12 February 2013: The Overseas Development Agency (ODI) hosted an interactive conversation with UN Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark. Clark, who also serves as the Chair of the UN Development Group (UNDG), shared her reflections on the post-2015 development agenda, commented on emerging themes for the post-2015 agenda and responded to questions.

Speaking on 12 February 2013, in London, UK, Clark said a key issue on the post-2015 process is ensuring convergence between conversations focused on development and poverty eradication, and environment-focused conversations. She recommended convergence on one global development agenda, while noting the gap between the report of the UN High-level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda (HLP), in May 2013, and that of the Open Working Group (OWG) on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in September 2014.

Clark highlighted the “extensive” national consultations and the 11 global thematic consultations being coordinated by UNDG. She commended this process for reaching out to marginalized and vulnerable groups. Noting uneven progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Clark called for an increased focus on disaggregating data in the post-2015 agenda to address inequalities. Clark said UNDP will publish a preliminary synthesis of the thematic consultations in March 2013, and that the UN intends to make all data available online so interested individuals can interpret the data.

Participants asked questions about, inter alia: corporate transparency and accountability; tensions between poverty eradication and sustainable development; youth inclusion; the perspectives of the BRICs (Brazil, the Russian Federation, India and China); peacebuilding goals; and economic transformation. In response to a question on financial services, Clark supported focusing on means of implementation in the post-2015 agenda, noting that financial inclusion is critical to meeting a range of goals. On domestic and international financing responsibilities, Clark called for a shift from aid effectiveness to development effectiveness, referencing discussions at the Fourth High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Busan, Republic of Korea (HLF-4). On resilience, Clark recommended a broad view of resilience beyond a natural hazards focus to include dimensions such as prevention and mitigation of conflict. [ODI Webcast of Conversation]