UN panel must expand efforts to consult poorest people on new global development goals, says ONE

WASHINGTON – Anti-poverty campaign group ONE has welcomed the United Nations’ announcement of a 26-strong high-level panel to advise on global development beyond 2015.

Responding to the announcement, Michael Elliott, President and CEO of ONE, said:

“We congratulate all those selected to join the panel today. Each of them brings unique experiences to the vital task of determining a new set of global development goals. We are pleased to see a number of friends of ONE on the list and particularly excited that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria’s Finance Minister, and a member of the board of ONE, has been appointed to the panel. Dr. Okonjo-Iweala is an inspiring leader in Africa whose insights will be invaluable to the process.

“As they now focus on the task at hand the panel must recognize that 26 people cannot represent everyone. In determining a new set of development goals, it is vital that the voices of the world’s poorest are heard. The panel needs to expand and deepen the existing global consultative process so that those who are most intended to benefit from a new development agenda are given a leading voice in its creation.

“While they start on the work of helping to frame a new development agenda, members of the panel should not lose sight of the vital importance of the current Millennium Development Goals. There can be no greater endorsement of a new framework for development than the successful achievement of the current MDGs. There are 1246 days to go before the MDGs deadline in 2015. Much can be still be done if the world makes a final push to achieve them. Over the next three years, that will remain a primary focus of ONE and our 3 million supporters around the globe.”

The full list of panel members can be found at: http://www.un.org/sg/offthecuff/index.asp?nid=2455

About ONE: ONE is a global advocacy and campaigning organisation backed by 3 million people from around the world dedicated to fighting extreme poverty and preventable disease, particularly in Africa. For more information please visit www.ONE.org

For further information please contact Katherine Sladden, +44(0)7584 470 644, [email protected]