21 May 2014
Member States Consider Draft Text on Third FfD Conference
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The co-facilitators of informal consultations on the Third Conference on Financing for Development (FfD), Geir Pedersen of Norway and George Talbot of Guyana, issued a draft of the resolution on the modalities for the conference.

In the fourth meeting of the informal consultations, on 20 May 2014, in New York, US, delegations discussed the draft text, which addresses the conference format, outcome, scope and organization.

UNGA20 May 2014: The co-facilitators of informal consultations on the Third Conference on Financing for Development (FfD), Geir Pedersen of Norway and George Talbot of Guyana, issued a draft of the resolution on the modalities for the conference. In the fourth meeting of the informal consultations, on 20 May 2014, in New York, US, delegations discussed the draft text, which addresses the conference format, outcome, scope and organization.

On format, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) would decide that the conference will be an international conference that should be attended at the highest possible level for Member States and foster high-level participation of the international financial and trade institutions and other relevant stakeholders, including NGOs and the private sector. The final outcome of the conference would be an intergovernmentally-agreed document. Many of the delegates expressed their support in this respect, underlining that the participation needs to be fully inclusive and all relevant stakeholders should have a good platform for engaging with Member States.

The co-facilitators noted that UNGA resolution 68/204 provides the scope of the conference, and stressed the need for coordination with the work of the Intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Sustainable Development Financing (ICESDF) and the forthcoming synthesis report from the UN Secretary-General. Many of the Member States who expressed their views on 20 May emphasized the need to avoid duplication with other processes.

On organization of the preparatory process, the co-facilitators said they had tried to strike a balance between predictability and flexibility, with the hybrid option of both a preparatory committee and intergovernmental consultations of the whole.

The date of the conference is undecided.

The next informal consultations will take place on 23 May, 28 May, and 30 May. [IISD RS Sources] [Letter from Co-Facilitators, Draft Resolution, and Schedule of Informals]

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