Achieving Sustainable Development and Promoting Development Cooperation

In its 2008 high level segment held in New York from 30 June to July 2008, the economic and social council(ECOSOC) organized a series of panels and round tables discussions on the theme of its second annual ministerial Review(AMR) on "Implementing the Internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to sustainable development". The council also convened its first biennial development cooperation forum (DCF) which aimed to position ECOSOC as the principal venue for global dialogue and policy review on the effectiveness and coherence of international development cooperation, particularly in support of the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the millennium development goals (MDGs). The Candid and Broad-based discussions at the DCF underscored the potential of the forum as an inclusive and global venue for multi-stakeholders on key issued in development cooperation. Its success lay in the active and subactive participation of all stakeholders: member state, the private sector, civil society and international organizations. The annual ministerial review sent a strong message that all efforts should be deployed to achieve the goal of sustainability, but also for strengthening the global partnership, which is at the centre of the UN development agenda. For the first time, developed countries made national presentations and provided an opportunity to the council for an open dialogue on their development cooperation policies. The Ministerial declaration adopted by ECOSOC at the end of its high-level segment, focused on the actions that are needed, at national and international levels, to place the global economy on a firmer and more sustainable foundation. the council recognized that the world is facing multiple challenges to realize the internationally agreed development goals, including the MDGs. In that context, member states acknowledged that global financial instability, rising food and fuel prices, environmental degradation and climate change require early concerted action. They also reaffirmed their commitments to ensuring the achievement of sustainable development in all countries and to making that goal the central objective of national development strategies and international cooperation.