Keeping the Millennium Promise

Can Canadian citizens hold their Government to account?

Montreal, 15 April 2009

MDGs – another set of UN MDGs – another set of UN promises?promises?

MDGs Poor Countries

Rich Countries

Deliver on Goals 1-7

Governments must:

Integrate MDGs into policies, plans and budgets

Become accountable to citizens

Deliver on Goal 8

Governments must provide: More aid and more effective aid Greater debt cancellation Increased trade opportunities for the poor

2000-2009 MDG Scorecard..…

• The single most durable set of global development commitments by governments – withstood 9/11 and its aftermath

• Provided a strong human development and poverty focus to all global processes – Monterrey, Paris, Accra, Doha, G8 and now G20

• Common framework for planning and monitoring – AU, SAARC, ASEAN, SAARC, EU

• Guiding national planning in a majority of poor countries – refocussing PRSPs

• Improved data availability

2000-9 MDG Scorecard….

• 40 countries have had their debts cancelled – big increase in poverty-focussed public expenditure

• Aid levels have steadily increased – 30% higher than 1992 peak

• Created a platform for massive citizens mobilisation in the North and South

Unprecedented development achievements in the last decade

• 400 million people pulled out of poverty from 1990 to 2005 – 16 percentage points

• Infant and Child Mortality halved - >2 million children’s lives saved child deaths level goes below 10 million per year for the first time

• 40 million more children in school• 2 million have ARV access• TB almost eradicated and HIV/AIDS reversing• Conflicts down from 50 to 30

MDG Progress - PovertyMDG Progress - Poverty

MDG Progress - EducationMDG Progress - Education

MDG Progress – Child HealthMDG Progress – Child Health

About 40 countries, including very poor ones, are on track on each of the

Goals

•Mozambique

•Rwanda

•Tanzania

•Indonesia

•Vietnam

•Mali

•Zambia

•Ghana

•Bangladesh

But gap between rich and poor is growing

Miles to go…Miles to go…

• Over 25,000 children still dying a day• Over half a million mothers a year die from

childbirth and neglect• 2 billion people live without adequate food and

basic needs• About 100 million children have no access to

primary schools• 3 million people die of HIV/AIDS each year

Countdown 2015: the obstacle course

• Financial crisis – separating real impact from using this as an excuse

• Food and Climate crisis – more acute• Governance and exclusion crisis –

national and global• Trade crisis – Doha impasse and new

protectionism

Canada’s contribution to the MDGs

• Relatively progressive trade policy• Commitment to doubling aid to Sub Saharan

Africa by 2010 welcome• OECD DAC 2008 figures show increase in last

year’s aid level• ODA Accountability Law passed by Parliament

requiring Canadian aid to be poverty focussed is a landmark legislation

Canada – punching below its weight

• One of the richest countries in the world is at the lower end of the aid league table: 16/22 amongst OECD DAC members with 0.32% of GNI

• As a % of GNI, Ireland, Spain, UK and Australia are already ahead of Canada

• In absolute terms, much smaller economies like Netherlands and Sweden make bigger contributions

• This is well below both the Government’s commitment to meet the DAC average which is at 0.47% and promises made at the G8 in 2005

Canadian aid % lower than 1969 levels!

• Ironically, it was Lester Pearson, a Canadian Prime Minister who proposed the 0.7% as early as 1969

• Canada and CIDA for decades was a leader in international development – not just money but progressive and innovative ideas

• Today, a big gap between perception and reality – perceptions not just of outsiders but Canadian citizens themselves

2010: A Great Opportunity• With the Vancouver Olympics and the G8, the

spotlight in 2010 is on Canada • Thanks to a strong regulatory framework and

prudent policies, Canada has been less affected by the financial crisis

• Canada has made fresh commitments at the G20 in London just two weeks ago and has generally progressive trade policies

• Will Canada be able to hold its head high next year at the G8 in June and the MDG Review Summit at the UN in September?

GrassrootsGrassroots

Media/Media/Public AwarenessPublic Awareness

Policy ChangePolicy Change

Can Canadian citizens hold their Government to account?

MDG People’s Forums and Policy Roundtables

October 16-18, 2009Stand Up and Take Action

What the Canadian Government needs to deliver?

• A 5-year timetable to reach 0.7%: this is doable as the G20 announcements proved beyond doubt

• Focus aid on the achievement of the MDGs for the poorest countries and the poorest people

• Improve the quality of aid and follow the Paris and Accra Declaration

• Have a whole-of-government approach to the MDGs connecting trade, aid, food security and climate change

Canadian citizens need to make their voice heard

• Most Canadians deeply care about their responsibility in making the world more peaceful, equitable and sustainable – with Quebec leading the way

• From the environment movement to General Romeo Dallaire, to the Raging Grannies to Make Poverty History, Canadians have never remained silent

• Only action by Parliamentarians, Churches, students, trade unions and local Governments will make the Government do the right thing

• Stand Up and Take Action – Oct 16-18 2009