Zero or hero? What does the 'zero draft' of the world's new development framework do for peace?
In these informal comments, Saferworld looks at the 'zero draft' of the post-2015 development agenda – an ambitious vision for action, distilling years of consultation and negotiation that has engaged millions across the world. At a time when violence is spiralling and destroying the lives of millions of people, this briefing reviews the draft global development agenda from a peacebuilding perspective – asking what is positive, what can be improved and what needs to be taken out?
Our conclusions are:
1. The importance of peace for achieving sustainable development and as a desirable outcome in itself is strongly – and rightly – affirmed. This includes a crucial focus on the causes on violence, insecurity and injustice and leaving no one behind – both in the narrative and the goals and targets.
2. However, a much more inclusive vision of action and ownership is needed for this framework to have credibility and make a difference in the real world outside the negotiation chamber. Similarly, the role of third parties in data production and monitoring needs to be more strongly affirmed.
3. The draft document should also go further in recognising the more multipolar global order, and in promoting a renewal in multilateral partnership and trust.
4. Despite brave attempts to present the agenda more succinctly, the post-2015 agenda still lacks a public face. Member States must think creatively about how to communicate the post-2015 development agenda so that millions of people engage with it and give it real momentum.
5. The document fails to resolve the outstanding question: when will each target be considered met? And further tweaking to cut repetition and uphold existing standards remains necessary.
6. The vision for development financing fails to engage with the peace agenda: it should acknowledge the risk of doing harm and the need to support peacebuilding.
7. Member States should reject a coercive approach to peace and remove target 16a.
Find out more about our work on the post-2015 development agenda.
“At a time when violence is spiralling and destroying the lives of millions around the world, this briefing reviews the draft global development agenda from a peacebuilding perspective – asking what is positive, what can be improved and what needs to be taken out.”
