Country Reviews … from where we were to where we are now LESSONS, EVIDENCE AND ACTION

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Country Reviews from where we were to where we
are now LESSONS, EVIDENCE AND ACTION

• USMAN IFTIKHAR
• POVERTY GROUP
• BUREAU FOR DEVELOPMENT POLICY
• UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

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Introduction and roadmap

• The importance of country reviews
• The Results
• By 2009 there was a different sense
• Addendum
• A Synthesis of Lessons in Success
• A Synthesis of lessons about constraints
• The International Assessment and the MDG Action
  Agenda
• Conclusion

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The importance of country reviews

• The global and regional reports focus mainly on
  goal-wise performance at the aggregate level and
  on absolute progress over time using
  internationally comparable data.
• So, if we were to ask the question as to how many
  countries are on track to achieving say Goal 1 in
  Africa, it is not possible to get that answer
  easily
• MDG Country Reports targeted at the country level
  provide such information

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The importance of country reviews

• Originally the main purpose of the MDG Country
  Reports was two-fold public information and
  social mobilisation.
• Tool for awareness raising, advocacy, alliance
  building renewal of political commitments at the
  country level build national capacity for
  monitoring and reporting.
• The process of preparing the reports - define
  globally agreed objectives into country specific
  targets thus development debate on nationally
  defined priorities.
• Generate a can do atmosphere so that
  policy-makers and other actors are encouraged to
  act And allow for monitoring and accountability
  by civil society.

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The Results an estimated 303 reports
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The Results

• Based on a small sampling of first wave MDG
  Country Reports (Mongolia, Pakistan, Belize,
  Malawi and Togo) from 2003-2005, lesson are that
  these were
• Led by the governments
• Followed participatory processes engaging the UN
  System, CSOs and other relevant stakeholders.
• Provided information on the national context and
  capacities in addressing the MDGs and focused on
  providing baseline or status reporting,
• recognized where and what progress has been made,
  
• the challenges which remain
• But largely focused on identifying relevant
  measures or interventions to address the
  existing challenges.

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By 2009 there was a different sense

• 2010 Review needed to be different from 2005
  needed to answer a new set of questions against
  new challenges, realities and knowledge in a way
  that could be aggregated across countries.
• Essential that 2010 Review went beyond describing
  progress and trends and provides each country
  with the opportunity to make deeper analyses of
  what works, what does not and why
• Essential that the collective action agenda to
  accelerate progress in the remaining five years
  builds upon robust MDG evidence especially for
  the LDCs.
• The MDG Country Reports the most appropriate tool
  to generate the deeper analyses
• Through an addendum to MDG Country Reporting
  Guidelines that were developed

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Addendum

• Specifically, the addendum provided guidance on
  undertaking
• Trends and inequality analyses
• Identification of the key bottlenecks
  constraining progress on specific off-track MDG
  targets
• Assessment of the impact of the economic crisis
  on MDG progress
• Assessment of the impact of climate change on MDG
  progress
• Assessment of Good Practice examples that
  accelerate progress and their replicability/scalab
  ility
• UNDP Supported the development of 34 MDG Country
  Reports to draw lessons out and produced an MDG
  Synthesis Report

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A Synthesis of Lessons in Success

• Where national commitment backed planning and
  policy initiatives a foundation for progress has
  been created.
• Accelerated and sustained progress cutting across
  some MDGs emerged where policy innovations to
  protect and promote the poor were pursued.
• Service delivery experiments and innovations have
  accelerated progress where countries faced
  implementation challenges in delivering services.
  
• Where economic growth included targeted
  pro-poor approaches and growth in sectors that
  benefit the poor, poverty and hunger decreased
  significantly.
• Where proven education interventions are part of
  a sequenced, holistic package, there has been
  significant progress on MDG 2 and MDG 3 targets.

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A Synthesis of Lessons in Success

• Where resources were invested in expanding
  opportunities, legal rights and participation for
  women and girls, progress has been catalyzed
  across all the MDGs.
• Where health interventions addressed multiple
  factors, remarkable success has followed.
• Where investments in environmental sustainability
  were scaled up, there has been progress toward
  the MDGs
• Where strong partnerships were developed, efforts
  toward the MDGs were better coordinated and
  scaled-up.
• Even where challenges have been the greatest
  such as in conflict, post-conflict and
  disaster-prone countries MDG achievement is
  possible.

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A Synthesis of lessons about constraints

• Unresponsive institutions and poor implementation
• Lack of capacity
• Inadequate resources
• Cultural and social obstacles
• Poor data and monitoring mechanisms
• Conflicts, disasters, HIV/AIDS and other
  disease-related challenges
• New and emerging challenges shocks and
  vulnerabilities as a result of economic crisis,
  food crisis and climate change

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The International Assessment

• Evidence from 50 countries including 34 national
  MDG reports 2010 and other reports produced in
  2009 and broader analytical work in UNDP and
  elsewhere including on emerging crises
• Development of the International Assessment was
  supported by a Technical Advisory Panel (TAP)
• The TAP gathered 20 leading technical experts
  from member states and multilateral organizations
• Focuses on the broader international and national
  policy commitments that need to be met, the
  necessary policy environments and systems, and
  how various elements - including, but not limited
  to ODA - can support the achievement of the MDGs.

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MDG action agenda for acceleration and
sustainability

• Support country-led development
• Foster inclusive economic growth and pursue
  equity agenda
• Expand opportunities for women and girls
• Strengthen systems for education, health, water
  and sanitation, and infrastructure
• Enhance access to alternative energy and promote
  low-carbon development
• Scaled-up targeted interventions and implement
  social protection programme
• Accelerate domestic resource mobilization and
  strengthen global partnership for development

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The Outputs and where they can be found
http//www.beta.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sear
ch.html?qMDGsynthesis http//www.beta.undp.org/
undp/en/home/librarypage/mdg/international-assessm
ent---english-full-version.html
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Moving forward
The next country reports guidance will be updated
to bring out the unique information for 2013
review . We look forward to working with you
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Thank You