| Panel Discussion on the Global Monitoring Report 2010: “The MDGs after the Crisis” |
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Progress was considered impressive in developing countries before the crisis, but while the impact of the crisis on GDP in developing countries was mitigated in the short run, it is feared that GDP levels might still fall in the long run. “The situation can be a lot worse than what we assume” Timmer pointed out. Actions are needed by all kinds of actors: International Financial Institutions, private actors and multilateral/bilateral donors. He added that we have to think global and pay greater attention to the situation in Low Income Countries (LIC) as the lack of access to financial market undermines their ability to fight the crisis efficiently. Françoise Moreau, Director ad interim European Commission DG DEV relations with ACP states, praised the report for taking into consideration the interrelated dimension of the MDGs and stressing the importance of LICs and fragile states in global development. The speakers expressed fear about the fact that in times of crisis budget cuts are made in social sectors and poor families need to reduce their spending which results in more children staying out of school. Both of these consequences of the recession have lasting effects on countries’ development. In this context, the issue of social protection systems was underlined by both Rudi Delarue, Director of ILO Brussels Office, and Moreau who sees it as a tool to support people’s well being and respond to the crisis. Delarue called for more and decent jobs, reporting to the audience that “there are now around 850 million workers living on around $1.25 per day”. Despite the fears raised by the report the representative from the Commission remained highly positive; “the MDGs are still achievable” and the crisis “can offer opportunities for re-launching political debate” Moreau asserted. Read the Report ‘The MDGs after the Crisis’ here. Source:  |
A presentation of the Global Monitoring Report (GMR) 2010, by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, was made by Hans Timmer lead author of the GMR, and followed by a panel discussion at the World Bank Office in Brussels on Thursday 10 June. The report analyses the pre and post crisis situations and challenges in developing countries with regards to the achievement of the MDGs.
