Thank you, Ms. Hurley,
Those of us involved in development may have conceived, in the Eighties, through the first years of the MDGs period, that development was somewhat linear and the job of ‘development’ would become easier over time. What we have seen, instead, is that economic growth does not necessarily translate into prosperity for all.
On the eve of the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals, this compels us to take a new approach to partnerships. An approach that mobilizes financial resources from every possible source. An approach that builds on human initiative from every possible source. An approach that catalyzes new, meaningful, enduring partnerships.
In the last 15 years the multilateral system has learned how to work better with so-called non-state actors, including civil society groups and the business community. But we have hardly begun this process with philanthropic organizations and the social investment community.
Today’s meeting is a step designed to help correct that.
What we hear from speakers today – who we have pressured to speak very briefly so that we have time for debate and contributions from the floor – will be the UN and governments inviting in these ‘new players’ – and these ‘new players’ sharing with us what they have to offer to this Financing for Development process and to global development more broadly.
Why does philanthropic finance and social impact investment matter? It is one of the few sources of funding for development left that isn’t already earmarked. It enables us to meet challenges by testing a range of possible solutions, some of which will be the lasting contributions of tomorrow.
By the end of this meeting I hope we can begin to identify concrete ideas to take forward to the conference in Addis Ababa, which other Permanent Representatives will touch on in more depth, for:
· entry points and partnership processes that encourage and engage with philanthropy networks, at the country and global levels;
· governments creating a more enabling environment for both domestic and international philanthropy, so that this sector can contribute to its maximum potential;
· for philanthropy to become more informed about global and national development goals and targets.
And so that we can leverage each other’s contributions to development.
Thank you, Ms. Hurley.
