DUSHANBE, April 22, 2013, Asia-Plus — The United Nations in Tajikistan, on April 12, concluded a final national consultation with Government partners, to discuss their perspectives on priorities beyond the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and challenges remaining to reach the MDGs in Tajikistan, a news note released by the UNDOP CO in Tajikistan says.
This took place in the context of the theme of the Tajikistan Post MDG National Consultations: “The Tajikistan We Want”.
As the UN and partners worldwide observe the 1000 mark to the 2015 target date for the MDGs, in Tajikistan, a meeting within the National Consultations on Post 2015 Development Agenda took place at the Center for Strategic Studies under the President of Tajikistan. The meeting was co-chaired by Ms. Fatima Muminova, Deputy Chairperson of the Center for Strategic Studies and Mr. Pavel Ursu, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative in Tajikistan.
The aim of the National Consultations is to include a diverse array of people’s views for inclusion, to help define sustainable development goals at the global level after 2015. It can also serve as a basis for the design of a new country development strategy for the subsequent period following 2015.
The country consultations were carried out throughout Tajikistan to sensitize participants and promote a dialogue on the post 2015 development agenda to ensure wider and deeper national participation in these global processes with a domestic perspective.
Participants of the consultations included government representatives, NGOs, civil society, minority and marginalized groups, youth, women’s groups as well as the private sector among others, to build a shared global vision on the “Future We Want” with clear recommendations on the Post 2015 Development Framework.
The National Consultations’ work will reflect new development challenges while also drawing on experience gained in implementing the MDGs, both in terms of results achieved and areas for improvement.
“Undoubtedly, the MDGs are making a real difference in people’s lives and, with strong leadership and accountability, this progress can be expanded in Tajikistan by the target date of 2015,” said Mr. Pavel Ursu, WHO Country Representative in Tajikistan. “We must double our efforts within the 1000 days of action and beyond to achieve a world of prosperity, equity, freedom, dignity and peace,” he added.
In sum, the consultations demonstrated an appetite for social and economic progress, notably in education and including women’s empowerment, labor migration and employment opportunities, improving financial system for development, and creating entrepreneurial opportunities.
The global conversation on the post 2015 agenda is about doing development a different way. But this will only work if the societies keep the conversation going, and maintain the focus on delivering the post-2015 agenda and in holding themselves to account for it.
National consultations on the Post-2015 Development Agenda are running in 100 countries in the world and intended to encourage an inclusive multi-stakeholder process.
