The role of parliaments, cities and local authorities in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda

Mr President,

On the question of the role of national parliaments in the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, the group would like to raise the following points:

Firstly, as a matter of principle, the Group of 77 and China believes that the development agenda must be aligned to the country's core development priorities. Given their inextricability to the development and implementation of policies and laws, the primary role of parliaments should therefore be to ensure an effective and efficient support of the country's chosen developmental path.

Secondly, in line with the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, they should "promote coherent and coordinated approaches to institutional frameworks for sustainable development at all national levels, including through, as appropriate, the establishment or strengthening of existing authorities and mechanisms necessary for policy-making, coordination and implementation and enforcement of law".

Thirdly, as representatives of the people, parliaments can help shape, translate and be custodians of development strategies that reflect the concerns of a country's people. There is a need, therefore, to strengthen their ability to engage in the planning and assessment of development policies and programmes.

Lastly, the group believes that parliaments also need to play a bigger advocacy role through their international partnership platforms to call for reforms of international financial institutions. Reform of these institutions would alleviate challenges associated with structural problems of financial instability.

Mr President,

On the question of how cities and local authorities can contribute to the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda, it is the group's considered view that cities and local authorities are indispensable for the realisation of the development agenda because they are at the coal face of the implementation of service delivery. And, with projections that some 70 percent of the world's population will live in cities by 2050, their importance cannot be underscored!

The reality, however, is that attaining sustainable cities and human settlement will be a major development challenge for the next several decades. The reality of approximately one billion people living in urban slums highlights the gravity of the challenges. Poor people living in slum houses in unhealthy environments, which co-exist with modern high-rise buildings in many developing countries, is a stark contrast that depicts poverty and inequality.

The contribution of cities to the implementation of the post-2015 development agenda therefore cannot be looked at without considering the high levels of economic inequalities that result from urbanisation. As developing countries we believe that our cities should therefore be capacitated to improve access to basic services, health, education, adequate food, including infrastructure services.

Lastly, other non-state actors also play important complementary roles. It is therefore important that cities form partnerships with communities. City planners should tackle urban development challenges through inclusive policies that favour people-centred objectives and participatory decision-making that include the disadvantaged and marginalized members of society.

Thank you