Global Partnerships for Development: the centre of the MDGs?

July 07, 2010

The UN, USAID and NGOs prepare to come together on building a global partnership for development.

In the build-up to the UN Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in September, talk on achieving the goals abound. The eighth goal, “Develop a global partnership for development” is central to achieving the other seven. But how can it be done?

To some the involvement of the private sector is essential, to others the UN or the rule of law must govern, and to other yet it is all about entrepreneurialism and empowerment rather than aid and development finance.

Johnston Barkat, United Nations Ombudsman, functions independently of any UN organ or official and so has an impartial view of global partnership for development. He joins Scott Schirmer, Senior Coordinator, Private Sector Alliances Office of Development Partners , United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and speakers from Fleet Forum, Trade Without Borders and A4AID to discuss solutions at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on Friday July at this year’s Aid & International Development Forum (AIDF).

Anthony Dunnett, President, International Health Partners will moderate this session which looks at the issues of a global partnership – the needs of least developed countries, dealing with the debt of these countries, developing an open, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system, providing access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries and making the benefits of new technologies and ICTs available through cooperation with the private sector.

It is clear that it is the primary responsibility of developing countries to work towards achieving the first seven Goals. They must do their part to ensure greater accountability to citizens and efficient use of resources. But for poor countries to achieve the first seven Goals, it is absolutely critical that rich countries deliver on their end of the bargain with more and more effective aid, more sustainable debt relief and fairer trade rules, well in advance of 2015.

Scott Shirmer of USAID will provide an overview of USAID’s partnership experience, focusing on how the Office of Development Partners/Private Sector Alliance division (ODP/PSA) serves as a global leader in alliance building.

Elisabeth Baraka of A4ID will discuss how the law can be used to strengthen the work of the international development community and support the achievement of development objectives. She will provide a number of case studies to demonstrate the importance of the law as a core part of development strategy and how partnerships with lawyers across the world through A4ID can help to achieve this.

Now in its fifth year, this event is a valuable opportunity for the aid, relief and development sector to network, build partnerships and address global humanitarian and development challenges, as well as showcasing goods and services to those who are responsible for delivery. Registration is free to non-commercial organizations. More information, including the workshop agenda, speaker and exhibitor lists and registration details can be found at www.aidforumonline.org

Aid & International Development Forum 2010 partners include InterAction, USAID, IPOA, World Bank Publications and RedR UK.

Facts & Figures
There will be over 1600 visitors and in the region of 120 exhibitors, 100 of which will be businesses, 20 of which will be NGOs, UN and Government stands

For lists of speakers, exhibitors and the workshop agenda, please use the following links:
Speakers: http://www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/speakers/category/event_2010/
Workshop Agenda: http://www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/workshops/
Exhibitors: http://www.aidforumonline.org/event_guide/exhibitors/category/event_2010/

The Aid & International Development Forum (previously International Aid & Trade) has been the world's leading forum for humanitarian relief professionals to cement relationships, build partnerships, gain understanding and share experiences. Having been acquired by Henley Media Group in 2005, International Aid & Trade ran in Geneva in 2006, 2007 and 2008. In 2009 the event moved to Washington D.C., in partnership with InterAction, the largest coalition of U.S.-based international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).

Aid and International Development Forum
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Contacts
Diva Rodriguez, Communications, Email: drodriguez@aidforumonline.org
Andrew Matthewson, Sales Manager, Email: sales@aidforumonline.org
Telephone +44 (0) 20 7871 0188

This release was published on openPR.