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Update 2
Wednesday, 28 April 2004
Linkages between the delivery of water, sanitation and human settlements
The session on the linkages among the three themes water, sanitation and human settlements took place on Monday, 26 April 2004 and Tuesday, 27 April 2004.
Delegates noted that the access to water is critical to eradicating poverty. It was said that the poor suffer the most in the absence of functioning systems, and emphasis was placed on the need to extend water services to the poor in support of their livelihoods. Delegates also noted the “ill-health costs” of not providing water services.
The lack of sanitation undercuts many of the benefits achieved from clean water, and stressed the role of sanitation and hygiene in affording “human dignity.” Participants were informed that rapid progress is possible if actions begin at the local level and called for allocating resources to address rural and slum areas. The need to recognise and support the role of women and children as agents of change was stressed.
The reluctance of the international community to address urban issues, in particular the “urbanisation of poverty” was raised. The challenges of upgrading existing slums and preventing the emergence of new slums, was highlighted, and the importance of involving local authorities in the implementation of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPoI) and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) was stressed.
Many delegates supported addressing the themes in an integrated manner. The European Union stressed the need to address means of implementation and links to crosscutting issues throughout CSD-12.
Business and industry identified framework conditions for enabling private sector participation, including: good governance; the elimination of corruption; a clear division of responsibilities between private and public sectors; risk guarantee schemes; and capacity-building. Indigenous peoples stressed that regarding water as a commodity rather than a human right makes the achievement of the MDGs “more elusive each day.” The issue that market systems are not designed to conserve natural resources was raised, simply because maximising profit results in overexploitation of such resources.
The importance of community management of resources was raised and it was noted that community leadership characterises sustainable solutions.
Good governance of river basins entails the participation of both down and upstream users. South Africa called for inclusive consultative processes in the management of water resources and highlighted the role of youth in promoting hygiene.
On financing the need for access to credit required that donors develop mechanisms to open credit lines for the poor, and the role of the private sector at the national and local levels in mobilising resources for reaching the MDGs was highlighted. The burden of subsidising water was regarded as heavy. The importance of enhancing economic growth to generate opportunities for the poor was stressed. The role of micro-financing was highlighted and efforts in removing barriers to trade and agricultural products were noted. It was also noted that subsidies should be used to stimulate demand, rather than for installing sanitation services.
Water scarcity also gave rise to potential conflicts.
The importance of healthy ecosystems was also stressed, and the role of environment flows in maintaining ecosystem services was highlighted. Several delegates stressed the need for rural development. The need for disaggregated data distinguishing the urban middle class from slum areas was emphasised. The European Union underlined the role of renewables in providing energy to the poor.
The scientific and technological community stressed the need to, inter alia, review, maintain and improve national data collection and monitoring networks for sound scientific advice, and undertake interdisciplinary and policy-relevant research. The central role of science and technology in monitoring and assessment, and in identifying the means to improve human health was emphasised. The failure in some instance to undertake environmental impact studies prior to the development of human settlements.
Youth highlighted the significance of education in generating “an army of agents of change”. Farmers noted how training women to maintain water pumps improved infrastructure and led to women’s empowerment. The need for capacity-building to enable all stakeholders to participate in water management, particularly in the context of high illiteracy rates was stressed.
In presenting an example of regional cooperation in the Southern African Development Community, South Africa outlined the establishment of functional river basin organisations characterized by equitable information sharing and the consideration of down and upstream users.
Chair’s summary: Part 1
On Tuesday, 27 April 28, 2004, delegations were invited to comment on Part 1 of the chairperson’s summary.
The chairperson noted that the summary was not up for negotiation as it is a record of the session, and that it will serve as an additional input to the ministerial interactive discussions during the high-level segment. He noted that delegates have succeeded in reviewing a broad range of issues in an integrated manner, and have identified obstacles and constraints in the three themes. He said the in-depth examination revealed that many countries were not on track to meet the water, sanitation and human settlement goals, and that poverty continues to be a critical issue. He identified the lack of financing, declining overseas development assistance (ODA) and the need for capacity building and technology transfer as major challenges.
The chairperson’s summary Part I summarised the discussions and events that have taken place during the official segment of CSD-12. It includes a section that addresses: the overall review of progress; inter-agency cooperation and coordination; national reporting; indicators; partnerships; and the interactive discussions with Major Groups. On each of the three themes, the summary provides: a review of progress; constraints and obstacles; lessons learned; and continuing challenges. This is followed by a section on the relationship among the three themes, a summary of the regional sessions, and a synthesis of the highlights from the Partnerships Fair, Learning Centre and Side Events that took place over the first week.
Delegations commended the summary as an even presentation of the discussion. The Group of 77-China urged the chairperson to reflect concerns raised by the Group, in particular the many obstacles and difficulties facing developing countries in implementing the MDGs and the JPoI targets. The EU said interlinkages and crosscutting issues should be reflected in the summary.
The high-level segment
The Millennium Development Goals: meeting targets, goals and timetables
In addressing the high-level segment on Wednesday, 28 April 2004, South Africa stated that while there seems to be global skepticism about how achievable the MDGs are, we need to remind ourselves why the global community set these targets. They are our commitment to eradicating poverty, addressing global inequality and making the planet a better place to live. The targets are a way of mobilising political will behind this intention. They focus the activities of all players.
South Africa also referred to the global targets that have already been achieved. One hundred and seventy-five countries had eradicated smallpox by 1977 and polio by 2000.
The South African experience also provides an example. Ten years ago, at the birth of our democracy in 1994, we set targets for South Africa’s reconstruction and development that at the time seemed unachievable.
On the relationship between MDGs and JPoI targets South Africa referred to the agreement at the WSSD that poverty eradication is central to achieving sustainable development. Johannesburg established a detailed plan of action for achieving the MDGs. The review of progress being done at here at CSD is therefore central to the five-year review of progress on the MDGs that takes place in 2005.
While CSD-12 has heard about the significant progress that has been made, particularly in developing countries, with implementation of MDG targets, delegates also heard about the constraints that developing countries face, particular in the Africa. Without the means of implementation, without support from the developed north, the progress that has been made cannot be sustained in developing countries.
The reality is that there has been slow progress by the international community in fulfilling commitments on means of implementation (financial support, capacity building, technology transfer). This is what will impede our progress on the MDGs.
Other key issues included the fact that there is no systematic approach or coherent program for tracking progress with implementation of the MDGs.
The human settlements target (improve the lives of 100 million slum dwellers by 2020) does not match the reality. Countries must make significant effort to go beyond the target.
On the issue of creating an enabling environment, South Africa referred to a range of measures that have been taken by developing countries to create an enabling environment for investment and for development. Developed countries, however are not responding to these initiatives. An international environment conducive to economic development in developing world countries must match the domestic enabling environment within these countries. South Africa emphasised the crucial role of international trade. Market access, inequitable trading system and distortions created by subsidies remain key obstacles. Developed countries are not fulfilling the Monterrey and ODA commitments. The importance of technology transfer and capacity-building in terms of the means of implementation was also stressed by South Africa.
On meeting the MDGs targets, goals and timetables South Africa found that MDGs and JPoI targets are realistic, but without means of implementation they are not achievable in developing countries. The international community was not fulfilling its commitments on means of implementation.
The current mechanisms for monitoring are not providing information that enables realistic assessment of progress in achieving MDGs.
With regard to the human settlements target it was argued that countries must make significant effort to go beyond the target.
In terms of creating an enabling environment a range of measures have been taken by developing countries to create enabling environment. Developed countries are not responding to these initiatives. NEPAD as a framework for sustainable development in Africa is premised on creating an enabling environment for investment.
In responding to the challenges, the active and coherent participation of UN agencies and programmes in the work of the CSD is crucial.
UN agencies need to align their programmes with national, sub-regional and regional efforts to achieve the targets. Enhanced interagency co-ordination is critical to achieving targets. There is currently no demonstration yet that this interagency co-ordination is taking place.
While recognising that agencies have their own mandates, they must fully integrate JPoI targets in their work programs. Governments must ensure that this happens by delivering a consistent message to Governing Councils).
On partnerships, South Africa noted that partnerships must compliment and not be a substitute for efforts to achieve intergovernmental commitments in JPoI. Currently partnerships are not fulfilling CSD-11 criteria and have not resulted in leveraging additional resources.
South Africa indicated that there must an improvement on the reporting mechanism for partnerships. The Partnerships Fair should be a “marketing forum” but rather a means of monitoring progress. Generally the contribution of private sector is insufficient. The private sector has role in financing and capacity-building. South Africa noted the importance of supporting small and emerging entrepreneurs.
South Africa identified the importance of major groups in implementing the JPoI targets, but stated that their role must be defined more specifically. The importance of accountability of stakeholders was also stressed. The low representation of major groups at CSD-12 was noted and governments were urged to assist major groups to attend.
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