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With three months to go until world leaders meet in Addis Ababa to reach an agreement on financing sustainable development, the Conference logo and website were unveiled at the UN Headquarters in New York today.

Speaking at the second drafting session of the Third International Conference on Financing for Development outcome document – known as the Addis Ababa Accord – Conference Secretary-General Wu Hongbo presented the new logo and explained its meaning. “The circular form symbolizes the global nature of the Conference,” Wu said, adding that other graphic elements had a distinct African references to pay homage to the Conference’s location.

To ensure sustainable development for all, a multifaceted finance framework is needed, including inputs from domestic, international, public and private sources. The arrowheads in the logo represent this multi-stakeholder Financing for Development process, Wu said, while “the sun implies the outcome of the Conference, including a comprehensive financing framework and concrete deliverables.”

Cristina Gallach, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information also addressed delegates at the Financing for Development drafting session, providing the bigger picture on public and media outreach planned ahead of the upcoming Conference. The meeting in Addis Ababa is “a major milestone” in a critical year, she said, positioning Conference communications in the context of the UN’s flagship campaign.

Outlining the next steps for Financing for Development outreach, Gallach mentioned the production of multilingual posters, banners and promotional materials, the engagement of global media outlets, and collaboration with the international network of 63 United Nations Information Centres. “Our aim is to ensure that the message reaches every corner of the world,” she said.

H.E. Ambassador Tekeda Alemu, Permanent Representative for Ethiopia, emphasized that “Addis is ready,” explaining that the logistical preparations for the meeting are already well underway and that it will be “a great honour and privilege” for Ethiopia to host high-level delegates from around the world in July.

The current drafting session of the Addis Ababa Accord will continue in New York until 17 April, with the third and final drafting session taking place in the same location from 15 to 19 June.  From 13 to 16 July, countries will gather at the third International Conference on Financing for Development at the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, to help unlock public and private resources and direct long-term investments that deliver results.

Source: Time for Global Action, http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment