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Civil Society Development Forum 2007 - "A Platform for Development: Countdown to 2015"
28 June 2007

28-30 June 2007, Geneva

"Strengthening efforts at all levels to promote pro-poor sustained economic growth, including through equitable macroeconomic policies"
"Strengthening efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, including through the global partnership for development"

Final Statement

We, nearly 600 participants of the Civil Society Development Forum 2007, representing some 300 non-governmental organizations (NGOs)/civil society organizations (CSOs) from 75 countries of all regions of the world [including more than 150 participants from Africa, Asia and Latin America], gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, from 28 to 30 June 2007 to debate on the Forum’s overall theme “A Platform for Development: Countdown to 2015”. We met at a time when we reached the mid-point for achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2000. The Forum had been convened by the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United Nations (CONGO), in close cooperation with the UN Millennium Campaign and other networks such as ActionAid International, Civicus and the Global Call to Action against Poverty. The Forum was supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the Republic and Canton of Geneva, whose contributions greatly helped to make it happen.

The Forum was opened by the President of CONGO and the Director of the UN Millennium Campaign, and addressed by the Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva and the President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). It was closed by recently elected President of the Human Rights Council and the recently appointed Under-Secretary-General of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA).

A central objective of the Forum consisted in providing a venue for an in-depth discussion of the themes of ECOSOC’s Substantive Session and its Annual Ministerial Review (which took place immediately following the Forum), i.e. "Strengthening efforts at all levels to promote propoor sustained economic growth, including through equitable macroeconomic policies" and "Strengthening efforts to eradicate poverty and hunger, including through the global partnership for development". Moreover, in light of the ongoing efforts by governments and civil society aiming at strengthening ECOSOC, the participants also discussed the need and potential for civil society’s engagement in this process of UN reform. They explored ways to enhance their participation in the shaping and decision-making processes intended to give the development agenda new dynamics.

The outcome of the Forum, as summarized in this Final Statement, together with its Recommendations on each of the themes and its Resolutions contained in the Annex, will be the subject of thorough interactive discussions with governments participating in the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC’s Substantive Session. We request these governments to carefully review this outcome of the Forum and to ensure that it is part and parcel of the process of formulating the conclusions and recommendations of that Segment.

We all came from countries with different cultures and different levels of social and economic development. Some of our countries are confronted with internal conflicts or external threats, while others enjoy peace and socio-economic stability. Some of our countries have been classified by the United Nations as “least developed countries”, while others are more economically advanced. Yet, despite the manifold differences between us, the Forum provided us with the opportunity to discuss our common concerns and aspirations, to forge partnerships and build up solidarity across regions and continents, and to promote the goals of peace, human rights, justice, and equitable and sustainable development.

The Forum concluded that a “new narrative” – a new approach – is needed, that recognizes the emerging convergence of growth and development strategies with human rights norms, including gender equality and equity standards and “climate justice”. This new narrative is to engage all stakeholders – governments, the private sector, CSOs and the people – in a constructive dialogue that leads to the renewal of previous commitments, and seeks to revitalize the synergy required at all levels of compliance and implementation of the MDGs. It needs to be multidimensional in order to eradicate poverty and hunger, realize the right to food, achieve full and productive employment and decent work, and attain economic security.