Finland Times

 

International Development minister Pekka Haavisto. Photo Lehtikuva.

International Development minister Pekka Haavisto will lead the Finnish delegation in the High-Level Meeting of the Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation beginning in Mexico today (Tuesday), said a ministry press release on Monday.

 

Over 1,300 experts and decision-makers on development policy and co-operation are expected to attend the two-day long meeting.

 

In Busan in 2011, an agreement was reached on the ways to boost the results and sustainable impact of development cooperation. These principles include respect for the development countries' own needs, involvement of the private sector and citizens, openness, and accountability concerning all parties involved. 

 

To date, as many as 161 governments and 54 organisations have announced their commitment to this Global Partnership for Development, agreed in Busan, in which the private sector and civil society actors play an active role.

 

The meeting in Mexico will take stock of how well various actors have observed the principles agreed upon in Busan. Other topics on the meeting agenda include the role of the private sector in development cooperation, 'South-South cooperation', support for fragile states, and the flight of capital from developing countries.

 

Minister for International Development Haavisto will have two roles in Mexico. In addition to chairing the Finnish delegation, Haavisto will also represent the International Dialogue for Peace-building and State-building IDPS, which he co-chairs with Timor-Leste's Minister of Finance Emilia Pires.

 

In connection with the meeting, Minister Haavisto will meet leaders of international organisations, important partner countries, and fragile states.

 

It is hoped that the Mexico meeting would promote commitment of both private sector actors and new donors - such as China, Brazil, Indonesia or Arab countries - to the Busan principles.

 

The challenge of the meeting is to show the importance of partnership for development and to tie its topics to other ongoing international processes, such as the preparation and financing of the new post-2015 global development goals.