Post-2015 challenge: Towards Sustainable Development that Leaves No One Behind

Report of the International Movement ATD Fourth World on the assessment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)

In 2000, the Millennium Development Goals were adopted by the United Nations to reduce extreme poverty by half by 2015. To assess their impact, ATD Fourth World assessed the MDG with people living in poverty and extreme poverty in 12 countries: Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, France, Guatemala, Haiti, Madagascar, Mauritius, Peru, the Philippines and Poland. The results of this two-year participatory research project are presented in a report published at the beginning of September 2014: “Challenge 2015: Towards Sustainable Development that Leaves No One Behind”, downloadable in French, English and Spanish on the site: www.atd-quartmonde.org.

The report shows how the use of global statistics has created the illusion that the MDG have been partly met, when the most impoverished populations have, in fact, been left behind. It also shows that development programmes drawn up without the participation of the most marginalised populations backfire on them. “Even in extreme poverty, a person has ideas. If these ideas aren’t recognized, people fall even deeper into poverty,” said a participant from Burkina Faso. Eight international seminars brought together numerous partners to draw up five joint recommendations for post 2015. The International Trade Union Confederation took part in several of these seminars, and a common statement has been published in the report.

Five recommendations for post 2015:
1. Leave no one behind. Eradicate all types of discrimination, including discrimination based on gender, social origin or poverty, in all countries.

2. Consider people living in poverty as new partners in building knowledge, including in the definition of poverty indicators.

3. Promote an economy that protects people and the environment, including decent work for all and the introduction of social protection floors in all countries.

4. Achieve education and training for all based on cooperation between all. This implies free and quality education that is adapted to the needs of the entire community.

5. Promote peace through participatory good governance. Ensure that local, national and international structures set up participatory mechanisms.

Videos to find out more: OMD post 2015 Fr 8’ from ATDFRA on Vimeo and “Unheard Voices” http://www.unheard-voices.org