STUDY GUIDE

The Economic and Social Council

BITSMUN 2019

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Letter from the Dias
Dear Delegates,
Congratulations on getting the opportunity to participate in BITS PILANI MUN 2019.
To the veterans of MUN, I promise you a very enriching debate that you’ve never
experienced before and to the newcomers, I am really excited to be a part of your maiden
voyage.
What we desire from the delegates is not how experienced or articulate they are.
Rather, we want to see how she/he can respect disparities and differences of opinion, work
around these, while extending their own foreign policy so that it encompasses more of the
others without compromising their own stand, thereby reaching a unanimously acceptable
practical solution.
The following pages intend to guide you with the nuances of the agenda as well as the
Council.
The Guide chronologically touches upon all the different aspects that are relevant and
will lead to fruitful debate in the Council. It will provide you with a bird’s eye view of the
gist of the issue.
However, it has to be noted that the background guide only contains certain basic
information which may form the basis for the debate and your research.
You are the representative of your allotted country and it is our hope that you put in
wholehearted efforts to research and comprehensively grasp all important facets of the
diverse agenda.
All the delegates should be prepared well in order to make the council’s direction and
debate productive. After all, only then will you truly be able to represent your country in the
best possible way.
We encourage you to go beyond this background guide and delve into the extremities
of the agenda to further enhance your knowledge of a burning global issue.
May the force be with you!
Regards,
Soumya Basu, President
Effy John, Vice President

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Introduction to the Committee
The Economic and Social Council is at the heart of the United Nations system to
advance the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and
environmental. It is the central platform for fostering debate and innovative thinking, forging
consensus on ways forward, and coordinating efforts to achieve internationally agreed goals.
It is also responsible for the follow-up to major UN conferences and summits.
The UN Charter established ECOSOC in 1945 as one of the six main organs of the
United Nations.

Coordination within the UN

ECOSOC links a diverse family of UN entities dedicated to sustainable development,
providing overall guidance and coordination. The entities include regional economic and
social commissions, functional commissions facilitating intergovernmental discussions of
major global issues, and specialized agencies, programmes and funds at work around the
world to translate development commitments into real changes in people’s lives.
Reforms over the last decade, particularly General Assembly resolution 68/1, have
strengthened ECOSOC’s leading role in identifying emerging challenges, promoting
innovation, and achieving a balanced integration of the three pillars of sustainable
development—economic, social and environmental. ECOSOC is charged with giving special
attention to coordinated follow-up on major UN conferences and summits.

Partnership with the rest of the world

Building on its coordination role within the UN system, ECOSOC is a gateway for
UN partnership and participation by the rest of the world. It offers a unique global meeting
point for productive dialogues among policymakers, parliamentarians, academics,
foundations, businesses, youth and 3,200+ registered non-governmental organizations.

A spotlight on global issues

Each year, ECOSOC structures its work around an annual theme of global importance
to sustainable development. This ensures focused attention, among ECOSOC’s array of
partners, and throughout the UN development system.

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 By emphasizing combined economic, social and environmental concerns, ECOSOC
encourages agreement on coherent policies and actions that make fundamental links across all
three.

ECOSOC’s annual High-Level Segment includes:

• High-Level Political Forum provides political leadership, guidance and
recommendations for sustainable development, and reviews progress in implementing
sustainable development commitments.
• Development Cooperation Forum reviews trends and progress in development
cooperation.

Other sessions encompass:

• Integration Segment promotes integrated actions on economic, social and
environmental issues, within the United Nations system and beyond.
• Humanitarian Affairs Segment strengthens coordination of UN humanitarian efforts.
• Operational Activities for Development Segment provides overall guidance for UN
funds and programmes.
• Coordination and Management Meeting reviews reports of ECOSOC subsidiary and
expert bodies; promotes UN system coordination on development issues; and
considers special country or regional concerns.
• Youth Forum brings youth voices into discussions on global policy-making on
development issues of the day.
• Partnership Forum encourages collaboration among Governments, businesses and
foundations, non-governmental organizations, academia and Parliamentarians.
• Special meetings to address global development emergencies or crises, to raise
awareness and to serve as a high level policy platform for coordination of actors
working on a specific situation.

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 AGENGA ITEM 1:

Economic and social challenges in achieving

Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industrial
Development) with special focus on
economically developing nations.

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 Introduction to Agenda Item 1
In the era of rapid expansion of industry, we are missing the key point of saving our
environment in the process. Multinational businesses and corporations are investing billions
in rapid industry expansion, most of which are direct funding sources for the UN. Fossil fuels
are extensively used and the society is used to the existing technology. Keeping the Agenda
2030 in mind, how challenging would it be for nations to achieve total renewable energy
usage and sustainable consumption of natural resources.
Goal 9 encompasses three important aspects of sustainable development:
infrastructure, industrialization and innovation. Infrastructure provides the basic physical
systems and structures essential to the operation of a society or enterprise. Industrialization
drives economic growth, creates job opportunities and thereby reduces income poverty.
Innovation advances the technological capabilities of industrial sectors and prompts the
development of new skills.
Investment in infrastructure and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth
and development. With over half the world population now living in cities, mass transport
and renewable energy are becoming ever more important, as are the growth of new industries
and information and communication technologies.
Technological progress is also key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and
environmental challenges, such as providing new jobs and promoting energy efficiency.
Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all
important ways to facilitate sustainable development.
More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet, and 90 percent are
from the developing world. Bridging this digital divide is crucial to ensure equal access to
information and knowledge, as well as foster innovation and entrepreneurship.

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 The Sustainable Development Agenda
On 1 January 2016, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030
Agenda for Sustainable Development — adopted by world leaders in September 2015 at
an historic UN Summit — officially came into force. Over the next fifteen years, with these
new Goals that universally apply to all, countries will mobilize efforts to end all forms of
poverty, fight inequalities and tackle climate change, while ensuring that no one is left
behind.
The SDGs, also known as Global Goals, build on the success of the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to go further to end all forms of poverty. The new
Goals are unique in that they call for action by all countries, poor, rich and middle-income to
promote prosperity while protecting the planet. They recognize that ending poverty must go
hand-in-hand with strategies that build economic growth and addresses a range of social
needs including education, health, social protection, and job opportunities, while tackling
climate change and environmental protection.
While the SDGs are not legally binding, governments are expected to take ownership
and establish national frameworks for the achievement of the 17 Goals. Countries have the
primary responsibility for follow-up and review of the progress made in implementing the
Goals, which will require quality, accessible and timely data collection. Regional follow-up
and review will be based on national-level analyses and contribute to follow-up and review at
the global level.

What is sustainable development?

• Sustainable development has been defined as development that meets the needs of the
present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own
needs.
• Sustainable development calls for concerted efforts towards building an inclusive,
sustainable and resilient future for people and planet.
• For sustainable development to be achieved, it is crucial to harmonize three core
elements: economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection. These
elements are interconnected and all are crucial for the well-being of individuals and
societies.

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 • Eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is an indispensable requirement
for sustainable development. To this end, there must be promotion of sustainable,
inclusive and equitable economic growth, creating greater opportunities for all,
reducing inequalities, raising basic standards of living, fostering equitable social
development and inclusion, and promoting integrated and sustainable management of
natural resources and ecosystems.

Are the Sustainable Development Goals legally binding?

• No. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are not legally binding.
• Nevertheless, countries are expected to take ownership and establish a national
framework for achieving the 17 Goals.
• Implementation and success will rely on countries’ own sustainable development
policies, plans and programmes.
• Countries have the primary responsibility for follow-up and review, at the national,
regional and global levels, with regard to the progress made in implementing the
Goals and targets over the next 15 years.
• Actions at the national level to monitor progress will require quality, accessible and
timely data collection and regional follow-up and review.

How will the Sustainable Development Goals be implemented?

• The Addis Ababa Action Agenda that came out of the Third International Conference
on Financing for Development provided concrete policies and actions to support the
implementation of the new agenda.
• Implementation and success will rely on countries’ own sustainable development
policies, plans and programmes, and will be led by countries. The Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) will be a compass for aligning countries’ plans with their
global commitments.
• Nationally owned and country-led sustainable development strategies will require
resource mobilization and financing strategies.
• All stakeholders: governments, civil society, the private sector, and others, are
expected to contribute to the realisation of the new agenda.
• A revitalized global partnership at the global level is needed to support national
efforts. This is recognized in the 2030 Agenda.
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 • Multi-stakeholder partnerships have been recognized as an important component of
strategies that seek to mobilize all stakeholders around the new agenda.

Sustainable Development Goal 9

Investments in infrastructure – transport, irrigation, energy and information and
communication technology – are crucial to achieving sustainable development and
empowering communities in many countries. It has long been recognized that growth in
productivity and incomes, and improvements in health and education outcomes require
investment in infrastructure.
Inclusive and sustainable industrial development is the primary source of income
generation, allows for rapid and sustained increases in living standards for all people, and
provides the technological solutions to environmentally sound industrialization.
Technological progress is the foundation of efforts to achieve environmental
objectives, such as increased resource and energy-efficiency. Without technology and
innovation, industrialization will not happen, and without industrialization, development will
not happen.

GOAL 9 TARGETS
• Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional
and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-
being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
• Promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and, by 2030, significantly raise
industry’s share of employment and gross domestic product, in line with national
circumstances, and double its share in least developed countries.
• Increase the access of small-scale industrial and other enterprises, in particular in
developing countries, to financial services, including affordable credit, and their
integration into value chains and markets.
• By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with
increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally
sound technologies and industrial processes, with all countries taking action in
accordance with their respective capabilities.

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 • Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial
sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030,
encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and
development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and
development spending.
• Facilitate sustainable and resilient infrastructure development in developing countries
through enhanced financial, technological and technical support to African countries,
least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island
developing States 18.
• Support domestic technology development, research and innovation in developing
countries, including by ensuring a conducive policy environment for, inter alia,
industrial diversification and value addition to commodities.
• Significantly increase access to information and communications technology and
strive to provide universal and affordable access to the Internet in least developed
countries by 2020.

PROGRESS OF GOAL 9 IN 2017

Despite steady improvements in manufacturing output and employment, renewed investment
will be needed in the least developed countries to build needed infrastructure and ensure the
doubling of industry’s share of GDP in those countries by 2030.
• Efficient transportation services generate employment and wealth and drive economic
development. In 2015, the estimated global economic impact (both direct and
indirect) of air transport was $2.7 trillion, equivalent to 3.5 per cent of global GDP.
The least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and small island
developing States represent far less air travel and freight volumes, with each country
group accounting for only 1 per cent to 2.7 per cent of the global total.
• Manufacturing is a principal driver of economic development, employment and social
stability. Globally, manufacturing value added as a share of GDP increased from 15.3
per cent in 2005 to 16.2 per cent in 2016. In 2016, manufacturing value added per
capita amounted to $4,621 in Europe and Northern America, compared to about $100
in the least developed countries.
• As many countries move to more efficient and less energy-intensive industries, their
emissions of carbon dioxide per unit of manufacturing value added are generally

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 declining. From 2000 to 2014, Europe and Northern America reduced their emissions
intensity by 36 per cent. All of the 10 largest manufacturing countries saw decreases
in their emissions intensity. Such promising trends are not reflected in the global
emissions intensity level, however, since a significant share of global manufacturing
value added has moved to countries with generally higher intensity levels.
• In 2014, investments in research and development stood at 1.7 per cent of global
GDP, up from 1.5 per cent in 2000. Worldwide, there were 1,098 researchers per
million inhabitants in 2014, ranging from 63 in the least developed countries to 3,500
in Europe and Northern America.
• ODA for economic infrastructure in developing countries reached $57 billion in 2015,
an increase of 32 per cent in real terms since 2010. The main recipient sectors were
transport and energy ($19 billion each).
• Manufacturing is increasingly shifting towards more technologically complex
products. While medium- and high-tech products continue to dominate manufacturing
production in industrialized economies (where they contribute about 80 per cent of
total manufacturing output), the share has barely reached 10 per cent in least
developed countries.
• Mobile-cellular services have spread rapidly and have allowed people living in
previously unconnected areas to join the global information society. In 2016, 95 per
cent of the world’s population and 85 per cent of people in the least developed
countries were covered by a mobile-cellular signal.

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Finance: A Challenge for SDG 9
To address the funding gap, we need alternative means of financing and collaborative public-
private governance frameworks to provide innovative infrastructure solutions. This is not
only about building new infrastructure but also about using our existing systems more
effectively and efficiently. Some examples of companies stepping up to the challenge are:
• Google recently added (yet) another string to its bow with the establishment of a new
independent company (Sidewalk Labs) dedicated to innovating new technologies
needed to improve urban life. The venture is to be headed up by the former deputy
mayor of New York and former chief executive of Bloomberg, Daniel Doctoroff. The
announcement accompanying the launch specifically singled out transit, cost of living
(particularly housing infrastructure), energy use and government efficiency as areas of
focus.
• U.K. retailer Marks & Spencer recently launched a fund for small-scale renewable
energy projects. As well as providing some much needed capital for such projects, the
fund should help ensure that M&S’s sustainability plan is made relevant to local
communities.
• IBM’s Smarter Cities, Cisco’s Smart+Connected Communities and Siemens
Sustainable Cities are all programs designed to work with local governments to
provide solutions to urban challenges — in particular those relating to infrastructure.
• Green Bonds are continuing to grow as investment vehicles dedicated to sustainable
projects. YES bank, India’s fifth largest private-sector bank, announced India’s first
Green Infrastructure Bond in February. The bond issue raised $158 million, doubling
its original target — with big interest from insurers and pension funds.
Providing finance and technical expertise for solutions to infrastructure problems could prove
to be big business in the future. Companies, especially technology-led firms, have a wealth of
resources available that can improve the operation of infrastructure assets by local
governments.
Infrastructure also can make a sound long-term investment with stable and predictable cash
flows that suit the horizons of pension funds and insurers. Increasingly, businesses and
investors are growing wise to this potential and seizing opportunities. Without them, there
would be no way of bridging the gap.

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Challenges for Major Developing
Nations
BANGLADESH
Successes:
• The government’s 2016-2020 plan, revised in late 2015, now addresses 56 SDG
targets directly and the rest are included indirectly.
• The ministry of education has also contacted private sectors to produce braille books
to be distributed among the visually impaired children attending the government
schools from January 2017.
• NGOs in the country are shifting their programme priorities towards climate change,
extreme poverty reduction and considering disability as a cross-cutting issue.
• A civil society group has been formed with expert professionals to monitor the
progress of achievement of the SDGs in the country. United Nations has been actively
participating in the discussions of the group.
Challenges:
• The government health, water and sanitation activities have a reduced budget this year
due to funding cuts.
• There is no noticeable progress in improving governance, curbing corruption, steps on
to ensure decent, secure and inclusive workplace and inclusive economic growth.
• Donor funding to education, health and other social sectors started reducing from this
year. The NGOs working on the inclusion of people with disabilities will face
challenges in continuing their work at the scale they are now.

BENIN
Successes:
• A ministry is being put in place at the presidency of the republic to coordinate policies
implementing the SDGs and other large project works.
• The government organised a high-level seminar on the SDGs and the Paris agreement
on climate change. The goal was to begin the operational phase of the measures taken
in these two international documents in order not to miss the deadline of 2030 for
achieving the SDGs.

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BURKINA FASO
Successes:
• The SDGs were taken into account in planning a national programme of economic
and social development.
• The Secrétaire Permanent des Organisations Non Gouvernementales (SPONG)
developed a project for ownership of the SDGs by the communities and civil society
organisations of the country. SPONG will monitor the implementation of the SDGs.
Challenges:
• A lack of finances for the SDGs project to be explained to the wider community.
• United Nations’ team in Burkina Faso needs to ensure it plays a role in SDGs
monitoring with other NGOs.

COTE D’IVOIRE
Successes:
• The SDGs are being aligned with sectoral and local health policies – United Nations
is contributing to this process.
• The country has put in place a steering committee and scientific committee for the
transition process from the Millennium Development Goals (2000-2015) to the
Sustainable Development Goals (2015-2030)
• Five strategies on development interventions have been put in place to work towards
meeting the SDGs in the period 2016-2020.
Challenges:
• Increased financing is needed to meet sustainable development objectives, and there’s
a need to ensure the availability of data for regular monitoring.

GUINEA
Successes:
• United Nations’ country team maintains strong support and collaboration with the
national government (through the Ministry of Health) toward implementing the
SDGs.
• Guinea has just developed its national health sector development plan 2015–2024.
The plan took into consideration the SDGs in the health sector, particularly goals 3, 9,
10, 11 and 13.

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INDIA
India and the SDGs – a status update
Successes:
• A new national body, the National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) aayog
(commission) was created in January 2015, and has been given responsibility for
implementation of the SDGs. It has already completed a process mapping the
ministries and Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) of the central government against
the SDGs.
• United Nations’ social inclusion programme has monitoring systems that gather data
disaggregated by gender, caste and religion, helping us reach the most marginalised
people.
Challenges:
• There are still very low levels of awareness about the SDGs in the eye health and
disability sectors – there’s a need for widespread awareness generation on the
potential positive impact of the SDGs on people’s lives.
• Despite the emphasis on gender equality in our programmes, gender gaps still exist in
our social inclusion programme where the number of women covered is significantly
less than the number of men.

NIGERIA
Successes:
• United Nations is contributing to interventions for the control and elimination of five
neglected tropical diseases in six states of Nigeria, in partnership with the federal and
states ministries of health. Control and elimination of the NTDs in these districts will
significantly improve the health and wellbeing of the most marginalised communities,
boosting economic outcomes and contribute to the broader development goals and the
achievement of Goal 3.
Challenges
• There is poor government funding for the control and elimination of NTDs.

PAKISTAN
Successes:

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 • An amendment disability bill, drafted by a committee which included United Nations,
has been tabled in the National Assembly to provide health care, education,
employment and others facilities to approximately eight million persons with
disabilities in Pakistan.
• United Nations is working through the National Forum of Women with Disabilities to
work with the government on gender issues within the SDGs, and mainstreaming
disability within gender issues.
• LEAD Pakistan (a national level NGO) has formed a specialised team to work on
translating the SDGs into a national framework of policy coherence, implementation,
and monitoring. Work has already begun on sensitising the government of Pakistan
and other stakeholders on the potential implications of the SDGs for the country.

TOGO
Successes:
• In July 2016, a session of the Policy Forum on Sustainable Development concluded
with the adoption of a Ministerial Declaration on “Leaving no one aside”.
• The country has made progress in the field of food safety (reduction of hunger),
education and the fight against HIV/AIDS, according to the Secretary General of the
Ministry of Planning.

UGANDA
Successes:
• A new government framework is in place for monitoring the implementation of the
SDGs. United Nations is part of the disability movement within the country, and
participates in disability discussions around inclusion and advocacy.
• The need for consultation with disabled people’s organisations (DPOs) has been
recognised. A plan for DPOs to build pressure on the Ministry of Gender to take
action on disability matters is in its early stages, and there’s also a plan in place for
DPOs to call on parliament for the appointment of a minister in charge of disability.
Challenges:
• There is a need to train DPO representatives to link the SDGs with the United Nations
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

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 • There is work to be done to engage other stakeholders (women, children, older
people, youth movements etc) to voice disability issues to relevant government
bodies.
• Ensuring successful, ongoing dialogue with government by DPOs.
• There is a need to ensure that the government framework on the SDGs is inclusive.

ZAMBIA
Successes:
• The ministry of community development and other partners convened the first ever
social protection week on the theme of ‘Achieving prosperity for all’ in May 2016.
• With the success of a social cash transfer initiative improving people’s lives, the
government has decided to extend the project to 78 districts throughout the country
and target 243,000 people, contributing towards Goal 1 by increasing incomes of the
poorest people and reducing extreme poverty.
• In May 2016 a disability policy was launched, to create a working, education and
social atmosphere inclusive of people with disabilities – United Nations supports
members of various disability groups to participate in these, and has held discussions
with the Ministry of Community Development. The policy indicated that the
government would ensure disabled people were included in the upcoming general
election process. It included a commitment to procure 5,600 ramps in polling stations
and relocate all polling stations to ground floor level to improve accessibility. The
commission also promised to provide braille voter education materials, and ballot
paper jackets for voters who were visually impaired and did not wish to be assisted in
casting a secret ballot.
Challenges:
• Despite commitments, the election process didn’t run smoothly in its inclusion of
people with disabilities. Disability data gathered during voter registration was
problematic, and the political environment during the official campaign period was
marred by political violence and intolerance, meaning people with disabilities were
deterred from attending political meetings including rallies where they could have
accessed messages on which to base their decisions.

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 • The adoption processes within the political parties was also generally not inclusive
and discouraged many persons with disabilities from participating in elections as
candidates seeking election to public office.

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A strong sustainability challenge
Climate change also puts pressure on natural resources that are essential fоr sustaining
human civilization. In the past, resource scarcity was often presented as a critical challenge,
but for much of the twentieth century, resource prices actually fеll. The combination of rapid
economic expansion, continued population growth and a changing climate raises the spectre
оf resource scarcities. In the medium and long term, it maу lead to a strong sustainability
challenge. There is significant scope fоr substitution in many areas, yet certain forms of
natural capital including the ecological services they provide cannot be replaced by man-
made capital. Their exploitation has thus to bе limited so as to preserve the overall capacity
of ecosystems to provide those services (Ayres, 2007). Land, water and energy in particular
are critical resources for humanity, and their availability and use are tightly interconnected,
with multiple feedback channels between them. All of them have strong links to agriculture
and food production. Large unmet needs at the global level require and will inevitably lead to
a further expansion in their usе and exploitation. Combined with the additional impact of
climate change, this expansion may very well lead tо much tighter supplies, and thus to price
volatilities and sustained price increases. If scarcities arise and if limits to substitutability are
reached, distributional conflicts will have to be addressed at the national and global levels, as
well as with respect to purposes оf use. The common drivers of resource use arе population
growth and economic expansion and the associated lifestyle changes. The global population
will continue to expand, but population growth will take place largely in the poorest
countries, adding comparatively small additional pressure at the global level. Resource use is
strongly correlated with income, however. Currently, per capita material and energy use in
developed countries is higher than in developing countries by а factor of 5-10.

Trends and challenges

Global socioeconomic, demographic and environmental megatrends have increased
interdependence among countries, but without any commensurate strengthening of global
governance. As a result, global macroeconomic imbalances, migratory pressures and
environmental challenges are insufficiently addressed, and crises occur with increasing
frequency. At thе same time, countries with growing exposure and interlinkages become
more vulnerable to such external shocks, and crises spread more quickly, threatening
development progress. At the national and sub national levels, these tighter links have
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facilitated socioeconomic progress, but not everybody is benefiting to the same degree.
Rather, inequalities both within and between countries persist. While growth has accelerated
in many developing countries, often it has been non-inclusive, failing to create sufficient
employment opportunities and exacerbating inequalities. The consolidation of value chains
and the related deceleration of trade growth may render the implementation of export-based
growth strategies even more difficult in the years ahead, at the same time as demographic
developments make accelerated employment generation an imperative in countries with large
youth cohorts. Population dynamics will also impose additional stresses on local governments
and rapidly growing cities and national health and education systems. Rapid ageing in
numerous countries, in particular, will require further investments in social protection
systems. The persistence of inequalities, whether in incomes, оr in access to services, decent
jobs, land or technology, also hints at their entrenched structural causes. Discrimination and
exclusion, based on gender, age, disability or ethnicity, have to be tackled directly in order
that greater inclusiveness and transformative change may be achieved. These challenges are
exacerbated in multiple ways by accelerating environmental degradation. The poor are most
vulnerable to environmental hazards and, owing to the unequal distribution of assets, will
also suffer the mоst from resource scarcities. In terms of the medium and lоng run, threats to
the stability of the global climate overshadow all other challenges, as they would
fundamentally undermine the preconditions for human development.

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The solution - to strengthen the
developing countries?
The developing countries’ economies are in a constant state of threat. Their
vulnerability at present is far worse than ever before, all due to their weakness in the global
economy, making them far less prepared to face the uncertain external environment.
However, hope prevails. A World Bank study indicated that the success of the Doha Round
would increase global income by more than $500 billion a year bу 2015 and over two thirds
of that increase is poured into the developing economies, pulling approximately 144 million
people to live above the poverty line. Yet, such а success depends on both parties: the
developed countries binding to what they enforce and the developing countries agreeing to
the proposals; in other words, full global liberalization. Several developing countries have
shown great signs оf participation in the GATT/WTO system, some of them even joining the
negotiations from the beginning. Several advantages trailed this early admittance, аs it entails
entering into a series of bilateral agreements with numerous countries. Developing countries
had a good chance tо be effective as the WTO provided them with а productive setting

Strategies for sustainable development

The transformative change necessary to address the challenges set оut above will bе
driven mainly by actors at the local and national levels. Coherence between local and national
strategies will therefore remain critical. Policy decisions in one country have regional and
often global repercussions, but currently such externalities—bе they positive or negative—
are not taken sufficiently into account in decision-making processes. Coherence in national
development strategies implies most fundamentally that socioeconomic development
strategies aim to avoid further environmental distress. Developed countries in particular have
to address unsustainable consumption and production patterns and their continuously rising
environmental impact, while emerging and developing economies need to pursue the goal of
greening their catch-up growth. At the global level, the human development agenda and the
goal of environmental protection have to be jointly pursued. Developed countries in
particular would make moves towards sustainable production and consumption, while
developing countries would offer greater cooperation in meeting climate and other global
challenges. Such a global consensus on sustainable development will be based on solidarity,
with human development and environmental protection as integrated and universal goals for
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all countries. A final key challenge is ensuring responsibility and accountability for progress
towards meeting the SDGs. Mechanisms to do this need to link across local, national and
international scales.

Questions the resolution should answer

1. “Aid for development, is it the answer?” The OECD defines aid as а voluntary
transfer of wealth from one country to another with the aim of benefiting the recipient
country. This, however, is nоt always the case, as many donors use aid as ways to benefit
themselves either by favorably influencing the politics of а certain country, opening up
market access

We need to measure both “inputs” (iе, did nation X invest what they said they were
going to invest in addressing issues A, B, and C), аs well аs “outcomes” (ie, did we actually
achieve our goals to eradicate poverty, improve health, аnd provide access to water, food and
energy in nation X)?
However, crucially, we need powerful ways of feeding this information back into the
policy and political arena to hold responsible stakeholders to account. This chiefly includes
governments, but also other key stakeholders in the private sector, NGOs, and even civil
society. If we don’t create these sorts of ‘feedback loops’ to hold each other to account, how
will we make sure that the SDGs are actually being implemented?
While aid flows into developing countries and LDCs, one might expect inflated growth in the
economy. The gap between the expected and actual growth can be traced back to corruption
and private consumption. Corruption is widely spread in countries with low development
conditions; however, quantifying it has proved to be elusive. Corruption continues to be a
taboo subject; thus, the ability to separate corruption costs from wastage, mismanagement
and inefficiency is impossible. This leads to more control clauses from the donor countries
enforced upon recipients in order to limit these wastages. However, this leads to loss of
flexibly to the recipient economy, as it has to deal with more constraints thus lowering the aid
efficiency.

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 2. “One size fits аll?”
It becomes evident that reaching a clear-cut solution whereby a recommendation can
be issued to аll countries seeking development is impossible. Certain methods seem to work
in some cases, while causing extreme damages in other cases. This leads tо the belief that
every case needs its оwn recommendation based on its economic strengths, weaknesses and
development status, to name а few economic indicators. Direct implementation of an
economic policy framework without taking into consideration the underlying social, political
and economic structure led to a large duality among the society, i.e., large corporations ran by
corrupt few elites and the remaining impoverished workers trying to survive with the effects
of sudden globalization . In a recent G-20 meeting, the IMF was finally reformed to include
and empower the developing countries’ voice and to overcome the “shock therapy” approach,
which accompanies the loans along with the strict conditionalities. Will a similar WTO
reform take place soon? Will thе developing countries finally unite and take а final stand?

Further Readings - http://unctad.org/en/Pages/Home.aspx

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/devel_e/devel_e.htm
http://www.quno.org/geneva/pdf/economic/Background/Patents-
TradeDevelopmentEnglish.pdf
http://www.ycsg.yale.edu/core/forms/Trade_for_Development.pdf
http://www.oecd.org/investment/investmentpolicy/1922690.pdf
http://www.farmfoundation.org/news/articlefiles/816-vsmith.pdf

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 For further reading of the delegates,
attachments of reference materials are being
given. You are requested to go through them in
details.

24 ECOSOC Study Guide