UN reform, how we're tracking on SDGs, Trump, making a difference with research, and more

The United Nations has been the green light from its 193 member nations to embark on a major overhaul of its operations, says Secretary General António Guterres.

The changes — primarily affecting the world body’s peace and security work globally and revamping the management of the UN — represent the most significant shift for the system in decades.

But the peacebuilding budget is getting squeezed.

The three-pronged reforms were first floated a year ago - set to cover Peace and Security/Development and Management.

"Since the start of his five-year term in January 2017, Guterres has been pressured by powerful member nations, first and foremost the United States, the largest financial donor to the UN, to transform the world body into a more cost-effective organization. That includes reducing overlapping responsibilities and bureaucratic bottlenecks as well as devolving decisions over issues such as procurement and personnel to less centralized and less expensive office sites, closer to the work being done."

Devex talks about the pros and cons of reform. Revamping in-country coordination, reducing duplication all makes sense, but funding cuts could be a problem.

"....at the heart of the reform strategy, is the intention to help streamline work across U.N. agencies, boosting their “accountability and overall coordination,” Secretary-General António Guterres wrote in a December 2017 report to the General Assembly.

Certainly, a reformed UN makes it easier for government's like New Zealand to put money into multilateral agencies, so cuts could be followed by increases in funding in the future.

Either way, these new funding patterns have implications for how we as international NGOs position ourselves.

Just a reminder to save the date. 

The theme of this year's CID annual conference is the Pacific Reset. We are lining up a top list of speakers from New Zealand and the Pacific, exciting MC's and hosts, including workshops in the afternoon and the CID AGM.

Watch this space for more details!

The 2018 SDG Index and Dashboards report "Global Responsibilities: Implementing The Goals" presents a revised and updated assessment of countries' distance to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  

New Zealand has been ranked 17 out of 156 countries in the SDG Global rank.  We are on track to achieve the 2030 goals for good health and well-being, decent work and economic growth and industry innovation and infrastructure, and maintaining SDG achievement for affordable and clean energy.

The SDG data in the report show that no country is completely on track to achieve all SDGs. Some countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and those affected by conflict, struggle to end extreme poverty in all its forms by 2030. Inequalities are high and rising in many parts of the world as underscored in this report, including by the more extensive data available for OECD countries. The data also suggest that progress towards achieving SDGs 13 (Climate action), 14 (Life below water) and 15 (Life on land) must accelerate substantially to meet the 2030 targets.

ESCAPs "Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2017" was released in May.  Dr Shamshad Akhtar, the Under-Secretary-General of ESCAP (UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) states that at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development is a pledge to leave no one behind.  The report acknowledges and seeks to understand disparity within regions. The report has an excellent section showing how the Pacific as a (sub) region, has nearly achieving Goal 12 (responsible consumption and production), but for the situation for Goal 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and Goal 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions) has worsened.

Oxfam's Duncan Green has good advice for researchers on how to make a real difference, and measure it.

"A lack of understanding of who key decision-makers are, a less-than-agile response to real-world events, and difficulties in attributing credit are all hampering progress in this area. Looking at how impact is measured by aid agencies, there are much academics could learn from their monitoring, evaluation and learning teams."

If you want your research or analysis to have a real impact, here is Duncan's advice on how to map "power":

• For the change you are advocating, who are the likely champions, drivers and, undecideds who you can seek to win over?
• Who has the power over the decisions you are trying to influence? They are probably going to be your main targets.
• Who/what in turn influences those targets? Is it evidence (if so, what kind?) or something else entirely, like the identity of the messenger?
• How do you get targets to be aware of and interested in your research in the first place? Have you tried to involve them in it, by asking them to be on a reference group, comment on drafts, or be interviewed for it, for example? Much better than just adding your paper to their reading pile.

Every year the World Bank chooses a development-related topic as the subject of its annual World Development Report (WDR). Since the first publication of the WDR in 1978, "work" is one of the few subjects to have been a theme more than once. However 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO), the UN agency whose role is to develop international policy on employment and work. (Incidentally, the ILO will be publishing its own report to mark this occasion titled "The Future of Work".) 

"The nature of work is constantly being reshaped by technological advances, and accordingly, demand for less advanced or routine skills is decreasing," says the World Bank's latest report "The Changing Nature of Work".  Technology is also changing production patterns. Interestingly, the study finds that demand for advanced cognitive skills, socio-emotional skills, and particularly skill-combination associated with greater adaptability is increasing. This is evident in some developing countries, as well as developed countries.

Don't be put off by the mention of Karl Marx is the first paragraph, the World Bank's report makes for interesting reading.

• cherish an open culture
• design and implement feedback loops
• promote personal mastery
• plan and accept failure
• appropriate best practise
• cultivate a common vision.

As CID says goodbye to a hugely respected and influential leader in our sector, Steve Hunt, the CEO of CID Member cbm New Zealand (Christian Blind Mission), we thought this was a good moment to shine a light on the great work that CBM has done under Steve's leadership. And we wish the cbm New Zealand team good luck as they carry on without their "pilot".

cbm New Zealand has a niche area of expertise. They set out to change not just their own, but other humanitarian and development organisations - from the inside out. That's how they back themselves to reach the more than 15% of people living in the world (and more in developing countries) with disabilities. They embed inclusive approaches to people with disabilities by partnering with bigger organisations who lack this expertise. It's an approach that other CID members can learn from. 

cbm New Zealand modelled this during tropical cyclone Gita this year, where they demonstrated ways to respond to disasters that made sure people with disabilities were active participants.

'One billion people worldwide live with a disability. Many are isolated from society due to stigma, or simply because of the barriers they face moving around the community.

Difficulties people with disabilities face only increase in humanitarian contexts, but given the scale and complexity of responding to disasters and conflict, their specific needs are often overlooked. What happens when tsunami sirens can't be heard, evacuation instructions can't be seen, or a safe assembly point requires crossing rough, wheel-puncturing ground?'

CID wishes Steve Hunt all the best for wherever he ends up next - they'll be lucky to have such an innovative and passionate advocate for the causes he champions.

Read more about cbm New Zealand and our other fantastic Members of the Moment here.