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David Hales Deputy Assistant Administrator, Global Environment Center, U.S. Agency for International Development Remarks to the UN Prospective Donors’ Conference for Small Island Developing States February 26, 1999 |
USUN PRESS RELEASE #18 (99)
February 26, 1999
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Remarks by David Hales, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Global Environment Center, U.S.
Agency for International Development, to the UN Prospective Donors’ Conference for
Small Island Developing States (SIDS), February 26, 1999
Mr. Chairman, Distinguished delegates;
At each stage of our conversations here this week, we have been impressed by the quality of the presentations and the sincerity and thoughtfulness of the responses. I hope that we have taken an important next step along the road from Rio to a world characterized by sustainability.
The thoughtful and forward-looking discussion of the last three days is firmly based on the
Barbados Plan of Action. The commitment of Island States to the principles of Rio and Barbados is a lesson and an example to all of us. The presentations made have substantially improved the quality of our discussion. We, the international community, must respond with an equal commitment and reaffirmation to Rio and the Barbados Plan of Action, with an equally unequivocal endorsement of its use as a framework for action, and a willingness to pursue creative ways to redefine and strengthen our partnership for sustainable development.The US has long recognized the importance and indeed the unique nature of SIDS. We have historically maintained strong relationships with small island developing states; relationships which we will continue to nurture. When the time comes to take stock of the actions by which the United States has been a partner in implementing Barbados, we will detail an engagement in which we take substantial pride. But that time is not now. While past successes and current efforts give us encouragement, we must look honestly and critically at what future actions need to be taken to ensure all of the principles of sustainable development are addressed.
Our discussions point us in the right direction; they give rise to optimism. We must remind ourselves how difficult it can be to turn good ideas and good will into real actions that affect the lives of real people in real places. This next stage of our work together is just beginning. Let us look at the challenges that have been highlighted.
There seems to be widespread agreement on the need for integrated and comprehensive approaches to the challenges we face. In order for the fragile island environments to sustain levels of development desired and deserved by people of the islands we must achieve integrated planning and action involving the full range of government ministries and civil society. Interests must be balanced, and the impacts – social, environmental, and economic – must be understood and weighed. This is no small task.
There also seems to be widespread recognition of the need for “donor coordination”. We may want to address this at several levels.
Surely we can agree that we can substantially improve the effectiveness of bilateral and multilateral development assistance by streamlining and harmonizing procedures, indicators, and reporting methods. We must also recognize that many donor countries themselves are facing increased reporting requirements imposed by constituents increasingly reluctant to provide overseas assistance without clear and measurable outcomes. We must move toward an approach that is as responsive as it is responsible. One step in that direction would be the formation of a working group to coordinate closely among Island State leadership and donors as we move toward this September’s critical Special Session. Certainly this group cannot take an operational role; it would be counterproductive if it were to attempt to address specific projects. It can, however, guide us toward a successful assessment of our progress on the Plan of Action and help identify opportunities for further success. The United States looks forward to engaging these issues in every appropriate forum.
Perhaps we can also consider the evolution of donor coordination as a concept. The Barbados Plan of Action recognized that sustainable development of Small Island Developing States would require a working partnership among national and local authorities, NGOs and private business, bilateral and multilateral donors, and regional and international coordination. We should actively seek to form – or strengthen – these practical partnerships for smart growth. In simple terms, we must find ways to work together, with island leadership, to make and promote wise investments, and produce meaningful and measurable results. The best of the proposals we have seen this week have been developed along these lines. We should acknowledge the value of transparent and inclusive approaches, not just open, but aggressively participatory approaches.
In this area of discussion we should seek flexibility as well, and emphasize the full range of ways to work together. It is true that the Barbados strategy gives precedence to the least developed and the most environmentally vulnerable, but this doesn’t mean that partnerships are limited to the poorest or the most at risk. Surely it means that the nature of the partnerships – their structure, their elements – may change as the challenges vary. All of us, each nation here, still have challenges to face as we seek sustainability and justice. Just as we have learned from each other here, we must be open to learning more. Not all assistance is financial. In the United States, we actively seek and welcome the advice and wisdom of all partners as we address issues for which we as a sovereign nation are ultimately responsible. Likewise, we must find ways to encourage success and cherish each other’s accomplishments even as the ways that we work together may evolve. Our ultimate goal must be empowerment, not dependency.
The United States particularly welcomes the proposal for a comprehensive Development Framework from the World Bank and the work that is being done on the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, as well as the insightful comments from all of the donors during the course of our deliberation. Perhaps none of us have THE universally correct answer, but the creativity of the discussion is encouraging.
There also seems to be consensus on the need to emphasize capacity building, the development of the human capability, effective policies and institutional means to make and enforce effective decisions. Additional resources follow the capacity to invest them wisely, to create predictability and lower risk, and credible measurement and reporting of results. This too is an area where we can work together.
There are other areas where perhaps approaches and perceptions differ. For example, as our discussion continues we hope to see more focus on the social dimensions of sustainable development, and particularly on the need to alleviate poverty.
We also hope to see more attention to the role of the private, for-profit, sector in our future discussions. Governmental and charitable investments, no matter how wise, will not be able to offset unwise or unsustainable investments in the private sector. The key is achieving consistency of purpose among all investments in the context of a strong national investment climate, efficiency in the use of natural resources and a strategic approach to sustainable development. While the Ad Hoc Open Ended Working Group on Finance for Development addresses this challenge comprehensively, perhaps we can make practical contributions by considering specific ways to promote this alignment of purpose. Maximizing the value of private investment allows us to maximize the impact of public investment. Let us seek good examples for others to follow.
We hope to achieve clarification of the degree to which the ideas we’ve discussed here are truly mainstreamed in the development plans of island states. The question of prioritization and coordination at the national level, of integration of the full range of national responsibilities, of programmatic rather than project by project approach, will merit additional consideration. The setting of priorities will focus precious resources in ways that they can be used most effectively.
On the whole, Mr. Chairman, we are encouraged by this meeting, and sobered by the task ahead.
Certainly we see grounds here for common action in pursuit of common interest. We believe that significant achievement in many areas is possible for the Special Session. For example, only 11 more countries need ratify the Agreement on Straddling and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks to achieve its entry into force. This Agreement benefits all of us, but has special provisions for assistance to developing states for implementation. As it comes into force it will strengthen the hand of those seeking to provide resources to islands.
In the presentations we have heard over the past few days, SIDS have demonstrated their commitment to sustainable development and to Barbados. In many cases, their efforts serve as a model for the rest of the world. This week, SIDS have demonstrated specific and valuable experiences in integrated development planning. For example, the U.S. is particularly interested in SIDS’ work in implementing the international coral reef initiative and in addressing coastal and marine resources as well as land based activities that affect the marine environment. We support the view that SIDS can create viable models of sustainability for other countries of the world to emulate.
The presentations of this week have begun to bring to our attention the real impediments to further accomplishments in implementation of the Barbados Plan. They described the importance of being strategic, based on sound science and sound economics, participatory in their creation, fair in their distribution of benefits and focused on results.
Let me say thank you to those in the non-profit and private sector that took the time to participate in this week’s activities. I’m sure you will agree that we’ve all been given food for thought and I hope that real linkages can be formed here that can lead to more productive relationships in the future.
Thank you again for the opportunity to participate in this important conference. Though we all face significant challenges going forward in making the 5-year review successful, we need to recognize the importance of Barbados for the people of the small islands and for all of the rest of us as well. The United States welcomes the opportunity for reflection, review, and recommitment that is afforded to us by the UN through this process.
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