VIVAT International is involved in the issue of financing for development since many members are working with people living in poverty. Development issues are important worldwide. So VIVAT feels that this area of concern is relevant to all of the countries present at the United Nations (UN) and especially where members are involved in the many aspects of development. Rich and poor countries need to be monitored in various ways.

March 18 to 22, 2002 marks the adoption of the Monterrey Consensus by Heads of State or Government Leave out at the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey, Mexico.

The main actions considered:

1. Mobilising domestic financial resources for development;
2. Mobilising international resources for development: foreign direct investment and other private flows;
3. International trade as an engine for development;
4. Increasing International Financial and technical cooperation for development;
5. External debt and,
6. Addressing systemic issues: enhancing the coherence and consistency of the international monetary, financial and trading systems in support of development.

Member States adopted by consensus the Doha Declaration on Financing for Development (A/CONF.212/L.1/Rev.1*) at the closing of the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development to Review the Implementation of the Monterrey Consensus (Doha, Qatar, 29 November – 2 December 2008).

VIVAT International in New York considers it important to follow closely these efforts being made at the UN and also by other actors worldwide such as:

• The private and public sectors, locally, nationally and internationally
  • Business and government at all levels
• International financial institutions
  • World Bank (WB), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other international financial institutions grouped under the name of Bretton Woods Institutions (BWI)
  • Regional Banks

Resources:

A detailed account of the history of financing for development can be found at: http://www.un.org/esa/ffd/overview/chronology.htm

How can I help?

1. Get more interested and help people understand that the government is their government and that their government will do a much better job for them if they take an interest in what their government is planning and doing, or not doing for them.
2. Research at the local-municipal, provincial-state-regional or at the national levels as all are important players in financing for development. Download full PDF file to use proposed questions.
3. In most countries of the world there are groups that monitor what and how governments deal with financing. You do not have to start from scratch. It can be very worthwhile taking advantage of information already gathered by others.
4. Once people become engaged and are more aware, they will be in a better position to support the good efforts of their government and to question what they consider is not in their best interest.

CAUTION: Financing for development is not an immediate source of funding for local projects.