Global Debt
hdr03-10 chapter 8 052003.qxd
26/05/03
13:39
Side 145
CHAPTER 8
Policy, not charity: what rich countries can do to help achieve the Goals
This chapter analyses the role of rich countries in the international compact to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals, a compact that leverages the global commitments to reducing poverty by building on mutual responsibilities between poor and rich countries.
Poor countries must improve governance to mobilize and manage resources more effectively and equitably. Rich countries must increase aid, debt relief, market access and technology transfers.
The UN Millennium Declaration and the
Monterrey Consensus (the result of the March
2002 International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico) make it clear that poor countries are primarily responsible for achieving Goals 1–7. But these frameworks also reflect a new approach, with rich countries basing their support for poor countries more on performance—and seeing it less as an entitlement. Thus rich countries will increase assistance for poor countries that demonstrate good-faith efforts to mobilize domestic resources, undertake policy reforms, strengthen institutions and tackle corruption and other aspects of weak governance.
The commitments made by rich countries in the Millennium Declaration are spelled out in Goal 8 (box 8.1). These commitments have since been reaffirmed in various forums:
• The Monterrey Consensus recognized the need for a substantial increase in aid, urging donor countries to make concrete efforts to reach the aid target of 0.7% of gross national income set in 1970—and to vigorously pursue debt relief for countries that take steps to strengthen governance.
• The Doha ministerial declaration, issued at the 2001 meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Doha, Qatar, affirmed poverty reduction goals and committed to making the interests of poor countries central to the future
work
26/05/03
13:39
Side 145
CHAPTER 8
Policy, not charity: what rich countries can do to help achieve the Goals
This chapter analyses the role of rich countries in the international compact to achieve the
Millennium Development Goals, a compact that leverages the global commitments to reducing poverty by building on mutual responsibilities between poor and rich countries.
Poor countries must improve governance to mobilize and manage resources more effectively and equitably. Rich countries must increase aid, debt relief, market access and technology transfers.
The UN Millennium Declaration and the
Monterrey Consensus (the result of the March
2002 International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico) make it clear that poor countries are primarily responsible for achieving Goals 1–7. But these frameworks also reflect a new approach, with rich countries basing their support for poor countries more on performance—and seeing it less as an entitlement. Thus rich countries will increase assistance for poor countries that demonstrate good-faith efforts to mobilize domestic resources, undertake policy reforms, strengthen institutions and tackle corruption and other aspects of weak governance.
The commitments made by rich countries in the Millennium Declaration are spelled out in Goal 8 (box 8.1). These commitments have since been reaffirmed in various forums:
• The Monterrey Consensus recognized the need for a substantial increase in aid, urging donor countries to make concrete efforts to reach the aid target of 0.7% of gross national income set in 1970—and to vigorously pursue debt relief for countries that take steps to strengthen governance.
• The Doha ministerial declaration, issued at the 2001 meeting of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Doha, Qatar, affirmed poverty reduction goals and committed to making the interests of poor countries central to the future
work