EU Presidency Statement - Coordinated and integrated UN system approach to promoting rural development in developing countries - ECOSOC

Sommaire: July 1, 2004: STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE EUROPEAN UNION BY H.E. MR. DIRK JAN VAN DEN BERG, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE. ECONOMIC and SOCIAL COUNCIL. Coordination Segment. Agenda item 4(b): Coordinated and integrated United Nations system approach to promoting rural development in developing countries, with due consideration to least developed countries, for poverty eradication and sustainable development (New York)

I have the honour to take the floor on behalf of the European Union. The Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey and Croatia, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA countries [Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway], members of the European Economic Area, align themselves with this statement.

Rural development is a priority area for European development co-operation. Without the development of rural areas, living conditions of the majority of the poor cannot be improved, and the Millennium Development Goals cannot be attained. The EU therefore welcomes the report of the Secretary General, which builds upon the Ministerial Declaration of ECOSOC 2003, stating: "Rural Development should be pursued through an integrated approach, encompassing the economic, social and environmental dimensions, taking into account the gender perspective and consisting of mutually reinforcing policies and programmes. The approach should be balanced, targeted, situation specific, locally owned, include local synergies and initiatives and be responsive to the needs of the rural populations".

The report of the Secretary General explores ways and means by which the UN system can contribute to the integrated approach, in collaboration with developing countries, the donor community, and other stakeholders. I should like to comment on how the EU would translate this priority area into action, and where better collaboration within the UN system can be envisaged.

We welcome the recommendation inviting the UN system to "design a coherent capacity building programme for rural development" and consider this an appropriate response to the recommendations of last year's High Level Segment, as well as to outcomes of the major UN Conferences, in particular the World Food Summit as well as the Johannesburg Summit. This said, it is clear that the scope of such a programme is in principle endless, and therefore we ask the UN, under the guidance of the Chief Executives Board, to do a thorough exercise, assessing existing activities and remaining needs. This will be needed to ensure that we do not waste scarce human, financial and institutional resources.

Especially in the Least Developed Countries the vast majority of the population lives and earns its living in rural areas, where agriculture and the use and management of natural resources are predominant economic activities. It is evident that rural and agricultural development, including agroforestry, must be at the centre of approaches to reduce poverty. The focus needs to be on the rural poor.

1. Elements of an integrated approach

This requires an integrated approach combining several elements.

a. Critical material, institutional and policy obstacles that prevent the rural poor from seizing opportunities and improving their livelihoods must be removed. The transformation should be based on the aspirations, assets and activities of rural poor. They should own the change process.

b. It is necessary to foster more peaceful, equitable and open societies based on greater transparency, accountability and decentralisation. These are vital to prevent conflicts, the greatest threats to national development. It connects different levels, from the community level up to the national level, and thereby promotes democratic processes by implementing decentralisation.

c. The integrated approach addresses more than agriculture alone, and requires coherent action in several sectors that impact heavily on the rural economy such as health, education and infrastructure. We need to obtain synergy with urban development. A sustainable link between urban and rural development can only be achieved by building on the renewed impetus of development co-operation in the wake of Monterrey, Doha and Johannesburg.

d. The rural world is strongly affected by HIV/AIDS, which needs to be addressed in an integrated way as well. Global and national leadership, partnership and the availability of adequate resources are essential to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic and to reverse the devastating spread and impact of it including in the rural world.

e. Since women in rural communities suffer from worse social conditions, higher workloads, exclusion from social and economic opportunities and marginalisation in decision-making, promoting gender equality and empowerment of women in poverty eradication and sustainable development strategies is of paramount importance.

The report of the Secretary General contains many good intentions for giving the UN system a leading role in such processes and support programmes, distinguishing the national, international, and regional level.

2. National level

An integrated approach to rural development, addressing inter alia food security, vulnerability and poverty, should be reflected in the CCA, UNDAF's and Poverty Reduction Strategies. The integrated approach will only lead to better donor co-ordination if the corresponding process ensures inputs by all relevant stakeholders. Donors should be prepared to follow its outcomes. We cannot overemphasise the role of national policies and development strategies. The PRSP represents a useful instrument to address the overall policy framework in a manner that strengthens national ownership, promotes stakeholder participation and improves donor co-ordination.

The EU very much welcomes the increased attention for investments in agriculture and the increase for instance in IDA lending. However, growth of the agricultural sector relies on parallel efforts in related sectors, that need to be integrated in broader strategies for rural development. Also it is evident that the integrated approach demands institutional capacity, so that local ownership becomes possible. Therefore, institutional reform, capacity building, and participatory planning, have to be part of development.

3. International level

We all work very hard to reach consensus on what is expected of both developed and developing countries in the field of international trade (formulated within the WTO Doha process). Agreement was reached on financing for development at Monterrey, on increased, secured and sustainable development at the Millennium Summit, World Food Summit and WSSD. We should now work equally hard on the implementation.

The UN has an important role reminding developing partners at all levels constantly about these important leading outcomes. The UN system should also identify methods for translating intentions into practical solutions. Promoting an integrated and co-ordinated approach to rural development, including mobilisation of stakeholders to put it into practice, is crucial. As is correctly stated in the report of the Secretary General "none of the agencies can address all issues in their entirety".

Trade can play a major role in the promotion of economic development and the alleviation of poverty, and is also an important element in strategies to promote rural development in developing countries. Successful conclusion of the current negotiations under the WTO Doha Work Programme is essential. Improved market access through preferential schemes is also important, such as the EU 'Everything But Arms' initiative that grants duty-free and quota-free market access for LDC's, the Cotonou Agreement with ACP countries and extensive preferential schemes for other developing countries. This should be supported by trade related technical assistance for capacity building and mainstreaming trade into national development strategies.

The EU is very concerned about the problems facing many commodity dependent countries and producers today: declining incomes and investment, stagnating competitiveness and persistent poverty and dependence. Although we fully support efforts for diversification, this can not replace actions to safeguard the existing sectors. Much more needs to be done to counter the present decline of the commodity sectors in the most dependent countries, and to safeguard and enhance the crucial contribution of these sectors to employment, income and poverty reduction. We are determined to do our part in addressing the situation and therefore we adopted a comprehensive action plan in this area in April - including measures relating to price decline, volatility, dependence and diversification and international trade.

The EU welcomes the endeavour of UNCTAD for close co-operation on commodities by all stakeholders in the commodity value chains. Such an approach is in line with integrated rural development. The EU notes the intention of UNCTAD to launch an international task force on commodities and looks forward to further details and clarifications by UNCTAD, in particular on how it can be ensured that it does not duplicate other activities undertaken in this area.

4. Regional level

Finally, UN agencies support regional organisations and regional development banks in their efforts to help countries prepare their national plans, including aspects of regional co-operation and market development. Regional organisations should support and through analyses underpin national strategies.

The NEPAD initiative, and its agricultural component (CAADP) that is supported by FAO, encourage African countries to devote much more attention to develop the potential of their rural and agricultural sectors. To ensure sustainability and effectiveness, the planning processes should remain locally owned so that investments priorities are integrated into existing national development and sector frameworks.

To conclude we would like to reiterate the importance of integrated rural development for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. We look forward to further clarification of the coherent capacity building programme.

Ref: PRES04-201EN
Source UE: Présidence UE
UN forum: ECOSOC (Conseil économique et social), (y compris Commissions fonctionnelles)
Date: 1/7/2004

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