13 October 2014: The co-facilitators of the consultations on all issues relating to the Third UN Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) and its preparatory process issued a letter to Member States proposing a programme of work for informal consultations, and a road map detailing the preparatory process. The proposals will be discussed in an informal consultation on 17 October 2014, at UN Headquarters in New York, US.
The road map proposes five substantive informal sessions, held between October and December 2014 or January 2015, on the following topics: opening session and setting the stage (17 October); global context (10 November); mobilization and effective use of resources (11-13 November); enabling environment and systemic issues (9-11 December); and learning from partnerships and the follow-up process (12 December or 14 January).
It also proposes an interactive hearing with civil society and the business sector, and regional consultations organized by the UN Regional Commissions. Finally, the road map would include three drafting sessions, on 27-29 January 2015, 13-17 April 2015, and 15-19 June 2015.
The proposed work programme gives greater detail on the content of the five substantive informal sessions. Issues proposed to be discussed include: domestic and international public finance; private and blended finance; an enabling and conducive policy environment; trade, technology, and capacity building; governance; learning from sector partnerships and funds; and strengthening the FfD follow-up process.
The co-facilitators – George Talbot of Guyana and Geir Pedersen of Norway – encourage Member States to also provide thoughts on the conference as a whole at the first informal consultation.
UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa appointed Talbot and Pedersen as co-facilitators of “open, inclusive and transparent consultations” on FfD and its preparatory process, on 8 October 2014.
The FfD Conference will take place from 13-16 July 2015, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. [Letter from UNGA President, Co-Facilitators] [IISD RS Story on Co-Facilitator Appointment] [IISD Coverage of FfD Consultations]