PRACTICUM IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

UN NGO COMMITTEE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT

DECEMBER 15, 2010

Samuel Donald, Alexandra Paez, Priyanka Rao & Robert Shepherd

About the Committee

An active group of the Conference of Non-Governmental Organizations (CONGO)

Works with the Financing for Development office of the UN Secretariat, the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC) and UN commissions

About Financing For Development

Financing for Development (FfD) is a discussion process at the UN involving various policy issues: Mobilizing domestic & international resources for development International trade International investment External debt Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Addressing systemic issues.

FfD attempts to, “eradicate poverty, achieve sustained economic growth, and promote sustainable development to advance to a fully inclusive and equitable global economic system.”

Purpose of the Project

Develop two research papers & accompanying policy briefs

Made recommendations for advocacy Themes chosen by the Committee;

specific topics selected in collaboration with the GPIA team

Research explored the concepts, background, objectives, and limitations of each topic

Methodology

Working with client: meetings & implementing feedback Terms of Reference Interim Report Final Presentation

Qualitative research: Interviews with experts, attending meetings

& conferences Literature review of articles, briefs,

documents, websites, reports, etc.

Innovative Sources of Financing for Development (ISF)

Tax-Related ISF: Airline Ticket Solidarity

Tax

Arms Trade Tax Currency Transactions

Tax & Financial Transactions Tax

Carbon Tax Tax  Cooperation, Tax

Havens & an International Tax Organization

Debt-Related ISF:

Debt2Health

Swaps

Special Drawing

Rights

IMF Gold Sales

Trade in Food as an Engine for Development

Official Development Assistance (ODA): Food Aid Investment in

Agriculture

Speculation in Agricultural Markets & Commodities

Impacts of Agriculture Practices: Genetically Modified

Organisms Biofuels Foreign Investment in

Developing Country Land (Land Grabs)

Trade Policy: Protectionism

Recommendations

Identified mechanisms and policies Recommendations were founded upon:

Background, current status Feasibility, practicality FfD characteristics: scaling-up, additionality,

complementarity & sustainability Highlighted success stories and best

practices Suggested advocacy targets

Countries, organizations

GPIA Coursework

PDPM Group – Building on the coursework and experience working as a team Project design and management

GPIA basics: research, writing and analysis

What was missing? Technical background in economics and

finance

Future

Our research papers & recommendations will be used to guide the Committee’s advocacy work

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS?

THANK YOU!