International development finance requires ambitious reforms to address urgent challenges: CPDE

By A Representative

The global civil society platform, the CSO Partnership for Development Effectiveness (CPDE), has released a statement arguing that the intended reforms in international development finance outlined in the First Draft of the Outcome Document for the 4th Financing for Development (FfD4) Forum are insufficient to address today’s pressing global challenges.

CPDE’s statement responds to the First Draft of the Outcome Document for the FfD4 Forum, an annual UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) intergovernmental process that reviews the Addis Ababa Action Agenda and other financing for development outcomes to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The Draft still falls short of being the transformative document it needs to be, and continues to reflect an inadequate ambition in the areas of time-bound commitments, actionable priorities, and substantive reforms,” the CPDE statement reads.

CPDE reiterates its three key demands for the FfD4, based on the Draft’s treatment of these issues:

* Uphold past commitments, but push the limits on aid volume: While acknowledging improved language on aid quantity and quality and the decision to establish a working group for ODA and climate finance reporting, CPDE continues to advocate for the recognition of the estimated USD 7.1 trillion shortfall in the Development Assistance Committee’s (DAC) commitment as unmet ODA debt. The platform also stresses the need to ensure the differentiation and additionality of humanitarian and climate finance.

* Strengthen the effectiveness agenda to put countries in the drivers’ seat: CPDE emphasizes the need to uphold the integrity of the effectiveness principles – country ownership, transparency and mutual accountability, focus on results, and inclusive partnerships – and champion a Whole-of-Society approach to international development cooperation and global partnerships. The statement also highlights the vital role of civil society at all levels in ensuring an effective aid architecture.

* Define decisive mechanisms to turn commitments to change: This includes advocating for a UN intergovernmental process towards a legally binding convention on development cooperation, or at a minimum, a commitment among Member States to enhance coherence in development cooperation to deliver results on poverty and inequality.

The statement concludes with an urgent call for action ahead of the Seville Conference: “All those who still believe in the power of solidarity and common humanity must buckle up and ensure that we generate enough steam to bring it back on track, and move the needle in a way that will deliver significant change.”

CPDE recently urged parties at the FfD4 third preparatory meetings to push for breakthroughs in development finance commitments and called for collective action and global solidarity amid the US aid freeze to respond to multiple global crises.

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