Karen Takacs, Canadian Crossroads InternationalThe Globe and Mail
In 2000, the United Nations committed to radically changing the world by 2015. Eight targets were created that together were called the Millennium Development Goals. Each of them, such as the first, to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger," were broad, ambitious and hopeful.
But today, with less than five years remaining, few say we're on track to meet them. Fewer still are talking about that.
As part of our Leading Thinkers series, Karen Takacs, executive director of Canadian Crossroads International, took reader questions in this earlier discussion.
12:47 Hi all, I'm Tim Querengesser, an editor here at The Globe and Mail. We're just getting ready for our discussion with Karen Takacs. Questions can now be submitted.
12:51 [Comment From Karen Takacs]Hi Tim - looking forward to the discussion
12:55 Tim Querengesser: So Karen, I'll start the discussion with the obvious question: What are the Millennium Development Goals and why do they matter?
1:03 Karen Takacs: The MDGs are set of 8 goals adopted by World Leaders at a UN summit in 2000 designed to make progress on global poverty by 2015
1:04 Tim Querengesser: And how are we faring, Karen? Many critics have said we aren't on track to meet the goals, such as the first, eradicating extreme poverty and hunger.
1:07 Karen Takacs: While some progress has been made, reducing poverty in China for example, more children are in school and 4 million more people are on Anti-retroviral drugs - the results for the goals overall are mixed and for Africa in particular the expectation is that goals will not be met.
1:08 Tim Querengesser: This question was sent in advance by James Haga, from Engineers Without Borders: The MDGs are worthy goals but it seems clear the major international institutions tasked with addressing these challenges aren't equipped to deliver. Grand statements and proclamations happen all the time, but how would you reform these institutions to better achieve results?
1:12 Karen Takacs: Big question. Generally the best way to ensure you get results is to be clear about what you are trying to achieve. Too often other interests such as the economic or strategic interests of developed countries have undue influence on Aid decisions. If we are clear that the goal is to reduce inequality and global poverty we can put in place indicators and the means to achieve this. In Canada, the Aid Accountability Act provides a basis for strengthening accountability to development goals such as the MDGs as it references human rights standards as a basis for Canadian aid decisions. These standards can be very specific as to both content and approach in carrying out aid. The government and CIDA need to take the Act seriously as an accountability framework and implement and be accountable to a human rights approach and lens for all of its aid commitments. The formation of the G20 which was supported by Canada is seen as modest improvement in widening decision making but what is really needed is to transform the current structure of the G20 - one that models democratic principles of inclusion, representation, transparency and accountability.
1:13 [Comment From sn: ]What are some of the goals that were achieved?
1:15 Karen Takacs: None of the goals have been achieved yet but good progress has been made on the first goal - reducing poverty - due primarily to progress in China. However even if we achieve this goal, close to 1 billion people will still be living on less $1.25 a day.
1:16 Tim Querengesser: Karen, what can Canada do to help meet the MDGs and what can Canadians do to help meet the MDGs?
1:19 Karen Takacs: Financing is critical. Canada will not be taken seriously if it does not keep long standing commitments such as 0.7 GNI. But this is not just about more AID, but also about better AID. Recent untying of food aid was a major advance. But for example, right now before parliament is a bill that would help get affordable AIDS medicines on the market and to developing countries at no cost to the Canadian taxpayer, but Canada is dragging its heels. Meeting financial commitments is critical but equally important is influence. We recently lost our bid for a seat on the Security Council. Many pundits attribute this loss, to Canada's decision to reduce focus on African development. Canada was recognized as a leader and innovator in advancing women's equality. We saw success when funds were dedicated to supporting specific women led programming not just for services, but to advance rights. Today it appears those funds have largely disappeared. The Canadian government has announced its intention to freeze the aid budget. We as Canadians need to let our government know that this investment is important to us.
1:19 [Comment From Bernard Shakey: ]William Easterly has argued that foreign aid agencies, including the World Bank and IMF, are a "cartel with good intentions" - they are extremely ineffective because the recipients of aid are unable to "reward" those agencies that provide effective aid. Do you agree? And how do we help poor countries develop their own good institutions without the problems that have ensued with aid conditionality?
1:20 Karen Takacs: Canadians have long supported civil society organizations who are making significant contributions to achieving the MDGs.
1:23 Karen Takacs: Civil society has been calling for reform of these institutions for a long time. One way to do this is to implement the commitments made through the Paris Declaration by donors to respect local ownership of development strategies and to provide resources that enable governments to implement strategies and to support civil society to be strong actors and to hold their own governments accountable.
1:23 Tim Querengesser: Karen, do you feel these goals are well known outside the aid community? Is the Canadian public concerned enough about them as we near the deadline of 2015?
1:26 Karen Takacs: No - CIDA, our government and civil society organizations have not done enough either educate or mobilize Canadians in support of the MDGs. We do know that Canadians care. Unfortunately CIDA has eliminated support for public engagement in recent calls for proposals to Civil society organizations.
1:26 [Comment From Guest: ]Karen, most of the conversation so far has been about more money, better indicators, and more focus by Canadian institutions. Hasn't it always been true that local leadership makes the biggest difference? In Rwanda, for example, huge progress has been made on the MDGs because they have been able to cut down on corruption and use money they receive in an effective way.
1:28 Karen Takacs: Yes absolutely. Aid works when it supports local leadership to develop locally owned goals. Too often donors think they have the solutions to others problems but this is proven to be not just bad practice but dangerous.
1:29 Tim Querengesser: In her book Dead Aid (her Leading Thinkers interview is upcoming, by the way), author Dambisa Moyo argues that aid itself is the problem in Africa - that it has stunted the continent's development rather than spurred it.
Karen: Is she right or wrong? Why?
1:31 Karen Takacs: While I would agree with the description of problems that Ms. Moyo outlines I don't agree with her solutions. Saying that there are problems with aid and the way aid is implemented does not mean that aid is the problem.
1:31 [Comment From Heather: ]I am a student midwife and we are discussing this local leadership idea in the context of the MDGs. What can Canadians do to help support communities to achieve their goals?
1:33 Karen Takacs: We can hold our governments accountable to meet its aid commitments. We can support civil society actors in Canada and in developing countries because they are often closer to and responsive to the needs of communities. Support with your vote, with your dollars and with your time.
1:35 Tim Querengesser: Karen, this question was sent in earlier. Could you talk about the relationship between achieving the Millennium Development Goals, like ending poverty, and supporting human rights, and in particular the rights of women?
1:38 Karen Takacs: Investing in women and in the rights of women in particular is critical to achieving the MDGs. the majority of people living in poverty are women and women bear the brunt of impact in conflict and crises. Yet women are also important actors who when empowered can have a significant impact in their communities. We have witnessed for example how women in rural Mali who are now earning incomes, are sending their kids to school and taking greater leadership in their communities.
1:39 Tim Querengesser: Karen, you spoke earlier about Canada's shift in focus in aid away from Africa. What's behind that, in your view?
1:41 Karen Takacs: It seems that our foreign policy interests in Afghanistan and trade interests in the Americas have trumped our commitments to development.
1:44 Tim Querengesser: This is a question sent in before the discussion: The goals are extremely vague. Goal one is to "eradicate extreme poverty and hunger." Does this in a way allow the world to ignore commitments to the MDGs?
1:47 Karen Takacs: This is one of the main problems and criticisms levied against the MDGs - they are goals for the world - so individual countries can't be held accountable except for what they choose to do. So what we can do is hold our own government accountable to meeting its commitments and to strengthen the commitment to the rights of poor and vulnerable people in our own aid policies...and we can support civil society in developing countries to do the same in their own countries.
1:50 Tim Querengesser: Karen, one of the people we interviewed on Leading Thinkers, a woman working in Zambia, says the best thing her organization ever did was fail - and then learn. Many say the aid industry is afraid to fail, and therefore doesn't learn.
Can you give us your view on this?
1:54 Karen Takacs: Learning is essential for development progress. We need to invest in ongoing learning - not just our own learning but to really listening to partners and ensuring that they are driving change. Unfortunately the focus on short term and measurable results sometimes stands in the way of learning - this is about long term change that is complex and not about short term or immediate results.
1:56 Tim Querengesser: Karen, I'll ask one more and see if we get any more bites from readers.
Will the recent events in Egypt and Tunisia, both star performers in the Millennium Development Goals, change the way we measure and promote development?
2:02 Karen Takacs: The events in Egypt and Tunisia provide a powerful lesson for us all. While progress may be made on specific indicators or goals - in fact disparity between rich and poor continued to grow. People have raised their voices and risked their lives to demand a say and to demand that their governments address their needs. This isn't measured by the MDGs.
2:03 Tim Querengesser: Okay, Karen, last question and we'll let you go. Give me three concrete things average Canadians can do to help support the MDGs .
2:05 Karen Takacs: Write to Minister of Finance, Jim Flaherty and ask him to make a commitment in this budget and to set a timetable that will ensure that Canada meets its commitment to 0.7
2:06 Karen Takacs: Meet with your Member of Parliament and tell them that you believe Canada should be a leader in helping to achieve the MDGs
2:07 Karen Takacs: Support civil society organizations - Canadian international development organizations who are working directly with local partners in developing countries - volunteer your time, lend your expertise and donate.