Session 3:10 – SDG Towards Coherence
From PCD to PCSD
James Mackie PhD
Head of Learning & Quality Support, ECDPM
Visiting Professor, IRD Dept, College of Europe
University of Amsterdam, 29 June 2016
Critical perspectives on governance by SDGs Conference
1. Session 3:10 – SDG Towards Coherence
From PCD to PCSD
James Mackie PhD
Head of Learning & Quality Support, ECDPM
Visiting Professor, IRD Dept, College of Europe
University of Amsterdam, 29 June 2016
Critical perspectives on
governance by SDGs
Conference
2. • Policy coherence in the 2030 Agenda
• PCSD – what is involved?
• PCD – an effective tool
• PCD as a concept
• The European experience
• Lessons to be learnt
• From PCD to PCSD
• Conclusions
Outline
Page 2ECDPM
3. • The SDG as a transformative agenda
i. Leave no-one behind
ii. Universality – applies to us all
iii. Multi-stakeholder approach
iv. Inter-connected agenda – 3 pillars of Sus.Dev.
v. Integrated action policy coherence
• Coherence in multiple dimensions
• Between policy sectors
• Between geographies: here and there
• Between levels: global – national – local
• Between actors: public & private sectors, CSOs
• Over time: for now & for future generations
• Huge challenge for policy makers
Policy coherence in the 2030
Agenda
ECDPM Page 3
4. • SDG 17, target 14: PCSD - but no details
• What do we understand by this concept?
• Assume it covers all of the above, but …
• Policy coherence is key challenge to focus on
• While keeping all other dimensions in mind
• How do we make it work?
• We are used to working in silos
• Inevitable – cannot all do everything
• 2030 Agenda – calls on us to transcend silos
• Precedents do exist:
• Whole-of/joined-up government, ‘One-UN’
initiative , mainstreaming / cross-cutting
issues, nexus approach …
• EU/OECD DAC have used concept of PCD
PCSD – what is involved?
ECDPM Page 4
5. • EU has 25 years of experience with PCD
• Since 1992 Maastricht Treaty
• PCD understood as:
• Policies in other sectors with an external
impact should not undermine, but ideally
support development cooperation policy
• Sweden’s Policy on Global Development
• First basic step – ‘do no harm’
• Ideally also – seek synergies
• Ultimately will have to – negotiate trade-offs
• Remember:
• Promoting PCD is an never ending task
• Political will is crucial
PCD as a concept
ECDPM Page 5
6. • 1992 – Maastricht Treaty
• 1990s – very little discussion in Council
• Yet much NGO lobbying
• 2000s – more widespread recognition
• Across EU institutions and in Member States
• 2002 – OECD Ministerial statement on PCD
• PCD chapter in each DAC Peer Review starts
• 2005 – EU Council agrees 12 priority areas
• 2007 – EU PCD Reports every 2 years start
• 2009 – Council identifies 5 PCD challenges
Food security, climate change, trade & finance,
migration, and security & development
• 2010 – Lisbon Treaty – legal obligation
PCD – The EU experience
ECDPM Page 6
7. • Mechanisms that have worked
• Clear policy statements to set common path
• Focusing efforts on key challenges
• Consultation mechanisms – bridging silos
• PCD focal points – ‘champions’
• Reporting: transparency & debate
• Ex-ante impact assessments
• Role of multiple actors
• Political leaders, officials, parliaments, CSOs,
knowledge institutions – each have a key role
• Major challenges
• Maintaining political will over time
• Measuring progress & showing results
PCD – Lessons to be learnt
ECDPM Page 7
8. • PCD simple concept relative to PCSD
• PCD – uni-directional
• PCSD – multi-directional
• Much more complex and daunting task
• Some suggest PCD is subsumed by PCSD
• But then: where to start policy making?
• Perhaps more realistic to expect silos to
continue – work with them not against them
• Focus on how to build bridges & synergies
• Recognise value of ‘sector champions’
• Is interaction between them the key?
• Does PCSD = PCSocialD+PCEnvD+PCEconD ?
From PCD to PCSD
ECDPM Page 8
9. • European practice on PCD useful
• Should learn lessons we can
• Some PCD mechanisms relevant for PCSD
• Political will and leadership crucial
• Promoting coherence is never finished
• So prioritise and focus action on most useful
• Different actors have important roles to play
• Knowledge is vital
• Studies, evidence, assessments, reporting,
transparency & public debate
• Yet don’t get too bogged down in measuring
• PCSD as a amalgam of multiple coherence
efforts – we still need PCD + PC… + PC…+…
• PC ‘sector champions’ have a continuing role
Conclusions
ECDPM Page 9