GFDD Approaches the Global Challenge of Financing Development in the Post-2015 Agenda

In September 2014, the UN General Assembly received the report on the Sustainable Development Goals to guide the post-2015 global development agenda. One of the main challenges faced by the international community working on development is the access to financing mechanisms and options to implement the initiatives and programs needed to achieve the new global goals. To advance effectively towards the end of poverty and sustainable development financial resources and new
tools are needed.

Understanding the relevance of this topic, GFDD attended the event “Law, Justice and Development (LJD) Week 2014:
Financing and Implementing the Post-2015 Development Agenda”, hosted by the World Bank and celebrated October 20-24, 2014, at their headquarters in Washington, D.C. The LJD Week 2014 provided a timely opportunity to discuss, debate, and define the role of law and justice in the post-2015 development agenda and gave the opportunity for international development practitioners, multilateral organizations and civil society representatives to try to come up with innovative
solutions to the financing for development challenge.

Dr. Jim Yong Kim, President of the World Bank Group emphasized their commitment on the post-2015 agenda, noting that his organization has done a good work reducing poverty but still face big social equality challenges to help solve. He stressed the important role of adequate legal institutions and regulatory frameworks in the post 2015 agenda.

During the discussions several experts also
commented how climate change and global health emergencies like Ebola have important negative consequences on development not only because of the redirection of resources, but because of the pressure those issues put on the existing inadequate legal framework and institutions.

Jan Eliasson, UN Deputy Secretary-General, among other things, stressed the role of cities and urban policies in the post-2015 development agenda, noting that more people live in cities than never
before and that trend is growing, which causes enormous consequences and challenges for urban development policies and their financial implications.

Civil society and representatives of think thanks, like Geoff Lamb, Managing Director, Public Policies for the Gates Foundation also participated in these events. Mr. Lamb mentioned, "We have to find more creative ways to finance development". Innovation, creativity and incentives need to be part of the
rethinking process of financing options for development.

In summary, topics such as Official Development Assistance (ODA), Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), international taxes and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives where the main themes examined throughout the more than 50 parallel sessions and workshops.

For more information on the UN Sustainable Development Goals visit: http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org

For more information on the LJD event visit: http://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2014/10/20/law-justice-and-development-week-2014