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Linkages: a multimedia resource for environment and
development policy makers
United Nations High-Level Meeting on Africa's Development Needs,
High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals,
and other related events

UN Headquarters, New York | 22-25 September 2008
 
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Curtain Raiser HTM PDF
Mon 22 Sep - Africa HTM PDF
Tue 23 Sep HTM PDF
Wed 24 Sep HTM PDF
Thu 25 Sep - MDGs
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Partnership Events Held on MDGs

Partnership events took place at United Nations headquarters and nearby venues in New York Tuesday, in conjunction with the High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals, which is to take place on 25 September 2008. Highlights of the day included events linking the MDGs to climate change and the environmental agenda, to various local contexts, and to health and equity issues.

Above: Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, leaves a press conference with his wife Carla Bruni.


Tuesday, 23 September
Local Poverty Reduction and MDG Localization

Members of the session's first panel.

Alex Magereko, Kasese Local Government, emphasized public-private partnerships, awareness raising, and involving community-based organizations.

Rodrigo Costa da Rocha Lourse, State of Paraná Industry Federation, emphasized aligning MDGs with public policy and sensitizing state and municipal authorities.

Mel Senen Sarmiento, Mayor of Calbayog City, Philippines, said localization means making the MDGs relevant at the local level and to each individual.

Nalangu Taki, Narok Community Group, Kenya, said poverty and hunger are the main grassroots problems.

Minar Pimple, Millennium Campaign in Asia, emphasized local monitoring of MDGs.

Members of the session's second panel.

Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, noted the spirit of solidarity in the MDGs initiative.

Colm Cuanacháin, Action Aid International, noted the distinction between top-down sensitization and bottom-up mobilization, and said hunger was the litmus test for MDG implementation.
The Equity Challenge

Members of the panel, moderated by Andrew Jack of The Financial Times.

Peter Piot, UNAIDS, urged strengthening of social systems, including efforts to prevent HIV and protect those orphaned by AIDS.

Julian Lob-Levyt, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), highlighted the possibility of school-based health programmes to deliver vaccines.

Tedros Adhanom, Minister of Health, Ethiopia, emphasized the importance of equity issues, including the geographical and temporal dimensions of access to health services and their affordability.
Environment, Climate Change and the MDGs

Panelists during the session.

Angela Cropper, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP and United Nations Assistant-Secretary General, introduced the event.

Ad Melkert, Associate Administrator, UNDP and UN Under-Secretary General, emphasized that climate change must be tackled as an aspect of human development.

Puka Temu, Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, noted that hardly any funds have been mobilized for the environment to achieve the MDGs.

Jonathan Lash, World Resources Institute, lamented that environmental issues are often neglected during financial crises.

Richard Carey, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, highlighted the Accra Agenda for Action, on implementing the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.

Kevin Conrad, Coalition for Rainforest Nations, described efforts to get avoided deforestation recognized within climate change agreements.
Around the Partnership Events

Media filled a room to watch and report on speeches by world leaders including Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy of France and George W. Bush of the US.

A participant viewed the exhibit "Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo 1977-2007" in the UN building.

Related Links

Official Website for the High-level Meeting on Africa's Development Needs
Official Website for the Millennium Development Goals High-level Event

Related IISD RS Coverage

1st Inter-ministerial Conference on Health and Environment in Africa, 26-29 August 2008, Libreville, Gabon
12th African Ministerial Conference on the Environment, 7-12 June 2008, Johannesburg, South Africa
Other coverage of Africa regional meetings

Linkages Update - Bi-weekly international environment and sustainable development news.
AFRICASD-L - Africa Sustainable Development policy news and announcement Listserve.
MEA Bulletin - Newsletter on key MEAs and their secretariats.
CLIMATE-L - News and information on the actions of international organizations in responding to the problem of global climate change.

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