Post-2015 Development Agenda and Conflict/Peacebuilding

Abstract

This note examines how issues of conflict affected fragile states and peacebuilding have been dealt with in the preparation of the post-2015 development agenda. It is clear that the activities of g7+, OECD/DAC, and other development partners as well as initiatives such as the New Deal for Engagement in Fragile States have drawn increased attention of the international community to the special challenges faced by conflict affected fragile states.

Bearing in mind the above context and the agreement that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be coherent with and integrated in the post-2015 development agenda, this note reviews, from the peacebuilding perspective, the SDGs proposal submitted by the intergovernmental Open Working Group (OWG) on SDGs to the UN General Assembly in July 2014. Comments in this regard include the following: 1) while a goal on promoting peaceful and inclusive societies is included in the SDGs proposal, only 2 of its 12 targets specify a target year, making monitoring of implementation difficult; 2) peacebuilding activities must be firmly incorporated in the national development strategy and plan of the country; 3) availability of timely and reliable data disaggregated by gender, race, ethnicity, and other relevant characteristics is critical; 4) inclusion and participation of various stakeholders must be ensured, including women, youth, and other vulnerable population, in planning and implementing peacebuilding activities; 5) risk management in peacebuilding activities should be a joint undertaking with development partners; 6) development financing should be secured through innovative means of mobilizing both public and private resources; and 7) South-South cooperation that includes cooperation among fragile states should be promoted further. While discussion on the SDGs and post-2015 development agenda continues at the UN General Assembly and other forums, the note concludes that the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies should be included as a firm goal along with a relevant set of targets in the post-2015 development agenda.