Johannesburg, 10 May 2011. CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation calls on the United Nations Least Developed Countries (LDC) IV Conference to examine the current development paradigm and ensure progress on commitments related to development aid funding.
It is vital that practical, innovative and time bound approaches to development are prioritised along with a reaffirmation of commitments under the Paris Declaration and the Accra Agenda for Action.
"After decades of empty promises, missed deadlines and opportunities, the international community must agree that concrete measures need to be taken to ensure domestic ownership of aid. Conditionalities tied to aid packages hinder rather than promote the effective utilisation of aid," said Ingrid Srinath, Secretary General of CIVICUS. "On the other hand, it is equally important that ownership of development processes is democratised at the national level through the inclusion of parliaments, civil society and local communities in developing policies around resource utilisation."
CIVICUS believes that developed countries must re-evaluate the pro-liberalisation and free trade paradigm which enables them to protect their own interests at the expense of LDCs. Moreover, home-grown policies which are in line with the domestic realities in LDCs must now replace prescriptions from global financial institutions if development targets are to be met.
As a number of LDCs continue to grapple with armed conflict and violence, it is imperative that addressing the root causes of conflicts, including the need to put in place equitable and just social, political and economic policies, remains high on the agenda of the delegates at the conference.
Additionally, south-south cooperation in supporting the LDCs to achieve economic growth is essential. "In addition to OECD-DAC and other rich countries, emerging economies and new donors have a huge responsibility to support LDCs and the more than 880 million people who live in them," said Srinath.
Government officials, parliamentarians and civil society representatives from the 48 Least Developed Countries and their development partners are meeting in Istanbul for the LDC IV Conference to develop a programme of action for 2011-2020. The conference seeks to address the key developmental, aid and financial challenges facing the poorest countries in the world.