1. Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development and the SDGs
Towards implementing Agenda 2030
Anna Knoll
Policy Officer, ECDPM
The Hague, 21 January 2016

2. Agenda Transition from MDGs to SDGs and PCD to PCSD
A new global development framework
From PCD to PCSD in the post-2015 context
Implementation of PC(S)D
– Lessons learned and challenges
III. What way forward with Agenda 2030?
IV. Open Questions and Discussion (30 min)
(45 min)
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3. I. Transition from MDGs to SDGs, from PCD to PCSD
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4. A) A new global Development Framework
8 Goals; 18 Targets;
48 indicators
17 Goals; 169 Targets;
300+ indicators
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5. What is different this time?
Transformative
Integrated: 3 Dimensions of Sustainability
Universality
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6. A Universal framework
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7. Integrated Nature of the SDGs
Source: David Le Blanc, 2015; UNDESA Working Paper 141
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8. What is different this time?
Transformative
Universal
Integrated: 3 Dimensions of Sustainability
Explicit PCSD target:
SDG Target Enhance Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development
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9. B) PCD– a concept in evolution
POST- 2015
2014
2012
2011
2010
2009
OECD Strategy on Development
IV HLF (Busan)
2008
PCD Building
Blocks
2007
Council Recommendation on Good Institutional Practices in Promoting PCD
2005
2008 Ministerial Declaration on PCD
PCD Elements into SGI 2014
Towards a Broader Approach to PCD
2003
OECD-PCD Unit
II HLF (Paris) Paris Declaration
Commitment to Development Index (CDI)
2002
Monterrey Consensus
2002 OECD Action for a Shared Development Agenda
PCD in DAC peer reviews
UN Millennium Declaration – MDG 8
DAC Strategy “Shaping the 21st Century”
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10. Two-fold implication: “do no harm” and beyond:
What is PCD? EU
“The EU seeks to minimise contradictions and to build synergies between policies other than development cooperation that have an impact on developing countries, for the benefit of overseas development”
OECD
“The pursuit of development objectives through the systematic promotion of mutually reinforcing policy actions on the part of both OECD and developing countries”.
Two-fold implication: “do no harm” and beyond:
Make sure all policies are development-friendly (do no harm)
Ensure the proactive promotion of development objectives in other policies: exploit synergies > win-win
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11. Prevalent definitions: PCD ≠ …
Diverging interpretations and use of the concept of PCD.
PCD IS NOT (only):
Coordination with other policies
Harmonization with other donors
Adjustment of development policy to other policies (it is PC for Development)
Consistency among development policies, strategies and instruments
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12. PCD approach
Source: OECD, 2015
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13. Towards a universal notion: PCSD
= an approach and policy tool to integrate the economic, social, environmental, and governance dimensions of sustainable development at all stages of domestic and international policy making.
= a problem of all governments worldwide (not any longer a challenge for donors only). It aims to increase governments capacities to:
Main Objectives
Foster synergies across economic, social and environmental policy areas
Identify trade-offs & reconcile domestic policy objectives with internationally agreed objectives
Address the spillovers of domestic policies
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 1 2 3
Source: OECD (2014), Better Policies for Development 2014: Policy Coherence and Illicit Financial Flows
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14. PCSD: New way of looking at synergies/trade-offs in integrated ways?
Let’s look at this understanding exemplified here in this graph.
Whereas traditional PCD focuses on ensuring that all government departments take into account the impact of their decisions on developing countries and development cooperation policy objectives and poverty reduction; PCSD focuses on supporting coordinated involvement across the entire government machinery, and hence a more comprehensive and cross-sectoral implementation of the 2030 Agenda weaving in not only poverty reduction but environmental, climate, peace and security concerns. PCSD therefore also requires governments to take into account the effects of its domestic policymaking for poverty reduction and the environment both at home and abroad (and in the future) so that policies are mutually supportive to achieve the SDGs.” (Challenges Paper, 2016, p.5)
PCSD very much tries to break-up the silo thinking and you can see that it aims to capture connections between different sectors much more rather than looking at effects of policies in one thematic policy sector on developing countries.
We also see that the donor-recipient logic is not underpinning PCSD anymore. A more interconnected world economy means that policies in any country can influence sustainable development across the globe.
Source: OECD, 2015
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15. Example: Water, energy, food
Source: SEI, 2014
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16. Agenda 2030: Opportunities for PC(S)D
SDGs
Intrinsically integrated approach
Finally brings 3 pillars of sustainable development together
Responsibility of All (Universality)
Some similar ideas in other areas than development cooperation
Whole-of-government approaches
Joined-up government
One United Nations
PCSD formally recognised and agreed as Means of Implementation
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17. Challenges of moving from PCD to PCSD
Loss of focus?
PCSD makes targets more diffuse – A theory of everything?
Do we lose the unitary focus on PCD
Universality – Who is to benefit from PCD action?
Greater complexity
Progress on PCD already tough
Taking so much into account may make progress even more difficult
Brings different worlds together
Development – external relations -
Economic & social & sustainability – internal affairs
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18. PC(S) and the changing role for aid
PCD
I. Scenario: Specialization
International Finance
Poverty Reduction/ Development Objectives in poorest/ fragile countries
Aid
Migration
Security
Trade
II. Scenario: Integration
PCSD
Global Cooperation
For
Sustainable
Development
Migration
Security
Aid
Poverty Reduction
Trade
Climate
SDGs
International Finance
Production
Consumption
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19. II. PC(S)D Implementation to support SDG achievement
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20. How to strengthen PCSD?
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21. How do we know we made PCSD progress?
What indicator for PCSD in the SDG global review?
Is this sufficiently meaningful for PCSD?
Number of countries that have ratified and implemented relevant international instruments under the IMO and the ILO Maritime Convention, and adopted carbon pricing mechanisms.
But this seems hardly meaningful, and also has been criticised with other suggestions focusing more on assessing whether countries have put in place the right mechanisms for coordination and integration of different sustainable dimensions in policy-making.
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22. PCSD as red-thread for SDG implementation
Setting country-specific objectives for PCSD based on SDGs and targets
Setting and prioritizing objectives
Coordinating policy and its implementation
Monitoring, analysis and reporting
Identifying policy interactions, synergies, potential policy effects ‘elsewhere’ and for long-term
Strengthening existing PC(S)D institutional mechanisms
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23. Challenge: Measuring PC(S)D progress
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24. Quality of existing PCD Indicators
Difference between mix and match approach:
Outcome Indicators
Policy Outputs Indicators
Policy Inputs Indicators
Policy Stance Indicators
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25. Country Studies on policy impact – Food Security
Some European countries felt that more evidence on impact of policies needed – suggestion for impact analysis to examine effects on development outcomes in individual developing countries
ECDPM with OECD-DAC developed draft methodology for identifying/assessing impacts of OECD policies on food security in individual developing countries
Methodology currently tested in Tanzania and Burkina Faso with support from Finland/Switzerland

26. Challenge: Progress on PCD building blocks – yes? But fairer policies…..?
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27. Bottlenecks for PCD in the EU Member States
Little public attention
Underdeveloped structures for knowledge-input
Lack of political pressure
Setting and prioritising objectives
Coordinating policy and its implementation
Monitoring, analysis and reporting
Few resources allocated
Lack of research on impact of (in)coherencies
Many policies … Higher risk of incoherent policies
Diverging interests
Knowledge gaps
Differing levels of awareness
Difficult conversations between generalists vs. specialists
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28. PCSD is a Political Economy Challenge
PCD Lessons learned – Not a technical exercise PCD highly political= policies driven by national interests that are at times hard to reconcile with development
Who has power?
Is there adequate, accountability, information and evidence?
Identify political momentum on the basis of solid political economy analysis in limited number of areas where concrete progress is feasible (taxation, illicit capital flows, food security…?)
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29. Case Study: Policy Coherence in Practice in UK- Solutions to achieve AML objectives while safeguarding remittances to Somalia

30. III. Implementation of Agenda 2030 – The Way forward
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31. Follow up and Review of SDGs – Institutional framework
Principles:
Country-led (ownership)
Inclusive (multi-stakeholder)
Transparent
Building on existing mechanisms
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32. Development of SDG Indicators – Process
Global Indicator framework currently being developed by IAEG-SDG (Inter-agency expert group)
UN Statistical Commission will consider the group’s proposal in March 2016
National Implementation: Additional and complementary indicators will be developed at country/regional level adapted to context
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33. National Implementation
Identification of priority areas without ‘cherry picking’?
Not all SDG targets are clear
How to set baseline and benchmarks?
How to define appropriate actions and policies to support progress towards targets and assess progress?  PCSD an important tool here
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34. Example Goal 16: Country-level Perspective
Implementation:
Domestic Development Outcomes
Responsibilities for assisting other countries
Responsibilities for supporting progress towards global common goods
PCSD
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35. How ready are OECD countries?
Many studies, indices now produced (e.g. Index of Bertelsmann Foundation Individual Studies on EU MS, e.g. SEI for Sweden, DIE for “Länder-Ebene” in Germany, etc.)
Source: Kroll, 2015.
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36. Coherence in implementation of Agenda 2030
EU Country
Partner countries
European Institutions EU
Regional Level
Government
Ministries
National Level
Ministries at federal level
Federal States
Sub-national level
Local
Local authorities
Local Level
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37. Role of CSOs in post-2015 implementation / strengthening PCSD
CSOs/Knowledge community can play critical role in providing analysis but approach could be more political
Level of awareness on PCD/PCSD has grown quite spectacularly
Increased peer pressure (OECD, EU, NGOs, policy research institutes,..) exchange of experiences, best practices, institutional arrangements beyond aid agencies,…
More PCD measurement and assessment systems (CDI), institutional arrangements and actors involved but risk of overly technocratic approaches
Clear role in SDG implementation Agenda
Priorities - Setting benchmarks (avoiding “cherry-picking”)
Identifying indicators that fit the context
Reporting on progress
Contribute to building multi-stakeholder partnerships
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38. IV. Questions and Discussion
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39. Anna Knoll – ak@ecdpm.org
Thank you
Anna Knoll –