the light of day during the coming fifteen years, and the two billion children who will turn five, more than 1.2 billion young people will transit into adulthood and begin looking for a job.? Most of the increase is concentrated in African countries such as Burundi, Mali, and Niger. However, there are also large regional differences, for example in Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, where the number of young people will decline, in some cases significantly.
A growing young generation presents a major promise for economic development, technological innovation and social change. At the same time, it can also pose possible challenges when it comes to for example adolescent pregnancies, drug abuse, school dropouts and trafficking.? What determines the outcome is often the opportunities that have been offered to these children in the younger age, in the form of education and skills training that makes them?competitive in today¡¯s global marketplace.
Taking care of an ageing population
Rapid growth in the number of older persons is expected over the next fifteen years across all areas of the world. Nearly half of all the older persons do not receive any form of pension and for many who do, the level of support is inadequate. In several high-income countries, benefit levels have been reduced.
¡°One thing that all countries have in common is the need to plan for population ageing. People aged sixty and older are now the world fastest growing age group,¡± Mr. Wilmoth explained.
Urban areas continue to grow
“Through a deeper understanding of how the world is changing, combined with better planning, stronger partnerships, and greater political will, we can create a better tomorrow for both people and planet”
John Wilmoth
Director of UN DESA¡¯s Population Division
The 1.1 billion increase in global population over the next fifteen years is expected to occur in urban areas. Africa and Asia are projected to have the largest increases in urban populations so that the number of urban areas, as well as their absolute size ?will continue to grow.
While the growth of already very big cities poses risks, as uncontrolled expansion of urban areas, environmental degradation and heightened risk for natural hazards as floods and landslides, the density of population also opens up the possibility for lower costs per capita in providing infrastructure and basic services.
“[Ongoing population change] puts [cities] on the front line when it comes to eliminating poverty, reducing pollution, and ensuring access to safe water and essential services,” explained Mr. Wilmoth. “Governments must ensure that urban expansion takes place in a sustainable and inclusive manner.”
Commission on Population and Development convenes for 48th session
The world will need to confront many major challenges in the years ahead if it is to achieve sustainable development in the social, economic and environmental spheres. Through motivated and proactive work, like the upcoming Commission on Population and Development, the possibility of achieving these goals has never been greater.
“Through a deeper understanding of how the world is changing, combined with better planning, stronger partnerships, and greater political will, we can create a better tomorrow for both people and planet,” said Mr. Wilmoth, as his division continues to prepare for the upcoming commission taking place at UN Headquarters in New York.
The international community has the means to improve the lives of people everywhere. But we need to make sure that the right financing gets to where it is needed. The Third International Financing for Development Conference in Addis Ababa aims to accomplish just that and it offers a chance to secure financing for sustainable development. Preparations are now entering a critical phase to ensure a successful outcome of the event benefitting both people and the planet.
UN DESA¡¯s Under-Secretary-General and the Conference Secretary-General Mr. Wu Hongbo leads the efforts and he has been traveling across continents to make sure that inputs and views from different stakeholders and regions across the globe are taken into account as the countdown continues to this milestone event in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 13-16 July.
¡°One week ago, the co-facilitators of the preparatory process, Ambassador Pedersen of Norway and Ambassador Talbot of Guyana, made public the first draft of the Addis Ababa outcome document,¡± Mr. Wu said as he addressed the Regional Consultation on Financing for Development held on 23 March in Geneva.
¡°As you know, 2015 provides a unique opportunity to chart a new era of sustainable development. Addis Ababa is the first of three major milestones that are likely to shape international cooperation for years to come¡±
Wu Hongbo
UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General
and Conference Secretary-General
¡°It addresses the full remit of the Financing for Development agenda [¡],¡± he added. ¡°But it also goes beyond Monterrey and Doha to fully take into account the report of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the report of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing, and the Secretary-General¡¯s synthesis report.¡±
A successful outcome in Addis Ababa should be comprised of three key elements: (1) a cohesive and holistic financing framework for the post-2015 development agenda; (2) concrete deliverables in crucial areas of sustainable development, such as infrastructure, agriculture, social needs, and SMEs; (3) a strong follow-up process to ensure that no country is left behind.
Regional dimension vital
Organized by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and the Regional UN Development Group for Europe and Central Asia, the event provided a regional input to the global negotiations. The importance of the regional dimension on the road to Addis Ababa and beyond 2015 was stressed at the event, which was attended by around 150 participants, including experts and representatives of Governments, civil society, private sector and other international organizations.
Michael Gerber, Ambassador, Special Envoy for Global Sustainable Development, Switzerland, who chaired the Consultation, urged to have ¡°a frank exchange¡±¡¯ on?some of the key issues the Addis Ababa Conference needs to deliver on: ¡°how to unlock private resources for sustainable development; how to create a conducive international environment for domestic resource mobilization; and how a renewed global partnership will look like¡±.
Huge financing needs and importance of ODA
Financing needs are huge, but as Manuel Sager, Secretary of State and Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, emphasized, ¡°the money is there. Global savings by far surpass the needs to finance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with the vast majority of these savings lying in private hands¡±. What is required is to devise appropriate mechanisms and regulatory frameworks that can help channel these resources into meeting the SDGs. The UNECE region already has a wealth of experience on the mobilization of private sector resources, which provides a good foundation to tackle the financing challenges of the post-2015 development agenda.
The continued importance of Official Development Assistance (ODA) was stressed during the consultation but the question of financing for sustainable development should be framed in much broader terms. ¡°Our ambition should be much larger than the ODA ambition. We need to ensure that all financial flows take into account and contribute to sustainable development needs,¡± said UNECE Executive Secretary Christian Friis Bach.
Indispensable role of regional commissions
¡°Looking ahead, regional economic commissions will play an indispensable role in implementing the Addis outcome document and the post 2015 development agenda,¡± Mr. Wu said, as he addressed the UNECE event. He also highlighted his recent visit to Washington where he met with IMF and World Bank officials. ¡°Last week, I visited the World Bank and held very frank discussions with Dr. Kim and some of the board members. ODA was an issue raised a lot during the meetings,¡± Mr. Wu explained.
Earlier in March, Mr. Wu also took part in the Latin American and Caribbean Regional Consultation on Financing for Development, organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) and Chile¡¯s government.
The Regional Consultation was inaugurated by Heraldo Mu?oz, Chile¡¯s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mr. Wu; Jessica Faieta, Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP); and Alicia B¨¢rcena, ECLAC¡¯s Executive Secretary.
During his speech, Minister Mu?oz underlined the importance of the meeting, allowing the region to make inclusive proposals for sustainable development with equality to the conference in Addis Ababa. ¡°The heart of the new development agenda must be inclusion, integrating environmental, social and economic dimensions,¡± he said.
At the end of March, Mr. Wu also attended the African Union Conference of African Ministers and the ECA Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, held in Addis Ababa.
Unlocking resources for the benefit of all
For Conference Secretary-General Mr. Wu, a busy agenda lies ahead for the coming months. Some of the next events in preparation for the conference include the hearings with civil society and the business sector (8-9 April), the second drafting session on the Conference outcome document (13-17 April), the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. on 17-19 April, the ECOSOC Special high-level meeting with the World Bank, IMF, WTO and UNCTAD (20-21 April), and the joint session between the Financing for Development and the post-2015 processes (21-24 April).
The next round of regional consultations will take place in Amman, Jordan on 7-8 April, and then in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 29-30 April, gathering inputs from Western Asia and Asia and the Pacific regions. The third drafting session on the outcome document will be held on 15-19 June.
As preparations continue towards this landmark event in Ethiopia, the hopes and expectations are high. In Addis, there is a new opportunity to forge partnerships between governments, civil society and businesses to create the mechanisms and incentives needed to align people-centred public and private investments for the greatest possible impact.
¡°As you know, 2015 provides a unique opportunity to chart a new era of sustainable development. Addis Ababa is the first of three major milestones that are likely to shape international cooperation for years to come,¡± Mr. Wu said as he addressed the event in Geneva. ¡°In Addis, the international community must lay the groundwork for a successful Summit on sustainable development at the United Nations in September and the climate change conference in Paris in December.¡±
Public administration and good governance are critical in achieving sustainable development. On 20-24 April, the Committee of Experts on Public Administration (CEPA) will meet in New York for its 14th annual session to discuss the practical measures governments can take in pursuit of the sustainable development goals.?
Good governance, supported by well-functioning public administration, is a cornerstone of sustainable development. Governments across the globe will need to undertake a process of transformative change to create a favorable environment to foster economic growth, social cohesion and environmental protection. This will require, among others, ethical leadership at all levels backed up by effective institutions, strong commitment to integrity, coordination, integration, innovation, as well as shared responsibility and accountability.
Good governance catalyst for sustainable development
¡°This Committee has the opportunity to contribute substantively to the thinking on the role of governance and public administration in sustainable development,” said UN DESA¡¯s Under-Secretary-General Mr. Wu Hongbo, as he addressed last year’s session. “Government leaders have affirmed that to achieve sustainable development, good governance, peace and security, respect for human rights, and rule of law are essential. In particular, they point out that we need institutions at all levels that are effective, transparent, accountable and democratic. But what does this mean in practice?,¡± Mr. Wu also?asked the CEPA Members.
¡°This Committee has the opportunity to contribute substantively to the thinking on the role of governance and public administration in sustainable development”
Mr. Wu Hongbo
UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General
Mr. Wu further highlighted that issues such as transparency and accountability of public institutions, combatting corruption, citizen participation, access to information and public-private partnerships offer some sign points on how policy-makers can be better equipped to address the complex challenges of sustainable development.
Responsive public service delivery through e-solutions
The discussions of this year¡¯s CEPA will be held under three sub-themes: a) redefining relationships and responsibilities to support participatory governance and responsive public service delivery, including through e-solutions; b) strengthening innovation, prioritization, informed decision-making and the integration of policy development processes for enhanced impact; and c) promoting accountable institutions, ethical leadership and integrity to enhance confidence in efforts to deliver sustainable development.
¡°Governance is critical to achieve social and economic development, environmental sustainability, peace and security. We need, therefore, to transform public governance, among other things, by tapping the potential of technological advancement and innovation to fulfil our vision¡±, the President of the ECOSOC Mr. Martin Sajdik noted at the 13th CEPA Session.
¡°Transformation of governance systems and culture is a priority for sustainable development. It is also an end in itself. Strong institutions and good governance are now recognized by the international community as a catalyst for sustainable development,¡± Mr. Sajdik continued and reminded that the mission of CEPA is to support ECOSOC in promoting effective public administration among UN Member States.
Strengthening innovation and informed decision-making
Members of CEPA will present papers on the sub-themes to introduce the Committee¡¯s discussions. On the basis of the parameters set out in these papers and ensuing discussion, CEPA will present conclusions and recommendations related to supporting participatory governance and responsive public service delivery, strengthening innovation, informed decision-making and policy integration as well as promoting accountable institutions and ethical leadership.
In addition to engaging in discussions on transforming public administration for sustainable development, CEPA will also review the report submitted by the Secretariat on the activities implemented in 2014 under the United Nations Programme in Public Administration and Development Management.
To this end, recommendations will be made to the Secretariat on how to strengthen support to Member States in promoting accountable institutions and responsive public service delivery and in addressing emerging issues related to public governance and administration and its role in supporting sustainable development.
¡°Looking ahead, regional economic commissions will play an indispensable role in implementing the Addis outcome document and the post 2015 development agenda,¡± Mr. Wu said, as he addressed the UNECE event. He also highlighted his recent visit to Washington where he met with IMF and World Bank officials. ¡°Last week, I visited the World Bank and held very frank discussions with Dr. Kim and some of the board members. ODA was an issue raised a lot during the meetings,¡± Mr. Wu explained.
Members of CEPA will present papers on the sub-themes to introduce the Committee¡¯s discussions. On the basis of the parameters set out in these papers and ensuing discussion, CEPA will present conclusions and recommendations related to supporting participatory governance and responsive public service delivery, strengthening innovation, informed decision-making and policy integration as well as promoting accountable institutions and ethical leadership.