PRACTICUM IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS UN NGO COMMITTEE ON FINANCING FOR DEVELOPMENT DECEMBER 15, 2010 Samuel Donald, Alexandra Paez, Priyanka Rao & Robert Shepherd

About the Committee  An active group of the Conference of Non- Governmental Organizations (CONGO)  Works with the Financing for Development office of the UN Secretariat, the Economic and Social Council of the UN (ECOSOC) and UN commissions

About Financing For Development  Financing for Development (FfD) is a discussion process at the UN involving various policy issues:  Mobilizing domestic & international resources for development  International trade  International investment  External debt  Official Development Assistance (ODA) and  Addressing systemic issues.  FfD attempts to, “eradicate poverty, achieve sustained economic growth, and promote sustainable development to advance to a fully inclusive and equitable global economic system.”

Purpose of the Project  Develop two research papers & accompanying policy briefs  Made recommendations for advocacy  Themes chosen by the Committee; specific topics selected in collaboration with the GPIA team  Research explored the concepts, background, objectives, and limitations of each topic

Methodology  Working with client: meetings & implementing feedback  Terms of Reference  Interim Report  Final Presentation  Qualitative research:  Interviews with experts, attending meetings & conferences  Literature review of articles, briefs, documents, websites, reports, etc.

Innovative Sources of Financing for Development (ISF)  Tax-Related ISF: Airline Ticket Solidarity Tax Arms Trade Tax Currency Transactions Tax & Financial Transactions Tax Carbon Tax Tax Cooperation, Tax Havens & an International Tax Organization  Debt-Related ISF: Debt2Health Swaps Special Drawing Rights IMF Gold Sales

Trade in Food as an Engine for Development  Official Development Assistance (ODA): Food Aid Investment in Agriculture  Speculation in Agricultural Markets & Commodities  Impacts of Agriculture Practices: Genetically Modified Organisms Biofuels Foreign Investment in Developing Country Land (Land Grabs)  Trade Policy: Protectionism

Recommendations  Identified mechanisms and policies  Recommendations were founded upon:  Background, current status  Feasibility, practicality  FfD characteristics: scaling-up, additionality, complementarity & sustainability  Highlighted success stories and best practices  Suggested advocacy targets  Countries, organizations

GPIA Coursework  PDPM Group – Building on the coursework and experience working as a team  Project design and management  GPIA basics: research, writing and analysis  What was missing?  Technical background in economics and finance

Future  Our research papers & recommendations will be used to guide the Committee’s advocacy work

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS? THANK YOU!