27 March 2015: More than 80 representatives of Asia-Pacific countries met to discuss development effectiveness and financing in the international post-2015 landscape, at a meeting organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and hosted by the Government of the Philippines. Participants discussed: accessing development finance and ensuring its effective use; mobilizing domestic resources for development; engaging in South-South partnerships for innovation; and strengthening monitoring and accountability.

The meeting convened from 26-27 March 2015, in Manila, on the theme ‘Strengthening Coherence between the Effective Development Cooperation and Financing for Development Agenda in Asia-Pacific.’ Representatives crafted regional input to several international fora: the Third International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD 3) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in July 2015; intergovernmental negotiations on the post-2015 development agenda taking place in New York, US, through July 2015; and the Development Cooperation Forum High-Level Symposium, in Incheon, Republic of Korea, in April 2015. Their discussions also contributed to a regional work plan that includes the promotion of South-South and Triangular Cooperation.

The Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) noted that discussions focused on ways to “grow the envelope” for development financing, as well as to build a resilient financing framework that can achieve long-term, sustainable financing for small and vulnerable economies.

The meeting also showcased country-level initiatives of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC). [UNDP Press Release] [PIFS Press Release] [Draft Concept Note and Agenda]