193 Nations Adopt Final Post-2015 Development Agenda Outcome Document

TWS||Nicholas Mungai
 

On 2^nd August 2015, 193 governments, at the final session of Intergovernmental on Post-2015 Development Agenda held at the UN headquarters in New York, agreed to an outcome document expected to guide the global development agenda for the next 15 years.

The document titled, “Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” is to guide the global development agenda from September 2015, when world leaders converge in to adopt it.

With expanded goals (17) and targets (169), the new development goals (SDGs) will succeed the Millennium Development (Goals MDGs) which had 8 goals.

Kenya’s Ambassador Macharia Kamau and counterpart Ambassador David Donoghue of Ireland who co-facilitated the three year post-2015 process have received praise for their leadership and diligence.

“We deeply appreciate and applaud your [Co-Facilitators] leadership, guidance, and herding skills as well as the unbelievable perseverance and excellent work of your teams.” Toni Pipa, the United States special Coordinator for the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

Amit Narang, India’s permanent representative to the UN said, “It is important that the set of SDGs grounds a vision of development that is premised on eradicating poverty as the core of our efforts.” Adding, “The vision on environment in SDGs is correctly rooted in the pre-requisite of moving our societies towards sustainable lifestyles, combating climate change and ensuring that mankind is in harmony with nature.

On his part, Toni Pipa remarked, “We are giving birth to something momentous, a global commitment to a different kind of future – one without extreme poverty, one where we live together sustainably, and in peace.”

Elizabeth Cousens and Minh-Pham of the United Nations Foundation observes that the SDGs will build on the Millennium Development Goals and address issues that MDGs did not.

The UN Foundation adds, “The 20130 agenda is an ambitious plan for collective action to transform the fate of humanity, by lifting all people out of extreme poverty, staying in harmony with planet, and tackling some of the underlying causes that continue to challenge us.”

Macharia Kamau termed the post-2015 SDGs development process as one of the most politically, intellectually, and technically complex in the UN’s history.

Post-2015 process brought together governments, civil society, the private sector and citizens and the outcome document is viewed as a reflection of the ideas and aspirations of people worldwide.

The United Nations Summit for the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals will take place from 25 to 27 September 2015 at the UN headquarters in New York City, US.

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