December 1999, Vol. 3, No 4


The International Anti-Poverty Alliance


    The World Summit for Social Development in Copenhagen in 1995 identified a number of specific anti-poverty targets but they were not given great prominence in the final agreement. In the following year, however, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) comprising the major donor countries agreed on a number of International Development Targets for achievement by the year 2015. The targets are:

  • halving the proportion of people living in extreme
    poverty;
  • achieving universal primary education;
  • eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary
    education (by 2005);
  • reducing mortality rates of infants and children under
    5 by two-thirds;
  • reducing maternal mortality rates by three-fourths;
  • achieving universal access to appropriate reproductive health
    services; and
  • reversing global and national losses of environmental resources.

     These goals, unlike more emotionally attractive ones such as total elimination of poverty, could conceivably be achieved by the target date of 2015. The fifteen-year period is long enough for the necessary initiatives to achieve major improvements but not so long as to condone procrastination. Substantial action must be initiated urgently, however, if the outcomes are to be achieved on time.

     There is no prospect of the targets being met without substantial commitments of resources and other support by the wealthier countries and the international financial institutions which they control. It is reasonable to conclude that, since they established the targets, they should be willing to provide adequate support. If they do not do so, the targets will rapidly be seen as unfair and unattainable impositions on developing countries rather than as realistic and reciprocal commitments by the international community.
This concept of reciprocal commitments could be implemented by establishing an international anti-poverty alliance involving both developed and developing countries, as well as international financial institutions. The alliance would involve commitments to inputs as well as to the outcomes specified in the International Development Targets.

     The inputs could include specific timetables for improving debt relief, achieving the 0.7% benchmark for official development assistance, increasing support from key international financial institutions, and implementing the 20:20 principle. A coordinated system of national taxes on international financial transactions and some other international services could be adopted, with the proceeds being earmarked by donor and developing countries to finance their commitments to the alliance.

     Civil society organisations could pursue establishment of this international anti-poverty alliance during preparations for the Special Session on follow-up to the Copenhagen Summit which the UN General Assembly will conduct in Geneva in June 2000. Implementation of the alliance could be coordinated and monitored by the Economic and Social Council.

     The International Council on Social Welfare hopes to join with other organisations and individuals in a sustained campaign to develop and publicise independent assessments of implementation as the countdown to the target date proceeds. A suitable focus for this campaign would be International Poverty Day on October 17 each year.


JULIAN DISNEY 
President 
International Council on Social Welfare