Six weeks and counting

The road to the UN MDG Review Summit

With little more than a month before the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Review Summit and a disappointing draft of the Summit's outcome document, Bond is stepping up advocacy efforts. Leo Williams, Bond MDGs Advocacy Officer, highlights key activities ahead of the summit.

On 20 - 22 September, heads of state and government will meet in New York to take stock of progress on delivering the MDGs and their promises to the poor. Yet, with just six weeks to go, the prognosis is less than encouraging.

Are governments keeping their promises?

The Draft Outcome Document, negotiated by UN member states, is disappointing. While it contains positive language, recognising the interconnectedness of the MDGs, committing to country-led development strategies, and focusing on an "Action Agenda for Achieving the MDGs by 2015", it includes no clear financial commitments or timetables to achieve the MDGs.

Civil society is demanding concrete proposals for each of the MDGs, but there seems to be a lack of political will to include the needed level of detail.

Can the UK play a leadership role at the summit?

This is the Coalition Government's first UN Summit, and as such represents an opportunity for the UK to take a leadership role in efforts to achieve the MDGs by 2015. Deputy prime Minister, Nick Clegg, has been confirmed as the UK representative at the summit.

Secretary of State for International Development, Andrew Mitchell, recently pledged that the UK will "encourage all parties to work towards a clear action plan" and that he will ask world leaders to come to the summit ready to "make and deliver ambitious pledges".

To date, the Secretary of State has been less clear on the UK's concrete position or priorities for the summit, apart from emphasising a clear focus on maternal health.

Political will at the EU?

While the EU collective position asks member states to establish realistic, verifiable annual action plans for reaching individual targets, the EU stopped short of adopting its own MDG rescue plan.

This watered down European position is not providing any pressure for the UK or other member states to adopt a stronger position towards the summit.

The road ahead

The weeks preceding the summit provide opportunities for civil society to secure commitments at the regional, national and global level. Global civil society will be organising meetings with country delegations, hearings in national parliaments and the coordination of 'The World We Want Charters' to present clear and concise demands to governments.

The focus now for Bond is to engage with the UK Government ahead of the summit, ensure meetings with the UK delegation and explore the possibility of side events at the summit. We will produce civil society briefings and statements in response to negotiations, working with members and international coalitions.

Campaigning on the MDGs

Bond members are also building public campaigns, culminating on 17-19 September, as part of the worldwide Stand Up and Take Action initiative.

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