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The Second Global Conference on Financing for Development
Doha, 2008
In March 2002, the United Nations held the first International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico to consider new approaches to financing more equitable global development. The resulting Monterrey Consensus “resolved to address the challenges of financing for development” and “to eradicate poverty, achieve sustained economic growth and promote sustainable development.” A 2007 General Assembly Resolution has announced a “Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development” to be held in Doha, Qatar November 29 - December 2, 2008. The challenge for the as yet undecided Doha agenda will be to solidify the vague objectives of the Monterrey Consensus into more concrete commitments. This page will follow the progress of the Doha Conference including its preparation and follow-up.
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Financing for Development
UN Documents | Articles | Links and Resources UN Documents
2008
The Road to Doha Newsletter (February, 2008)
This newsletter summarizes the Financing for Development review sessions on mobilizing both domestic and international financial resources for development. In addition, the newsletter features an editorial that argues that external debt is continuing unabated, with low-income countries paying $100 million dollars each day to creditors. The author calls on the Doha conference to support the growing global call for action on odious debt and responsible lending. (DESA Financing for Development Office & United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service)Preliminary Financing for Development Work Programme for 2008 (January 10, 2008)
The President of the UN General Assembly has published a program of work for the preparation for the development financing conference scheduled for the end of 2008 in Doha. During the year, the UN will host six thematic “review sessions” covering domestic financial resources, foreign direct investment, international trade, international aid, debt relief and reforms of the international monetary, financial and trading systems. The UN will also host “hearings” to involve NGOs and the business sector in the process.2007
Follow-Up to and Implementation of the Outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development (August 10, 2007)
This report by the Secretary General evaluates the agreements made at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico, March 2002. The report evaluates progress on all six core areas of the conference’s outcome document: the Monterrey Consensus. The areas of concern will most likely be top of the agenda at the Second Conference on Financing for Development in Doha, Qatar, 2008.Follow-Up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus (December 6, 2007)
Following the High Level Dialogue on Financing for Development in October 2007, the chairperson of the second committee presented this draft resolution to the UN General Assembly to evaluate the “Monterrey Consensus” – the outcome document of the first Financing for Development conference held in 2002. The draft gives the format and the goals of the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development in Doha in November – December 2008, and the measures the UN will take to evaluate the process post-Doha.Coherence, Coordination and Cooperation in the Context of the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus (March 20, 2007)
This note by the UN Secretary General presents four themes for discussion at the 2007 special high-level meeting of the Economic and Social Council, which will review implementation of the Monterrey Consensus and prepare for the 2008 follow-up Financing for Development Conference in Doha, Qatar. The topics include realization of the WTO Doha development agenda and improving aid effectiveness. (United Nations)2006
General Assembly Resolution 61/191 (December 20, 2006)
This General Assembly resolution announces the “Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus” to be held in Doha, Qatar during the second half of 2008. (United Nations)Follow-Up to and Implementation of the Outcome of the International Conference on Financing for Development (August 6, 2006)
This report by the UN Secretary General on the implementation of the Monterrey Consensus emphasizes the need for “concrete follow-up action.” It calls for progress in trade and increased mobilization of developing countries’ domestic resources, both issues which will likely be addressed at the 2008 Follow-up Conference on Financing for Development in Doha, Qatar. (United Nations)2002
Report of the International Conference on Financing for Development (2002)
This United Nations document contains the Monterrey Conference resolutions (the so-called "Monterrey Consensus") as well as reports on the work of various segments, forums and roundtables during the Conference. The document focuses on resource mobilization, trade, debt, and reforming the international trading and financial systems.
Articles
2007
Ffd Briefing 1 (December 14, 2007)
Global Policy Forum Europe Director Jens Martens provides a one-page summary of the General Assembly draft resolution on the upcoming UN conference on development financing. The GA resolution – dated December 6, 2007 – expects a first draft outcome document by end of July 2008.Financing for Development: From Monterrey to Doha (March 14, 2007)
In this article, Global Policy Forum’s Jens Martens summarizes the events leading up to the 2008 Second Global Conference on Financing for Development. He further speculates on possible issues on the agenda, such as financing the Millennium Development Goals, reforming international aid, and introducing international “solidarity levies” for development. The challenge, however, will be for governments “to agree on new initiatives beyond the minimal consensus” of the first financing for development conference. (World Economy and Development)
Links and Resources
Financing for Development
This United Nations website posts information on the follow-up process to the 2002 International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico.
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