2015 is the end of the timeline for the Millennium Development Goals. This presents an opportunity for the world adopt a twin track approach of ensuring the MDGs are met by 2015, while at the same time creating a post 2015 global development framework. The Beyond 2015 campaign has convened a global dialogue on the essential must-haves that would need to be met in order for any new framework to be considered legitimate. It is important that these discussions do not divert resources from the delivery of the MDGs.

This is an open, inclusive and on-going conversation. The must-haves are based on workshops at the World Social Forum, a global consultation process with members of Beyond 2015 in almost 50 countries, consultation with NGOs and interested academics, and research undertaken in collaboration with Southern partners. Beyond 2015 recognizes and welcomes other related initiatives aiming to advance thinking on a post 2015 agenda, and looks forward to continued collaboration and dialogue with interested groups.

Who leads, who owns and who implements?

• The UN is the only legitimate and representative global governance structure and must lead the process.
• The process must not be led by the G20, G8, OECD or any other non-representative global forum.
• National governments must have primary ownership of, and accountability for the framework and its delivery. Governments should make use of local expertise, but must also be able to request external expertise without sacrificing control of their development strategy, and international institutions must respect and support, as appropriate to their mandate, existing national development frameworks.

How do we develop it?

• The UN must lead an inter-governmental debate on the process immediately, which must be connected to the on-going discussions about sustainable development, aid effectiveness and financing for development.
• The UN must agree on a roadmap, including time-specific milestones to develop the new framework. This roadmap must use the 2013 MDG Summit to define the vision for the post 2015 process, and culminate in a global Summit to adopt a new framework in 2015.
• The framework must be aligned with, and facilitate progress in other global and regional processes, such as Rio +20, to avoid duplication.
• The development of the framework must be based on a full and meaningful evaluation of the MDGs and the Millennium Declaration, and must take into account the shortcomings of the MDG approach and its limitations in addressing structural causes of poverty, inequality and exclusion. It must also recognise the positive achievements of the MDGs.
• The development of the framework must be completely open and transparent, participatory, inclusive and responsive to voices and expertise of those directly affected by poverty and injustice.
• The development of the framework (and its monitoring) must include an extensive consultation involving all stakeholders at local, national, regional and global level. This must include a formalised and meaningful process for civil society engagement, including the most marginalised groups.
• Civil society organisations without ECOSOC status must be included in the consultation, as must those who are unable to participate in an internet based consultation.
• Given the importance of monitoring and data collection, researchers and statistical experts must be included in the process for developing the framework.

What should it contain?

• The framework must set out global goals, as well as contextualised national targets for developed and developing countries aiming at a sustainable and equitable global development, as well as the eradication of extreme poverty.
• The framework must be based in full accordance with international human rights laws and frameworks.
• The framework must lever the reform of existing structures that perpetuate poverty and inequality.
• The framework must recognise that international aid is only a part of a balanced approach to development.
• The framework must address:

1. Root causes of poverty and injustice in all countries, from the richest to the poorest.
2. Inequity and inequality.
3. Environmental sustainability and climate change.
4. The responsibility of national governments to sustainably manage their natural and financial resources.
5. The responsibility of the international community to support developing countries in the face of global challenges through respecting their ODA commitments as well as through innovative redistributive funding mechanisms which would generate additional predictive finance.
6. The responsibility of developing country governments to deliver on development commitments.

Accountability

• The framework must clearly lay out enforceable accountability mechanisms, as well as the process for accountability at a national, regional and global level. This must include national oversight and independent review mechanisms at the international level.
• The framework must include mechanisms for citizens to hold national governments to account.
• The framework must include mechanisms for mutual accountability between governments and donors.
• The framework must include mechanisms for a governmental peer review process which includes civil society.
• The framework must enable citizens in developing countries to hold their governments to account in real time for progress on commitments made
• The framework must include monitoring mechanisms with measures to disaggregate data so that the impact on marginalised groups can be properly addressed.
• National processes must, in the spirit of democratic ownership, involve meaningful consultation and scrutiny by parliament and civil society.

For further information, contact lwilliams@concordeurope.org